Wednesday, March 17, 2010

What are the bottom of shoes made of?

I just was wondering what different materials could be used for the bottom of high heels. Wood, foam, ect. I was wondering if there's some material I haven't heard of. Thanks.

What are the bottom of shoes made of?
Wood is used in heels only, and not often as it can't stand up to the extreme stress of a heel. Foam is used only for insoles and mid soles. Rubber/plastic compounds and vegetable tanned leather are the two most common materials used in dress shoe soling. Vegetable tanned leather is very thick and stiff and it's used in the most expensive shoes. Rubber/plastic is more common and far less slippery. soles for high heel dress shoes are always reinforced with steel plates, called shanks; so the heel doesn't snap off from the extreme weight and pressure the body puts on the shoe while walking. Dress shoe soles are either cut to fit the shoe last from sheets or strips of soling on rolls or they come in single unit soles.





It's very difficult for hobby shoemakers to find soling, either cut to fit or unit soles. Most places have large minimum order requirements. Some hobbyists work with a shoe repair person, for supplies and for cementing the upper to the sole. Some ingenious shoe makers have used old tires and inner-tubes for soling material. If you put "rubber tire shoes" into a search engine, you'll find a surprising amount of information on the subject.





Mary Wale Loomis has a book for hobby shoemakers, and it's good place to start. http://www.marywalesloomis.com/ she lists places to buy supplies and how high heel dress shoes are cement lasted.





Here's the "shoeschool" set up to respond to the needs of the hobby-cobbler. http://www.shoeschool.com/shoeschool/ind...
Reply:Most will be made of rubber or some combinaion of plastic and rubber. Unless you're a little dutch girl, then they'll be wooden, but that just doesn't sound comfortable.
Reply:rubber
Reply:plastic



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