They say “necessity is the mother of invention”—and nowhere is that truer than in the pickleball world. From paddles to grips to nets (and now shoes), real needs keep sparking smarter solutions.
So when competitive tennis player, advanced pickleballer, and entrepreneur Tyler Glauser couldn’t find shoes that could handle the demands of serious play, he built his own. After two and a half years of R&D, the Montis 1.0 Drop was born. Later, teaming up with Holbrook Pickleball, he released a rebranded version: the Holbrook.
After nearly six weeks of putting them through the wringer on court, I can confidently say: they deliver. My rating? A solid 4.75 out of 5 balls.
- Player-designed for performance
- Cushioned, durable, and supportive
- Snug fit with no slippage
- Great value with solid service
By The Numbers
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight | 15.7 oz per shoe (size 12) |
| Colorways | 2 for Montis Holbrook, 6 for Montis 1.0 Drop |
| Extra Laces | 1 extra set of colorful, contrasting laces |
| Heel Drop | 7 mm |
| Size Range | 24 sizes for men and women |
| Widths Available | 2 widths (wide in men’s 9+ / women’s 10.5+) |
| Price Range | $109–$119 |
Nuts And Bolts
- Upper – Mesh poly fabric, elastic and bonded rubber guards
- Insole – Thick cushioned foam with terry wicking fabric
- Midsole – EVA cushion
- Heelcup – Thermoplastic polyurethane insert
- Forefoot Sole – 360 degree torsion point design
- Midsole Arch Outer – Rigid molded composite rubber
- Sockguard – Integrated elastic bound to upper and tongue
- Toe/Slide Guard – Flexible rubber
- Sole – High density rubber compound with herringbone tread
Inside the Design: A Chat with the Founder
I caught up with Montis founder Tyler Glauser (and his brother Jay) to learn what went into building a truly pickleball-specific shoe. “Montis” means mountain in Latin—a nod to their Salt Lake City roots and a symbol of strength and stability. Fitting, right?
According to Tyler, he firmly believes that pickleball demands more from shoes than any other racquet sport—and the Montis 1.0 was built with that in mind. His top design highlights?
- Lockdown Support: The sockliner and TPU heel cup lock the foot in place, reducing lateral movement and helping prevent ankle rolls.
- Toe-Slide Patch: Reinforces the front for those quick lunges and scrappy recoveries.
- Durable Rubber Outsole: The high-density compound he tested lasted 300+ hours on court—non-marking, too.
Tyler also emphasized Montis’ standout customer service: small team, fast response, satisfaction guaranteed. And the Holbrook collaboration? A perfect match—two family-run Salt Lake City brands, teaming up to make gear designed for pickleball, not adapted from tennis.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, the shoe had a solid, well-built feel with a casual “lifestyle sneaker” look—think skater vibes meets pickleball. The black-and-white colorway with the Holbrook logo gives it modern appeal, even if it’s not totally my style. It comes with both black and white laces—I stuck with the white for now to keep things fun.
The upper mesh, midsole, and rubber guards felt sturdy. The insole is nicely cushioned, the arch moderate, and the tongue is padded and well-integrated with the sockguard-style liner and upper.
Fit-wise, the size 12 felt perfect in length, but a little snug across the top at first. That said, I have a narrow foot and wear thin socks, and after an hour of walking around the house, the shoes were already breaking in well—snug but comfortably so. The cushioning and sole flexibility were standouts right away.
Game On… The Play Testing
I took the Montis out for their first spin on an outdoor court, and right after warm-up and a couple of games, I could already feel them breaking in.
The snug fit and excellent cushioning from the midsole and insole were the immediate standouts. After nearly two hours, they felt molded to my feet—in a good way.
Support Where It Matters
One thing I really appreciated: no foot slippage. No lateral shifting, no sliding forward or back. The lateral support was spot-on. The toe box is roomy—huge plus for me since I’ve got lingering toenail trauma from years of distance running. Push-off performance (side-to-side and front-to-back) was solid.
Not quite as quick as my go-to Diadem Court Burst, but still really responsive. That added cushioning softens the ride, but it can slightly eat into your explosive energy transfer.
Arch Talk + Insert Options
Arch support hit the sweet spot for me with a medium arch. If you’ve got high arches, you could easily drop in your favorite orthotic insert and still get that same secure fit.
The Real Test: Multiple Weeks Later
After several weeks of consistent play, the Montis have held up beautifully. Zero wear on the sole, upper, or protective guards, and the insole is still just as cushy as day one. They’re holding their own against my two all-time favorites: the Diadem Court Burst and the Babolat Jet Mach. The all-important breathability factor for court shoes shined with the Montis as well like I experience with the Court Burst.
Montis offers more cushion than both, and the lockdown from the sockliner and heel cup is even better. That said, in terms of lateral responsiveness and quick push-off, I’d give a slight edge to the Court Burst. Still, the Montis don’t feel heavy on foot—even though they technically weigh more—and they definitely don’t feel clunky, despite their chunkier look.
Bottom line: if you want plush comfort without sacrificing performance, the Montis delivers.
The Final Score
| Category | Scoring (1 Out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Styling | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 ½ |
| Fit | 🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Cushioning | 🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Lateral Support | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 ½ |
| Response | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 ½ |
| Traction | 🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Breathability | 🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Price Point | 🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Overall | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 ¾ |
We all know that the right court shoes can make or break your game when it comes to comfort and safety on the pickleball court. That’s why it’s refreshing to see brands like Montis stepping up with a purpose-built pickleball shoe that delivers on performance, durability, and value.
With a rugged outsole, plush insole cushioning, and a secure sock liner for that locked-in feel, this shoe checks all the right boxes—and at a price point that’s just as impressive as the product itself. Add in responsive customer service, and you’ve got a shoe that’s absolutely worth a closer look.
Pickle on my friends, pickle on…
