Grippers, Sliders, and Curling Shoes: Finding Your Footing
New curlers are often surprised to learn that your two feet do completely opposite jobs. One foot needs to slide smoothly out of the hack during delivery; the other needs to grip so you can push and stay balanced. That's why curling footwear comes in two distinct pieces.
The slider is a slick sole β traditionally Teflon or stainless steel β worn on your sliding foot. Thicker, faster sliders glide more easily, which is great for a long, smooth delivery but takes more control. Beginners are usually better off with a slower, more controllable slider while they build balance.
The gripper goes on the other foot. It's a textured rubber sole that bites into the ice so you can drive out of the hack and walk safely down the sheet between shots. Most curlers start with an inexpensive step-on gripper from the rack of grippers and sliders every club shop carries.
You've got two main routes. Dedicated curling shoes have the slider built permanently into one shoe and a gripper sole on the other β the cleanest, best-performing option, and what most committed curlers eventually own. Alternatively, a step-on (or slip-on) slider plus a gripper worn over clean, flat court shoes is an affordable, flexible way to start, and you can pop the slider off to walk normally.
For your first season, the step-on approach over clean indoor shoes is hard to beat on value. As you commit, dedicated shoes give you a consistent slide and better balance β a noticeable upgrade.
Whichever route you take, keep the soles spotlessly clean: a single piece of grit can ruin both your slide and the ice. If you want to see the range β from beginner step-on sliders to full curling shoes in men's and women's fits β Broomfitters lays the options out by type, which makes the slider-speed and sizing decisions easier.
Get your footing sorted early. More than any other piece of gear, comfortable, predictable footwear is what lets a new curler stop thinking about staying upright and start thinking about the shot.