Golf shoes: More specialized than ever

For decades, the only difference between golf shoes and regular shoes were the spikes screwed into the soles. These days, golf footwear choices range from shoes to sneakers, and sandals to boots. The choice of soles is even greater, with some shoes having up to 12 plastic spikes to more casual, spikeless golf shoes that can take you from home to the course and back.

If you play more than a few times a year, golf shoes are necessary. Your feet will appreciate the traction and lateral support when you're swinging a club or clambering out of a bunker or up a slippery, dew-drenched hill. Keeping your feet comfortable and dry is essential for the 4 to 5 miles that you cover in the four to five hours it takes to play 18 holes.

So to find the best golf shoes, make style a secondary concern. Consider first a shoe that fits how much you play, whether you walk or ride, where you play and how hard you swing. You also want to consider climate, and whether you're a fair-weather player or a diehard who enjoys playing throughout the year in a variety of weather conditions.

Types of Golf Shoes

Traditional Golf Shoes
Traditional Golf Shoes *Est. $65 and up
Advantages
  • Time-tested design
  • Excellent waterproofing
  • Durable
  • Easy to clean
  • Can change spikes
Disadvantages
  • Relatively heavy
  • Poor breathability
  • Spikes can become uncomfortable
If going "old school" appeals to your sense of form and function, the traditional golf shoe is for you. Think dress shoes with spikes in steel or plastic. This type of shoe -- commonly called an oxford -- is usually made of waterproof leather uppers and a solid outsole made of heavier, durable materials, from leather to rubber.
Read more
Athletic Golf Shoes
Athletic Golf Shoes *Est. $50 to $275
Advantages
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable
  • Higher-tech materials and construction
  • Can change spikes
Disadvantages
  • Waterproofing depends on materials used
  • Some uppers are hard to clean and can wear faster
Athletic golf shoes give a nod to running-shoe technology, with lighter materials, mesh sections for breathability, and more flexible soles. If you're a casual golfer who prefers to walk the course and/or carry your own golf bag, these are the go-to shoes.
Read more
Spikeless Golf Shoes
Spikeless Golf Shoes *Est. $75 to $250
Advantages
  • Comfortable, low profile
  • Socks optional
Disadvantages
  • Limited waterproofing
  • Soles wear quickly
  • Less traction than spikes
The newest arrival in the golf-shoe business, spikeless crossover golf shoes look like something straight off a boat or a skateboard. Crossovers are changing the market, appealing to occasional golfers or frequent walkers who quickly find that going spikeless is easier on the feet.
Read more
Golf Sandals
Golf Sandals *Est. $40 to $100
Advantages
  • Cool, comfortable
  • Casual
Disadvantages
  • No waterproofing
  • Lack of protection
  • Little lateral support during swing
  • Blister potential
Golf sandals are practical for dry days when golf carts are mandatory. Shoes win out when you consider a round of golf can include encounters with dew, mud, bunkers, biting insects and, if shots go astray, briars, rocks and poison ivy.
Read more
Golf Boots
Golf Boots *Est. $100 to $300
Advantages
  • Great for foul weather
  • Saves wear on normal golf shoes
Disadvantages
  • Restrictive
  • Not breathable
  • Less flexible than traditional shoes
Golf boots make sense if you're golf mad and enjoy the challenge of splashy lies, or if it's the only way you can play when you live in damp places such as the United Kingdom or the Pacific Northwest. But they're less practical than other types.
Read more

Back to top