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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.
Nicola Tree/Taxi/Getty Images. Definition: The sole is the bottom part of the shoe. Also referred to as the outsole of the shoe, this is the part that comes in direct contact with the ground. Outsoles can be made of a variety of materials, including leather and rubber.