Best Golf Shoes on the Market  

Finding the perfect golf shoes is like searching for that flawless mattress. This endeavor is manageable yet frequently requires aspirin and a glass of water. If not an exercise in patience, avid golfers cater to an interminable spirit that will carry forth and bestow glorious feats (hopefully lower digit scores) or induce madness in the form of purpled calluses or blisters.

Eighteen holes might seem an eternity wearing ill-fitting golf shoes. The perfect shoes are like walking on a cumulonimbus cloud; no need for howling to the full moon like a wolf after tapping your heels together seven times in sacrifice to the almighty golf gods, hoping they are creating molds for deformed toes.

Without breaking into the holiday money stashed beneath the bed springs, golfers can discover the best shoes for the course. This purchase is manageable and often pays in dividends in comfort (eliminating blisters and soreness).

What Santa Clause lover wouldn’t want to discover the latest treasure from FootJoy, Ecco, Adidas, Kikkor or True, glimmering beneath the festive glint of fluorescent bulbs?

FootJoy prides itself in being the #1 shoe and glove in golf. The 2012 version of the perpetually popular FJ SPORT is one of the most sought after new shoes on the market. The original model was launched in 2010 to instant acclaim, as many of the PGAs hottest stars began wearing them. Rory Mcllroy, Adam Scott, Matteo Mannassero and others began drawing attention to the classic FJ. The new and improved shoe continues to implement the tweaks that make FootJoy one of the most adaptable companies in golf.

Another feature that makes this shoe special is the BOA L4 lacing system option, which makes it much easier to implement that adjustable fit during an outing on the course. The aesthetics are always popular offering an athletic look with intrepid colors. There are many unique and bold color variations, accents and strong strike patterns. The full grain leather offers comfort and breathable support for the ankles. ProofGuard™ membrane technology keeps the water out and the lightweight cushion provides flexibility with optimal stability in almost any extreme weather condition.

According to Russell Lawes, European Marketing Manager of FootJoy, “The FJ SPORT is an extremely important model for us and we were keen to incorporate some design and styling changes to give it a fresh new look ahead of the 2012 season. In addition to the introduction of the BOA L4 closure lacing system option we have also taken youthful, sports styling and fused it with industry leading performance and technology that FJ shoes are renowned for . . . this season we have developed our strongest golf shoe line-up ever, catering for the differing tastes of golfers of all ages. I am confident that the FJ SPORT will continue to be a popular shoe amongst the younger generation of player, particularly with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Matteo Mannassero wearing them out on tour.”

TRUE claims their shoes are as comfortable as slippers. This may sound like meritorious propaganda but this is perhaps the best asset of TRUE. Golfers can wear these shoes around the house and aside from the obvious appearance of something more ambitious than slippers, one might be able to forget they are wearing spike-less golf shoes for a few hours.

Sure, many consider the appearance of TRUE golf spikes as a manifestation of clown shoes, or even bowling shoes but who’s to say this is a bad thing? The younger demographic favors TRUE golf shoes, while the older golfers are more reluctant to wear them. Style being an individual preference, those looking for sheer comfort should be willing to overlook the jester references and walk the walk. The traction of TRUE golf shoes is fantastic. The shoes allow golfers to dig into diverse sands of varied bunkers for great traction and stability; the sand trap is perhaps the best way to measure these shoes.

The TOUR360 line from Adidas always attracts attention and much expectation. Tour 360 ATV is the next big thing. The new and improved ATV (All-Terrain Versatility) offers a lighter shoe, lower to the ground by using a thinner outsole, building on providing even more support. The traction is wonderful because the ground-adapting outside and the abundant (configuration of ten) spikes are able to dig deeper into the soggiest turfs by implementing PINS (Performance Insert System), an advanced system helping to provide balance and proper weight distribution.

The flexibility is a credit to the versatility of these golf shoes. Coming in at $190, TOUR360 is a bit more expensive than the others, though it’s always wiser to invest in comfort over another fancy new putter. A five hundred dollar driver means nothing if you are handicapped by your blisters. Premium, full-grain leather, comfort and technology are again evident in the evolution of Adidas golf shoes.

The ECCO golf shoes provide a classic, modernized, metro look. Featuring their water-repellent creation, Hydromax leather, these lightweight duds will keep the rain out. Stability in the swing and grip is improved by technology evident in their sleek appearance with 3mm insoles for custom fitting. These babies come standard with stable, soft spikes. These are not a re-creation of skateboard shoes or an evolution of sneakers as other competitors are designing and selling. The attractive and perhaps classy appearance of ECCO is sure to attract at least a couple compliments at the country club.

Priced at $180 for black and $160 for light brown, Ecco offers a refined style. Priced at $450 with a 5mm fine leather inlay sole and sealed with GORE-TEX®, the top-of-the-line men’s ECCO World Class GTX are expensive and made of crocodile but perhaps the perfect golf shoe may be worth the bite in your wallet?

Kikkor is another great golf shoe worthy of mention. The retro design offers the unusual appearance most reminiscent of a skateboarding style shoe yet stability is at the center of the Kikkor benefits. The embedded tread offers better performance. The soles feature Kikkor’s Diacon Embedded Spike System (DESS) which aids traction. Kikkor shoes are affordable at around $135 per pair but do not offer replaceable spikes.

Technology, innovation, research, new styles and outside the box designs are dominating the major golf shoe manufacturers. Comfort is still the epitome of importance when searching for the perfect footwear for a great round.