Montis Pickleball Durable Court Shoes: Montis Pickleball, a brand founded by brothers Jay Glauser and Tyler Glauser, believes it has solved one of the toughest challenges in the sport: making durable, affordable pickleball-specific court shoes. After two years of testing, their Drop 1.0 shoes promise better performance and longer life compared to most big-name brands.
The Challenge of Court Shoes
Creating shoes built for pickleball is no easy task. Many companies simply rebrand tennis shoes, but Montis set out to design footwear specifically for the sport’s unique demands.
“It’s a very difficult thing to do. Shoes in general are crazy, let alone court shoes,” said Co-Founder Jay Glauser. “I’m confident that pickleball is one of the hardest sports on footwear out there. You’re effectively dragging a shoe across sandpaper all day long.”
A Player’s Perspective
Tyler Glauser, once a competitive tennis player, moved into pickleball in 2020. He quickly found traditional court shoes could not keep up with the sport’s intense side-to-side movement. When no option on the market worked, he decided to create one.
“The quality of our products is on par with the absolute best of what’s out there from the big tennis brands that have been doing this for 100 years,” said Tyler Glauser.
Unlike tennis, where players cover large courts heel-to-toe, pickleball requires sharper lateral movement. “Everything about our shoe was constructed with that lateral support in mind,” he explained.
Measuring Value
Tyler Glauser tested 15–20 popular pickleball shoes, tracking their durability against cost. His focus was on “cost per court hour”—how long each pair lasted before wearing down.
At $109, Montis shoes provided more than 250 hours of play, compared to pricier brands that often wore out faster. “We tested everything,” said Tyler Glauser. “Two-hundred and fifty hours of court time is materially better than the average of everything else I got from all the big brands.”
Jay Glauser added, “If you’re a player who replaces your shoes every two to three months, we want to get you into four or five; if you replace them every five months, we want to get you into six and seven.”
Designed for Pickleball Players
The Drop 1.0 went through over six prototypes before Montis found the balance between durability and performance. The outsole, where shoes typically wear out first, was reinforced to meet the 250-hour target.
Other design features include:
Two sets of laces for style choice
A heel cup for stability
Stretch sock liner for lateral support
Crash-resistant toe caps
Breathable mesh for airflow
A six-month outsole warranty
Fit was another key factor. Montis offers both regular and wide versions to better match different foot shapes. “We want customers to find the right size for their foot that allows them to maintain that lockdown of the shoe,” said Tyler Glauser.
What’s Next for Montis
Montis is already working on new designs and collaborations. They recently released a colorful shoe with content creator Ed Ju that was well received. More new styles, including green and white options, are on the way.
Whatever the design, the Glauser brothers say performance and durability will remain the heart of the brand.
News in Brief: Montis Pickleball Durable Court Shoes
Montis Pickleball has launched its Drop 1.0 shoes, built specifically for pickleball players. Founded by Jay and Tyler Glauser, the brand focused on durability, side-to-side support, and value. Tested at 250 hours of playtime, the shoes cost $109 and include features tailored to pickleball movement and performance.
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