the invention is footwear having an outer sole with an ergonomic gripping or traction surface . more particularly , the ergonomic gripping or traction surface is a gripping and traction pattern , formed as an integral part of a shoe sole , that is based on a natural footprint or hand print of a human . a footprint or hand print is not a flat surface , but a combination of various anatomical elements of differing size , shape , and contour . the present invention is molded as an integral part of an elastically deformable and compressible outer sole , and incorporates the elements and characteristics of the footprint or hand print , or combinations thereof . the sole has multiple projections which stand away from the base of the sole , thereby creating adjacent raised and recessed areas . the projections correspond to the actual anatomy of the human foot or hand .