Common soles are rubber, EVA, PU, MD, TPR and other materials. Which sole material is better?
Sometimes manufacturers combine different materials to achieve the effect of 1+1>2.
1. Rubber material
Rubber is divided into natural rubber and synthetic rubber.
①Natural rubber
Natural rubber is very soft and has excellent elasticity, but lacks abrasion resistance. When making shoes, it is usually used for indoor sports shoes.
②Artificial synthetic rubber
Among man-made synthetic rubbers, abrasion-resistant rubber, hard rubber and carbon rubber are more commonly used in the manufacture of shoes. These rubbers are more wear-resistant than natural rubber.
Wear-resistant rubber: mainly used for the outsole of tennis shoes.
Hard Rubber: Mainly used for the outsoles of multi-purpose shoes and basketball shoes.
Carbon Rubber: Mainly used in the outsoles of running shoes.
Advantages and disadvantages of rubber material:

• Advantages: non-slip, wear-resistant, excellent elasticity and good flexibility.
• Disadvantages: The rubber sole will be heavier and put more pressure on the feetTherefore, in order to reduce the pressure on the feet, many manufacturers combine rubber with other materials, and use rubber particles or rubber sheets on the sole to reduce the weight of the shoe while maintaining anti-slip and wear-resistant properties.

2. EVA material
EVA is a polymer material. The more vinyl acetate, the better the elasticity. It is usually used in the production of jogging shoes, casual shoes and training shoes etc.

• Advantages: light and comfortable, excellent flexibility Skechers' GO WALK series uses EVA to make the outsole to achieve a light and comfortable foot feel while enhancing resilience and shock absorption.

3. PU material
PU bottom refers to polyurethane bottom, which is usually used in the manufacture of high-end leather shoes and sports shoes.

• Advantages: soft texture, good elasticity, excellent wear resistance and oxidation resistance
•  Disadvantages: Not waterproof, poor air permeability. Wearing shoes like this might cover your feet

4. MD material
MD is a material used for shoe soles, which is light in weight, good in elasticity and good in impact resistance. Also known as PHYLON bottom, commonly known as dragon. MD is the secondary foaming material of EVA, that is, the material obtained after being injected into the mold and fired twice at high temperature.
The softness and hardness of this material are controlled by temperature. The bigger the fire, the harder the fired bottom, the smaller the fire, the lighter and softer the fired bottom will be

• Advantages: Lightweight, flexible, easy to clean, tear-resistant, good ductility.Many lightweight walking shoes and walking shoes will have MD outsoles

5. TPR material
TPR is a new polymer material that has the properties of rubber and can also be processed and recycled as a thermoplastic.

• Advantages: easy to shape, light and comfortable, low temperature resistance, high coefficient of friction, strong grip
•  Disadvantages: poor air permeability and cushioning ability, if you buy sports shoes, please try to avoid this material

Generally speaking, rubber, EVA, PU, MD and TPR are all commonly used sole materials in the shoe industry. Among them, rubber, EVA, and MD are more commonly used in sports and leisure shoes such as running shoes, basketball shoes, and walking shoes. If there is movement and to reduce movement and if shock absorption is required, these soles can be considered when choosing shoes.