CPL-01™ Insole
Our proprietary CPL-01™ insoles consist of three key layers: Cork, Poron® Foam, and Leather. If you prefer to use your own orthotics, CPL-01™ insoles can be easily removed to fit them.
Cork: The base of our CPL-01™ insoles is made of locally-sourced cork, molded into an anatomically shaped footbed. It features a supportive heel cup and reinforced arch to stabilizes your foot, reduce joint stress, and promote proper foot mechanics, helping to prevent pronation-related issues. This sustainable material adapts to your feet with wear and is naturally shock-absorbing, preventing foot fatigue and providing all-day, on-your-feet support.
Poron® Foam: This type of durable polyurethane is commonly used in orthotics. Like cork, our Poron® foam middle-layer reduces joint stress and foot fatigue while delivering superior comfort. Its open-cell structure naturally regulates temperature and moisture, fighting bacteria and odors while maintaining its cushion over time.
Leather: Our thin, vegetable-tanned leather top layer conceals the insole’s interior components, providing the appearance of a classic dress shoe. Beyond its clean, timeless look, vegetable-tanned leather naturally absorbs moisture inside the shoe.
Cork
Poron Foam
Leather
DuraLite™ Outsole
When prototyping Canal Footwear, we tested countless outsoles from leading industry suppliers but couldn’t find one that met our standards for durability and lightweight comfort. Determined to achieve both, we partnered with a leading manufacturer in Northern Portugal to develop our proprietary DuraLite™ outsole.
In line with Canal’s ethos of merging innovation with timeless design, we developed an outsole featuring a hidden cavity filled with high-quality microfoam. This unique construction enhances shock absorption and flexibility while significantly reducing weight, all while maintaining compatibility with Goodyear welt construction and the durability of traditional rubber. It’s an invisible innovation, engineered to deliver unmatched comfort and performance with every step. Our DuraLite™ outsole is available in both the Cobble Studded Outsole and the Canal Outsole.
Crafted for Comfort
We believe that the shoe last is the foundation of any great footwear. Yet we noticed that traditional lasts are not deep enough to accommodate supportive insoles without sizing up, leading to further fit complications. We brought together our traditional shoe factory with our innovative insole manufacturer to create a shoe last that retains a traditional look while providing the perfect fit for our CPL-01™ insoles.
It’s important to note that while you may remove our insoles to use your own orthotics, they may not fit as well as our CPL-01™ insoles that were specifically designed for our footbeds.
European Tanneries
Our Portuguese tannery is a member of the Leather Working Group (LWG), holding a Gold-level certification. The LWG is an international organization that develops certification standards for sustainable practices in the leather manufacturing industry. The tannery also holds an ISO 9001 certification for quality, an ISO 14001 certification for environmental responsibility, and a Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA) certification for ethical labor practices.
Canal Footwear is made with the highest quality leather: full-grain leather. This means it comes from the top layer of the cow's hide and isn’t sanded down, maintaining the hide's natural textures. It is durable, moisture-resistant, and ages beautifully—developing a distinct patina over time.
The Goodyear Difference
Goodyear-welting involves a two-step stitching process. First, a strip of leather—known as the welt—is stitched to the shoe’s upper and insole. Then, the outsole is attached to the welt with a separate stitch, creating a highly durable bond between the shoe’s upper and sole. This extra layer of stitching, unique to Goodyear-welting, contributes to its strength and flexibility. Our factory then fills the space between the upper and sole with cork, creating enhanced cushioning that molds to your foot.
In contrast to shoes constructed using methods such as cementing, where the upper and sole are glued together, or Blake stitching, where a single stitch attaches the upper directly to the sole, Goodyear-welted shoes are specifically designed for easy and repeated resoling, making them much more suitable for long-term wear.