Abstract

Extension cycling tests of upper materials have proved that they can yield valuable information regarding the mechanical aspects of comfort. Variations and extensions of the basic cycling method have been applied in order to maximise the amount of useful information tests can generate. The procedure tentatively accepted for testing will be collaborated by wear trials which are currently under way. This report provides a summary of the important results of previous experiments, and examines the effects of cycling of poromerics to 5% extensions when the materials have received no pre-treatments, have received a 15% linear stretch to simulate conditions of lasting, and have been allowed to “rest” for 48 h before re-cycling. The relative merits of each test procedure are discussed.