The sole you choose for your boots will determine how comfortable your feet are, how dry they stay and where you can take them for a walk. There are four main sole types for boots: leather, crepe, rubber-studded and Commando, plus EVA. It is worth understanding the difference and the benefits of all four before deciding on your boot choice for the season or day ahead.
Benefits of leather-soled boots
We obviously love our leather-soled boots. They are so classy and give a satisfying clip as you walk along. Leather is also breathable so when the weather is warmer, your feet will sweat less.
Leather-soled boots will need some care though, including a bit of scuffing on the soles to give them some grip and the addition of polish to make them more weather resistant. If you do get them wet, make sure you dry them out slowly by stuffing them with absorbent paper; this may take several days. NB: Never pop them on a radiator or any other heat source! This sudden introduction to heat will cause them to deteriorate.
Get your leather-soled boots out on dry days or when you know when you are going to be warm and cosy inside.
Benefits of crepe-soled boots
Crepe sole desert boots were worn on the feet of officers in the Second World War. Made from tree sap latex, this textured sole is grippier and springier than leather but is more lightweight than thicker rubber soles.
This makes the crepe sole rather comfortable but also look a little dressier than a sneaker. However, crepe isn’t suitable for a big hike or day in, day out use. They do not provide a lot of support, and they tend to get dirty easily. They are also prone to be a little slippery in wet weather.
However, crepe rubber is also biodegradable and sustainable so a good choice for green-minded folk.
Benefits of studded rubber-soled boots
If you are looking forboots for wet weather thenrubber is the way to go, with soles made by Dainite leading the way in the UK. Their studded rubber soles are their most popular and are used by some of the best traditional shoemakers in the land, including Barker, Cheaney, Church’s, Loake and Tricker’s, for their sleek, low-profile design.
These soles are durable, have great grip and are waterproof underfoot, while the studded design means dirt and debris does not cling on in the same way as seen on a deep-cleated sole. A rubber sole offers a little more bounce so is good for the walk commute and anyone who spends more time on their feet.
Benefits of Commando rubber-soled boots
Also known as a lug sole, the Commando sole dates back to the 1930s when Vibram’s founder, Vitale Bramani, set about designing a new boot style after six of his friends were killed in a mountaineering accident. The result was a deep-cleated, grippy and waterproof sole that has been adopted and adapted by bootmakers across the world. They are military, workmanlike and manly. They will give you plenty of wear and a little more height.
The downside of the Commando sole is that you will need to kick the dirt out of the cleats before you get in the door, or you will not be popular when you traipse mud through your home.
And then there are EVA soles
We need to mention EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) soles, as they are often called rubber (by us too) for simplicity, as they look like rubber, wear like rubber and yet are very much lighter. They offer all the benefits, particularly in Commando style boots and shoes, of the heavier soles, such as grip, bounce and durability, but are more flexible, lighter and often with a less exaggerated pattern to minimise dirt getting tracked in the cleats. If you are a traditionalist, then EVA might not be for you, but the modern gent might see EVA as a very welcome update.
Autumn spells the start of the boot season, but as you can see from above, there are choices to be made depending on the weather and your comfort and activity needs. Our customer service team just loves giving boot advice, so if you are undecided, please do not hesitate to get in touch.