There are special gear and clothes that a bowler has to wear to play the game, and among them are bowling shoe covers. These bowling products are pieces of cloth and plastic that are worn over bowling shoes to protect them from moisture, food particles, oil, dirt, and any other thing that would interfere with mobility and comfort.
We’re going to look at some of the best bowling shoe protectors and covers on the market, including their strengths and flaws, on top of furnishing you with a buying guide to help you get your hands on the best bowling shoe covers you can manage.
Contents
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Bowling Shoe Covers
If you’re in a hurry, you can jump straight into our top picks (these are the bowling shoe covers that most people buy).
- Brunswick Shoe Shield Bowling Shoe Covers Top Pick
- Hammer Bowling Barbed Wire Bowling Shoe Covers Runner-up
- Dexter Bowling Shoe Covers Runner-up
Top 6 Best Bowling Shoe Covers 2024 – Our Reviews:
1. Brunswick Shoe Shield Bowling Shoe Covers
The Brunswick Shoe Shield is among the best bowling shoe covers that you would want to be strapped with when you go out bowling in places that are less than ideal.
The Brunswick shoe covers are made of a quality and durable material complete with an elastic top that hugs the top part of your shoes and legs well enough to not slip off even when you drag your feet against the ground. The cover is also very easy to put on and peel off which saves bowlers a lot of time while increasing convenience.
Given their elasticity, storing the bowling shoe covers is easy. You can even crumple them into your pocket or simply squeeze them into the back pockets of your bowling bag.
The bowling shoe protectors come in an array of sizes from small to XXL. Unfortunately, for those who love style, the color options for the Brunswick shoe covers are only limited to black.
Pros
- Vinyl construction
- Moisture and dirt resistant
- Varying sizes; not a one-size-fits-all shoe cover
- Can mask dirt
- Affordable
- Non-slip elastic top
- Easy to wear and take off
Cons
- Challenging for people with wide feet
- Can be too tight at times
- Limited to black only
2. Hammer Bowling Barbed Wire Bowling Shoe Covers
The Hammer Bowling Barbed Wire Bowling Shoe Cover is a little more stylish than the Brunswick as it comes with some barbed wire art that adds to its aesthetic appeal. There are even three color options: orange, black, and gray.
The material used to create these Hammer Bowling Barbed Wire bowling shoe covers is waterproof and resistant to dust elements, two qualities that have made the Hammer brand one of the most sought after shoe covers in the bowling circles.
These bowling shoe covers are very flexible and can fit even wide feet and shoes that reach up to size 14. So, if you’ve been struggling with shoe covers that can’t sufficiently protect your large bowling shoes, these Hammer shoe covers might be what you need.
Lastly, each shoe cover does a very good job of keeping unwanted things out while giving you that unique look, thanks to the beautiful barbed wire artwork that’s part of the entire shoe cover save for the underside.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Waterproof nylon layer
- Durable build
- Well balanced non-slip solid bottoms
Cons
- It’s hard to find these shoe covers due to the high demand
- The underside traction of the shoe covers has been found wanting on some occasions
3. Dexter Bowling Shoe Covers
The Dexter Bowling Shoe Covers is another exciting product designed with aesthetics in mind. As one of the premier bowling product manufacturers, these covers for your bowling shoes are very attractive to look at and they usually come emblazoned with the Dexter brand name on the side.
The vinyl material used in making these shoe covers is of high quality, and each shoe cover has an elastic top that wraps around the shoe tightly, protecting it from any external elements. It also has overlock stitches for extra strength.
The colors available are black and white, which is more than sufficient for those who value performance over looks. However, make no mistake, they have a very good texture and feel that adds to their allure as far as looks are concerned.
These covers for bowling shoes have a good durability score and come in many sizes that can accommodate even people with wide feet. As for the size of the bowling shoes, the maximum shoe size that can fit into the shoe cover is size 14 for men and 12 for ladies.
Pros
- Water-resistant vinyl layer
- Comfortable
- Good quality design
- 2 Color options
- Accommodates all foot sizes
Cons
- The white versions can’t mask dust
- Very expensive for shoe covers
- They’re not as thick as one would expect
4. Hammer Diamond Plate Bowling Shoe Covers
The Hammer Shoe Cover Diamond Plate is another pair of shoe protectors from the very reliable Hammer brand of bowling shoe covers, and just like other products in the same line, it has all the qualities and features that a high-end shoe cover would possess.
Just like the name suggests, this Hammer shoe cover for bowling shoes has diamond-shaped art all over its surface, a design that gives it a clean and sharp look, one that’s bound to turn heads when you put them on.
The denier nylon material used in the construction of this diamond plate pair of covers for bowling shoes is of high quality and has a high level of water resistance. It can also repel dirt, oil, and anything you may accidentally step on as you bowl or walk to the snack bar, even a sticky snack bar piece.
The Hammer shoe cover is also equipped with an anti-slip feature at the bottom which allows the wearer to move about freely without any fear of slipping or falling.
This pair of shoe covers accommodates a wide range of feet sizes and comes in white, black, and orange, a good piece of news for those that love looking their best as they play.
Pros
- Powerful malleable denier nylon layer
- Good quality
- Good traction
- Keeps moisture out
- Easy to put on
- Accommodates different sizes of shoes
- 3 Color options
Cons
- They may accommodate all foot lengths but are not ideal for wide feet
- Covers whole shoes with little room for breathability
5. SaVi Bowling Shoe Protector Covers
These are the only bowling shoe covers on most lists that are designed specifically for women. The shoe shield is big enough to accommodate even high-heeled shoes, giving users good balance for handling bowling balls.
The bowling shoe cover is made using the best vinyl material that protects shoes from coming into contact with water or any other undesirable thing. These are the ideal shoe covers that you can use to dash to the toilet mid-game and come back with everything intact as they were.
The SaVi Bowling Shoe Protector Covers have an elastic top that covers the top part of the leg well enough to stop anything from going in from that side. Rather than being made for different shoe sizes, the SaVi is made so elastic that a single shoe cover can be used on size 6 and size 10 shoes at the same time without any issue coming up.
This shoe cover for bowling shoes comes in black with the SaVi logo written on the side. What it lacks in the aesthetic department is made up for in performance and this has made it one of the most popular and in-demand bowling shoe covers.
Pros
- Quality water-resistant vinyl material
- Beautiful pink logo
- Reliable performance
- Elastic and good quality
- Accommodates different sizes of shoes
- Good grip for handling bowling balls
Cons
- Can be challenging for newbies
- The traction isn’t that good
- Limited color options
6. MyShoeCovers Premium Bowling Shoe Covers
This is a USA brand that has been in the business of making products and accessories related to bowling. The MyShoeCovers is a high-quality item that uses tough fabric to ensure that bowlers’ shoes are protected every time they go carry a bowling ball and go about a bowling game.
The underside of the shoe cover has a very superior grip that gives bowlers the freedom to move around as much as they can and as fast as they want without the bowling shoes’ covers slipping up and injuring the bowlers in the process.
It’s also water-resistant thanks to the polyurethane-coated nylon layer that’s also repellent to dust and other elements.
This shoe cover for bowling shoes comes in four kinds of sizes and is machine washable. This means you can use it as many times as you want before you start thinking of getting a replacement.
The shoe cover has received a lot of positive feedback on online bowling ball sites.
Pros
- Combines polyurethane and nylon material
- Anti-slip bottom
- Machine washable
- Sturdy overlock stitches
- Accommodates up to 4 sizes of shoes
Cons
- The opening can be tight at times
- Lack of colors makes its appearance very bland and plain
Buying Bowling Shoe Covers: Things to Keep in Mind
Having established how important bowling shoe covers are as well as the best brands, you now have to be aware of the factors that you should keep in mind when you walk into a shop for a pair of covers for your bowling shoes.
Material
The nature of the material used to make the bowling shoe cover will determine its effectiveness in dealing with water, dust, or oils. Most shoe covers for bowling shoes are made using a special nylon material that has all those features whose work is to keep your shoes dry free of any moisture.
You can have your bowling shoe cover custom made to your specifications but the bottom line here is that you have to check the material first to ensure that it packs the needed qualities.
Size
Good bowling shoe covers should be able to handle any size of shoes without coming apart when stretched. At the same time, it shouldn’t be too tight to the point where it hampers your movement as that will be a problem.
You can go for a one-size-fits-all kind of shoe cover or you can choose to buy one that can be used for a size below and above the measurement of your feet. The aim here is to attain comfort in shoe size.
It should also be able to fit in a bowling bag easily.
Extra Features
What else can the covers do aside from the main function of protecting your shoes? You’ll attain the best value for your money when you get bowling shoe covers that have extra features besides the basic ones.
Things like size elasticity, the ability to repel dust or to mask its appearance, an extra fortification layer that increases the durability, or something that keeps your shoes in good condition are all great features to have. It is such small things that make the biggest difference in performance level.
Be critical of each product you examine to see if you can pick out all these extra features.
Durability
A premium bowling shoe cover should be able to have the strength and size to withstand any form of stress that’s applied on them—you don’t want to have your bowling shoe covers ripping out on you in the middle of a bowling run.
Check how strong the cover material is to determine how long it will last. The covers should be able to be used for a long time before replacement talk begins, so spend your money wisely in this regard.
Aesthetics
Colors and beautiful patterns on bowling shoe covers may not be a big deal to many people, but there’s no harm in looking good in a bowling game. If you’re into colors and aesthetic designs, then get yourself a bowling shoe cover that comes with more than one color option.
You just have to make sure that the other features that matter are working as they should.
Level of Comfort
The purpose of bowling shoe covers is to protect the shoes and make bowling easier, but the choice of covers you go for may come in the way of that. Comfort is important if you want to enjoy bowling without worrying about other things.
The covers should not be too tight to the point where it digs into your ankles. There should also be some breathability in the covers to stop moisture from forming every time you move around.
Moreover, bowling shoe covers should neither be too saggy as that extra space may lead to you tripping up and falling. Try out bowling shoe covers to make sure it fits you and your shoes comfortably and check out all the necessary boxes before committing your money to purchase.
Budget
Get bowling shoe covers you can afford and understand that expensive isn’t always better. There’s absolutely no reason to blow tens of dollars on high-end or high-quality covers when you could spend much less on a decent bowling shoe cover that can adequately keep your shoes protected.
You have to get value for your money. If something doesn’t feel right, then it’s probably not the right thing to buy.
Alternatively, you can also just make your own bowling shoe covers.
The Bottom Line
Bowling shoe covers are essential accessories to any serious or aspiring bowler. They save your shoes from a lot of mess that’s the bowling floor, and owning a pair isn’t a matter of debate.
There are other brands, known and unknown, that have very decent bowling shoe covers worth your attention. If this list doesn’t cover what you need, use the buying guide above to expand your search, and sooner or later, something that fits you will show up.