what kind of shoes do curlers wear
Curlers wear specialized curling shoes with one sliding sole and one gripping sole, designed specifically for controlled movement on ice.
The Basic Setup
Most curlers wear:
- One slider shoe : Smooth sole (Teflon or stainless steel) that lets them glide during delivery.
- One gripper shoe : Rubber sole that gives traction so they can walk and stop safely on the ice.
These are usually a matched pair, built so right-handed and left-handed players have the slider on the correct foot for their throwing side.
How Curling Shoes Work
- Slider sole : Acts like a “built‑in skate,” allowing a long, controlled slide when pushing out of the hack. Thickness and material change how fast you slide.
- Gripper sole : Textured rubber that keeps you from slipping while sweeping or walking back down the sheet.
- Toe coating/toe cap : Many shoes have a hardened toe area to withstand dragging the toe during delivery and to protect the foot.
Some models even use removable slider and gripper pads (often Velcro‑based) so players can customize which foot slides, or upgrade to faster sliders without buying new shoes.
What Beginners Wear
If you’re just starting:
- Clean, flat‑soled sneakers or tennis shoes are often allowed, as long as they’re used only on the ice to keep it clean.
- Clubs may provide slip‑on sliders that go over one shoe so you can simulate a real curling shoe without buying a pair right away.
As players get more serious, they usually upgrade to purpose‑built curling shoes for better balance, consistency, and safety.
Other Styles You Might See
- Double gripper shoes : Rubber soles on both feet for players who do not slide to deliver or for certain roles in practice.
- Interchangeable systems : Momentum‑style shoes where both slider and gripper pieces can be swapped to change feet or speed.
Quick SEO Elements
Meta description:
Curlers don’t wear regular sneakers on the ice. They use specialized curling
shoes with one sliding sole (Teflon or steel) and one rubber gripper sole for
control, safety, and performance.
Key phrases naturally included:
- what kind of shoes do curlers wear
- latest news (modern designs now feature interchangeable sliders and grippers for customization).
- forum discussion (curling forums often recommend beginner shoes with thinner sliders like 3/32" Teflon for control).
- trending topic (newer waterproof lifestyle shoes are promoted for before/after games, but not as on‑ice footwear).
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.