The style of the product may or may not dictate the lining, but more times than not, it does. The basics of the lining are to protect the foot from inside seams. Next, comes the breathability factor. Combine the two and we now have an element which better determines how thick or thin the lining should be.

For cool weather, we want our lining to be thick. The best style to find this type of leather will be found in boots. Construction footwear is a great example of this. And although there are construction boots with a thinner lining for those unforgiving hot days, a thicker lining promotes a longer-lasting product, in general.

Understanding the style gives us a foothold to better assess what type of lining we are looking for. An open-toe shoe, for example, will have a thinner lining, and that is exactly what we want. A safety-toe boot, on the other hand, should have some thickness to its lining. In this case, it may even provide some much-needed, added protection.

Also, consider a dress shoe. It is to be worn in a professional setting and/or at special events. These types of atmospheres are, more than likely, indoor. As such, the heat is generally provided and we need a thinner lining. Adequately enough, most dress shoes will have this design because of this. But if we are to be outside for a few hours when it is below freezing, then the style of a dress shoe should be closely examined in relation to the lining's thickness. More times than not, should we opt for the dress wear, we may need a pair of highly-insulated socks to help balance the criteria. Otherwise, we could be facing a painful experience in frostbite.

When we, typically, define versatility within a product, we define it as its versatility in where (i.e. casual, business, etc.) and how (i.e. matching it to wardrobe) it can be worn. For this purpose, in addition to those criteria, we added how the lining reduces or increases the ability to walk, the integrity of structuring, and whether or not the lining is complementary and/or functional.

A leather lining may, indeed, be complementary to the look and feel of the footwear, but it may not be functional. For example, a boot with a thin, leather lining, may be functional if it is a stylistic chukka. But if it is a safety boot, then a thin lining lowers the overall versatility. The lining then becomes more complementary than functional, per se.

Also, the lining may be made of leather to offset shortcomings from the rest of the product. Without it, the product may have some instability issues. Longevity comes to mind when thinking about a faux leather upper and a leather lining. Usually, sold as flexible, this type of upper has longevity issues. To help offset the shortcoming, a leather lining is added to give more stability. Well, at least the interior of the footwear will last, anyway.

Of course, products which fall short in this area will retain the lower score. This is because we need to always be aware of every aspect of our footwear and how each individual element works (or doesn't work) in synch with the rest, as a unit.

Traction, in this case, is the outsole grip, as well as the traction within. Both are to be considered when evaluating for linings. For the outsole, we want rubber, as it is most likely to grab and release as needed. There are varying patterns associated with grip types, but this is for another article. For here, we are only looking to see if the proper material is being utilized for the outsole in relation to the expected performance of the style.

As for the traction within, this an idea centered around whether or not the lining allows your feet to glide up and down or grips and holds snugly. For example, if we are examining a pair of work boots that are meant for construction, then the lining should have enough roughness to grab. That is, it should compliment the footwear's ability to snug the foot as it lifts from the ground. Leather tends to stretch over time. Because of this, as so many of us are unfortunately aware, a really smooth lining will slip around the foot, causing blistering and other aches and pains.

On the other side of the same coin, when we are discussing clog styles, we want the leather lining to be smooth. After all, the style demands that the heel lifts from the sole during each subsequent step. A rough lining demotes this idea. And even though the fitting should be a pinky's width from heel to the footwear, the lining needs to be smooth, in order to both complement the design and to add functionality.

In both cases, the lining should be soft. In no way should it ever feel like you have a cinder block wrapped around your foot. If the lining is thick and not softened, then over time, it may bunch up with a wrinkle after the footwear is broken in (for all-leather products). After this occurs, a hard lining will cut into the skin, thereby causing the end result of having to toss them away to save our feet, more or less.

Support can become a bit tricky within the realm of leather liners. A lot of it is dependent on the manufacturer and what it is they are attempting to accomplish by utilizing a leather lining, in the first place. Sadly enough. not all footwear with a leather lining is to benefit the consumer, but instead, the manufacturer.

A leather lining is, indeed, more expensive than many of the other materials utilized by companies. This is why we see leather uppers accompanied by a cheaper lining. After all, this is the best way to cut cost in this scenario. Most of us tend to not consider the lining until it's falling apart prematurely in comparison with the rest of the product.

Contrary to what we may want to believe, a leather lining may be utilized to offset terrible materials in other places, such as an upper. In these cases, the upper may not hold up very well without a sturdier material within, so leather is then employed. This type of footwear is easier to identify, as the manufacturer is, usually, quick to announce that the lining is made of leather. After which, they may go with saying the rest of the footwear is of manmade materials or will avoid mentioning the rest of the materials, altogether. A loud announcement of flexibility is another strong indicator that a leather lining is being utilized to help offset poor materials in the upper.

And although the instances mentioned are not always the case, they are something we need to remain aware of and stay diligent when examining why leather is being utilized as a lining. It is unfortunate, but the bottom dollar will sometimes dictate leather's appearance in the lining world.

Value is an element in which we consider is the main reason for the lining, to begin with. In addition to price, longevity, durability, practicality, and functionality of the product as a whole, we also, want to examine how the leather lining coincides with the rest of those elements. Is the leather lining there to mask a poorly-made product in one or more of those other areas of concern? Or, is the lining there to improve an already great item? If, yes, to the latter, then a great score of value may be present.

An item's value is, also, something that can change from one perspective to the next. That is, one person may see a thin and smooth leather lining as beneficial to a pair of safety, work boots; whereas, another may see this as a potential for blisters down the road. Thus, the second perspective would lower the value of a smooth leather lining, but the first would raise it.

Because of the aforementioned, we are now brought to individual needs and desires. So, we must first ask what it is that we want to accomplish with this particular style of product. If we are looking for a one-and-done pair of dress shoes to go with a suit which is hardly ever worn, then a cheap upper having a leather lining might be the perfect grab. For us, that value would be high because of the low price tag we are paying for the item.

For those of us, however, in need of a pair of everyday footwear (e.g. for work), then our need and desire are to have a more expensive upper which accompanies our leather lining. We may be spending more money as a result, but the overall longevity we achieve causes the overall value to rise, as well.

Here, we cannot possibly know everyone's individual need and desire. But we can be aware of the general value in relation to the overall product. As such, this is how we determine the final number for the ending value.