Not all soles are made equally
2 min reading time
If you feel overwhelmed by the wall-to-wall choices the minute you step foot into a shoe store, you’re not alone.
Sole searching… what’s the best material to cushion your feet?
If you feel overwhelmed by the wall-to-wall choices the minute you step foot into a shoe store, you’re not alone.
We are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to the shoe’s style and colour. You can choose from laces, zips, touch fasteners, narrow and wide fit, open and closed toe, fixed or removable insoles and so much more.
Another obvious difference we’re faced with is the wide range of prices, for what looks like very similar shoes. Sure, brand has an influence on the price of shoes. Those flashy Nikes swoosh in at many times the price of super cheap no name trainers.
The other factors include where the shoes are made, with varying costs of labour, and the materials used to make the shoe. Uppers can be natural leather, natural fibres such as cotton canvas, or petroleum based synthetic materials for their advanced properties such as breathability, moisture wicking, and stretchiness.
One of the biggest factors in what makes a shoe comfortable is the sole.
Soles have evolved in shape to provide more anatomical support, bouncier heels, and extra softness for cushioning. Gone are the days where soles would be layered leather! Now you can walk for days on end in complete comfort thanks to advances in materials and manufacturing – and this can indeed influence the final retail price you pay.
Most soles are made via a process called injection moulding. That’s where petrochemical compounds are melted to liquid form and poured into a 3D template called a mould. The cheapest soles might be a precise volume of PVC or PE or PU material is poured into an ‘open top’ mould like a pancake.
More expensive soles are made by injecting the materials into an enclosed 3D shaped mould.
The latest advancement, however, is the creation of “phylon” material, which is a form of compressed EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate). It’s injected with greater pressure to create a denser layer of sole under the foot. The manufacturing process for phylon is becoming more common but remains to push the price of footwear up.
But it’s worth it! Phylon is the choice of athletes such as marathon runners, outdoors and adventure lovers, through to nurses, police, pharmacists and other professions that tend to spend a lot of time on their feet.
Phylon provides superior cushioning, enhanced flexibility, aesthetic versatility, and the material is ultra-light thereby lightening up the weight of footwear.
So next time you walk into a shoe store, firstly try on the shoes that might be a little more expensive. They probably have phylon soles... and you’ll feel the difference.
ViviBlu is pleased to have phylon material in many of the styles on offer. Our Spring Summer Sandal collection includes phylon soles, along with anatomically shaped footbeds for added benefits.
If you’d like more information on our phylon soles, browse our collections or get in touch with us via the contact page.