Top 10 Leather & Footwear Testing Instruments

Leather and footwear products must meet high standards of durability, safety, comfort, and appearance. Testing instruments are essential for evaluating the physical, mechanical, chemical, and functional properties of leather, synthetic materials, and finished footwear products. They ensure products comply with international quality standards and customer expectations. Below is a detailed list of the top 10 leather and footwear testing instruments, their applications, and standard compliance.

1. Leather Tensile Strength Tester

Function & Applications:

Measures the tensile strength and elongation of leather, ensuring it can withstand stretching and pulling forces during use.

Application Scenarios:

Full-grain and split leather testing

Synthetic leather evaluation

Upper material quality control for shoes

Standards Compliance:

ISO 3376 (Leather — Physical and mechanical tests)，

ASTM D2209，

2. Leather Flexing & Folding Tester (Flexometer)

Function & Applications:

Simulates repeated bending and flexing of leather or synthetic materials to evaluate durability and crack resistance.

Application Scenarios:

Shoe uppers

Leather bags and accessories

Gloves and industrial leather products

Standards Compliance:

ISO 5402-1 / 5402-2，

EN ISO 5402，

3. Abrasion Resistance Tester (Martindale or Taber)

Function & Applications:

Assesses the wear resistance of leather and shoe materials through repeated friction cycles, predicting long-term durability.

Application Scenarios:

Shoe uppers and linings

Leather accessories

Upholstery leather

Standards Compliance:

ISO 11640，

ASTM D3389 / ASTM D4966，

4. Water Absorption & Water Resistance Tester

Function & Applications:

Evaluates leather or footwear materials for water absorption, penetration, and resistance to moisture.

Application Scenarios:

Waterproof shoes

Outdoor leather goods

Protective footwear

Standards Compliance:

ISO 5403 (Leather water absorption)，

ASTM D570 (Water absorption test)，

5. Leather Color Fastness Tester

Function & Applications:

Tests color stability under rubbing, perspiration, light exposure, and washing conditions to ensure leather maintains its appearance.

Application Scenarios:

Shoe uppers and linings

Leather jackets and accessories

Bags and belts

Standards Compliance:

ISO 105-X12 (Color fastness to rubbing)，

ISO 105-A02 / A03 (Color fastness to water and light)，

AATCC standards，

6. Leather Thickness Gauge

Function & Applications:

Measures the thickness of leather materials to ensure uniformity and suitability for specific applications.

Application Scenarios:

Shoe uppers and soles

Leather garments

Bags and belts

Standards Compliance:

ISO 2589，

ASTM F2414，

7. Footwear Flexing Tester

Function & Applications:

Simulates the bending and flexing of shoe soles and uppers to evaluate durability, cracking, and fatigue resistance.

Application Scenarios:

Sports shoes

Casual and safety footwear

Leather and synthetic soles

Standards Compliance:

ISO 17707，

EN ISO 20344 (Footwear testing)，

8. Leather Tear & Puncture Tester

Function & Applications:

Measures tear resistance and puncture strength of leather and footwear materials to ensure mechanical durability.

Application Scenarios:

Shoe uppers and linings

Gloves and protective leather

Industrial leather components

Standards Compliance:

ISO 3377-2 (Tear resistance)，

ASTM D4705 (Leather puncture strength)，

9. Heat & Aging Tester

Function & Applications:

Simulates high temperature and environmental aging to assess leather and footwear material performance over time, including hardness, flexibility, and color stability.

Application Scenarios:

Shoe uppers and soles

Leather bags and garments

Industrial protective footwear

Standards Compliance:

ISO 5403 (Leather aging)，

ASTM D3045 (Environmental aging)，

10. Slip Resistance Tester / Friction Tester

Function & Applications:

Measures the slip resistance and friction of shoe soles on different surfaces to evaluate safety and anti-slip performance.

Application Scenarios:

Safety shoes

Outdoor footwear

Casual and sports shoes

Standards Compliance:

ISO 13287 (Slip resistance)，

ASTM F2913 (Footwear traction test)，

Professional Leather & Footwear Testing Solutions

We specialize in manufacturing leather and footwear testing instruments, covering mechanical, chemical, durability, water resistance, color fastness, and slip performance tests. Our equipment complies with ISO, ASTM, EN, and AATCC standards, widely used by shoe manufacturers, leather suppliers, and quality control labs.

2025-11-17 17:07