Plimsolls or trainers for every day: the difference and which to choose
Flat plimsoll-style sneakers and cushioned trainers are often lumped together as "sneakers", but the difference is real — mostly in the sole. Here is how to tell them apart, which is better for the city, long walks or the office, and examples of Babylon leather pairs.
In short
Plimsoll-style sneakers are light shoes with a flat rubber sole and little cushioning; trainers have a thicker midsole that softens each step. For the city and smart-casual outfits, flat sneakers work well; for long walks and active days, choose trainers. Babylon, a Ukrainian footwear brand with its own factory in Kharkiv, makes both from genuine leather and nubuck.
What is the difference between plimsolls and trainers?
The main difference is the sole. Plimsoll-style sneakers — "kedy" in Ukrainian — have a flat, fairly thin rubber sole with no separate cushioning layer. Trainers have a thicker midsole that absorbs impact as you walk and usually a deeper tread. Either can have a leather, textile or mixed upper.
The classic flat sneaker is a light shoe with a canvas upper and a vulcanised rubber sole; in Ukrainian it is named after Keds, the American brand founded in 1916. Trainers grew out of running shoes, and their market took off during the running boom of the 1970s.
Today the line is blurred: flat sneakers are made of leather, and city trainers come in understated designs. Even shop catalogues, Babylon's English one included, often call both simply "sneakers". So look at the sole, not the name.
How to tell flat sneakers from trainers in 30 seconds?
Look at the shoe from the side and bend it. A thin, even sole of the same height from toe to heel means flat sneakers. A sole that gets thicker towards the heel, with a sculpted midsole and a soft, springy feel, means trainers.
| Feature | Flat sneakers | Trainers |
|---|---|---|
| Sole | Flat, rubber or TPR, even height | Thicker, with a cushioning layer (often EVA) |
| Cushioning | Minimal | Pronounced |
| Silhouette | Low or high-top, clean | Bulkier, with overlays |
| Weight | Usually lighter | Depends on the sole |
| When to wear | City, smart-casual office, summer | Long walks, active days, travel |
| Babylon example | Vital-11, Space-90 | Pulse-13, Pulse-14 |
Which to choose for every day?
If your day is the office, cafés and walks of up to a few hours, flat sneakers are the easier choice: light, clean-looking and fine with both jeans and tailored trousers. If you walk many kilometres a day or stand for long periods, choose trainers with a cushioned sole.
A few typical situations:
- Smart-casual office. Plain leather sneakers — such as the black Vital-11 with cream laces. Loafers are another office option — see "What are loafers".
- All day in town, travel. Trainers with a springy sole — such as the Pulse-13 with a breathable mesh lining.
- Summer. Light summer sneakers with perforations or mesh panels.
- Active weekends. Trainers with mesh panels and a cushioning sole — such as the women's Pulse-14.
For outfit ideas, see "What to wear with sneakers".
Are flat sneakers good for long walks?
For a few hours of walking around town, yes — if the pair fits properly and has a comfortable insole. For very long distances, trainers are more practical: the thicker sole softens each step on the pavement.
What makes flat sneakers more comfortable:
- A soft insole. The Vital-11 has a foam-rubber insole covered with Respira leather which, according to the product page, moulds to the foot.
- A leather lining. Genuine leather inside, as in the Space-90, lets air through. How it differs from faux leather is explained in "Genuine leather vs faux leather".
- The right size. Leave about 1 cm between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
The Vital-11 insole is foam rubber covered with Respira leather, and it moulds to the foot really well — that's exactly what the product page says.
Flat sneakers or trainers in different seasons?
Flat sneakers can be worn all year round if you pick the right model for the season. Trainers are mostly worn in spring, summer and autumn, when ventilation and lightness matter.
- Summer. Sneakers with perforations or mesh panels, and trainers with a mesh lining such as the Pulse-13 — feet sweat less.
- Spring and autumn. Leather or nubuck sneakers with a genuine leather lining; treat nubuck with a water-repellent spray in advance.
- Winter. Winter sneakers with fur or sheepskin inside and a higher treaded sole — see "How to choose winter shoes".
Ordinary summer sneakers and trainers are not made for frost: they have no insulation, and a thin sole lets the cold through quickly.
What sneakers and trainers does Babylon make?
Babylon is a Ukrainian footwear maker with its own factory in Kharkiv, operating since 1997, where shoes are made by hand. The range includes men's and women's flat sneakers in genuine leather, nubuck and suede, and trainers with cushioned soles.
- Men's Vital-11 sneakers — genuine leather, breathable Respira leather lining, TPR sole.
- Women's Space-90 sneakers — 100% genuine leather, leather lining, flexible rubber sole.
- Men's Pulse-13 trainers — genuine leather and textile, breathable mesh lining, light springy sole with anatomical cushioning, sizes 39–45.
- Women's Pulse-14 trainers — genuine leather, embossed textured panels and mesh textile, breathable mesh lining, cushioning sole.
LeatherMen's leather sneakers Vital-11Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; insole: foam rubber covered with Respira leather; sole: TPE (ther…€95View 
LeatherWomen's sneakers in combination leather Space-90Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; sole: flexible€95View 
LeatherMen's trainers in leather and textile Pulse-13Materials: genuine leather; lining: breathable mesh; sole: lightweight€88View 
LeatherWomen's trainers in leather and textile Pulse-14Lining: breathable mesh; sole: lightweight; sizes: 36–41€66 €86View
Browse more in men's sneakers, women's sneakers, men's trainers and women's trainers.
Are flat sneakers and trainers the same size?
Not necessarily. Size depends on the last — the form a shoe is built on — and it differs even between models of the same brand. Almost every Babylon model is made on its own last, so each product page has its own "size — foot length" table.
Measure your foot in the evening: the UK's NHS advises trying shoes on later in the day, when feet are slightly larger, and leaving about 1 cm between the toes and the end of the shoe. Step-by-step guide: "How to measure your foot at home".
How to care for leather sneakers and trainers?
Wipe smooth leather with a damp cloth and treat it with a neutral leather cream, as the Vital-11 product page advises. Clean the textile and mesh panels of trainers with a soft brush without soaking the whole pair. Let shoes dry naturally, away from radiators.
White sneakers need extra attention — see "How to clean white leather sneakers". For nubuck and suede pairs — "Nubuck vs suede".
Where to buy Babylon sneakers and trainers?
Order on the English version of the store: Babylon ships worldwide for free from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and international returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days of delivery. In Ukraine, you can also try pairs on in the showrooms in Kharkiv (128 Sumska St. and 50/52 Pushkinska St.) and Kyiv (18 Pavlivska St.).
FAQ
What is the difference between plimsolls and trainers?
The main difference is the sole. Plimsoll-style sneakers have a flat, fairly thin sole of rubber or thermoplastic rubber with no separate cushioning layer. Trainers have a thicker midsole, often EVA, that softens each step, and usually a more pronounced tread. Either can have a leather, textile or mixed upper.
Which is better for every day: flat sneakers or trainers?
It depends on how much you walk. For errands in town, a smart-casual office and walks of up to a few hours, flat sneakers are comfortable. If you cover many kilometres a day or spend hours on your feet, cushioned trainers are more practical. Many people keep both pairs and alternate them.
Can you work out in flat sneakers?
They are not designed for running or training: they lack the cushioning and support of sports trainers. Today's flat sneakers are casual city shoes. Babylon's everyday trainers, such as the Pulse-13 and Pulse-14, are also made for the city rather than as professional sports footwear.
Where does the Ukrainian word "kedy" come from?
It comes from Keds, the American brand founded in 1916 that made light shoes with a canvas upper and a rubber sole. In Ukrainian and Russian the brand name became the generic word for flat sneakers, much like "plimsolls" in British English. Today such shoes are made not only from canvas but also from leather and nubuck.
What sneakers and trainers does Babylon make?
Babylon makes men's and women's flat sneakers in genuine leather, nubuck and suede, including the Vital-11 and Space-90, as well as cushioned trainers such as the men's Pulse-13 and the women's Pulse-14. Materials and a size table are listed on each product page.
Are sneakers and trainers the same size?
Not necessarily, even within one brand, because models are made on different lasts. Almost every Babylon model has its own last and its own "size — foot length" table on the product page. Measure your foot in the evening, allow about 1 cm of room and compare the result with the table for that exact pair.
Together with Nataliia Nikitska, he founded Babylon in Kharkiv in 1997 as a wholesale leather footwear manufacturer; since 2015 the brand has sold directly, in its showrooms and online. Today its own factory has 25 craftspeople and 2 technologists and makes 5,000–10,000 pairs a month. All articles by this author
Sources and notes
- Materials, soles and sizes are taken from Babylon product pages: Vital-11, Space-90, Pulse-13, Pulse-14 (as of 6 October 2026).
- Origin of the term and the Keds brand (1916), history of trainers and the 1970s running boom: "Sneakers", Wikipedia.
- Flat rubber-soled canvas shoes: "Plimsoll shoe", Wikipedia.
- EVA in midsoles: "Ethylene-vinyl acetate", Wikipedia.
- About 1 cm of room and trying shoes on later in the day: Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, "Footwear".
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