There are two basic parts to a hiking shoe: the upper and the soles. The upper and the soles are made separately. When connected, a new hiking is obtained.

Upper
An upper shoe is everything above the sole, ie the part of the shoe that encloses the foot and maintains the soles attached to the foot.

Here are some of the materials :
– Leather uppers
The most traditional material for hiking shoes and sneakers because it has stretchability (with up to 20-30% when steamed to perform stretch) and maintain the stretched Kacamata Rayban shape. It is also abrasion resistant and puncture resistant, and also breathable.

Leather will retain its ability to transmit perspiration vapor when the heat builds up inside the shoe. It absorbs and disperses moisture quickly and efficiently. It is also flexible and comfortable. Leather structure provides good resistance to breakage because the fibers are not oriented in any fixed address.
Leather has three layers :
– Grain (outermost side of the hair)
– Inner corium core layer
– Epidermis.

Read More : Types of Hiking Boots and The Pros and Cons

In the production of mountain footwear, most commonly used types of leather are:
– Full-grain leather: Offers excellent durability and abrasion resistance and very good resistance to water. Is also used most often in the backpack boots built for long trips, heavy loads and rugged terrain.
– Split-grain leather : Is usually combined with nylon or nylon mesh to create a lightweight boot that provides excellent breathability. The benefit is lower cost, however, the drawback is less resistance to water and abrasion. Nubuck leather : Is full-grain leather that has been polished to look like suede. It is very durable and resistant to water and abrasion. It is also quite flexible, but also requires time sufficient to break before an extended walk.

– Fabric-leather uppers
Many light hiking shoes and boots copying the design of nylon suede running shoes. This works well for 3-season hiking. It is not a good choice for snow, though.

Uppers are mostly fabric, often nylon mesh in shoes, but usually textured nylon in boots, reinforced cloth, natural or synthetic leather. This design requires many seams, which are vulnerable to abrasion. Moreover, sand and dirt can penetrate nylon much more easily than leather making such membranes do not last as long in synthetic boots and leather boots.

– Synthetic Leather uppers
Have the advantage of being non-absorbing and quick-drying, though not very breathable. They often come in combination with nylon.