Overview
EN ISO 24265:2020 - Footwear - Test methods for uppers - Resistance to rubbing using a rubber strip specifies a laboratory test to determine the rubbing resistance of leather and synthetic materials used for shoe uppers. The method reproduces severe practical contact (for example, hiking or children’s footwear where an upper rubs against the opposite sole) by using a nitrile rubber strip pressed and moved repeatedly across a conditioned test specimen. This standard is published by CEN as the European adoption of ISO 24265:2020.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applicable to all types of leather and synthetic materials intended for shoe uppers; designed to simulate drastic stress conditions.
- Apparatus essentials:
- Carriage with a flat platform and specimen holder allowing ~80 mm exposure and ≥10% extension in the rubbing direction.
- Rubbing “finger” assembly with wooden/metal semi‑cylinder (10 mm radius × 20 mm wide) and total mass ≈ 1 000 ± 35 g (finger mass 500 ± 25 g plus additional weight).
- Drive providing 35–40 mm travel at (40 ± 2) cycles/min.
- Nitrile rubber strip: (5.0 ± 0.1) mm wide, (5 ± 1) mm thick, 75 ± 3° Shore A, friction coefficient 0.20 ± 0.05; surface roughened before use.
- Test procedures:
- Dry test: condition specimens per ISO 18454, mount and stretch (~10%), then run sequential rubbing cycles at set positions - 10, 20 and 30 cycles.
- Wet test: specimens wetted by vacuum‑assisted immersion protocol, then tested for 5, 10 and 20 cycles; dry before assessment.
- Assessment and results:
- Visual change in colour assessed with the grey scale (ISO 105‑A02); record surface damage (loss of finish, flattening of nap, etc.).
- Test report must reference ISO 24265:2020, describe samples, give results per Clause 8, and note any deviations.
Applications and users
- Who uses it: footwear manufacturers, material and component suppliers, independent testing laboratories, QA teams, procurement/specification authors, and regulators assessing upper durability.
- Why it matters:
- Validates material resistance to mechanical abrasion representative of real wear (hiking, children’s play).
- Informs material selection, product development, supplier acceptance testing, and quality control decisions.
- Supports comparative claims and specification compliance for uppers made of leather or synthetics.
Related standards
- ISO 24265:2020 is linked to/mentions:
- ISO 18454 - conditioning of footwear components
- ISO 105‑A02 - grey scale for assessing colour change
- Tests similar in approach: ISO 11640 (colour fastness to rubbing of leather)
Keywords: EN ISO 24265:2020, footwear test, rubbing resistance, uppers, rubber strip, leather, synthetic materials, hiking footwear, children’s footwear, ISO 24265.