The Best Golf Shoes to Wear on the Links

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Whether you’re new to golf or just looking to update your footwear, you’ve come to the right place. As modern golf shoes continue to take on current, street-style looks, we’re starting to see more of them out on the green. Of course, great golf shoes aren’t just for looks. They connect you to the course, steadying your body as you take your backswing. Plus, with designs made for walking courses, they can potentially prevent late-round fatigue caused by improper footwear.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best golf shoes on the market in 2024, as well as a comprehensive guide to finding the right golf shoes for your playing style, foot shape and budget.

Our Picks for the Best Golf Shoes of 2024:

• Best Spikeless Golf Shoes: adidas CodeChaos 22 BOA Spikeless Golf Shoes
• Best Spiked Golf Shoes: UnderArmour HOVR Drive 2 Golf Shoe
• Best Golf Shoes for Men: adidas Tour360 22 Golf Shoes
• Best Golf Shoes for Women: adidas Ultraboost Spikeless Golf Shoes
• Best Golf Shoes Under $100: Nike Infinity G Golf Shoes
• Best Waterproof Golf Shoes: Puma Proadapt Alphacat Golf Shoes
• Best Golf Shoes for Walking: New Balance Fresh Foam X Defender SL

Best Spikeless Golf Shoes: adidas CodeChaos 22 BOA Spikeless Golf Shoes 

Key features

• Price: $170
• Type: Spikeless
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: Yes
• Widths and sizes: 6-15 men’s / standard width
• Colors: Core Black/Dark Silver Metallic/Impact Orange, Cloud White/Crew Navy/Crystal White, Grey Three/Impact Orange/Pulse Blue

When the adidas CodeChaos first came out a few years back, it set the bar for what a golf shoe could look like. With bright, lucid designs, it provides an unorthodox aesthetic to help golfers stand out on the court.

The upper is made of flexible and breathable mesh for a lightweight feel. With a thin film of waterproof material on top, the shoes repel water and debris, making them easy to keep clean.

As for comfort, you get adidas’ Boost cushioning, which runs across the midsole. As an added bonus, the Boost cushioning springiness puts a pep in each step.

On the outside of the shoe, you’ll find a Twist Grip outsole, which adidas developed through careful heat map evaluation. The designers specifically focused weight distribution during swings to build the sole.

On top of that, the shoe utilizes a spikeless design, giving you on and off-the-course versatility. Overall, it feels like a trainer shoe, lightweight, stable, mobile and ready to take on just about any course conditions.

Pros:

• Very comfortable
• Provides excellent grip on various ground conditions
• Flexible materials

Cons:

• Back mesh material can get dirty easily

Best Spiked Golf Shoes: UnderArmour HOVR Drive 2 Golf Shoe

Key features

• Price: $160
• Type: Spiked
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: No
• Widths and sizes: 8–14 men’s / standard and wide width
• Colors: White/Navy

UnderArmour recently released the second generation of the HOVR Drive and there are plenty of great things to say about it. Though the break-in time is still relatively long, it’s far more comfortable than the first generation, especially around the heel.

You get plenty of stability with this shoe without sacrificing stability, perfect for those with aggressive swings. The slip-and-skid resistance keeps you firmly planted on the ground with excellent traction in almost any condition.

Note that if you have really narrow feet, you might have trouble feeling secure in these shoes. The toe-box is fairly roomy. If you decide to go for these shoes and you don’t have wide feet, do yourself a favor and get a size down.

As for long-lasting durability, the extra-thin waterproof membrane allows golfers to play in wet conditions without ruining their shoes. Better yet, the waterproof characteristics don’t feel like they interfere with the breathability of the shoes. Air passes through nicely, so your feet don’t get hot and sweaty, even after a long 18 holes.

Pros:

• Excellent grip
• Very comfortable
• Remarkable breathability

Cons:

• Can take a while to break in

Best Golf Shoes for Men: adidas Tour360 22 Golf Shoes

Key features

• Price: $180
• Type: Spike
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: Yes
• Widths and sizes: 7–15 men’s / standard and wide width
• Colors: Cloud White/Silver Metallic, Could White/Core Black/Silver Metallic, Cloud White/Core Black/Blue Rush, Cloud White/Lucid Blue/Silver Metallic, Core Black/Grey Five, Core Black/Iron Metallic

The adidas Tour360 22 Golf Shoes are some of our favorite golf shoes around. With excellent stability, comfortable interior padding and seven sleek colorways to choose from, they hit all the marks.

The outside of the shoe is made with a mixture of leather and waterproof materials, making them long-lasting and easy to clean. Compared to the last iteration of the shoe, the spikes are a bit wider, though not replaceable like they once were.

As for comfort, you get a built-in sock liner for extra padding, helping to solidify your foot inside the shoe, so it doesn’t slide around as you move about the course. Having that little bit of added comfort can be a lifesaver, especially if you often find yourself hauling heavy golf bags around the course.

Having the right socks is key with these shoes, as the mid-top ankle could present some pretty bad blisters.

One thing to note about these shoes is that they have a very wide base, which connects you firmly to the ground. This connection is great for adding confidence to an aggressive golf swing.

If support, stability and comfort are what you’re after, these top-tier ergonomic golf shoes are a great option.

Pros:

• Wide fit for extra stability
• Waterproof materials
• Tons of great color options

Cons:

• Mid-top ankle could cause blisters without proper socks

Best Golf Shoes for Women: adidas Ultraboost Spikeless Golf Shoes

Key features

• Price: $200
• Type: Spikeless
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: No
• Widths and sizes: 5-16 women’s / standard width
• Colors: Core Black/Lucid Blue, Silver Pebble/Olive Strata, Grey Two/Court Green, Lucid Lemon/Core Black, Collegiate Navy/Bright Red, Aluminum/Preloved Yellow

The adidas Ultraboost Spikeless Golf Shoes are one of our favorite premium golf shoes for women. The sustainable design features an upper made from 50 percent Parlay Ocean Plastic and 50 percent recycled polyester, in an effort to transform the plastic “from problem to performance,” adidas states.

While the shoe is not completely waterproof, the PrimeKnit textile and microfiber-leather upper resists water, so that you can play comfortably in wet and dry conditions. The upper also has a supportive fit for easy and comfortable movement through all 18 holes.

The inclusion of adidas’ signature Boost midsole provides optimal cushioning and energy-return technology to keep you energized during a long day on the green, and the spikeless rubber outsole construction has golf-specific traction that’s practical for off-the-course wear. Plus, the six colorways allow you to choose the design that best fits your style.

Pros:

• Water-resistant upper
• Spikeless design for on and off-the-course wear
• Energy-returning Boost midsole

Cons:

• Relatively Expensive

Best Golf Shoes Under $100: Nike Infinity G Golf Shoes

Key features

• Price: $70
• Type: Spike
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: No
• Widths and sizes: 8-14 men’s / standard and wide width
• Colors: Black/white, white/black

When you catch the Nike Infinity G’s from a distance, the sleek and modern design immediately stands out. The minimalist Nike logo and basic color selection make these shoes easy to style with your favorite golf gear and apparel. When you get a bit closer, you can see that Nike included golf-specific elements that set this shoe apart, such as the synthetic leather upper and spiked outsole.

The synthetic leather upper is durable and waterproof, so you do not need to worry about playing on wet grass. The unfortunate part is that it may not be as breathable as other shoes—something to keep in mind if you regularly play in hot, humid environments.

Related Post: The Best Nike Shoes for Men

The spikes in the outsole contribute great grip and traction on the green with minimal slippage. One reviewer said that these shoes have great traction in bunkers, wet grass and dry weather conditions.

If you know anything about Nike shoes, you’ll know its shoes are some of the most comfortable on the market. The Infinity G Golf Shoes are not an exception, with a soft foam midsole and sock liner cushioning for optimal comfort.

These shoes are truly all about minimalism in terms of style and design, though they’re equally functional on the course.

Pros:

• Spikes integrated into the outsole for great traction
• Waterproof leather upper
• Sleek design
  

Cons:

• Upper may not be as breathable as other shoes

Best Waterproof Golf Shoes: Puma Proadapt Alphacat Golf Shoes

Key features

• Price: $160
• Type: Spikeless
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: No
• Widths and sizes: 7-15 men’s / standard and wide width
• Colors: Ride/White/Blue, Black/Grey, Grey/Blue, White/Grey

This spikeless golf shoe from Puma is one of the most comfortable golf shoes on this list, perfect for all-day, all-weather playing. Not only are these shoes made with a comfortable waterproof design, but they also look stunning, making them excellent and off-the-course shoes.

The seamless tongue and snug fit provide ample support, though note that you’ll likely have to spend more time than you’d maybe like breaking these shoes in. Plus, with an immovable tongue, getting them on and off can be a bit tricky.

Once broken in, however, you’ll no doubt enjoy the astonishing traction, especially when you consider the spikeless design. The underfoot support system is equally applaudable, providing a secure, fatigue-free fit throughout long days.

Pros:

• Top-tier traction
• Sleek and modern aesthetics
• Easy to keep clean
  
  

Cons:

• Long break-in period

Best Golf Shoes for Walking: New Balance Fresh Foam X Defender SL

Key features

• Price: $120
• Type: Spikeless
• Waterproof: Yes
• BOA option: No
• Widths and sizes: 8-11 men’s / standard, wide and extra wide widths
• Colors: White/Grey, Black, Grey/Blue

New Balance has definitely made a name for itself with comfortable walking shoes and the New Balance Fresh Foam X Defender SL shoes are no exception. These sharp, lightweight, spikeless golf shoes are just as good for the office as they are for the golf course.

You get cushioning in all the right places, thanks to the Fresh Foam underfoot, which has become somewhat of a New Balance staple. They feel soft without the unnecessary mushiness that you often get from too much cushioning. On top, the FantomFit uppers provide softness and flexibility to complement.

While the outsole flexes nicely with every step, providing a solid mixture of agility and strength, the slightly plasticky feel has an audible click when walking on hard surfaces, which can take a second to get used to. With that said, they have an incredible grip on turf surfaces.

Overall, the New Balance Fresh Foam X Defender SLs are some of the nicest looking golf shoes on the market today, great for hitting the office or heading out to dinner after a few rounds without feeling like your feet are out of place.

Pros:

• Sharp, clean look
• Tons of cushioning on the heel
• Waterproof design

Cons:

• Plasticky feel on the outsole

What to Look for When Choosing a Golf Shoe

Having a quality pair of golf shoes is essential for a good time on the course. With golf shoe manufacturers pushing the limits of comfort, stability and durability, pouring significant resources into developing quality shoes, it’s no wonder why even more and more casual golfers are getting their feet into these game-improving weapons.

Let’s look at a few things you should consider when trying to find the right shoe for your needs.

Color

The color of your golf shoes is completely preferential.

Many golfers like the look of traditional golf shoes, which are often constructed with leather and use simple colors, such as white, black or brown.

However, more and more companies are starting to produce multi-colored shoes that hover around lifestyle sneaker designs. The ability to choose between so many different colors and styles can help highlight your own stylistic preferences on the course.

Plus, nothing can give you the confidence you need quite like hitting the links with a pair of shoes that you know look good on you.

Fit

Having golf shoes that fit properly is crucial. Beyond the fact that you’ll be walking long distances during any given round, you’ll likely be on your feet for more than a few hours, walking, standing or setting up for a backswing.

There are a few things to consider when looking for the right fit.

For starters, you’ll want to measure both of your feet prior to selecting a size. You’ll also want to take width into account. If you step into a standard shoe that’s the right size, only to find that it hugs the wide part of your foot a bit too much, you may need to look for a wider size.

While you certainly don’t want a shoe that is too loose, you also don’t want one that constricts your foot, leaving you in pain after a few holes.

Related Post: Stitch Golf Bag Review

Spiked vs. spikeless

Spiked golf shoes are traditional golf shoes, offering plenty of traction when playing on grass or turf. These types of golf shoes come with either metal or plastic spikes (similar to cleats) on the bottom, though most modern shoes come with plastic, as they’re less expensive to make, lighter than metal (meaning more comfortable and less fatiguing to wear) and more flexible when it comes to design.

The main advantage of spiked golf shoes is stability. When you rotate your body for a swing, your feet grip the ground, allowing you to rotate forward with an explosive swing without your feet leaving the ground.

Then, we have spikeless shoes, which have started coming to the scene in more recent years. Spikeless golf shoes offer a far more casual design, perfect for wearing on and off the course. Rather than spikes, the soles are made with small, durable dimples, which provide a bit more traction than your average sole.

Without the addition of spikes, these shoes are much lighter and provide ample comfort, as they feel more natural on the feet. The one major downside is that they don’t provide as much traction, especially if you find yourself playing in wet conditions.

Materials

Leather is probably one of the most popular materials for golf shoes. Manufacturers will often process leather to stretch it around the outside of the shoes for a tight, durable fit. The beauty of leather is that it is quite breathable, perfect for summer players.

Many manufacturers will add waterproof lining to provide additional protection from the elements, whether you’re playing on a dewy course in the early morning or the day after a big downpour.

A cheaper alternative to leather is a synthetic material. A popular synthetic material choice for golf shoes is non-porous polyester. While this material is much lighter and more flexible than leather, it doesn’t provide as much breathability or durability.

If you’re really serious about getting the most protection out of your shoes, we recommend looking for those made with waterproof materials, such as Gore-tex.

Note that waterproofing often goes hand-in-hand with less breathability, so you might consider getting one pair of waterproof shoes for the winter and another lighter, more breathable pair for the summer. For example, you may look for a shoe with a mesh upper, as mesh provides plenty of airflow.

You may also consider looking for a water-resistant shoe, which is a tier below waterproof in terms of its ability to block out water, meaning it is typically slightly more breathable.

Laces

As the prominence of casual golf shoes continues to grow, the way in which laces are designed continues to change. Traditional laces are still the most popular choice, as they provide an easy, custom fit.

However, many golf shoe manufacturers are now giving consumers the ability to buy their shoes with mechanical BOA fits. BOAs operate similarly to a ski or snowboarding boot, providing a secure fit with a round tightening mechanism near the back of the shoe.

While you’ll pay slightly more for a BOA shoe, you’ll get a snug, stable fit that is hard to get with laces.

Price

While everyone has their own budget, we always encourage people to spend a bit more than they might spend on their average shoe on athletic shoes.

Consider how many miles you’re going to walk in your golf shoes.

With that in mind, you might want to spend a bit more. A $100 pair of shoes versus a $150 pair of shoes offers a negligible difference, especially when you consider that cost over a few years of wear.

FAQs

Do pros wear spikeless golf shoes?

While most pro golfers wear spiked golf shoes, many golfers are starting to wear spikeless shoes. According to the PGA Tour, around 15-20 percent of players wear metal spikes. Some of those players include Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods.

What is a soft spike golf shoe?

Soft spike golf shoes are shoes with soft nodes tightened at the base. The benefit of these shoes is that they provide similar traction and grip to a metal spike shoe, though they are more lightweight.

What shoes do the pros wear?

Professional golfers wear different shoes based on their preferences and brand partnerships. Jordan Spieth wears Under Armour shoes, Tyrrell Hatton prefers the adidas CodeChaos 22 and Xander Schauffele wears the adidas Tour360 22. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods was seen in the FootJoy model at the 2023 Masters.

Do golf shoes make a difference?

Golf shoes provide greater stability than regular shoes, especially if you are playing in wet conditions. They also have larger soles and broader bases than regular shoes, giving you more contact with the ground for sturdier footing.

What makes a good golf shoe?

A good golf shoe has an array of quality characteristics, including breathability, flexibility, durability, comfort and stability.

What's the difference between golf shoes and running shoes?

Golf shoes have better traction characteristics and wider sole designs than running shoes, making them better for stability during your game.

Can I wear running shoes for golf?

While you can wear running shoes for golf, thanks to their comfort characteristics, they don’t provide the same amount of traction and stability due to their narrower designs.

Final Thoughts

Our goal here was to create a concise yet comprehensive list of golf shoe contenders, all of which should address the majority of needs golfers have. Whether you’re hitting the links for the first time or consider yourself a seasoned pro, you’ll no doubt find a pair of standout shoes on this list to enhance your game.

When all is said and done, the shoes you choose will come down to a few major considerations, including durability, comfort, style and performance.

Get shoes that you know you’ll be confident playing in for the next few seasons and enjoy the many benefits they provide.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.