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If you&#;ve come to this page, you are probably familiar with what rain boots are and the need for high quality, waterproof boots. But, have you stopped to think, what are rain boots made of? Well, most waterproof boots are made from either natural rubber or polyvinyl chloride - a synthetic material colloquially known as PVC or vinyl.
Natural rubber comes from the latex (sap) of the rubber tree (Havea brasiliensis) which grows globally in tropical biomes such as Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia. PVC, on the other hand, is a type of plastic formulated in a lab and derived from petroleum. There are pros and cons in working with a nature-based or a synthetic substance as each material offers something different with regards to quality, durability, weight, and affordability.
First, let&#;s chat about natural rubber! All Merry People gumboots are made with natural rubber outer and sole. To be transformed from latex into rubber (and then into your gumboots), natural latex undergoes vulcanisation, a process developed and patented by Charles Goodyear of Goodyear tyres. Vulcanisation tempers the rubber and allows it to be easily moulded into other shapes. From there, it is die-cast into the curved shapes of boots. This is a longer production process than the methods used in crafting PVC gumboots, but the result is higher quality insulation, softness, and anti-corrosion performance.
The latex of the rubber tree is naturally elastic, soft, and mouldable and it keeps those qualities after vulcanisation. This natural feature is what allows Merry People gumboots to soften, stretch and adapt to your foot with wear. But, as anyone who has used a rubber band knows, this soft elasticity is still quite durable! Once natural rubber undergoes vulcanisation and is cast into a shape it will hold - even at extreme temperatures. This is what allows us to rate our boots for below-freezing temperatures and allows our customers to wear their gumboots in the snow. Finally, as a product derived from nature, rubber is less toxic and damaging to produce and is biodegradable.
The durability, elasticity, and quality of natural rubber does come with trade offs in weight and cost. By its nature, rubber is a heavier material than PVC, meaning natural rubber gumboots are heavier than PVC gumboots. The manual work involved in tapping latex from the rubber tree and processing it into rubber is also more expensive than the processes involved in fabricating PVC. This means that natural rubber gumboots are generally more expensive than PVC gumboots. There is, however, a tradeoff to be made as the higher initial cost for durable natural rubber is paid off in the longevity of the material as your boots will not need to be replaced frequently. We believe strongly in the value behind durability and assessing the cost-per-wear of your gumboots and we stand by this with a one-year warranty on our boots.
Now let&#;s talk about PVC! PVC is a lightweight synthetic plastic produced, in part, from petroleum. Creating PVC is a complex process involving lots of chemistry, but it is also now a very popular and inexpensive process used across a broad range of industries. To convert PVC into boots, tiny pellets of PVC are melted into a liquid form, then poured around a boot mould in a process called injection-moulding. Injection moulding is used for an array of projects, making it a relatively inexpensive process for fabrication and makes PVC boots a popular low-cost option for waterproofing and for those looking for light-weight boots.
The affordability and lightness of PVC does, however, come with trade-offs. Notably, PVC lacks the stretch of natural rubber and will not stretch to shape your foot. This stiffness can lead to harsh edges on your rain boots and the common complaint that rain boots are uncomfortable. This also means that if your foot is not the standard width of a boot mould, you may find it difficult to fit your foot in the boot. PVC is also less durable than rubber, so while it may be cheaper to purchase initially, they often do not last as long as natural rubber boots. This increases the cost-per-wear value as the boots may need to be replaced or repaired more frequently than natural rubber boots. Some manufacturers work around this by mixing in natural rubber with the PVC to create a hybrid shoe. This combo can keep the cost down, but still lacks the durability and longevity of using 100% natural rubber.
With so many different words used at all stages of production and marketing, &#;rubber&#; has become an umbrella term for any plastic material that has a rubber-like feel (e.g., bouncy, elastic) so it is important to double-check the component of your boots! Each material has its own pros and cons, so there is no &#;right&#; answer to what material is best for your needs. But if you are looking for a durable, long-lasting, high-quality natural rubber for your waterproof boots, then be sure to check out our Bobbi rain boots! With over 1,500 5-star reviews, they are sure to carry you through all your daily adventures!
Stay Merry everyone!! xx
Rubber and PVC are close and sharp competitors in the footwear industry. The two materials are often used to create the classic wellington style boot as well as encasing shoes as an outsole. But which material is better for your feet? That&#;s a tricky question, at first glance both PVC and rubber look almost identical, but a closer look allows the differences to shine through. The differences may seem small but can have huge consequences on your wearing experience.
The most obvious difference between the two materials becomes apparent once they are touched. PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride and is a substance made up of plastic. This makes it less dense than rubber and equally more affordable. The affordability and ability to manipulate the material makes it a cost-friendly alternative to rubber for many manufacturers.
However, this comes at a price, PVC can be quite stiff in comparison to rubber and consequently leads to harsh and sharp edges which can cause discomfort against skin. Additionally, it is also less durable than rubber, which contains natural latex making it more flexible. To make up for this, manufacturers occasionally incorporate rubber into PVC to rectify these aspects whilst being able to maintain a lower price range.
Conversely, rubber is a near completely natural material, produced from the sap gathered from rubber trees in the tropics. This tree-derived production process is more eco-friendly than the process of PVC, making it less harsh on the environment. Additionally, natural rubber is biodegradable unlike artificial materials like PVC.
Thanks to the natural latex in rubber making it flexible and naturally comfortable, rubber moves with you instead of against you. For this reason, rubber makes a good option for desert boots and is a prized material for other types of soles. The increased durability of such a material brings a long-term value. While PVC is cheaper on the immediate purchase, it has been proven to fall apart more readily than rubber, meaning repairs and replacement push up the price over time.
Materials used for the manufacture of soles
The sole is one of the most important parts of the shoe, which protects it from wear and largely determines its service life. It is the sole that is subjected to intense mechanical stress, abrasion on the ground and repeated deformations. Therefore, the materials used for the manufacture of soles should be as resistant to environmental influences as possible. In this article I will tell you what materials the sole can be made of and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Outsole Mounting Methods
There are two main methods for attaching soles: glue and injection. But contrary to popular belief, the fastening technology does not affect the consumer properties of shoes. The glue method is used for classic and model weekend shoes, most often on leather or tunne soles. In the manufacture of comfortable shoes for everyday wear, the injection method is most often used.
Soles made of different materials are characterized by different methods of fastening. Soles made of polyurethane are most often made by direct casting, but in rare cases, the pre-molded sole is glued to the top. Soles from TPU are obtained by injection molding at high temperature under pressure. Also made of thermopolyurethane heels. The bottom of thermoplastic elastomer is molded by injection molding, and then glued. PVC soles are most often fixed by injection molding in the manufacture of shoes for outdoor activities and everyday wear. EVA soles are attached to the top of the shoe only by injection molding, and tunit and leather soles are only glued. For TPR, both options can be applied.
Soles made of polyurethane (PU, PU)
Advantages: Polyurethane has good operational properties: it weighs little, since it has a porous structure, is well resistant to abrasion, flexible, has excellent shock absorption and good thermal insulation. The soles made of polyurethane are light and flexible, therefore they are used in shoes where these characteristics are of particular importance.
Disadvantages: The porous structure of polyurethane is also a kind of flip side of the coin. For example, because of it, the polyurethane sole has poor adhesion to snow and ice, so winter shoes with PU soles slip very much. Also a minus is the high density of the material and loss of elasticity at low (from -20 degrees) temperatures. The consequence of this is faults in the places of the bend of the sole, the rate of occurrence of which depends on the characteristics of the operation of the shoe, in particular, on the person&#;s gait, degree of mobility and other factors.
Polyurethane Soles (TPU, TPU)
Advantages: Polyurethane has a fairly high density, so that it is possible to make soles with a deep tread from it, which provide excellent traction. Also, the advantages of TPU are high wear resistance and resistance to deformation, including cuts and punctures.
Disadvantages: The high density of polyurethane is at the same time its drawback, because because of this the weight of the thermo-polyurethane sole is quite large, and the elasticity and thermal insulation leave much to be desired. To improve these characteristics, TPUs are often combined with polyurethane, thereby achieving a reduction in the weight of the sole, increasing its thermal insulation and elasticity. This method is called two-composition molding, and it is quite simple to find out: the sole made using this technology consists of two layers, and the upper layer is made of polyurethane (PU), and the lower one in contact with the ground is made of polyurethane.
Thermoplastic soles (TEP, TRP)
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Advantages: This material can be considered year-round. It is durable, flexible, resistant to frost and wear. TEP provides good cushioning and traction. Thanks to the manufacturing technology of soles from TEC, its outer layer is monolithic, which provides strength and the internal volume is porous, retaining heat. Thermoelastoplast can be recycled, which means that its use in the soles saves resources and does not pollute the environment.
Disadvantages: At high and very low temperatures (above 50 degrees and below -45 degrees) TEP loses its properties, so it is used only in everyday shoes and, by the way, is rarely used for special shoes.
Soles made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Advantages: PVC soles resist abrasion, are resistant to aggressive environments and are easy to manufacture. They are often used in home and children's shoes, and earlier they were especially widely used for special shoes, since when mixed with rubber, PVC receives properties such as oil and gas resistance.
Disadvantages: PVC is used only in the manufacture of casual shoes for autumn or spring, because this material has a large mass and low frost resistance, not withstanding temperatures below -20 degrees. In addition, the PVC sole does not attach well to the leather upper of the shoe, so quality leather shoes with a PVC sole are complex and expensive to manufacture.
Ethylene vinyl acetate soles (EVA)
Advantages: EVA is a very lightweight material with good cushioning properties. It is used mainly in children's, home, summer and beach shoes, and in sports shoes - in the form of inserts, because it is able to absorb and distribute shock loads.
Disadvantages: Over time, EVA soles lose their cushioning properties. This is due to the fact that the pore walls are destroyed, and the entire mass of EVA becomes flatter and less elastic. Also, EVA is not suitable as a material for winter shoes, since this material is very slippery and unstable to frost.
Thermoplastic rubber soles (TPR, TPR)
Thermoplastic rubber - This is shoe rubber made from synthetic rubber, which is stronger than natural rubber, but no less elastic. However, modern technology allows using various additives to increase its flexibility.
Advantages: Thermoplastic rubber has a low density and, accordingly, a lower mass than other materials. There are no through pores in it, so moisture does not pass through it. However, there are surface pores in the TPR, and they provide high thermal protection. In addition, TPR, like other porous rubbers, is an elastic material that provides good cushioning properties. Thanks to this characteristic, shoes with soles made of TPD relieve unnecessary stress on the legs and spine.
Disadvantages: The low density of the material can be not only a virtue, but also a disadvantage. In the case of TPR, it leads to the fact that the sole of this material does not differ in particularly outstanding heat-shielding properties. In addition, in wet and frosty weather, the thermoplastic rubber sole slides heavily.
Soles made of leather (leather)
Advantages: Leather sole is used in all types of shoes, including children's, home and model all seasons. Leather-soled shoes look great and allow the foot to breathe, as it is a natural membrane.
Disadvantages: When worn in wet weather, the leather sole may be deformed, and care of it implies the constant use of special sprays and impregnations. The leather has low wear resistance, so the installation of prophylaxis is recommended on leather soles, and for winter shoes it is mandatory, otherwise without it the sole will slide on ice and snow and deform even faster.
Tunit soles (tunit)
Tunit - This is a rubber with the inclusion of leather fibers, so the second name of this material is &#;leather jacket&#;.
Advantages: In appearance, hardness and ductility, tunitic soles are similar to leather ones, but they behave better in operation: they almost do not wear out and do not get wet. It is easy to apply relief to such soles, which gives them a slightly greater grip on the surface than the leather.
Disadvantages: But even so, shoes with tunit soles are very slippery due to the high stiffness of the material. Therefore, tunit is used in the manufacture of only summer and spring-autumn shoes with the adhesive method of fastening.
Soles made of wood (wood)
Advantages: Wood is an environmentally friendly and very hygienic material, and wooden soles have an original appearance. However, recently instead of wood, glued plywood has been used more often for making shoes. It can be made of birch, oak, beech or linden wood, and as a material it is easier to machine, is well formed and inexpensively. Soles using cork material are also popular. When dealing with them, you need to understand that cork, because of its natural softness, cannot serve as the main material for making soles, so cork is used only for decorative covering.
Disadvantages: Wooden soles are tough, wear out quickly and have poor water resistance. In the manufacture of such soles, a lot of material is consumed. Tight cork is prone to steps and defects due to the softness of the material.
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