Vulcanized or Cupsole?

If you read the last issue of Transworld Business (March ’08) you saw that there were a lot of articles on shoes which had the recurring words of vulcanized sole and cupsole. I really don’t know the difference, and I’m assuming that unless you work for a shoe company, you don’t know either. But, it’s obviously important or else I wouldn’t keep hearing about it, right? To investigate further, I sent out an email to a few contacts in the shoe world and I thought that once I got their replies, I’d educate you all. However, it’s been like pulling teeth to get the info back, so instead of me educating you, I thought I’d ask the audience—anyone out there that can tell me what the difference between the two are?

Comments

[Tom]

cupsole is made in a mold and the sidewalls are all "one" with the tread. Vulcanized is the "Vans" style construction where the gum rubber sole is bonded with heat and pressure to a sidewall thats made of a rubber banding type material. You can frequently see thermal marks on the vulcanized. Cupsoles look perfect. Also, vulcanized is far more flexible than a cupsole.

[alex]

Thanks Tom for the breakdown. What are running shoes? Or is that completely different?

[Tom]

Runners are exposed EVA. That's the sponge type material found even in a cup sole as well as vulcanized shoes except in this case it extends out to the edges and can be seen. Great for shock absobtion but not so durable to griptape:)

The manufacturing process is more of a sandwich style. Also known as "cut and buff" meaning cut EVA and buff (sand) the edges.

Leter dude.

[alex]

Thanks--very educational!

[vulcanized shoes]

Vulcanized shoes

attractive in price and quality

[evolution-shoes]

evolution shoes are popular with customers because of cheap in price and high in quality,there are skateboard shoes and rolling shoes and health shoes and slippers and boot
wire shelving

[Jack]

Are there any documentation or links detailing the manufacturing of capsole or vulcanized process, specific to shoes and the footwear industry?

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