Apart from witnessing the greatest golfing comeback of all time, if you were watching The Masters you will also have witnessed the wearing of some of the best golf clothing you will probably ever see. In particular, the footwear out in Augusta was a real talking point, with many of the pros wearing special edition shoes and Tony Finau’s Nike Air Max footwear was getting a lot of fans excited.
If you are looking for some new golf shoes then, as well as looking as fashionable as the pros, you probably prioritise comfort when you are making your decision. You really cannot underestimate the importance of wearing comfortable golf shoes, as walking long distances on a regular basis, particularly when the ground is hard in summer, can take a lot out on your feet.
If you want to be able to concentrate on bringing your handicap down instead of treating your blisters, here are some of the most comfortable golf shoes in the shops right now:
Nike Air Max 1
This pair of golf shoes look exactly like the classic trainers that were so popular in the 90s and that have recently made a Tiger Woods-like comeback. With the bubble cushioned heel and full-length Phylon foam at the midsole, golfers are finding that these shoes are providing a new level of comfort on the course. Despite having a spikeless outsole, the design is durable and suitable for all types of terrain and it is easy to see why both Tony Finau and Jason Day favour this design of golf shoe.
Adidas Tour360 XT Boost
Adidas has been producing the very popular BOOST™ running shoe for some time and now they have brought the comfort-centric design over to golf. The full-length midsole foam BOOST™ cushioning provides exceptional comfort, whilst one of the other key selling points is the Climaproof technology providing superb weatherproof protection. Dustin Johnson loves this shoe and it is one of the best-selling items of footwear at the moment.
PUMA Ignite NXT Solelace
The combined efforts of the Ignite foam cushioning and the moulded comfort insole help these shoes to score top points on the comfort scale. PUMA’s Solelace technology is an excellent feature that integrates the upper, midsole and outsole for even further levels of comfort. This design is pretty nice on the eyes too, if you appreciate modern footwear fashion.
Adidas Forgefibre BOA BOOST™
This stylish design of golf shoe is proving to be a firm favourite and they are flying off the shelves. Another member of the Adidas BOOST™ family, one the major benefits of this style is the Forgefibre material which is lightweight and stretchy, making the shoe comfortable all around the foot, not just on the sole. The rubber Puremotion outsole features X-Traction Primary Lugs for a great grip all year round.
Nike Roshe G
One of the best value golf shoes on the market at the moment, the Nike Roshe G is a spikeless style which has been inspired by yet another iconic Nike sneaker. The style is based on the same silhouette which many sneakerheads and runners swear by, offering incredible comfort which simply doesn’t feel like a golf shoe. The super lightweight mesh upper offers incredible breathability, while the rubberised outsole makes these great for wearing anywhere off the course too. Widely credited with being the “best second pair of golf shoes” you could own.
Additional guidance on selecting your golf shoe
Generally speaking, the spikeless golf shoes are the best ones to go for in terms of comfort, although you will, of course, be compromising some stability when you switch from spikes. Therefore, it is advisable to have a pair of both spikes and spikeless so that you can change to the most suitable type of outsole depending on the weather and the condition of the course.
We are seeing more golfers choosing the large, visible cushioning foam that you see in most of these shoes, as they provide so much additional comfort compared to the more traditional sole design. The weather plays a large role in choosing the right type of shoe; if you are planning on wearing them on golfing holidays, or you live somewhere that stays relatively dry, you are less likely to need spikes. If you are playing through the winter and want to keep your feet dry and well protected from the harsh weather, you might want to try the golf boot designs instead.
The G/Fore brand is great if you are looking for plastic spikes and they also have a wide range of different designs to choose from with ultra lightweight soles. Both Brandt Snedeker and Phil Mickelson wear the G/Fore brand, with the Gallivanter style currently a very popular choice right now.
