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The sole is the bottom structure of a shoe, with a complex construction


Broadly speaking, it includes the outsole, midsole, and heel, and narrowly refers only to the outsole.

Broadly speaking, it includes the outsole, midsole, and heel, and narrowly refers only to the outsole. The sole material needs to have basic characteristics such as wear resistance, water resistance, oil resistance, heat resistance, pressure resistance, impact resistance, and good elasticity. According to different sports or usage scenarios, there are specific requirements for the hardness, cushioning, anti slip and other performance of the shoe sole. The materials can be divided into natural base materials and synthetic base materials.
In traditional shoemaking, the sole of the shoe carries complex craftsmanship, such as the "thousand layer sole" cloth shoes in Yinchuan area, which need to go through multiple processes such as mounting and inserting the sole. Modern shoe soles focus on material and structural innovation, such as the waffle shaped shoe sole invented by Bill Bowerman in 1971 inspired by waffle molds, and the use of PU material integrated injection molding technology. The hardness and other properties of the sole need to be standardized and tested to ensure compliance with requirements.