Dr. Sole

Dr. Sole was founded by Chao-Yung Lin and his wife, Betty, after both completed master's degrees in marketing from the University of Denver in 2011. Lin learned that his father-in-law, Johnny, had registered the "Dr. Sole" brand in 2008, but it had not been further developed. Lin relaunched the brand in December 2011, with Super-grip half soles as the first product.

The company began by producing rubber half soles and heels. Dr. Sole later introduced raw cord soles based on designs from World War II USMC boondocker shoes. In 2014, the company began offering an in-house resoling service called "Bench-Re-Built," which includes boot repair and customization.

In 2021, Dr. Sole launched its first in-house boot under the Pioneer brand, named the Game Changer. This model draws inspiration from 1920s lace-to-toe sport boots and uses lightweight nubuck leather, canvas lining, and Goodyear welt construction.

Dr. Sole designs its products with reference to vintage footwear styles. The company uses both traditional hand-stamping and modern techniques such as CNC carving and 3D printing to produce molds for outsoles and heels.

Rubber compounds are developed for the outsoles, with ingredients such as raw cord and cork mixed to achieve specific material properties. The company produces different types of outsoles, including rubber, EVA, SBR soles, and foam rubber soles at its facility.

Boots and components produced by Dr. Sole undergo finishing steps before they are shipped.

Dr. Sole uses materials such as EVA and various types of rubber when producing soles and heels. These materials are selected to achieve specific combinations of comfort and durability in the finished products.

Footwear made by Dr. Sole in-house, such as the Game Changer boot, uses Goodyear welt construction, which supports resoling. This method extends the usable life of the boot.

Dr. Sole produces outsoles and heels for use in heritage-style work boots, including models made with rubber, EVA, SBR, and foam rubber. The company also makes boots under its own Pioneer brand, such as the Game Changer, which follows 1920s design cues, and the OZ Troopers, built on the Munson last.

The company offers a "Bench-Re-Built" service, which includes resoling and customization of boots.