I’m sure you’ve multiple pairs of shoes but are they all made of the same materials? Do they all last until the same day?
Maybe not, just as the price of all shoes is different, so are the materials of the shoes. And I’m sure you’ve noticed that not all shoes have the same lifespan, some shoes last a lifetime and some give up in 6 months. This is because of the materials in the shoes.
The lifespan of a shoe is determined by its materials.
The Shoe Making Materials are chosen based on the comfort of our feet and the ease of movement. And accordingly, today we have a lot of shoemaking materials options in hand to choose a pair of shoes.
Here we will discuss about 5 Best Materials (with pros and cons) that are used to make almost all types of shoes. Not only this, with the help of this article you can know which shoemaking material will be the best for your daily lifestyle.
So let’s dive into it.
5 Best Materials For Shoe Making
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| MATERIALS NAME | PROS | CONS |
| Leather | •Durable •Stylish •Reliability •Comfort | • High price • Quite difficult to care |
| Textile | •Versatile design •Breathable and Light weight •Strong | •Gets dirty very easily |
| Rubber | •Durable •Good tensile strength •Tear resistance | •A bit heavy |
| Foam | •Durable •Lightweight •Superb strength •Tear resistance •Affordable | •Grips decay rapidly •Not breathable |
| Synthetic | •Water resistant •Easy to clean •Light weight •Inexpensive | •Less comfortable •Break-in time |
1. Leather:
Leather is an antique material that has been used in our various activities since ancient times, as well as a variety of our daily necessities, which are made from leather. The biggest reason behind the popularity of leather is that it is a completely natural thing and also it’s much stronger, more flexible and more durable than the rest of the materials.
Leather is a breathable material, shoes made from it can control the heat of our feet so our feet stay healthy and normal during hot weather.
All the leather quality is different. We can get 5 kinds of leathers from different animals.
Kinds Of Leather
- Full grain leather
- Top grain leather
- Bonded leather
- Genuine leather
- Split grain lether ( Suede ).
These types of leather are used to make different types of leather shoes. Full grain and Top grain leathers are know as best quality and strong leather among them.
Usyally, the upper part of a leather shoe is made of these 5 types of leather.
Leather shoes can perform better in wet conditions than canvas shoes. Also, leather products are relatively easy to clean but you need to take proper care of leather shoes than other shoes.
Since all leather has a different quality, the quality of the shoes made from it is also different. We usually see 6 types of shoes made of leather.
- Suede
- Patent leather
- Derby
- Shell cordovan
- Calfskin
- Nubuck
Pros
- Durable
- Stylish
- Reliability
- Comfort
Cons
- High price
- Quite difficult to care
Most people don’t take proper care of their leather shoes so their shoes get old and worn out very quickly.
If you want to keep your leather shoes fresh for a long time, this article will definitely help you.
2. Textile:
Shoes are also made from textiles for a variety of textures and comfort. Textile is very popular today and like leather, it is spread all over the world.
Textile is a flexible material made by the interlocking network method of yarn or thread. We get textiles by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knitting, tatting, felting, bonding or braiding the yarn.
The Common Textiles Used To Make Shoes
- Cotton
- Wool
- Nylon
The shoes made from them are very comfortable and versatile in design. You can wear the shoes all day long.
Normally Textiles are used to make the upper part of ordinary shoes. Also, textile shoes are breathable so it helps a lot in heat control. Shoes made from Textile are commonly known as canvas shoes which you can use as casual.
Pros
- Great choice of design
- Breathable and Light weight
- Strong
Cons
- It gets dirty very easily
3. Rubber:
A great advantage of rubber-soled shoes is that they are more flexible. And as I said before, flexibility is the most important thing in shoes.
Rubber is the resin derived from the rubber plant that we have been using for various purposes since childhood.
Due to the strong and flexible nature of rubber, it is mainly used in an important place of shoes, which is the sole of the shoe. It can be outsole, midsole or insole.
Rubber is resistant to water and many other liquids. Therefore, rubber sole shoes will keep your feet dry, provided the rest of the fabric of the footwear should be water-resistant.
Because of the great performance of the rubber material, shoes made from it are widely used by athletes. Most sports shoe outsoles are made of rubber.
Also, multiple types of rubber are used in footwear. For example, Vulcanized rubber has high durability and is a great material for hiking or combat boots. Also, it is not easily perforated.
Crepe rubber, on the other hand, is highly resistant to corrosion and this type of rubber sole is great for walking on concrete and dumps daily without getting dirty.
As rubber is completely natural, the shoes made from it are eco-friendly which has taken place in our hearts along with the feet.
Pros
- Very durable material
- Good tensile strength,
- Tear resistance.
Cons
- Rubber is heavier than other materials like leather, plastic or silicone.
4. Foam:
Today, almost every shoe company uses a material called foam when making shoes. The foam helps to keep shoes of different materials like leather, canvas in the right shape.
Foam is normally made from plastic, synthetic rubber, natural latex or polyurethane. Foam is divided into two parts based on shoe parts making: Open cell and closed cell.
Open-cell foam is also known as KFF or KF foam. KF plastic foam is a type of polyurethane or PU, often used to make comfortable, padded parts of shoes such as collars and tongues. Open-cell foams are breathable so it is used to make the upper parts of shoes.
Closed-cell foam is commonly used to make shoe midsoles and this type of cell is also famous for slippers. Because of the versatile style and comfort, foam slippers are becoming a demand product in our daily lives. Closed-cell foam is a dense material and things made from it are waterproof or elastic.
To get more information about foam you should read What is the right foam for shoes?
If there is one best foam for running shoes, it is probably a mixture of EVA-type foam and PU foam. A good material for EVA cushioning and PU is great for compression resistance.
Pros
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Superb strength
- Tear resistance
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Less breathable (Close cell foam)
- Grips decay rapidly
5. Synthetic:
Synthetic is a man-made chemical reaction component consisting of 2 layers. It is primarily designed to be used as an alternative to natural fibre. It means, it is a fake fibre.
Synthetic are also called in different names- PU leather or simply PU, synthetic leather or simply synthetics. This material is easily produced, so shoes made from it are very affordable. Synthetic shoes can be found anywhere in the world.
Shoes made of synthetic materials are flexible but less durable than shoes made of other materials like leather, Foam. Also, low-quality synthetic shoes easily can get creases on them.
This material is usually used to make the upper part of the shoe. To get better results, use shoes made of high-quality synthetic materials.
Pros
- Water resistant
- Easy to clean
- Light weight
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Less comfortable
- Break-in time
#FAQS
Q. What materials do you need to make shoes?
Basically a normal shoe made with 3 different parts which are the Upper, Midsole and The Outsole. Likewise you need 3 different materials for this 3 parts. The most common materials used to make shoe upper are foam, leather, textiles, and synthetic products. To make the midsole and outsole you cas use the Foam or Rubber.
Shoe making by hand is a time consuming process but if you are interested in making shoe then you should read How To Make Shoes by WikiHow or Watch the video which I added at the bottom.
Q. What raw materials does Nike use?
I have seen Nike shoes made with these six raw materials so far: polyester, rubber, eva foam, cotton, synthetic leather and leather.
Q. What type of rubber is used in shoes?
These 4 types of rubber are commonly used in shoes.
Carbon Rubber – This rubber compound is used to make most running shoe outsoles because of its durability.
Vulcanized rubber has high durability and is a great material for hiking or combat boots. Also, it is not easily perforated.
Blown Rubber is commonly used in sole to support the forefoot. This type of rubber has air injected inside which makes it lighter, softer and more flexible than conventional rubber. It provides a great comfort but is less durable than carbon rubber.
Crepe rubber is highly resistant to corrosion and this type of rubber sole is great for walking on concrete and dumps daily without getting dirty.
Q. Is textile material good for shoes?
Textile one of the best material for shoes! The shoes made from it are very comfortable, lightweight and versatile in design. You will not get tired of wearing such shoes all day long. The role of textiles is important for the design of infinite variety of weaving, color, patterns and special features in footwear. Also, textile shoes are breathable so it helps a lot in heat control.
Q. What is synthetic shoe material?
A hard fact is that the synthetic word is very familiar with the imitation word. Man-made product similar of a natural product.
For example synthetic leather, although the leather word is written in the name, it is not original. A man-made material that can be used as an alternative to leather. However, synthetic materials are not limited to leather. Currently various synthetic materials are available.
Q. Which sole material is best for foot?
PU: Polyurethane is a great material for sole. It is lightweight, flexible and has shock-absorbing properties. The sole made from it is known for the best durability performance.
EVA: It is lighter in weight and more flexible than rubber, in addition EVA can absorb shock better.
Rubber: The rubber provides excellent ground traction on slippery surface. It is also a durable material that enhances shoe durability and longevity.
Q. Is rubber sole good for shoes?
Yes rubber is one of the best material for shoe sole. The first reason is its comfortable and flexible nature. Rubber mainly used in an important place of shoes. The second reason is its durability that enhances shoe life. Shoes made from it are widely used by athletes and sportsperson.
Q. What is mesh shoe material?
Mesh is a fabric made of nylon or polyester yarn. Its biggest advantage is breathability. Shoes made from it are very light in weight and look like carbon. It can be called a similar carbon fabric.
Q. What is EVA sole material?
Ethylene vinyl acetate or EVA is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate that is almost like rubber in softness and flexibility. EVA is a plastic that is a mixture of ethylene and vinyl acetate. It is used as a midsole in sneakers.
Q. Which shoe material is best for running?
In my opinion, we should use the shoes for running which are lightweight, comfortable and importantly breathable. These factors really encourage the foot while running or exercising. However these 3 factors don’t available in all shoe making materials, you can find them only on lightweight shoe materials such as Canvas, Textiles, Mesh.
The identity of a good running shoe depends not only on its material but also on its outsole and midsole material.
If you want a detailed and professionally guided article on Best Shoe Materials For Running then comment down below, I won’t make you upset.
VIDEO:
The Bottom Line:
This is the complete in-depth post “5 all time popular materials are use to make shoes“
In this post I’ve listed 5 best shoe making materials that are using to make shoes in various shapes and designs. Number 1 and 2 are my favorite shoe making materials.
Which part of this article do you like most? And let me know your favorite shoe making materia in the comment section!
Now it’s your turn to tell others about the 5 materials that are used to make shoes.
Hope you enjoyed this short article.
If you found this post informational please share it with your family and friends. I am sure they will appreciate it.
See you in the next post! Tada!