Custom PU Slide Sandals: How to Write a Slip-Resistance Test Brief

Who this article is for

This article is for footwear brands, private-label teams, wholesalers, hotel and resort buyers, and importers who need to discuss outsole grip before approving a custom PU slide sandal.

It explains how to prepare a clearer development and testing request. It does not certify a product for a particular market or use.

Start with the real use condition

Grip depends on an interaction between the footwear, the floor and any material between them. A sandal used on a dry indoor tile is not being evaluated under the same condition as one used near water, on a textured surface or on another flooring material.

Before requesting a test, state:

• the main use environment;
• the floor or surface that matters;
• whether the relevant condition is dry, wet or another defined condition;
• whether the request concerns a complete sandal, an outsole unit or a material sample;
• the target market and any claim the brand intends to make.

This prevents the development team from treating outsole pattern alone as proof of performance.

Choose a method that fits the product and claim

ISO 24267:2020 provides a method for determining the coefficient of friction between footwear and flooring under conditions that simulate phases of a walking step where slipping is more likely. Its scope includes footwear, outsole units and soling materials, while excluding PPE footwear and certain special-purpose products. [1]

ISO 13287:2019 covers slip-resistance testing for PPE footwear. Its scope and claim context are different. A casual PU slide should not automatically be described or tested as PPE simply because the word anti-slip appears in a product brief. [2]

The buyer, supplier and laboratory should therefore agree on the method that matches the product category and intended claim. When a destination-market rule, retailer protocol or customer specification applies, that requirement takes priority over a general development preference.

Define the test specimen

Write down exactly what will be tested. Useful details include:

• model and size;
• left, right or both feet;
• production stage of the specimen;
• outsole material and pattern version;
• color or compound batch where relevant;
• whether the specimen is a sample, pilot-production unit or bulk-production unit;
• number of specimens requested by the agreed method or laboratory.

A result from one development sample should not silently become a statement about every size, color, compound or production batch.

Record conditioning and test conditions

Footwear properties can be affected by how specimens are prepared and conditioned. ISO 18454:2018 defines standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing footwear and footwear components. [3]

The test request should identify the conditioning approach required by the selected method or laboratory. The final report should also record the flooring, contaminant or wet condition, movement direction and other method-specific conditions.

The purpose is repeatability. If a later sample is tested under different conditions, the two results may not be directly comparable.

Agree on the acceptance rule before testing

A test method explains how to measure. It does not automatically set the commercial acceptance limit for every casual slide sandal.

Before testing, the brand should confirm the source of the acceptance requirement:

• a destination-market rule;
• a retailer or platform requirement;
• an internal product specification;
• a comparison with an approved reference product;
• a laboratory recommendation accepted by both parties.

If no justified numerical limit is available, mark it as pending confirmation. Do not invent a pass value after seeing the result.

Review more than one line in the report

When the report arrives, check:

• product and sample identification;
• method and edition;
• conditioning;
• flooring and surface condition;
• direction or test sequence;
• individual results, not only an overall pass statement;
• deviations from the method;
• photographs or specimen notes where provided.

A clear report should allow the buyer to connect the result to the exact outsole version that will move forward.

Keep the claim narrower than the evidence

An outsole pattern can be described visually. A performance claim needs appropriate evidence. If testing covers only one surface and one condition, avoid turning that limited result into a universal promise for every wet floor or use environment.

For marketing copy, product specifications and packaging, the wording should match the scope of the available evidence and the requirements of the destination market.

Practical slip-resistance brief checklist

Before sending the request, confirm:

• intended use environment;
• relevant flooring;
• dry, wet or other defined condition;
• product category and intended claim;
• agreed test method and edition;
• specimen model, size and production stage;
• conditioning requirements;
• acceptance source and limit;
• report format and sample identification;
• person responsible for approving the result.

FAQ

Does a deep outsole pattern prove that a slide is anti-slip?

No. Pattern geometry may influence contact and drainage, but visual inspection alone does not measure friction under a defined floor and condition.

Can one test result cover every size and color?

Only if the coverage is technically justified and accepted by the relevant requirement owner. Material, geometry or process changes may require additional review.

Should a casual PU slide use the PPE footwear standard?

Not automatically. ISO 13287 addresses PPE footwear, while ISO 24267 addresses coefficient-of-friction testing for other footwear and components within its stated scope. The correct method depends on product category and claim.

When should the test brief be prepared?

Prepare it before final sample approval whenever slip resistance is an important product requirement. That leaves time to review the outsole design, compound and test plan without making a claim after production has started.

Sources

1. ISO 24267:2020, Footwear — Determination of coefficient of friction for footwear and sole components — Test method: https://www.iso.org/standard/78252.html
2. ISO 13287:2019, Personal protective equipment — Footwear — Test method for slip resistance: https://www.iso.org/standard/74965.html
3. ISO 18454:2018, Footwear — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of footwear and components for footwear: https://www.iso.org/standard/63229.html

Discuss your project brief

Henghao Slide Sandals Factory develops custom PU slide sandals for brand and wholesale projects. Test methods, samples and acceptance requirements should be confirmed for each project rather than assumed from a general product description.

For broader sourcing and development guidance, visit the Custom PU Slide Sandals Buyer Help Center: https://www.henghaoshoes.com/custom-pu-slide-sandals-buyer-help-center/

To discuss a project-specific test brief, contact Henghao: https://www.henghaoshoes.com/contact/