The cushioning of the shoe soles
We often hear from athletes that the shoe is characterized by good cushioning. Apparently, that's half the battle. But what does sole cushioning actually mean and how does good cushioning affect the running experience?
First of all, we would like to explain what is meant by sole cushioning. The cushioning of a shoe is the ability to absorb the force of impact during each step. During this impact, a vibration travels from the muscles to the bones. This means that the body has to invest a certain amount of force to absorb this impact and roll the foot to continue moving. With a good cushioning system, this vibration is reduced and our body is relieved as it tries to absorb the impact. Each sole provides a different level of cushioning and, depending on the occasion, this can be crucial to having comfortable and functional footwear for sports, hiking or everyday life.
A little tip:When looking for your new BÄR shoes, you can search specifically for the degree of cushioning. Simply enter your desired degree of cushioning in the filter bar under "Degree of cushioning" and all shoes will be displayed. The degree of cushioning is also described in each shoe description under the product images.
You will find a particularly low degree of cushioning in our summer shoes or slippers, for example
You will find medium cushioning in our everyday sneakers and boots, for example..
You will find particularly high cushioning in our sports and hiking shoes, for example
WHAT MATERIAL ARE OUR SHOE SOLES MADE OF?
We use the right material for every shoe requirement. From soft natural rubber or natural crepe to abrasion-resistant polyurethane (PU) or TPU. Natural rubber soles are unbeatably soft and highly flexible. PU soles have the property of providing very good cushioning, which is why PU is mostly used in sports or hiking shoes. It is dimensionally stable and can withstand heavy loads such as rocks and branches. TP polyurethane (TPU) soles are elegant in appearance and very light. They provide good stability and guarantee a safe step. Rubber soles are highly resilient and support the rolling process for a barefoot feel.
The FIRMOFLEX ® technology impresses with its high stability, especially in our mountain comfort hiking boots. There are four cross struts in the forefoot area, which promise a higher degree of firmness without affecting flexibility. FIRMOFLEX® gives the shoe unbeatable durability.
Find out more about: FIRMOFLEX
Find out more about our different soles! Here:Our shoe soles
HYDROLYSIS-DISSOLVING THE SHOE SOLE
We have put together a few tips on how you can prevent hydrolysis on your shoes:
• Clean and care for shoes regularly. You can find all the information about shoe care here: Shoe care in winter
• Store your shoes in ventilated, dry and cool rooms
• Avoid high temperatures, such as those in direct sunlight, as these accelerate the progression of hydrolysis. The leather becomes brittle and breaks.
• Your hiking boots should always be dry. Moisture contributes to mold growth and hiking boots can become deformed.
• Use wooden shoe trees, which are best placed in the shoes immediately after wearing them. The beech wood absorbs the moisture produced in the shoe particularly well. You can find our wooden shoe trees here:Shoe accessories
So why do we use PU soles? Continue reading: Hydrolysis