![]() But they’re a fine option for an everyday boot and certainly grippier than a flat leather sole, but if you’re looking for something for inclement weather (and aren’t excited to ice skate to your destination) then skip this one. That said, cork nitrile soles often have no tread so they’re not ideal for slippery conditions. It’s also much more wear resistant and oil resistant then leather - believe it or not, they much grippier than you’d think. This makes it more lightweight and (subjectively) more comfortable than a lot of rubber outsoles, and it doesn’t wear down as fast as leather. This is a composite material that’s made by mixing pieces of cork with rubber. If you’re looking for the durability of rubber but not the weight, it’s worth looking at. Cork Nitrile SolesĪs we transition away from natural products to rubber, I wanted to mention this midway point between natural and unnatural: nitrile cork. The famous Alden Indy‘s cork nitrile sole 2. But if you’re going for straight leather soles, you might want to look for double or triple soles (which take longer to break in, but they’re more durable) or “oak soles,” which is a certain type of extra hardy veg-tanned leather. It’s worth noting that there’s no shortage of combination leather-rubber soles, like the Fineline rubber strip on these Helm Zind boots, or the studded rubber added to these Thursday Cavaliers. But then you’ve got ugly soles that all of a sudden don’t look that dressy. Now, they scratch up as you wear them in, and that does confer more grip - but then the shoes are not as smooth and dressy. ![]() The Wolverine 1000 Mile after a couple of weeks of wear. The downsides are that it’s not that durable, they wear down relatively quickly, they don’t perform well in wet weather, and when they’re fresh out of the box they have zero grip - it’s really easy to fall on our butt, something I’ve done in my Frye boots more than once. The upsides of leather outsoles are many: they’re breathable, flexible, they break in easily, they sound great when you’re click clacking on linoleum, and the big one is that they’re soft, so they mold to your foot over time - in that regard, many consider them very comfortable. The famous closed channel leather sole from Carmina Because they’re so slim and low profile, they’re best known for being used on formal shoes and boots like the Carmina Chelsea (below), but you’ll also find them on some more rugged footwear like the Wolverine 1000 Mile (a little further below). ![]() Usually considered the dressiest of all soles, it’s also the oldest: leather soles have been around for thousands of years, and today they’re usually vegetable tanned.
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