Topy sheet soling

[RockyAussie]

1 hour ago, ScottEnglish said:

Thanks RockyAussie. Your information is really helpful.

To clarify my soling problem, I'm learning to make footwear with flat soles. There is no heel. Hence the soling material wearing too quickly!

Scott

I would suggest you have a long look at all the various types of soling material made by Vibram. I have to ask why you want to do flat soles on these shoes? Men"s shoes normally have a 3/4" or so raise at the heel be it a wedge or heel block and that is because ergonomically they are better wearing that way. If they are too flat you will generally get knee issues and heel spurs just to name a couple of the top of my head. Track running shoes are a different thing because your saving weight and the heel hardly comes into use. By the way hardness rating does not necessarily come into meaning they will last longer. Hard rubbers can often wear out quicker because they have no give. Some heels can be tapered at the back a little to increase the surface contact area which greatly increases the length of wear. This does make for a slightly more rolling walk which is not so bad.

[ScottEnglish]

RockyAussie: My experience of heels, both as a former runner and now as a pedestrian, is that they cause injury. Hence my footwear having flat soles. I'm grateful to you for your comment about hardness not being synonymous with durability. That's something for me to investigate further.

Scott

[RockyAussie]

4 minutes ago, ScottEnglish said:

RockyAussie: My experience of heels, both as a former runner and now as a pedestrian, is that they cause injury. Hence my footwear having flat soles. I'm grateful to you for your comment about hardness not being synonymous with durability. That's something for me to investigate further.

Scott

You may find a product called Topy rug which is pretty good wearing but you would likely want a 3mm layer of aircelite between the upper and the sole for better cushioning. Aircelite is sort of a form of eva foam rubber a bit like thong rubber if you like. I have to ask ...what injury are you talking about?

[ScottEnglish]

RockyAussie: I used to suffer from heel pain when walking and running. This disappeared when I switched from footwear with a raised heel to footwear with a flat sole. Lateral knee pain whilst running was also much reduced after this change.

Scott

[RockyAussie]

On 11/15/2021 at 1:52 AM, ScottEnglish said:

RockyAussie: I used to suffer from heel pain when walking and running. This disappeared when I switched from footwear with a raised heel to footwear with a flat sole. Lateral knee pain whilst running was also much reduced after this change.

Scott

That is good if it works for you. Generally the first signs of heel pain are caused by bad arch support. When the shoe is not a good fit on the foot it allows over extension which then leads to the tendons tearing away from the calcaneus heel bone. Many modern shoes are not built with decent shanks in them if they even have them at all. As you get older you may find that with lower heels you start to suffer Achilles tendon tearing and spurs etc. If you mostly walk around on soft ground and such then you won't generally have many problems but if on concrete ............not good.