part of a shoe immediately beneath the foot during wear
Older Constructions
In older constructions such as handwelted, Goodyear welt, and Blake construction, sock liners are relatively thin layers of material, often vegetable tanned leather, laid into shoes after delasting to cover the tops of the insoles. They serve to:
- improve the appearance of the interior of the shoe
- improve the surface texture felt by the foot
- cover and protect the foot from any clinching nails or protruding wood pegs
- take up excess volume within the upper
Sock liners may cover only the seat, the seat and the waist, or the full surface of the top of the insole. When covering less than the full surface, their leading edges are often skived to avoid a felt ledge and to help prevent delamination when the shoes are taken off.
Newer Constructions
In slip-lasted and other, newer constructions with lay-in insoles, the term “sock liner” may be used for a thin layer of material, often leather, laminated on top of the foam, cork, or other shock-absorbing material of the insole.