Leather Sole Vs Rubber Sole: Differences, Pros and Cons

Leather sole vs rubber sole

Can you imagine walking on rough terrain without wearing a shoe? Now, think about having a shoe without a good underlying sole to protect your feet.

A shoe without a good sole is no shoe at all, as your feet will hurt constantly, and with time, the pain will spread to the entire leg, which will arise to other ailments subsequently.

There are various types of soles in the market today. Some of them are rubber, leather, PU sole, EVA sole, TPR sole, etc.

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Each sole type has peculiar features, and of course, serves different purposes. For the sake of this post, we shall be comparing leather soles and rubber soles.

Leather sole vs rubber sole: Differences

Leather soles are more durable and can maintain their color for a long time. The downside is that they may be more expensive than rubber soles and there is a risk of the leather sole staining the floor.

Rubber soles, on the other hand, can grip better than leather ones and they are generally cheaper than them.

One important thing to note is that rubber soles do not last as long as leather ones because of their spongy nature.

Here are other differences

  • Source: Leather sole is made from processed animal skin, while the rubber sole is from processed latex which is gotten from a rubber tree.
  • Cost: A leather-soled shoe is quite expensive as compared to a rubber sole.
  • Maintenance: Rubber is quite easy to maintain, unlike the leather sole.
  • Purpose: Leather sole is mostly used for formal events, unlike the rubber sole.
  • Resistance: Rubber sole is resistant to moisture and slip, unlike the leather-soled shoe.
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Leather sole or Rubber sole: Which should you buy?

Obtaining a shoe with either of the soles depends greatly on the purpose for which you choose to get them. Speaking of your budget, one can comfortably go for a rubber-soled shoe as the leather-soled may leave your purse weeping.

However, a good leather-soled shoe is perfect for formal events and you should go for it if you are planning to go for a job interview.

As an athlete, due to the slip resistance and relative lightweight nature of the rubber sole, you are advised to go for it.

Leather sole vs rubber sole
Leather sole

Advantages of leather sole

  • It is comfortable as the material adapts to the way one walks.
  • The leather sole is breathable, which is necessary for keeping the feet of the user healthy.
  • Leather soles can be replaced with ease with new ones.
  • It is classic to wear; the best choice for formal occasions.
  • A leather sole provides support and has good resistance against twists.
  • The leather sole is sustainable and lasts a long time.

Disadvantages of a leather sole

  • Soles made of thinner layers are fragile.
  • Leather absorbs moisture and with time, the sole gets bulged and cracks.
  • Leather-soled shoes are quite expensive.
  • Constant overuse of the shoe may lead to wear of the sole.
  • For the animal activists (vegans), the leather sole is a no-go, as it is made from animal skin.
Leather vs rubber sole
Rubber sole

Advantages of rubber soles

  • It offers slip resistance to surfaces with oil or water on them.
  • A rubber sole is also resistant to abrasion
  • As an insulator, rubber protects the feet against electric shock and burns resulting from high temperature
  • A rubber sole absorbs shock
  • They are generally affordable.
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Disadvantages of rubber sole

  • Rubber can’t mold to one’s feet, thus, it is not very comfortable to the user.
  • Once a crack appears, the sole is damaged and cannot be repaired
  • Rubber-soled shoes have a vibe of funkiness and clearly can’t be worn to a formal event.

In summary, your choice of either a leather or rubber sole depends on the purpose of the shoe. A formal shoe is best with a leather shoe, but sports and casual shoes are good with rubber soles.

We hope too that we’ve been able to help you out on the journey of finding the right shoe sole.


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