Understanding Types Of Shoe Flexing Tester

Shoe flexing tester is a vital piece of testing equipment in footwear manufacturing and quality‑control laboratories that helps to evaluate flex‑resistance performance of shoes. When it works in good condition, your footwear products can go through reliable durability testing and prevent defective footwear from reaching end‑users.

You’re about to discover what shoe flexing tester is and the different types of shoe flexing tester used in the footwear industry.

Destructive Flex Testing

As the name suggests, destructive flex testing will produce visible damage to the shoe or component being tested. It is the most effective way to determine the flex fatigue limits of shoe materials and bonded seams. Destructive flex testing is essential to discover real‑world failure characteristics of soles, upper fabrics and adhesive joints.

Non‑Destructive Flex Evaluation

Non‑destructive flex evaluation seeks to find early‑stage defects in footwear samples without fully breaking down the specimen. This process does not completely ruin the shoe, but it identifies subtle flaws like tiny incipient cracks or weak bonding, allowing you to assess whether the shoe can hold up for its intended service life.

In effect, non‑destructive flex evaluation helps verify material and assembly quality and, therefore, the quality of the final finished footwear product.

The SATRA TM92 Whole Shoes Flexing Tester GT-KA01-2 is designed to evaluate the flexing durability of complete footwear by repeatedly bending the shoe and checking for cracks or damage. It is suitable for sports shoes, safety shoes, work shoes and other footwear products. The tester complies with SATRA TM92, ISO 24266 and HG/T 2871, and features touch screen control, adjustable bending angles up to 90°, preset test cycles and automatic stopping.

This is used to determine the propensity for materials to crack or otherwise fail at flexing creases, but can also be used to assess whether leathers are likely to produce salt spue. In particular the test simulates conditions in the vamp part of footwear during walking. The test can be conducted with either wet or dry specimens at room temperature. The method is applicable to all flexible materials and in particular those used to manufacture outers and linings of footwear uppers such as leathers, coated fabrics and textiles.

The ROSS Flexing Tester GT-KB05A is designed to evaluate the crack resistance of rubber, PU, PVC, TPR and other flexible sole materials under repeated bending. It is commonly used for footwear sole and rubber material testing according to ASTM D1052, SATRA TM60, BS 5131:2.1, ISO 5423 and ISO 4643. The tester uses a standard ROSS flexing mechanism with repeated bending and stable specimen clamping.

This EN Sole Flexing Tester bennewart flexing machine is used to measure the flexing resistance of shoe soles under continuous movement. Plunge some holes at the maximum bending position, and mount specimen at both grips, one fixed, one movable. Specimen runs flexing owing to the movement of machine. After a certain test cycles, remove the specimen and check its difference of incision length.

The Bally Resistance Flexing Tester GT-KC10A is used to evaluate the flexing durability of leather, synthetic leather, coated fabrics and other flexible materials. It detects cracking and damage after repeated bending and is applicable to SATRA TM55, ISO 17694, ISO 5402-1, DIN 53351 and other leather testing standards. The tester supports repeated Bally flexing tests and can be used for both dry and wet material evaluation.

The Low Temperature ROSS Flexing Tester GT-KB05B evaluates the flexing and crack resistance of rubber and footwear sole materials under low-temperature conditions. It is suitable for ASTM D1052, SATRA TM60, BS 5131:2.1, ISO 5423 and related standards. By combining ROSS flexing with controlled low-temperature testing, it helps assess footwear durability in cold environments.

The Low Temperature Bally & ROSS Resistance Flexing Tester GT-KB05C combines Bally and ROSS flexing methods for testing footwear materials under low-temperature conditions. It can be used for leather, coated fabrics, rubber and other flexible materials according to standards such as SATRA TM55, ISO 17694, ASTM D1052 and SATRA TM60. The combined design allows laboratories to perform different flexing tests in controlled cold environments.

The Low Temperature Flexing Tester GT-KC10C is designed to evaluate the flexing resistance of footwear uppers, leather, coated fabrics and other flexible materials under controlled temperatures. It supports Whole Shoes, Upper, Bally and ROSS flexing methods and can be applied to standards including SATRA TM92, SATRA TM55, ISO 5423, EN ISO 20344 and ASTM D1052. Its temperature range is approximately -40°C to 100°C.

The Comprehensive Cold Flexing Tester GT-KC15 is designed for evaluating footwear materials under low-temperature flexing conditions. It supports ROSS, Upper and Bally flexing tests for leather, coated fabrics and other footwear materials. The tester provides temperature control from approximately -40°C to 100°C, touch screen operation and automatic test control, making it suitable for multiple cold flexing test requirements.

The Universal Outsole Belt Flexing Tester GT-KB55 is designed to evaluate the flexing durability of outsole belts and related flexible footwear materials. Its dedicated testing structure provides stable repeated bending and is suitable for laboratories performing footwear material durability testing according to the applicable test method.

Choosing the right shoe flexing tester depends on the specimen being evaluated, the purpose of the test, and the applicable testing standard. A tester designed for complete footwear may not be suitable for evaluating crack growth in sole materials or flexing damage in upper materials. Before selecting equipment, identify the test method required by your product specification or customer.

1. Should You Test the Whole Shoe, the Sole, or the Upper?

The first step is to determine which part of the footwear you need to evaluate.

For complete footwear, SATRA TM92 evaluates the resistance of finished shoes to repeated flexing. It is not intended to assess the flex-crack resistance of upper or sole materials separately. For upper materials, SATRA TM55 describes the Bally flexometer method, while SATRA TM60 covers the Ross flex test for resistance to cut growth in flexible materials, particularly footwear soling materials.

The correct choice should always be confirmed against the required test method, specimen dimensions, and equipment specifications.

2. What Is the Difference Between a Bally Flexing Tester and a Ross Flex Tester?

Although both machines evaluate material performance under repeated flexing, they are designed for different testing objectives.

Which one should you choose?

Choose a Bally Flexing Tester when the main concern is cracking or damage in leather, synthetic uppers, coated textiles, or similar flexible materials. Consider a Ross Flex Tester when the objective is to measure how a cut in a suitable sole material grows during repeated flexing.

These machines are not interchangeable simply because both perform flexing tests. The specimen, failure mechanism, and specified method determine which machine is appropriate.

3. Is Low-Temperature Flexing Testing Necessary for Footwear?

Low-temperature flexing testing is useful when footwear materials must maintain their flexibility and resist cracking under cold conditions. It may be particularly relevant to cold-weather footwear, certain rubber or polymeric soles, and products subject to low-temperature performance requirements.

However, not every footwear product requires a low-temperature flexing test. The need depends on the material, intended operating environment, customer specification, and applicable test method.

Before choosing a low-temperature tester, check the following:

Required test temperature: Confirm the exact temperature specified by the test method or product requirement.

Material type: Determine whether the specimen is a complete shoe, a sole material, leather, a coated textile, or another flexible material.

Failure criterion: Establish whether the test evaluates visible cracking, crack growth, or another defined form of damage.

Test conditions: Confirm the required conditioning period, flexing angle, frequency, number of cycles, and inspection procedure.

Equipment capability: Verify that the machine can maintain the required temperature while meeting the specified mechanical test conditions.

For example, SATRA TM60 describes Ross flex testing for cut growth in flexible materials. Low-temperature conditions may be used when specified or appropriate for the assessment, including materials that become more susceptible to crack growth at low temperatures.

Do not select a low-temperature tester based only on its minimum temperature rating. Confirm that the complete equipment configuration supports the required test method.

4. Which Standards Should You Check Before Buying a Shoe Flexing Tester?

Before purchasing equipment, identify the exact standard or test method required by your product specification, customer, or laboratory procedure. Different standards may use different specimen configurations, flexing angles, speeds, temperatures, and evaluation criteria.

The following are examples of relevant footwear flexing methods to investigate:

Which standards and specific test methods the proposed model is designed to support.

Whether the machine accommodates the required specimen type and dimensions.

Whether the required temperature, flexing angle, frequency, and cycle settings are available.

A clear understanding of these requirements helps you avoid purchasing equipment that performs a similar test but does not meet your actual testing needs.

If you are unsure which model is appropriate, prepare your specimen type, target test method, required temperature, and evaluation criteria before contacting an equipment supplier. This information makes it easier to identify a suitable testing solution for your footwear laboratory.