Feet
Unlike silicone dolls, a TPE doll's feet can only be made in 2 ways: Non-Standing Feet and Standing Feet (with bolts). The bolt free Standing Feet option available for silicone can't be achieved with TPE, the material is too soft and doesn't allow for the "layering" possible with a silicone body.
Type 1 — Non-Standing Feet
This foot type is simply feet made from TPE. With no additional construction or protruding parts. Inside the foot is an ordinary plate that shapes the foot, the same as any other part of the doll's skeleton.
The key point
A doll with standard feet can't stand. Firstly, the load on the soles won't be distributed evenly, so the doll won't be able to keep her balance. Secondly, and most importantly, the doll's entire weight will press down on soles made from soft material. As a result, the soles will get damaged and eventually become completely unusable.
Who this suits
Only those who completely rule out standing poses and poses with weight through the feet. The one advantage of this type: a fully soft sole with no protruding bolts. If this matters to you, bear in mind all the limitations above.
Type 2 — Standing Feet
Because TPE material is extremely soft, it's not possible to stand a doll on TPE feet without damaging the soles. So special bolts can be fitted into the doll's feet. This foot type is called Standing Feet.
How it works
The foot construction is the same as Non-Standing Feet. It's a metal plate, part of the model's skeleton, with the main material of the doll (TPE or STPE) over the top. 3 metal bolts are fitted into this plate, standing out on the surface of the foot material.
The doll's weight and load go through these 3 bolts, distributed evenly between them. Thanks to this, there's no direct pressure on the soft material of the doll's feet.
We recommend always adding Standing Feet when ordering a TPE doll. Even if you don't plan to stand the doll upright, weight goes through the feet in most ordinary poses. This is an inexpensive upgrade that directly affects the model's lifespan. Many brands include it for free.
Standing Feet by themselves don't guarantee your doll will be able to stand independently without external support. It all depends on the model's weight and build. That said, our recommendation for any model is not to leave them standing without external support (resting against a wall or a stand). This is unsafe in any case and can lead to the doll falling. Falling is one of the most common causes of serious damage, affecting the face, fingers and material at the point of impact.
Caring for feet with bolts
Over time, the bolts can create tension around themselves. The material sitting above the bolts can also wear from contact with uneven surfaces. This is a normal process with regular standing loads. To slow it down, stand the doll on soft, cushioning surfaces (a rug, a yoga mat).