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Hiking shoe soles are typically the most sturdy and inflexible of athletic shoe soles, but offer maximum shock absorption. Basketball Shoes The soles of basketball shoes are moderately flat and made of rubber.
For example, a ballroom dancer might prefer a shoe with a smooth leather sole that makes it easier to glide and turn on the dance floor, while a hiker needs a shoe with a thick, durable and waterproof outsole. 1  Most shoes have soles made out of natural rubber, polyurethane or PVC compounds.