Anti-slip is an important feature of any shoe outsole. The design of the outsole pattern and selection of materials controls the amount of anti-slip. When designing an outsole, it is important to understand the environment and surfaces the outsole will encounter. Anti-slip is also directional. A mountain hiking boot will require lateral anti-slip on rough terrain, while a safety shoe sole needs to support anti-slip over multiple terrains and over multiple work environments.
An outsole design must have some supportive feature to ensure users can walk or run safely and also comfortably. Support can come from wider bases or added components such as molded plastic counters or rubber cut soles. An added cushioned insole will also help alleviate any discomfort caused by wearing the footwear for a long period of time.
Depending on the intended purpose of the shoe, the midsole and outsole will require more or less flexibility. While more flexibility is usually a good thing, too much flexibility can cause instability and lead to foot fatigue. The general rule is, the heavier the load and the rougher the terrain, the stiffer the outsole. Geko Grip outsole is designed the just right flexibility in mind.
The durability requirements of an outsole will depend on the environment and tasks selected for the particular shoe. The fine leather outsoles of women’s dress shoes and men’s office shoes are perfect for smooth stone hallways and carpeted of offices, but would last only a few steps on a rainy construction site or mountain trail. For safety shoes this cannot be the case, this is where Geko Grip with all its features mentioned above will contribute to the durability and life span of the shoe.
Footwear needs to be appropriate to the occupation, the working environment and feet protection. Outsoles are made from polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and rubber (nitrile rubber), PVC and other materials. With this GEKO Grip, we decided to go for Nitrile rubber outsole as Nitrile rubber is more resistant than polyurethane to oils and fuel and has greater puncture-resistance than polyurethane made outsole.
Aspida Sdn Bhd.
No.8, Jalan Astaka U8/84A,
Bukit Jelutong Industrial Park,
40150 Shah Alam,
Selangor, Malaysia