100% Natural Rubber: Ancient Art, Innovation & A Modern Miracle
When it comes down to rubber materials in shoes, does it matter whether the shoe you want to buy is made with 100% genuine rubber or a synthetic rubber?
In short, the answer is yes. When a shoe is made with real rubber, it is going to last you longer, protect your feet better, and keep you consistently dry, among other benefits. For all of these reasons, genuine rubber is an excellent resource in the making of shoes.
Rubber has a high rate of resiliency, meaning that it can easily return to its original shape when pressed or stretched. This is great when it comes to the soles of shoes because the sole of the shoe will last a long time, even when getting stepped on in continual use.
Rubber is also very hard to damage. Because it is so tough, it is very resistant to cuts, tears, and chips, so when you wear shoes with a rubber sole your feet are being very well protected.
While rubber is doomed in intense heat like heat from a fire, it is resistant to hot climates---you don’t have to worry about walking around in Hawaii and having your shoes melt off your feet. In fact, genuine rubber would have to be exposed for a long period in heat hotter than 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rubber is also good at adhering to other materials, which makes things nice in the production of shoes and sandals because shoes are usually made with many materials. For instance, many of the shoes from Scott Hawaii have a rubber outsole, rubalon insole, and PU outsole. The fact that rubber is easy to bind to other materials is a great advantage in these situations.
So how is rubber made? Natural, 100% rubber takes a process that starts with latex being harvested. When harvested, latex is a runny, milky white liquid, and is usually collected from a type of tree called Hevea brasiliensis, better known as “rubber trees.” This is not the only plant that produces latex---some 200 plant species have it, including the common dandelion---but the rubber tree is the species that makes up 99% of the world’s rubber.
Latex is collected from these trees in a similar way that maple syrup is collected from a sugar maple tree. First, the rubber tree is tapped, meaning that a v-shaped cut is made in the bark. Then it drips down into a cup placed there by the harvester.
Once latex has been harvested, it is filtered and washed, and then mixed with acid, causing a reaction that makes a rubber coagulation. This concoction is pressed into sheets and dried. Next, big machines roll over the rubber to make it softer and more malleable. Then more ingredients are added and the rubber is cooked, making the final product.
Most rubber is black, but rubber can be made a variety of colors. A popular one for shoe soles is white because white rubber is non-marking. This means that when it is rubbed quickly on a surface, it will not leave a black mark, making white rubber non-marking soles popular in sports with a court, such as tennis, basketball, or volleyball. Non-marking rubber preserves the clean look of the court.
Natural rubber is a very strong, durable, and flexible material. When you buy shoes with a real rubber sole, you’ll notice how well it absorbs shock and how springy your steps will become.
Leave a comment
Also in Aloha News
Nubuck Leather: Silky Soft, Long Lasting Quality
Continue reading
The Makaha Town & "The Slippah" Hawai'i Can't Stop Loving
The sandal gets its name from Mākaha, a town in Honolulu county on the island of Oahu, though it is located about 35 miles north of Honolulu.
The town is well-known in Oahu for its excellent surf and history, as well as stunning beach views and thriving populations of sea turtles.
Continue reading
What is Polyurethane Leather? Benefits of PU Made Sandals
You’re looking for a shoe that is smooth and durable, and feels great on your feet. Perhaps a shoe coated in Polyurethane, abbreviated as PU, is for you. But what exactly is PU?
Polyurethane is a polymer, or synthetic resin. PU is desirable because of its strength, durability, water resistance, and because it generally dries as a transparent, taking on whatever color it is dipped in or whatever it’s brushed on. It also tends to be scratch-resistant.
But, you may be wondering, what does this varnishing material have to do with shoes?
PU is most commonly connected in the shoe world to PU leather. PU leather is split leather, or an animal hide that has been split into thinner sheets than top-grain leather is, and then dipped into the PU resin to create a thicker, water-resistant, and more durable material. This PU leather is what is generally seen on shoes, although regular PU may be brushed onto a rubber or EVA surface to make it tougher, or PU may be molded into plastic sheets to be used on the outsoles of shoes, especially running shoes and sandals.
Although PU leather generally has a hide base, it is categorized as a synthetic because it has been altered by the polyurethane. Some PU leathers, called vegan leathers, do not have any animal hide products at all, but instead are made of fabric brushed with polyurethane made to look like genuine leather.
There are some definite upsides that PU leathers have that top-grain leathers do not. First of all is the cost. Genuine top-grain animal-hide leather can be prohibitively expensive because of the amount of labor and time it takes to complete the finished product. Using PU leather maintains the look and feel of leather while keeping costs down.
Secondly, because of the PU varnish, polyurethane leather is more waterproof than top-grain leather, which is perfect for sandals, flip flops, slides, or other shoes that might be brought on adventures that involve water.
It’s also lighter than genuine leather. Think of a 100% leather boot. It’s usually tough and very heavy. For a sportier shoe, there’s a great advantage to having PU leather, and that’s the weight (or rather, lack thereof). PU leather is very light, so when a sandal or other shoe is made with PU leather, it’ll be easier to walk in, travel with, and hop into when you need to get moving quickly.
PU leather looks and feels great on shoes, but many other products take advantage of PU leather. For example, wallets and purses often use PU leather, as do office chairs and other office supplies, backpacks, journal covers, and low-cost car interiors.
Still, PU leather arguably looks and feels best on footwear, as it is one of the only products in which the PU leather, which feels like top-grain leather, comes into contact with your skin. PU leather takes the stress off, because you can rest assured that you didn’t have to pay an exorbitant amount for it, and because you can clean it with water---something that simply isn’t an option for top-grain hide. Because it is water-safe, you can take the caution you’d normally have to take with leather and throw it to the wind. Want to head to the beach with your PU leather sandals? Go for it! The polyurethane can take it.
Make sure to check out the sandals available with PU leather options on AlohaShoes.com to get a sense of what PU leather looks like on sandals and slippers. Chances are you won’t be disappointed, and the price point for these products can’t be beat.
Continue reading