Since the Olympics have been in full swing, curling has become increasingly popular. The sport involves sliding a granite stone across an ice rink and trying to get it into the bullseye. Teammates sweep the ice in front of the stone with brooms, sending the stone farther away to score the points needed to win the game. Curling is played with curling shoes, not ice skates. Many people wonder what the difference is between regular shoes and how to choose the right ones.
Best Shoes For Curling
When purchasing the best shoes for curling, curlers should look for uppers that provide both comfort and warmth. As with any athletic shoe, it is important to find the right size, as shoes fit differently for different people. Another factor to consider is the shoe’s ability to retain heat, as ice play can cause cold feet. Leather is the ideal upper material for curling shoes. The best insulation material is a technology called Thinsulate.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced curling player, curling shoes are very important. The curling shoes you wear will have a huge impact on your delivery and ultimately your success and enjoyment of the sport. Curling shoes are an investment in your game.
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Best Shoes For Curling | Comparison Table 2023
Top Quality | 5- Star Picks | Great Prices
| Image | Title | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | ACACIA Matrix Curling Shoes 9, For Men, Black/Gold | ACACIA | Check Price |
| Men's Left Handed G50 Breeze Curling Shoes (Speed 5): Size 14 | Goldline Curling | Check Price | |
| Women's Right Handed G50 Storm Curling Shoes (Speed 8): Size 7 | Goldline Curling | Check Price | |
| Goldline Curling Men's Momentum Rush Shoes: Size 13 | Goldline Curling | Check Price | |
| Men's Right Handed G50 Cyclone Curling Shoes (Speed 11): Size 9 | Goldline Curling | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best Shoes For Curling | Reviews 2023
1. ACACIA Matrix Curling Shoes
- Leather sole
- Lama innersole provides excellent support, comfort, total balance and were designed to keep feet warm and dry.
- Air ventilation Grommets
- Compressed foam with tilted heal
- The upper is made from a water proof non stretch lightweight Napa leather with power strap and vent holes.
- Interchangeable grippers and sliders with new innovative Velcro technology.
- Ideal for Curling athletes of all ages and caliber.
2. Goldline Curling Men’s G50 Breeze Shoes
- Features a 3/32 Teflon slider, rated as a Speed 5.
- Perfect for anyone who prefers a slower slide out of the hack. This may include beginners, occasional curlers or anyone with concerns about sliding too quickly on the ice.
- Goldline recommends a wide Antislider for these shoes. Sold separately.
- Equipped with Goldlines gripper technology, the gold standard of stability and widely regarded as the best in the market for sure footing.
- These Breeze shoes are designed for left-handed curlers and come with a slider on the right foot and a gripper on the left foot.
3. Goldline Women’s Storm Curling Shoes
- Features an upgraded 5/32 Teflon slider, rated as a Speed 8
- Strategically placed indents on the toe and heel of the slider distribute weight to the periphery, enhancing stability.
- Speed 8 sliders are perfect for curlers interested in a balance and comfortable slower sliding speed.
- Goldline recommends a wide Antislider for these shoes. Sold separately.
- These Storm shoes are designed for right-handed curlers and come with a slider on the left foot and a gripper on the right foot
4. Goldline Curling Momentum Rush Shoes
- Velcro based slider and gripper system allows you to select the sliding speed you want.
- Momentum shoes can be configured for either right handed or left handed play.
- Enhanced arch support through the outsole and insole provides exceptional comfort.
- Strategically designed outsole provides both flexibility and lateral support, making these shoes excellent for both tuck and flat foot deliveries.
- Wrapped in a sleek black edition of Goldlines IceKnit fabric, these shoes are extremely comfortable and will keep your feet warm even in the coldest curling centres.
5. Goldline Cyclone Curling Shoes
- Wrapped in our IceKnit fabric, this curling shoe is lightweight, durable, insulated for warmth and very flexible.
- Rated as speed 11, the Cyclone, with a 1/4 Teflon slider is ideal for experienced curlers looking to maximize their slide.
- Goldline recommends a wide Antislider for these shoes. Sold separately.
- Equipped with Goldlines gripper technology, the gold standard of stability and widely regarded as the best in the market for sure footing.
- These Cyclone shoes are designed for right-handed curlers and come with a slider on the left foot and a gripper on the right foot.
How To Choose The Best Shoes For Curling | Unrivaled Guide 2023
Insulation
Did you know that all Goldline curling shoes are made with insulation? Curling is done on ice, and ice is cold, and most people don’t like their feet to get cold. That’s why we put insulation in all of our shoes. For top athletes, like those you see on TV, it may not matter as much because the lights and spectators create a warmer curling atmosphere than normal. If your feet get cold easily, you may want to choose curling shoes instead of custom shoes.
Toe Box
The most surprising thing about curlers is that they all claim that they don’t kick rocks. But go to your local club and you will find that most people do. There is no need to deny or be shy, it is part of curling. Be aware, however, that in a battle between your toes and a 19 kg curling stone, your toes can lose. To prevent this, all Goldline curling shoes have a hard-toe box that protects your body when you hit the stone. If you choose custom shoes, be careful when picking up stones at the end of the game.
Lateral Stability
As mentioned earlier, stability is important for shooting accuracy. If you wobble when slipping on your shoes, you will not be able to throw stones accurately. So a good curling shoe should be flexible enough to allow you to walk comfortably or stand up to do Manitoba tack, but not rotate in the process. This is what is called lateral stability.
It is important not only for shooting accuracy but also for safety. With shoes that do not have sufficient lateral stability, there is a risk of rounding the ankle during a shot and injuring yourself.
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Fit and Comfort
Curling shoes should provide an athletic and supportive fit so that players can maintain balance and form during slides and sweeps. It is especially important that the shoes fit properly to prevent the foot from slipping in the shoe and blistering at the heel due to the force of the shoe being pushed out. Curling shoes should generally fit like running shoes, and this is a useful guideline when thinking about curling shoes and the fit you are looking for, as well as having a reference for choosing the size and preferred running shoe size that will likely be your correct size A good reference for finding your correct size is with curling shoes.
Foot Covers
The purpose of the covers (also called toe dips) is twofold: to protect the toes of the dragging foot from stone wear and to provide a faster surface for the toes of the dragging foot than the shoe itself.
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How Do Curling Shoes Work
Curling shoes work because their soles are soft, grippy rubber, allowing players to gain good traction on the ice. Curling shoes are designed specifically for modern sweeping and sliding techniques. The elastic sole allows for smooth weight transfer from the back foot to the front foot. In addition, the shoe is flexible enough to adjust the angle of the shoe to match the angle of the sweeping arm.
The upper of curling shoes are usually made entirely of leather or artificial mesh with synthetic overlays. Leather is usually cowhide. This provides better stability while curling and improves the accuracy of the shot.
In addition, the toe of the curling shoe is coated with a special rubber coating to prevent abrasion when sweeping the ice.
Sole Structure Of Curling Shoes
Curling shoes work best with a combination of a slippery sole and a grippy sole. What differentiates curling shoes from other sports shoes is their soles: the soles of a pair of curling shoes are made of the following two materials, each with a different design
Grip Soles Of Curling Shoes
The grip soles are made of different designs of soft rubber, which provides traction on smooth ice surfaces. They should be comfortable from all angles and have a low profile. Curling shoes with non-slip soles provide traction as they glide across the ice surface and carry the stones to the target. They also provide excellent balance, which allows you to rotate and feed the stones with greater precision and power in the sweeping motion, thus increasing the speed of the stones underfoot.
Curling Shoe Sliders
Sliders remove friction between the shoe and the ice, allowing a smooth sweep of the surface to guide the stone to the goal. Curling shoe slides are made of a variety of materials.
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Best Shoes For Curling | Infographics
Best Shoes For Curling | Video Explanation
FAQs
What kind of shoes do you wear when curling?
A pair of curling shoes consists of one shoe – called a gripper – with a soft, rubber sole that provides a good grip on slippery playing surfaces. The second shoe, the slider, has a Teflon or stainless steel backing that allows it to glide easily across the ice.
What should I wear when curling?
Loose-fitting pants such as sweatpants or jogging pants (no jeans!) ), jumpers, and coats are recommended. It is quite warm on the ice, so please wear gloves and warm socks, as well as several layers of clothing. Shoes should be very clean and rubber-soled.
Are curling shoes different?
The answer is quite simple: they have soles specially designed for curling. The bottom line is that the two soles are very different. The sliding sole is made of Teflon and is made to slide on different players, especially when throwing stones, but also when sweeping.
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Conclusion
I hope you now understand all about the best shoes for curling and the construction of the sole. In this article, we have endeavored to present a more in-depth understanding of how curling shoes work, using relevant photos and videos. In this guide, you will find the best shoes for curling.
Hi, I am Brian, Lives in Mooresville, North Carolina, and Went to The University of Texas at Austin, I am a shoe lover & know the inside out of shoes. I am well aware of the qualities of top-quality boots. That’s what I’m sharing with the reader of About Shoes/boots/footwear. Read More Here
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