Have You Ever Thought About the Bottom of Your Shoes? (2024)

The History and Modern Types of Shoe Outsoles

Have You Ever Thought About the Bottom of Your Shoes? (1)

Updated on 10/04/17

The sole of a shoe, also known as the outsole, is the bottom part of the shoe that comes in direct contact with the ground. Shoe soles are made from a variety of different materials, including natural rubber, leather,polyurethane andPVC compounds. The material used to make the sole depends upon the style and purpose of the shoe.

Take dancing shoes as an example. For a ballroom dancer, a shoe with a smooth leather sole is ideal because it's easier to glide and turn on the dance floor. A trail runner, however, might prefer a running shoe with a lightweight sole that provides support and traction.

Soles are designed to be durable and long-lasting, but they will wear out eventually and are typically the first part of a shoe to go. Most shoes are easily resoled at ashoe repair shop.

History of the Shoe Sole

The first shoes were made out of natural materials, so the outsoles were very thin.American Indians made soft-soled moccasins out of animal hides. During the Middle Ages shoes began to feature soles with hardier materials such as leather and jute, a tough fiber made from plant stems. Shoemaking continued to evolve. In the 1600s shoe soles were almost always made out of leather, which is still the standard in fine leather dress shoes to this day.

Up until theIndustrial Revolutionshoemaking was done entirely by hand. It was an extremely time-consuming process because the leather soles had to be meticulously hand-stitched onto shoes. Leather is a very sturdy material, which is good for durability, but its stiffness makes it very difficult material to work with. The invention of the machine revolutionized the shoemaking process. By the turn of the century, shoemaking had become almost completely mechanized.

Types of Modern Outsoles

The soles of men's and women's dress shoes are typically made from high-quality leather, rubber or a combination of the two. Casual, everyday wear shoes and work shoes often feature soles made out of natural rubber orpolyurethane.

Soles can be made out of one material or different types. For example, an all-leather sole might be a standard feature of a fine dress shoe, but it hardly offers any traction. Because of this, many dress shoes feature a leather sole in the front part of the shoe and a rubber sole in the heel for added traction.

Certain types of soles offer more traction than others due to specific materials or designs. The material used in the sole is based upon the intended purpose of the shoe. For example,athleticshoesoles feature many different types of materials that vary depending upon how the shoe will be used.

Shoes worn to play soccer, baseball, golf and football feature cleats or spikes that dig into the ground and provide much-needed traction. Shoes worn for basketball, wrestling, volleyball and rock climbing have rubber soles that provide greater grip. Cycling shoes are very stiff and sturdy. Hiking boots have soles that are thick, waterproof and offer traction.

Have You Ever Thought About the Bottom of Your Shoes? (2024)

FAQs

How do you describe the bottom of a shoe? ›

The sole is the bottom part of the shoe. It is sometimes referred to as two separate pieces: insole and outsole. The insole is the part of the shoe that has direct contact with the bottom of your foot. The shoe's outsole is the portion that contacts the ground when you walk.

What does the bottom of your shoe tell you? ›

The wear pattern on your shoes can indicate your gait style. All shoes will wear down with use, but certain patterns can mean you overpronate, supinate, or have a neutral gait. A neutral gait will show treadwear at the heel, especially toward the outside heel and below the first and second toe.

Have you ever thought why the soles of your shoe is grooved? ›

Soles of shoes are grooved because the grooves increases the friction and gives the good grip to the person while walking with shoes.

Where is it rude to show the bottom of your shoe? ›

13. Showing the soles of your feet. In many Arab, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist countries, showing the soles of your feet is a sign of disrespect, as they're considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body, since they touch the dirty ground. Men should cross their legs with caution.

How do you describe part of shoes? ›

At its most basic, a shoe consists of heal, toe cap, insole, and outsole that covers the foot. But other secondary parts make up the rest of the shoe anatomy too. They include upper, eyelets, quarter, vamp, lining, tongue, topline and top edge, and these give the shoe more detail and structure.

What are words to describe shoes? ›

List of Adjectives to Describe Shoes
  • athletic.
  • beautiful.
  • breathable.
  • black.
  • buckled.
  • cheap.
  • chic.
  • cute.

Why are the bottom of shoes rubber? ›

Rubber is more durable, grippy, waterproof and lightweight than leather, making it the perfect material for casual wear at the turn of the 20th century. Early rubber-soled shoes typically comprised a canvas upper glued to a sole around 8 millimeters thick.

Is the bottom of shoes rubber? ›

The sole of the footwear is an important part which forms the bottom part of the shoe, which comes in direct contact with the ground. Hence it is also known as an outsole. It is made of different materials like leather, rubber, plastic, and PVC compounds, depending on the styling and purpose.

What is the bottom lining of a shoe called? ›

Insole COver

The last thing that goes into the shoe is the insole lining that covers the bottom (fully or half). Often made from the lining material, it also has a heel rest for your foot. Parts of a Shoe : Insole Heel Cover.

Why are the bottom of my shoes smooth? ›

Unless they're built for anti-slip, the soles of brand-new shoes are generally smooth and unworn. Soles gain more traction once they soften and form abrasions since it allows the sole to obtain more contact with the floor.

Why do tires and soles of our shoes have grooves cite an example examples? ›

The soles of shoes and tyres of vehicles like cars, trucks, etc., are grooved to provide better grip on the floor or roads to move safely because grooving increases friction.

Why do shoes have soles? ›

Since the outsole is the part of your shoe that touches the ground—whether that's pavement, rubber, or trail—it provides traction for grip and protection from the elements.

Is it rude to tell people to take off their shoes? ›

Elaine Swann, etiquette expert: It's perfectly fine to ask guests to take off their shoes, but it's all about how you ask.

Do people really notice your shoes? ›

Your shoes are the first thing people subconsciously notice about you. Wear nice shoes. If you sit for more than 11 hours a day, there's a 50% chance you'll die within the next 3 years. There are at least 6 people in the world who look exactly like you.

Why is showing feet inappropriate? ›

It boils down to the rather practical view that the foot is one of the dirtiest parts of the body and therefore carelessly showing it to another demonstrates a lack of respect.

What is another name for the bottom of a shoe? ›

Outsole: The piece of hard material on the bottom of the shoe.

What do you call underneath of a shoe? ›

Sole: This is the entire part of the shoe that sits below the wearer's foot. As opposed to the upper. The upper and sole make up the whole of the shoe.

What do you call the part under the shoes? ›

The sole and strobel make up what sits under your foot, with the sole of the shoe composed of three separate parts: The strobel is the piece of fabric that lays in the bottom of your shoe directly below your foot. The midsole is the foam layer, responsible for cushioning.

What are the patterns on the bottom of shoes called? ›

As you examine the bottom of your running shoes, you'll probably be able to match them up to one of the three most common wear patterns - medial wear, neutral wear and lateral wear.

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