A lot of people ask about bowling shoes for men, but actually, there are also several individuals, women in particular, who have asked for the best bowling shoes for women.
This is precisely why we have prepared this guide for you. Women's bowling shoes come in a lot of different styles and features, and we are here to look out for your feet. If you want to learn more about bowling shoes for women (and bowling shoes in general), then continue reading our guide!
How to Choose the Right Pair of Bowling Shoes for Women (Important Factors to Consider)
For what we consider to be an overlooked aspect of bowling, there are actually a lot of factors and considerations to take a look at before committing to buying your very first pair of bowling shoes. This is why we have curated all the relevant factors to help you find the best bowling shoes for women. We'll also get to our recommended bowling shoes below.
Comfort
Other than sizing and fit, comfort is one of the most important factors to consider if you are planning on getting a pair of bowling shoes.
Think of it this way: an average bowling match with a standard group of 5 or 6 bowlers would take an hour, more or less. In this hour, you would have to walk around, sometimes jog, practice your footwork, execute your footwork, carry around a heavy bowling ball, and so many other actions that would all accumulate into one tiring hour of play.
If you're not wearing the correct bowling shoe, then that hour of supposed joy and excitement may turn into an hour of pain, discomfort, or worse, long-term injury.
When it comes to comfort, you must look out for the areas of the bowling shoe that deal with your toes, midfoot, heel, and ankle.
This is where components such as the padded tongue and collar, rubber outsole, arch support, fabric-lined inner, microfiber slide sole technology, and other notable features come into play.
Without getting too technical, the best way to check if the shoes are comfortable for you and your style of bowling play is to simply try the shoe on and walk around to check for comfort and stability.
Keep your feet safe, get the right shoes that are comfortable to wear, and put all your energy into enjoying the actual bowling action!
Sizing and Fit
Sizing and fit is a normal and expected factor to consider when buying women's bowling shoes. Other than the length of the shoe, it is also important to consider the width of the shoe. Most bowling shoes for women run narrow to cater to the most common foot size and shape of women.
If you have relatively wider feet, then you may want to consider particular bowling shoe models or bowling shoe brands that have bigger or wider options.
The upper pattern and design are also important sub-factors under this category for women with wide feet, aside from slide soles and a foam-padded collar (which add to the bulkiness of the bowling shoes for women).
Weight
Being light and mobile is a key aspect of the sport of bowling that allows professional bowlers, both left-handed bowlers and right-handed bowlers to excel in executing their bowling ball gather and release (or throw).
The weight of the shoes contributes significantly to the balance and overall weight of the player in the bowling alley.
There is no specific figure that dictates what is the ideal weight of bowling shoes for women, as this needs to be related to the weight added by other beneficial features (such as a padded collar and tongue or an EVA outsole). So we would once again recommend trying out the bowling shoes for yourself to determine if the weight is just right for your style of play.
Durability
Most shoes are advertised as durable or long-lasting, but this is not the truth for some products in the market. There are some companies that would rather focus on profit margins than actual customer product experience.
In this regard, we highly recommend that you only buy bowling shoes from authorized retailers and reputable brands. This way, you will not only be almost assured of the quality of the product, but you will also be able to rest easy knowing that the warranty terms and conditions of whichever pair you get will be honored and acted upon as soon as possible.
As a general reference, a good pair of performance-based shoes should last around 2 years if used at least 10 times every month.
Inner Sole (Insole) and Outer Sole (Outsole)
Going into specifics, the insole and outsole are important components of shoes that allow the bowler to have the needed padding, support, and stability.
In a bowling alley setting, the insole gives you the needed arch support and comfort for safety purposes. The outsole is what typically allows you to either slide or plant (depending on your preferred style of play) in the game.
The outsoles typically arrive as rubber outsoles that are made with non-marking rubber. Insoles are usually similar to EVA midsole materials to create that soft and plushy feeling.
Padded Tongue and Collar
One of the greatest highlights of the best shoes in the bowling market today would be the padded collar and tongue. The padded collar and tongue refer to the flexible portion of the bowling shoes that you tie your laces over. The collar is typically referred to as the back portion of the bowling shoes that hold your heel in place and in the correct position or stance.
When selecting bowling shoes, we recommend taking a very good look (and feel) at the collar and tongue so you can be aware of the quality and padding, as well as the type of synthetic materials used.
You only have two feet so make sure to keep them safe.
Brands
Shoe brands in bowling, much like shoe brands in any other sport or physical activity, are important when determining the reliability and quality of a particular set of bowling shoes.
This is precisely why we mentioned earlier that in terms of reliability and honoring warranty terms and conditions, the most reputable or famous brands are the must-have brands.
Bowling shoes may not have as many competitors as other sports such as running, basketball, and football, but you should definitely consider the likes of KR Strikeforce, Dexter Bowling, and Brunswick as your preferred brand for bowling gear and equipment purchases.
Features
Soft, durable, and padded collar and tongue, non-marking rubber outsole, raised heel, interchangeable soles, defined heel, microfiber sliding, and u-throat design are but a handful of the numerous features that manufacturers of bowling shoes advertise for women.
For this particular factor, however, quality bowling shoes do not always equate to having all the fancy benefits and features. You still have to consider the overall build quality, how the bowling shoes actually feel when worn on your feet, and all the other factors mentioned above to arrive at the best shoes for your bowling needs and style of play.
Design
Shoes are designed for both performance and style. If you find bowling shoes that meet all of the aforementioned criteria, then we would recommend that you look into color options or designs that best fit your preferences!
The Best Bowling Shoes for Women
The bowling shoe market is filled with a lot of amazing options and, shall we say, not-so-amazing options. To help you find what pair can serve you the best, we have compiled a list of what we consider the best bowling shoes for women as of today. Take a look!
1. BSI Women's Classic Bowling Shoes
When it comes to bowling shoes for women's feet, it doesn't get any better than the BSI Women's Classic Bowling Shoes. They're equipped with non-marking rubber outsoles, a synthetic leather upper, and a microfiber slide sole.
Fitted with a lightweight EVA midsole, a U-throat upper pattern, an inner fabric lining, a foam-padded collar, and interchangeable soles, this classic pair should be right up your (bowling) alley.
If you would prefer a combination of rubber soles and a high-quality synthetic leather upper for shoes, Dexter Raquel V has you covered.
The previously mentioned synthetic leather upper is paired with a S8 microfiber slide sole with high-quality rubber outsoles that are made of non-marking rubber. Dexter really knows its stuff when it comes to creating premium-quality shoes at an affordable price, with different shoe size configurations and color options.
Storm is here to play with its vibrant pair, the Storm Istas Shoes, equipped with a universal sole feature and great slide potential.
Fitted with microfiber slide soles, designed with a lightweight breathable fabric upper, and of course, equipped with a non-marking rubber outer sole, there is nothing else you could ask from this stylish pair. Slide your way to victory with this fantastic product.
KR Strikeforce strikes your feet again with the KR Strikeforce Kross model with a fabric-lined inner and slide soles to boot.
The rubber sole (non-marking rubber outsole) helps generate the needed power without sacrificing stability and the defined heel will help with proper posture and footwork.
A textile and synthetic feel is what you get from the Brunswick Aura Ladies Shoes.
Considered to be one of the more appreciated products from Brunswick's shoe line, the microfiber slide soles, foam padded collar and tongue, and the light rubber outer sole of this product is amazing for slide techniques in the alley.
When it comes to shoes for the female bowlers' feet, Dexter Bowling has you covered with the Dexter Vicky Women's Bowling Shoes. The soft, durable man-made upper, the universal sole, the sturdy and non-marking rubber outsole, and S8 microfiber sliding will guide you through each round and help contribute to your winning efforts in the game.
In terms of shoes, Dexter can slide into a wide range of options. Don't let the simplicity of the Dexter Dani Shoes fool you. These shoes are made with the safety and comfort of your feet in mind.
The U-throat upper pattern, universal sole, slide technology, S8 microfiber material, soft and durable man-made upper, and the compact rubber sole of the Dexter Dani Shoes are more than enough to provide you with that needed performance boost without necessarily breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a lot of frequently asked questions regarding womens bowling shoes and bowling in general. Here are a few of those questions and our responses to them:
Are bowling shoes really needed?
Yes, bowling shoes are needed. They are needed not just from a performance standpoint, but also from a safety standpoint (most especially the quality of the sole).
As is the case in any sport, if the athlete is not wearing the appropriate footwear, then the likelihood of discomfort, pain, or injury will be unnecessarily greater. Imagine a marathoner running in heavy-duty boots or a basketball player going up and down the court in football cleats.
The same could be said of bowling. If you don't have bowling shoes on, you might as well not play the game at all. Without proper bowling shoes, you risk injuring yourself, particularly if you prefer the slide technique.
Is bowling a good sport for women?
Yes, bowling is an amazing sport for women. In essence, all sports are good for women.
However, we argue that bowling is an amazing sport because you can still have fun while constantly improving and being competitive with minimal chance of injury or harm. Bowling alleys are typically viewed as controlled environments, and with a controlled environment, performance bowling while having fun is definitely possible.
Should I buy my own pair of bowling shoes?
Yes, you should definitely buy your own pair of shoes as opposed to renting bowling shoes. Rental shoes are made for those who are casual bowlers who prefer the plant technique over the slide sole technique.
The problem with rental shoes is the shoe size or shoe shape does not conform to the size or shape of your feet, the pair of shoes rented to you may have already been used by tens, if not hundreds, of bowlers, and the mesh upper and rubber outsole of the shoes are most likely worn out from all the excessive and constant usage on a daily basis.
Getting yourself your own pair of shoes for bowling is one of the best things you can do to help improve your game at an enjoyable pace with a lesser risk of injury and a greater likelihood of comfort and stability.
Conclusion
At this point, you should now realize that the best bowling shoes for women will vary from player to player. Bowling shoes come in all different shapes, sizes, and features. We hope our recommendations of female bowler shoes have helped. Don't forget to check back to this comprehensive guide to know the factors to identify when picking the right bowling shoes for your bowling game.