Footwear breathability test machine: A new method and system design for testing footwear breathability and its thermal comfort, case study on leather boot

The breathability and thermal comfort of footwear, which are essential in everyday life, have a significant impact on user satisfaction. Despite their importance, there is currently no standardised device or procedure to directly test these aspects. The aim of this study is to develop a system and method for evaluating the breathability and thermal comfort of footwear using a foot model that mimics human perspiration and temperature. The model takes into account the distribution of eccrine glands, sweating rate, sweat release areas and foot temperature. Two test principles were applied: (i)measurement of internal temperature and humidity using sensors to assess comfort and (ii)evaluation of moisture management by monitoring the weight gain of footwear, socks and footbed during an 8-h sitting simulation. The system was tested on three full leather military boots, with data collected by sensors and weight measurements. The results showed that 65% of the sweat released was absorbed by the system, with 36% absorbed by the boot, 12% by the footbed and 52% by the sock. The Foot Comfort Logical Scale (FCLS) indicated no temperature discomfort during the trials, but moisture-related discomfort occured after about 240 min and worsened after 300 min when humidity reached 80%. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the system in simulating the breathability and thermal comfort of footwear, with the results agreeing well with established standards and the literature. Future research will focus on testing different footwear types, incorporating dynamic motion systems and refining the FCLS to improve the accuracy of comfort assessment.