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Of the many important pieces of gear in golf, none are as foundational and essential to enjoying your round as your shoes. A good pair of golf shoes creates a steady base for your swing, holds up to all kinds of weather and terrain, and, in a game where you can walk nearly eight miles across 18 holes, needs to feel as good on the first tee as they do on the last green. Luckily for the modern golfer, there are so many brands making top-tier footwear that blends comfortable tech from other sports with country club-ready looks.
“Nowadays, you have all sorts of options when it comes to golf shoes,” Marta Ramalho, Head Golf Professional at Golf v.2 in Brooklyn, New York says. “But your best fit should reflect your most frequent weather and course conditions.” We took Ramalho’s advice, tested golf shoes for both men and women, and have come up with the most comfortable picks from established athletic brands like Nike, Adidas, and Ecco. Our analysis was all about comfort for the average walking and carrying round, but these golf shoes are also functional, stylish, and durable, so you can wear them in any climate for years to come.
You’ll forget you’re wearing golf shoes because of just how airy, comfortable, and sturdy these are. Plus, they’re machine washable.
They perform best in drier conditions.
You’re going to want to hit the golf course in a pair of the True Linkswear All Day Knit 3 shoes for every outing. They’re lightweight, breathable, stable, and comfortable, but most amazingly, they just don’t feel like golf shoes (and I mean that in the best way). They have all the requirements: the insole is sock-like, the Wanderlux midsole is as cushioned as your favorite trainers, and the strong spikeless rubber outsole treads grip to grass and any terrain you throw at it, without any feeling of them being lifted. But, ultimately, they are so comfortable on your feet, that it sets them apart from the more traditional golf shoes in a big way and enables you to wear them out in the world without a second thought.
I have been wearing True Linkswear shoes for a few years now, mostly because they were among the first brands to have a big enough toe box and large enough sizes for my feet. But these Knit 3 are different from their original and lux lines in that they are truly meant to be worn all day and have the look and the feel to make that a reality. Instead of changing in and out of your spikes, you’ll want to take these from the office to the course, then the clubhouse for a drink, out to dinner after, and possibly even the next morning for your workout.
The Details: Size 7–15 D-EE | Polyester and spandex | Spikeless
They have the feel of old-school metal-spiked shoes with the modern tech, comfort, and look you want.
These shoes can feel clunky – they’ll keep you comfortable but aren’t lightweight.
Adidas is making some of the best golf gear out there for a major sporting goods brand, and the MC80 shoes are at the top of their line. A classic silhouette made of real genuine leather is paired with plush inner technology and recycled materials to deliver a truly comfortable feel and premium look. With the innovative Boost cushioning technology in the midsole, these shoes use your walking and swinging energy to create extra cushion as the round goes on. Best of all, this design is gender-neutral, so men and women can sport these effortlessly cool shoes and enjoy the walk no matter your score. You’ll turn heads in these, and golfers aged 9 to 90 will be asking where you got them.
The Details: Size 7–15 | Full grain leather | Waterproof | Spikeless
They are bold and attention-grabbing as you expect from G/FORE, with all the comfort tech you want for the course and beyond.
They have a unique design with a massaging insole that isn’t for everyone.
The colorways, the treads up the sides, the low-drop outsole, the code writing on the heel: these shoes are a statement, yet are of the most comfortable design (beyond and including golf) I have ever worn. The almost no-drop bottoms with driving-moc style back and sides take some getting used to, and the silhouette is more loafer than sneaker, but the plush comfort of their midsole and massaging insoles was a revelation. I imagine not all will love that feature, but once you get used to it, there is a real benefit. Yet even with the comfort, these shoes are athletic and snug (not in a bad way), and kept my feet in place during high-speed drives and downhill incline approach shots. Turn some heads with your lag putts and these shoes this season.
The Details: Size 7–15 | Seamless PU leather upper | Waterproof | Spikeless
These are comfortable shoes that can take whatever course conditions you throw at them.
The design isn’t for everyone and can feel a little too tech-y.
We all imagine playing golf on 75-degree days with just enough cloud cover to help see your ball as it lands in the fairway, but the reality of golf is that, if you love the game, you’ll be playing in less-than-ideal conditions more often than not. Having a comfortable but ready-to-go shoe for all those days is important, and the Payntr X 001 is their original and most versatile shoe. If it’s wet out, their Neverwet fabric has really impressive water resistance. Their proprietary tongue tech is breathable while locking your foot in place no matter the temperature. And, most importantly, their insoles have such minimal compression that these shoes feel as energetic and comfortable after one year as they do on day one. Trust me, I've been using mine in a variety of conditions for 12 months already.
The Details: Size 8–13 | Woven jacquard upper | Water-resistant | Spikeless
These are high-end spiked shoes from a perennial favorite with modern aesthetics.
While they bring in some sneaker-tech, they are meant for the course.
Spikeless outsoles have taken the game by storm, but there’s a ton to be said about the unrivaled stability and grip of spiked shoes. The FootJoy HyperFlex are top-of-the-line cleated footwear, designed to keep you in place for your swing even at the highest speeds and steepest inclines. Beyond that focus, the HyperFlex has the industry-leading technology you’d expect from FootJoy. The upper is waterproof, breathable and cushioned with high-ankle support and a slip-on reinforced heel. The shoes look like an evolution, not a revolution, in golf shoes, and that’s a good thing considering how comfortable they are.
The Details: Size 7–15 | Performance knit mesh upper | Waterproof | FastTwist 3.0 cleat spike system
They feature a thoughtful construction with all the details considered, to focus on comfort above all.
Depending on your taste, they might not have the most premium aesthetic design.
At Payntr, golf shoes are more than just sneakers or oxfords with pronounced treads. Their engineers have built shoes from the literal ground up, including an intense focus on the way golfers can harness the force and stability from the turf to help them propel their swing. They have done that with patented “propulsion plates” in between the mid and outsole, and a smart design focused on stability.
While these are thoughtfully designed with so much technology in mind, they have devoted just as much brainpower to the shoe's comfort. Across their collection, but especially in their X 003 F Women’s shoes, that focus has paid off in truly comfortable and resilient shoes. After a hundred rounds, the pair I have feels new and energetic, and my wife felt the same about the X 003 F pair she tested over the course of a few months. Best of all, the midsole in the women’s shoes is engineered specifically to the differences in body shape and size; to be softer but with equivalent energy return so that they hold up over time and during every walk spoiled.
The Details: Size 5.5–10 | Clarino microfiber upper | Water-resistant | Spikeless
A different kind of old school cool, these comfortable shoes look and feel like classic Adidas trainers.
It can be hard to keep bright white golf shoes clean, especially around grass, mud, and sand.
On the other side of the style spectrum is the effortlessly cool S2G Spikeless 24 shoes. Unlike the MC80 cousins, these are inspired not by golf’s past, but by Adidas’ own history, looking and feeling like their classic Sambas and Stan Smiths. The 2024 models have added new colorways and even a leather option, but their comfort is undeniable no matter what style you pick. The midsole has ample Lightstrike cushioning and the spikeless outsole has a unique toe cap and heel clip to help stabilize your swing. All this with design touches and tech upgrades that create true comfort without weighing down the whole shoe.
The Details: Size 5–11 | Ripstop upper | Waterproof | Spikeless
They are a fan-favorite accessible shoe for nearly every golfer with the amazing comfort you’d expect.
There are many colorways and options for support in this line, make sure you get the right style for you.
Skechers quietly built a lot of equity in the golf community with their incredibly comfortable shoes that work in lots of environments, and their Go Golf Max 3 are the latest in this effort. Fully waterproof with a removable arch-support insole, these lightweight and sturdy shoes are podiatrist-certified and we were amazed at how broken-in they felt after the first few wears. They treat your feet to a cushy experience walking 18, no matter if it rained, the course was all uphill, or if you spent a ton of time in the hazards.
The Details: Size 5.5–11 | Synthetic leather | Waterproof | Spikeless
There is so much tech and thoughtfulness put into this shoe, yet it looks and feels so simple.
The fit on these is narrower and longer than other ECCO models so be prepared to maybe need a different size than your previous pair.
ECCO knows comfort; their golf shoes have been the choice of both women and men at country clubs and on tour for years. If you’re walking 72 holes in a weekend tournament, you need confidence in your shoe to keep you going and add some spring back to your swing, and ECCO has delivered that year after year. Their new BIOM C4 shoe does just that, adding some sneaker styling and new-and-improved breathability to the table. These are waterproof and sturdy, with their patented MTN Grip outsole that won’t budge even in the rain, but the midsole and upper are as plush as it is strong. My wife swore her long-time pair of ECCOs couldn’t be beat, but these have won her over, especially with the unique, premium colorways.
The Details: Size 5–11.5 | Performance leather upper | Waterproof | Spikeless
They are a professional-looking and feeling pair of spiked shoes for golfers who want understated stability.
In addition to having spikes, they are stiffer and sturdier than most lightweight spikeless shoes.
These are great shoes for a serious golfer who wants her round to be unaffected by unstable terrain or conditions. Callaway makes some incredible golf gear overall, from drivers to balls, but their shoes are underrated and the Coronado V2 are a great find. Pairing their six-point cleat system on the outside with a multi-layer comfort inside makes a shoe that is as much for the ground as it is for your foot. There’s an EVA midsole for energy transfer, a 5 millimeter PLUSfoam insole for extra comfort and then an Opti-vent mesh upper for breathability, all making a really great shoe for the value and style.
The Details: Size 6–10 | Microfiber leather upper | Waterproof | FastTwist 3.0 cleat spike system
“If you're looking for year-around golf shoes, waterproof spiked ones would be the best option; although there are plenty of spikeless options for spring/summer rounds,” Ramalho says. Not all shoes can work on a muddy and rainy day, so think about both traction and waterproof (or water-resistant) options.
“When ordering online, I'd count on an extra half-to-full size up,” Ramalho says, due to the tight-fitting nature of most golf shoes. But because you’re going to be walking up to eight miles in a round, you want the fit to be perfect, so if you can, order multiple sizes around your side or go into a pro-shop to get fitted.
This is where your personal preference comes into play: some like an extra cushy insole, which you can always buy third-party and put into your new pair just like any other shoes. For the most part, golf shoes over-correct on cushioned soles and firm ankle and side support, so if you want something more sturdy you’ll be able to find BOA systems and reinforced heels as well.
“Proper golf shoes make a difference on your swing stability and traction,” Ramalho says. This is probably most important for beginners learning the footwork essentials, but also for those with higher swing-speeds and more body movement in their swing. If you’re someone who does a lot of lower-body twisting, you may want to consider spiked shoes over spikeless.
If you like the look and feel of your spikeless golf shoes enough to wear off the course, you can; however you can’t really wear spiked golf shoes anywhere but the course. “If they're spiked, [wearing off the course] can cause permanent outsole damage,” Ramalho says. “And it can be dangerous in slippery situations.”
Some golf shoes are machine washable, believe it or not. In the past, golf shoes were made of leather and needed to be treated with care by a shoe-shine professional, but luckily even the newest leather pairs hold up better to daily use. Take advantage of the spike cleaners and pressurized air at most courses, to get the grass clippings and mud off your outsole before you take them off. For scuffs and marks, usually a brush and some soap and water does the trick. For a deeper clean, or if they got soaked by a rainstorm on the back nine, the latest in sneaker erasers, anti-moisture desiccants, and buffers work wonders.
For this story, Red Fabbri spoke to Marta Ramalho, Head Golf Professional at Golf v.2 in Brooklyn. He also researched and tried a variety of golf shoes both on and off the course, including during a commute on the subway — which he would not advise doing. As a lifelong golfer and former caddy, he knows the importance of comfort in your golf shoes and went to great lengths to make sure these recommendations were the best options out there.
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