Information about our Polyurethane & TR Soles

A lot of our soles are made using Polyurethane (PU) or Thermoplastic Rubbers (TPR or TR). We have included some insight into these materials to equip you with a better understanding of what they are, how to care for them and how to get the best use out of them.

Polyurethane (PU)

PU Soles are good quality and ideal for long wearability. It is long lasting and comfortable whilst being lightweight, abrasion and water resistant.

Shoes made with PU soles are flexible, comfortable and easy to wear offering great oxidation and bending performance. They also act as an excellent shock absorber.

Our PU soles can be cleaned using a soft scrubbing brush to clean off the dirt from the PU sole and wipe clean with a damp cloth. They cannot, however, be dried in front of any artificial heat source, nor in the sun. Allow them to dry off in a shaded and dry spot.

PU soles benefit from being worn often in order to maintain their condition and help them last longer. Whilst PU is a highly durable material, if stored for prolonged periods of time without being worn it can be prone to a process called PU Hydrolysis which is a chemical process whereby moisture is absorbed into the sole causing the PU to disintegrate, and is more prevalent, but not limited to, coastal areas like KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. It is not recommended to store shoes and boots in their boxes.

To combat PU Hydrolysis we encourage thoroughly cleaning the soles before putting them away and wear them often. Don't save your shoes for special a special occasion. Tsonga shoes are everyday shoes.

Thermoplastic Rubber (TR)

The Thermoplastic Rubber soles (TR) has similar properties to rubber and plastic. TR is a synthetic rubber that melts into liquid when heated and becomes solid when cooled. It has been made from Polymer SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene).

Unlike natural rubber, TR can be recycled or remoulded as it does not have cross-linked bonds like natural rubbers - thus allowing it to recrystallise several times.

TR is used extensively in sole production being an easy and economic process that is excellent value for money, has great aesthetic versatility being easy to mould and lightweight and is fully recyclable. It has non-slip properties and is also flexible and comfortable.