Dexter vs Brunswick vs Storm: Bowling Shoe Brands Compared
Where Dexter, Brunswick and Storm come from, how their interchangeable slide soles are numbered, and which questions help you choose a pair.
Tina Mendo
Dexter, Brunswick and Storm: three well-known names
If you search for bowling shoes, you will quickly come across Dexter, Brunswick and Storm. This comparison of bowling shoe brands looks at where each brand comes from and how their performance shoes are set up, above all their interchangeable soles. Prices and individual models change often, so check the current range with each manufacturer or your pro shop.
Dexter
Dexter is an American brand that concentrates on bowling shoes. Many Dexter performance shoes use interchangeable slide soles and heels. The SST slide soles are numbered from S2 to S12: S2 is a brown microfibre sole with the least slide, S10 a grey felt sole with an extra-long slide and S12 the sole with the longest slide. The odd numbers are sawtooth soles, and S4 is a leather sole.
Dexter's THE 9 series is built with an interchangeable sole and heel. Some Dexter models, THE 9 among them, are also available in a wide version.
Brunswick
The Brunswick name goes back to 1845, when John M. Brunswick began making billiard tables in Cincinnati. The company later moved into bowling, with lanes, pins and balls. Today Brunswick bowling equipment includes shoes as well.
Brunswick's interchangeable slide soles are numbered from #2 (least slide) to #10 (most slide). They are supplied oversized and trimmed to fit the shoe. One example is the Team Brunswick: the slide sole and heel of the sliding shoe can be swapped, while the push-off foot has a fixed rubber sole. It is available for right- and left-handed bowlers and in regular and wide widths.
Storm
Storm Products was founded in 1985 in Utah and has been making bowling balls since 1991. Storm has sold shoes under its own name, for example the SP3 and SP 800. In 2020, Storm fully took over Global Manufacturing, the company behind the 900 Global ball brand and 3G bowling shoes. Storm's current footwear range is sold under the 3G name, including models with interchangeable soles.
Bowling shoe brands at a glance
| Dexter | Brunswick | Storm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | American bowling shoe brand | Company history since 1845, in bowling since the late 19th century | Bowling ball maker, founded in 1985 |
| Interchangeable slide soles | SST, S2 to S12 | #2 to #10 | On 3G models |
| Wide versions | On some models | On some models | See manufacturer |
How to choose
- Where do you bowl? If you compete in different centers, interchangeable soles and heels let you adapt to each approach. If you mostly bowl in the same center, you can also do without them.
- Which hand do you bowl with? Performance shoes with a slide sole and a traction sole are sold for right- or left-handed bowlers. Shoes with a slide sole under both shoes work for either hand.
- How wide are your feet? Check whether the model you like is available in a wide version.
- What material do you prefer? The ranges include leather, synthetic and mesh uppers. More in leather or synthetic bowling shoes.
- Which size? Use the manufacturer's size chart; our size guide explains how to measure.
More on interchangeable soles in interchangeable sole bowling shoes, and a comparison by level in beginner and pro bowling shoes compared.
BOWLIO: leather under both shoes
BOWLIO takes a different approach. Instead of an interchangeable system, BOWLIO bowling shoes have a full-length leather sole under both shoes, which makes them suitable for left- and right-handed bowlers, from beginners to professionals. The upper is genuine leather too, and the more often you wear the shoes, the softer the leather becomes. BOWLIO has been making bowling shoes since 2003 and started out with leather rental shoes for bowling centers.
Further reading: Bowling shoe buying guide · Bowling shoe soles explained