Are you looking for a high-quality and reasonably priced Chinese sports shoe supplier? Are you curious about the innovative technology and unique design of sports shoes? Do you want to purchase directly from the source factory to get the most competitive price and quality? Here is everything you want!
There are many factors that affect the purchase price of sports shoes, such as upper materials, midsole materials, outsole materials, production processes, etc. Let's take a look at them one by one.
Types, prices and characteristics of sports shoe upper materials
- Mesh material
Price: medium to cheap, the specific price depends on the quality of the material and the production process.
Features: light and breathable, suitable for sports that require a lot of ventilation, such as running shoes.
- Synthetic leather
Price: The price range is wide, from economy to high-end products, usually lower than natural leather.
Features: durable, easy to clean, and imitates the appearance and performance of natural leather.
- Natural leather
Price: usually higher, depending on the type of leather and processing technology.
Features: durable, provides good support, and will form a shape that fits the foot over time.
- Textile
Price: Relatively cheap, suitable for mass production.
Features: Soft, light, can provide a certain degree of breathability, often used in casual sports shoes.
- Flyknit (Nike patented weaving technology)
Price: High, belongs to high-end sports shoe materials.
Features: Lightweight, fit the foot shape, good breathability, one-piece molding reduces waste.
- Primeknit (Adidas patented weaving technology)
Price: High, because it provides superior comfort and support.
Features: Using a single piece of weaving technology, it provides good wrapping and support.
- Neoprene (Chloroprene)
Price: Medium, often used in winter sports shoes due to its good thermal insulation properties.
Features: Soft, elastic, provides good warmth retention.
- Kangaroo Leather (Kangaroo Leather)
Price: High, belongs to high-end sports shoe materials.
Features: Lightweight, soft, very durable, provides a natural fit.
- Canvas (Canvas)
Price: Cheap, very economical and affordable.
Features: Lightweight and breathable, but not as durable as leather, often used in skateboard shoes and casual sports shoes.
- TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
Price: Medium, depending on its thickness and processing technology.
Features: Strong, wear-resistant, can provide support and protection, often used in specific parts of shoes such as toes or heels.
- Microfiber (microfiber)
Price: Medium to high, depending on material quality and purpose.
Features: Soft and smooth, can simulate the look and feel of leather, while being easier to maintain.
- 3D Print (3D printing material)
Price: Higher, especially for custom designs and complex structures.
Features: Can be customized as needed, providing unique appearance and functional properties
Types, prices and features of sports shoe midsole materials
The midsole material of sports shoes is a key factor in determining the cushioning performance, comfort and durability of the shoes. The following are the types, prices and features of several common sports shoe midsole materials:
- EVA (ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer)
Price: Relatively low, it is a common material for economical running shoes.
Features: Good softness and rubber-like elasticity, but relatively poor durability, easy to lose elasticity after repeated use.
- PU (polyurethane)
Price: High cost, often used in high-end running shoes.
Features: High density, heavy weight, excellent durability and cushioning ability, not easy to deform, long service life.
- TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
Price: Moderate cost, higher than EVA but lower than PU.
Features: Durable, flexible, elastic, but heavier than EVA.
- Pebax (polyether block amide)
Price: High cost, often used in high-performance running shoes.
Features: Lightweight, high rebound performance, low energy loss coefficient, strong cold shock resistance.
- Phylon
Price: High cost, Nike's patented technology.
Features: Light texture, good elasticity, good shock absorption and stability, often used in basketball shoes and high-end running shoes.
- Lunarlon
Price: Moderate cost.
Features: It is a mixture of EVA and nitrile rubber (NBR), which is 30% lighter than EVA and Phylon, but has poorer durability.
- Boost (TPU foaming microspheres)
Price: It is expensive and is a patented technology of Adidas.
Features: It is made of foamed TPU raw material particles, has excellent elasticity and shock absorption characteristics, contains micro-enclosed bubbles, and provides strong elasticity and shock absorption functions.
- ZoomX (Pebax ultra-high performance elastomer)
Price: It is expensive and is a patented technology of Nike.
Features: Lightweight, flexible, high resilience, excellent low-temperature impact resistance, and is often used in top-level racing running shoes.
- Li-ning Cloud
Price: The specific price is not provided, and it is a patented technology of Li Ning.
Features: It is made of four different polymer materials such as EVA and rubber, and has different characteristics. The high-density Li-Ning Cloud has the high stability support performance of PU, and the low-density Li-Ning Cloud has higher elasticity.
- DNA (Brooks' patented technology)
Price: Specific price not available.
Features: Usually placed in or on the midsole to provide additional cushioning.
- Gel (Asics' patented technology)
Price: Specific price not available.
Features: Usually placed in or on the midsole to provide excellent impact absorption.
Types, prices and features of sports shoe outsole materials
The outsole of sports shoes, that is, the part that comes into direct contact with the ground, is crucial to the shoe's grip, wear resistance and overall performance. Here are some common types of sports shoe outsole materials, their features and their general price levels (prices vary depending on factors such as brand, technology and market positioning):
- Rubber
Price: Relatively low, an affordable material.
Features: Provides good grip, especially natural rubber. Wear-resistant, but may be slightly heavier than other synthetic materials.
- Carbon Rubber
Price: Slightly higher than ordinary rubber. Features: Very durable, often used in high-wear areas such as the outsole of tennis shoes, providing a longer lifespan.
- Blown Rubber
Price: Similar to rubber, but may vary due to different production processes.
Features: Lightweight and soft, provides good elasticity and shock absorption, but may be slightly less durable than other types of rubber.
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
Price: Medium, slightly higher than rubber.
Features: Lightweight, wear-resistant, and elastic, often used in sports shoes that require additional support and stability.
- Polyamide (Nylon)
Price: Medium to high.
Features: High strength, good wear resistance, often used in the outsole of high-performance running shoes.
- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
Price: Lower.
Features: Lightweight, but may not be as wear-resistant and grippy as rubber, sometimes used as the outsole material of lightweight training shoes.
- AHAR (Asics High Abrasion Rubber)
Price: Higher.
Features: Asics patented wear-resistant rubber, providing excellent wear resistance and grip, often used in long-distance running shoes.
- X10 (Mizuno's carbon rubber)
Price: High.
Features: Mizuno's patented high wear-resistant rubber, durable and provides good grip.
- Polyurethane (PU)
Price: Medium.
Features: Lightweight, wear-resistant, sometimes used in the outsole of basketball shoes and running shoes, providing good responsiveness.
- Mixed materials
Price: Varies depending on the mixed materials.
Features: In order to obtain specific performance, manufacturers may mix different materials, such as a mixture of rubber and TPU, to balance wear resistance, grip and weight.
Types, prices and characteristics of sports shoe production processes
The production process of sports shoes mainly includes the following types, each of which has its own unique price factors and characteristics:
- Cold Bonding Process
Price: Relatively low, because the process does not require high-temperature equipment and has low energy consumption.
Features: Use adhesive to bond the upper and sole together, suitable for a variety of materials such as textiles, synthetic materials, etc. This process is suitable for large-scale production because it can be bonded quickly and the equipment investment is relatively low.
- Vulcanization Process
Price: Medium, because the vulcanization process requires specific high-temperature equipment and a long production cycle.
Features: The rubber sole is bonded to the upper by heating and using sulfur to produce heat-resistant and wear-resistant shoes. Vulcanized shoes have good durability and stability, but the production process is more complicated and requires higher temperatures and pressures.
- Injection Molding Process
Price: High, because the injection molding process requires precision molds and equipment, as well as precise control of materials.
Features: Molten plastic material is injected into the mold to form the sole or other parts. This process can produce shoe parts with complex structures and high precision, which is suitable for the production of high-performance sports shoes.
- Compression Molding Process
Price: Medium, the compression molding process requires special molds, but the production efficiency is higher.
Features: Rubber or other materials are placed in a mold and formed by high temperature and pressure. This process is suitable for the production of soles and other structural parts, and can provide good support and cushioning.
- Stitching Process
Price: Low, this is a traditional shoemaking process that mainly relies on manual operation.
Features: The upper and sole are sewn together by hand or machine. The stitching process can provide good flexibility and customization, but the production efficiency is low, and it is more suitable for the production of small batches or customized shoes.
- Automated and semi-automated processes
Price: The investment cost is high because advanced automated equipment and systems are required.
Features: Improve production efficiency and consistency through equipment such as automated robotic arms, computer-controlled sewing machines and laser cutting machines. Automated processes can significantly reduce labor costs, increase production speed and quality control levels.
Introduction to the sports shoe industry belt
China's sports shoe industry belt is mainly distributed in the eastern coastal areas, with Fujian Province and Guangdong Province being the two most concentrated provinces. As an important city in Fujian Province, Jinjiang City is known as the "China Shoe Capital" for its agglomeration effect of the sports shoe industry. The following is an introduction to several major sports shoe industry belts:
- Jinjiang City (Fujian Province)
Features: Jinjiang City has more than 3,000 shoe companies and produces more than 1 billion pairs of sports shoes annually. It is a well-known sports shoe production base at home and abroad. Many leading domestic sports brands were born here, such as Anta, Xtep, 361 Degrees, etc. Jinjiang's footwear industry chain is complete and rich in resources, but it faces the need for transformation and upgrading, and needs to change from "Made in China" to "Made in China".
- Putian City (Fujian Province)
Features: Putian City is also famous for its shoe production, with a large production scale and mature shoemaking technology. Putian's shoe industry was once known for OEM and high-imitation shoe production in history, but in recent years it has also been working hard to build its own brand and improve product quality and design capabilities.
- Dongguan City (Guangdong Province)
Features: As a major manufacturing city, Dongguan City's shoe industry also plays an important role. Dongguan's shoe industry is known for its flexible supply chain and ability to respond quickly to market changes. It is a OEM base for many international brands.
- Quanzhou City (Fujian Province)
Features: Quanzhou City is not only the administrative district of Jinjiang City, but also an important footwear production base. Quanzhou has a large number of footwear companies and a mature footwear production chain, which has an important impact on the domestic and foreign sports shoe markets.
- Wenling City (Zhejiang Province)
Features: Wenling City also has a place in footwear production, especially the production of plastic shoes and some casual shoes.
- Guangzhou City (Guangdong Province)
Features: Guangzhou and its surrounding areas (such as Huidong) are also important footwear production bases. The footwear industry here is mainly fashion footwear and leather footwear, including the production of sports shoes.
Powerful factories in the sports shoe industry belt and their introduction:
- ANTA (China) Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1991, ANTA originated from a shoemaking workshop in Jinjiang, Fujian. After decades of development, it has become a leading domestic sports goods brand. ANTA provides professional equipment for multiple sports fields, including basketball, football, gymnastics, etc., and cooperates with many national sports teams. ANTA focuses on the technological research and development of its products. It has a number of national patents, such as dual shock absorption technology, moisture absorption and perspiration technology, and has established a national enterprise technology center.
- Hongxing Erke Industrial Co., Ltd.
Hongxing Erke was founded in June 2000 and is headquartered in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Hongxing Erke is one of the earliest shoe companies to use environmentally friendly glue. It has long cooperated with top domestic and foreign tennis events, providing professional equipment for international tennis stars, and has a leading position in the field of tennis apparel in China. Focusing on technological innovation, it has a number of technical certifications and awards, such as the world record certification of "the world's longest continuous cool feeling (27°C) cotton T-shirt".
- Jinjiang Jiangwei Shoes Co., Ltd.
Located in Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, China, it is a gold supplier and a trustworthy supplier. It has established cooperative relations with many well-known brands such as "Afton, OLLO, Blu Kicks, Fallen, Air Walk, Dekline".
- Oasis Shoes
Located in Dongguan, it is a large OEM shoe company (Taiwanese capital). It initially worked for many well-known sports shoe brands. Currently, it mainly produces jogging shoes and sports shoes for Skechers. It has about 10,000 employees and is one of the few shoe companies with more than 10,000 employees left in Dongguan after the big transfer.
Dongguan Shoe Industry Chamber of Commerce
Although it is not a direct sports shoe supplier, as a chamber of commerce, it represents the overall interests of Dongguan's shoe industry, promotes the development of the local shoe industry, and promotes the exchange and cooperation between member companies and domestic and foreign markets by integrating resources and providing information platforms.
