There are many types of shoe covers available in the marketplace. Shoe Inn has taken most of the standard available shoe cover types and formatted them in cartridges for loading into and dispensing from our Shoe Inn Stay and Shoe Inn Fusion automatic shoe cover dispensers. We have nine different types of shoe covers and multiple color options available in one of the types. Below we discuss each type in terms of what it is made from; its characteristics in terms of traction, waterproofness, durability, and breathability; and when to use it and when to avoid it. Our website includes a helpful comparison chart of seven of the shoe cover types.
Plastic (7PLA-110HC, 1,650 shoe covers/825 pairs per case): Plastic shoe covers are made from a transparent blue polyethylene (PE). They have poor traction, are completely waterproof, and are on the lower end of the durability and breathability spectrums. Consider using these shoe covers when you need a waterproof shoe cover and/or when you are looking for the lowest cost option. Avoid them when you have smooth, slippery flooring.
28g Fabric (7FAB-100HC, 1,500 shoe covers/750 pairs per case): Our thinner fabric shoe covers are made from 28-gram polypropylene (PP). While not as slippery as plastic, their traction is not great. They are not waterproof and are on the lower end of the durability spectrum. On the plus side, they have the best breathability. Consider using this type when you are looking for a basic bootie at a low cost. Avoid them when you need a waterproof shoe cover.
28g Fabric with Traction (7FWT-100HC, 1,500 shoe covers/750 pairs per case): Our thinner fabric shoe covers with traction are made from 28-gram polypropylene (PP) with an industry standard latex traction pattern. They are not waterproof and are on the lower end of the durability spectrum. On the plus side, they have the best breathability. Consider using this type when you are looking for a basic bootie and traction is a consideration. Avoid them when you need a waterproof shoe cover.
40g Fabric (7FAB-80HC, 1,200 shoe covers/600 pairs per case): Our thicker fabric shoe covers are made from 40-gram polypropylene (PP). While not as slippery as plastic, their traction is not great and they are not waterproof. On the plus side, they are more durable than the 28g fabric and have excellent breathability. Consider using this type when you are looking for a more durable bootie at a relatively low cost. Avoid them when you need a waterproof shoe cover.
40g Fabric with Traction (7FWT-80HC, 1,200 shoe covers/600 pairs per case): Our thicker fabric shoe covers with traction are made from 40-gram polypropylene (PP) with an industry standard latex traction pattern. They are not waterproof but are more durable than the 28g fabric and have excellent breathability. Consider using this type when you are looking for a more durable bootie and traction is a consideration. Avoid them when you need a waterproof shoe cover. Note that we have this type in multiple color options other than the standard blue (currently yellow shoe covers and purple shoe covers), which may be helpful or desirable in certain situations.
Hybrids (7HBD-70HC, 1,050 shoe covers/525 pairs): Our Hybrid shoe covers are made from a base layer of 40-gram polypropylene (PP) with an outer layer, which covers most but not the entire base layer, of cast polyethylene (CPE). With the CPE layer, they are our most durable option and are mostly waterproof. The CPE layer decreases breathability while providing a good level of traction. Consider using this type when durability is critical and waterproofness is a consideration. Avoid them when cost is paramount.
Supers (7SUP-80HC, 1,200 shoe covers/600 pairs per case): Our Super shoe covers are made from a base layer of 30-gram polypropylene (PP) with an outer coating of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The LDPE coating gives this shoe cover superior anti-skid slip resistance and makes it waterproof. While breathability is at the lower end of the spectrum, the LDPE layer also increases durability. Consider using this type when traction is critical and waterproofness is a consideration. Avoid them when cost is paramount.
28g Fabric with ESD Ribbon (7FAB-100CS-ESD, 3,000 shoe covers/1,500 pairs per case): We also have our thinner 28-gram polypropylene (PP) fabric shoe covers with an ESD (electrostatic discharge) dissipative ribbon with a surface resistance between 3.5 x 107 to 1.0 x 109 ohms. While not as slippery as plastic, their traction is not great. They are not waterproof and are on the lower end of the durability spectrum. On the plus side, they have the best breathability. Consider using this type when you are looking for a basic bootie that can handle ESD within the specified parameters.
28g Fabric with Traction and ESD Ribbon (7FWT-100CS-ESD, 3,000 shoe covers/1,500 pairs per case): We also have our thinner 28-gram polypropylene (PP) fabric shoe covers with an industry standard traction pattern and an ESD (electrostatic discharge) dissipative ribbon with a surface resistance between 3.5 x 107 to 1.0 x 109 ohms. They are not waterproof and are on the lower end of the durability spectrum. On the plus side, they have the best breathability. Consider using this type when you are looking for a basic bootie with traction and that can handle ESD within the specified parameters.
Hopefully the information above helps you to understand the different types of shoe covers we offer and will help you target in on the type or types that are best for your situation. As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at (877) 595-7463 or info@theshoecovers.com. We can always send samples to help you make your decision as well.