Leather or Synthetic Bowling Shoes: How the Materials Compare

Leather vs. synthetic bowling shoes: two approaches

Leather or synthetic bowling shoes? Look at the shoe wall in a pro shop and you will find both: shoes with leather uppers and shoes with synthetic uppers such as microfiber, synthetic leather, knit or mesh. Synthetic models often have a sporty look; leather shoes often a classic one.

Both are a sound choice. They differ in how they feel, how they adapt to your foot and how much care they need. Here is an overview.

The upper

Leather

Leather feels firmer at first and adapts to your foot with wear: the more often you wear the shoes, the softer the leather becomes and the more comfortable the shoe feels. Breaking them in takes a few sessions. In return, leather is hard-wearing with proper care and can be cleaned and conditioned to keep it supple.

Synthetic

Synthetic uppers are usually lighter and comfortable from the first game, with no breaking in. Many are easy to wipe clean. Because synthetic materials keep their original shape, they adapt less to the individual foot than leather does.

The sole

On the approach, the slide sole matters most. It sits under your sliding foot – the left for right-handers, the right for left-handers – while the other shoe usually has a rubber traction sole for pushing off.

• Materials: slide soles are made of leather, microfiber or felt, among others. Material and surface determine how far you slide.
• Interchangeable systems: many performance shoes have slide soles and heels attached with hook-and-loop fasteners, so you can adjust your slide to the approach. Tournament bowlers use them to adapt to different centers and lane conditions.
• Fixed soles: entry-level and rental-style shoes have fixed soles, often with a slide sole under both shoes so they work for left- and right-handed bowlers.

Whatever the material, a slide sole changes as it wears and as it picks up dust or moisture. Regular brushing and keeping it dry help it slide consistently.

Durability and care

Leather shoes need a little care: a wipe after bowling, conditioning the upper now and then, slow drying. Our care guide explains how. Looked after this way, leather shoes can last many years, and a leather sole can be replaced by a cobbler once it is worn.

Synthetic shoes need less care and are ready to use straight away. How long they last depends largely on the model and on how often you play. On shoes with interchangeable soles, worn soles and heels can simply be swapped.

Which material suits you?

Synthetic may suit you if you want a light shoe that is comfortable straight away, you prefer a sporty look or you want to fine-tune your slide with interchangeable soles.

Leather may suit you if you want a shoe that adapts to your foot, you like a classic look and you are happy to spend a few minutes on care in return for a long service life.

In practice, fit matters as much as material: whichever you choose, the shoe should fit well from the start.

BOWLIO: leather on top and underneath

BOWLIO has been making bowling shoes since 2003, with genuine leather for the upper and for the full-length sole. The leather sole sits under both shoes, so the same pair suits left- and right-handed bowlers, from beginners to professionals.

Further reading: Caring for leather bowling shoes · How to choose bowling shoes · Why your own bowling shoes make a difference