Finding Better Clothing and Accessories

The issue of how to pick the best sole material for your work boots is perhaps as old as the history of the work boot itself. With the huge variety of options available to the average consumer, this choice can seem daunting, if not impossible to break down. Thankfully, there are certain distinctions you can make between these different options to help you choose the best sole for your budget, lifestyle, and job. Here are some distinguishing features of natural and artificial sole materials, as well as an examination of an interesting gray area in the world of work boots. 

Natural

As a general rule, natural soles are more often seen on work boots worn casually than for labor, since they often don't have the same grip as artificial soles. However, a leather or natural rubber sole will still get many yard work tasks done and look great out at the bar on a Friday night. Natural leather soles lend themselves well to replacement though, so if you get a really high-end pair of boots with a natural leather sole, the boots will well outlive the soles, saving money and looking better with age. 

Artificial

Artificial soles typically offer a greater variety of patterns than natural soles because they are more easily molded than leather, for example. Also, it can be easier to integrate an artificial material into the footbed of a shoe since they can be thermally fused together. Lug soles are the gold standard for all-out grip, since they were originally designed to be the best soles for mountain climbing. Recessed lugs offer similar gripping ability but have a sleeker profile that lends itself better to more casual wear. 

Crepe Soles

Crepe soles can be a big gray area between natural and synthetic soles because the modern artificial crepe sole materials are simply so similar to their natural predecessors that the differences are hardly noticeable. The same rough, spongy look and feel can be attained by tapping into a rubber tree or by firing up a polymer-making machine; the issue of taste comes when it's time to figure out what color you prefer and how finished you want your boots to look. The natural color of a crepe sole is a dark gray, and there is often a fair amount of roughness to a natural crepe sole. If you still want that same cushioned, grippy sole but in a different color scheme and a bit more finished, then an artificial crepe material is for you.