Inspiration Golf The 10 Best Men's Golf Shoes of 2021 The freshest kicks for the course By Nicholas McClelland Nicholas McClelland Instagram Twitter Nicholas McClelland is a writer specializing in men's fashion, food, and travel. He reviews products for TripSavvy. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 10/01/21 Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. The Rundown Best Overall: ECCO Men’s Biom H4 Golf Shoe at dickssportinggoods.com "These shoes are durable, completely waterproof, and provide tons of stability and traction." Best Budget: Puma Fusion Evo at zappos.com "Under a C-note, the Puma Fusion Evo golf shoes are a bit of a steal." Best Waterproof: Payntr X 001 at payntrgolf.com "Although these shoes are new to the market, they provide excellent grip and support. " Best for the Aspiring Pro: Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour at nike.com "Three hybrid spikes coupled with a grippy traction pattern minimize slipping during a shot." Best Vegan: Adidas Stan Smith PrimeGreen Special Edition Golf Shoes at dickssportinggoods.com "50 percent of the upper is made of recycled material, meaning there’s a little less waste out in the world." Best Custom: FootJoy Premiere Series Tarlow at footjoy.com "For a few dollars more you can customize these with eight base leather options and 51 more for the accents." Best to Wear Anywhere: Cole Haan Generation ZERØGRAND Golf Sneaker at Amazon "This is the kind of golf shoe you can wear beyond the course." Best BOA: ECCO Men’s S-Three Boa Golf Shoe at Amazon "These BOA shoes keep the tension consistent across the length of the foot than traditional laces." Best for a Casual Round: Nike Air Max 90 G at nike.com "These kicks barely look like golf shoes, so they're perfect if you need to run errands before or after the round." Best Slip-Ons: Puma OG Slip-On AP Collection at carlsgolfland.com "Since they are slip-on shoes, they are easy to hop into or out of in the course parking lot." A good pair of golf shoes are crucial pieces of equipment, not just to prevent spoiling a good walk but also for playing the game well. But what makes a good golf shoe? “A good golf shoe improves your game by allowing players to be more stable, balanced, and flexible throughout their swing,” says Caroline Bassarab, PGA director of retail Reynolds Lake Oconee. “Balance allows you to have a smooth transition from your backswing to the downswing without your feet slipping.” Stability minimizes the feet from shifting or sliding from right to left to help keep the swing on plane. “Along with the combination of stability and the balance, this will increase your torque, which in turn increases your swing speed with the golf club resulting in gaining more distance,” she said. Here are the best golf shoes for men. Best Overall: ECCO Men’s Biom H4 Golf Shoe Courtesy of ECCO Buy on Dick's Buy on Ecco.com What We Like Comfortable Excellent stability and traction 100 percent waterproof What We Don't Like Some players might prefer a hard spike ECCO was a pioneer in the advent of soft spikes for golfers more than a decade ago, and today they make some of the most comfortable golf shoes on the market. The BIOM H4 features performance leather uppers lined with 100 percent GORE-TEX to make them highly waterproof. The outsole is built with three zones of traction, providing the stability that fosters rotation during the swing while a TPU stabilizer keeps the foot from sliding. Material: Leather, TPU | Weight: Not listed | Sizes: 39 to 48 | Spikeless: No Best Budget: Puma Fusion Evo Courtesy of Puma Buy on Zappos Buy on Dick's Buy on Cobragolf.com What We Like Comes in various colors Comfortable Offers different widths What We Don't Like Lacks a dynamic aesthetic Under a C-note, the Puma Fusion Evo golf shoes are a bit of a steal. The brand deploys a soft foam and springy rubber to keep the walk easy, as well as leverage ground forces during the swing. Integrated nylon straps tied into the laces aid players in finding their optimal tension, and the shoes come in sizes seven to 17 as well as extra-wide to fit the largest range of golfers. Material: Foam, nylon, rubber, TPU | Weight: 12 ounces | Sizes: 7 to 17 | Spikeless: Yes Best Waterproof: Payntr X 001 Courtesy of Payntr Buy on Payntrgolf.com What We Like Excellent grip and support Lightweight What We Don't Like Limited color options This golf shoe is a result of a partnership formed by ex-professional cricketer David Paynter and Mike Forsey, who has previously designed golf shoes for Nike, Under Armour, and FootJoy. The lightweight shoe uses thermoplastic urethane nubs on the outsole for grip, a graphite plate in the midsole facilitates a bit of spring off the ground during shots. To keep the shoes waterproof, the brand coats them in NeverWet, a superhydrophobic solution. Material: TPU, PMX foam, and EVA | Weight: 12 ounces | Sizes: 8 to 13 | Spikeless: Yes The 9 Best Places to Buy Golf Clubs in 2021 Best for the Aspiring Pro: Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour Courtesy of Nike Buy on Dick's Buy on Nike.com What We Like Excellent stability and traction Comes in various colors Comfortable What We Don't Like Sizes can run small Nike partnered with Brooks Koepka to create the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour. A weatherproof ‘Flyknit’ upper locks the foot in to mitigate in-shoe movement, but still lets the fit flex during the golf swing. Three hybrid spikes coupled with a grippy traction pattern minimize slipping during a shot, while an airbag sits between the foot and the midsole for added comfort for a player walking the course. Add it all up, and you have an incredibly versatile and comfortable golf shoe. Material: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Sizes: 3.5 to 17.5 | Spikeless: No Best Vegan: Adidas Stan Smith PrimeGreen Special Edition Golf Shoes Courtesy of Adidas Buy on Dick's What We Like Made from recycled materials Excellent traction What We Don't Like From a platform not specifically for golf For those who prefer to wear vegan leather, Adidas’ Stan Smith PrimeGreen Special Edition Golf Shoes add a certain je ne sais cool. The style, which is of course based on the original Stan Smiths tennis shoes, is unabashedly classic with a golf flare. White with a green heel and sole, the shoe features soft spikes for traction on the course. The kiltie style lace cover gives the aesthetic a throwback vibe and the fact that 50 percent of the upper is made of recycled material means there’s a little less waste out in the world. Material: Leather, rubber | Weight: Not listed | Sizes: 4 to 15 | Spikeless: No Best Custom: FootJoy Premiere Series Tarlow Courtesy Footjoy Buy on Footjoy.com What We Like Traditional style Excellent stability and traction 100 percent waterproof What We Don't Like Pricier than other options The FootJoy Tarlow is a hella nice golf shoe, and for a few dollars more, you can customize them with eight base leather options and 51 more for the accents. The Tarlow features a 100 percent waterproof upper made from soft full-grain leather and calfskin detailing. Purposefully deployed multi-directional traction elements coupled with SoftSpikes cleats help keep players' feet from slipping during any type of shot. Plus, the classic style looks great whether you’re playing at a posh club or a chill muni. Material: Leather, TPU | Weight: Not listed | Sizes: 7 to 15 | Spikeless: No The 9 Best Golf Grips of 2021 Best to Wear Anywhere: Cole Haan Generation ZERØGRAND Golf Sneaker Courtesy of Cole Haan Buy on Amazon Buy on Colehaan.com What We Like Stylish Excellent support Comfortable What We Don't Like Difficult to pair with some golf attire Cole Haan's Generation ZERØGRAND Golf Sneaker is the kind of golf shoe you can wear beyond the course. It’s got an aesthetic that looks more like a fashion sneaker than one dedicated for a single sport, but it still packs some serious tech to keep feet fresh walking 18. The upper is stretchy, the footbed is anatomically-based and a flexible, cushioned midsole all work together to provide on-course comfort. A multi-directional traction pattern gives players great grip from tee to bunker to the bar at the 19th hole. Material: Foam | Weight: 1.72 pounds | Sizes: 7 to 16 | Spikeless: Yes Best BOA: ECCO Men’s S-Three Boa Golf Shoe Courtesy of ECCO Buy on Amazon Buy on Ecco.com What We Like Easy to use closure system Excellent stability and traction Comfortable What We Don't Like Some may find a BOA closure unattractive BOA is not just for players who hate tying their shoes. The closure system is more efficient and is easier to keep the tension consistent across the length of the foot than traditional laces. ECCO’s Golf S-Three not only utilizes a BOA closure, but they also give golfers a full-grain leather, 100 percent GORE-TEX technology, a traction system with nearly 100 TPU bars that offers 800 angles of grip, and a midsole with 3 different zones for comfort, flexibility, and stability. Material: Leather, TPU | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Sizes: 5 to 13.5 | Spikeless: Yes Best for a Casual Round: Nike Air Max 90 G Courtesy of Nike Buy on Dick's Buy on Nike.com What We Like Versatile Can be worn anywhere What We Don't Like Slides easily on wet or steep ground The Nike Air Max 90s are stylish, easy, every day sneakers. The golf version is no different. On the soles, an integrated traction pattern grips the ground as you walk or swing. A foam midsole and an air pocket in the heel softens impact as you stroll, while a mesh layer over the upper keeps water at bay. These kicks also barely look like golf shoes, so if you need to run errands after the round, they won’t click or clack on the grocery store tile. Material: Foam, TPU | Weight: Not listed | Sizes: 5 to 17.5 | Spikeless: Yes The 9 Best Golf Push Carts of 2021 Best Slip-Ons: Puma OG Slip-On AP Collection Courtesy of Puma Buy on Carlsgolfland.com Buy on Cobragolf.com What We Like Easy to take on or off Excellent traction What We Don't Like Feel a bit loose on the course Not waterproof If you’re just sneaking out for a bit of practice or popping off to the pitch and putt after work, the ease of a slip-on just makes sense. These Pumas from the Arnold Palmer collection are made from full-grain leather with “hidden” traction on the sole. Since they are slip-on shoes, they are easy to hop into or out of in the course parking lot. Material: Leather | Weight: Not listed | Sizes: 8 to 10 | Spikeless: Yes Final Verdict We love the ECCO Men’s Biom H4 Golf Shoes for their comfort and stability (view at Dick's Sporting Goods). But the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour (view at Nike) and FootJoy Premiere Series Tarlow (view at FootJoy) shoes are also strong offerings in a crowded field. Selecting a good pair of golf shoes comes down to personal style, level of comfort desired, and the environment in which you play. What to Look for in Golf Shoes Hard vs. Soft Spikes Some golf shoes use soft rubbery traction systems and others use hard plastic spikes to give players grip. Choosing between the two depends on playing conditions and personal preference. Water Resistance Most golf shoes offer at least some degree of water resistance to prevent your feet from getting wet during a round. If you play in damp conditions frequently, consider choosing a model that is fully waterproof and comes with a two-year guarantee. Comfort and Fit “Comfort is a very important factor especially when golfers walk an average of 3 to 4 miles while playing 18 holes,” Bassarab says. Some companies offer more padding for a softer feel. “Inside the shoe ensure there is a cushion technology to provide comfort and support," she says. "The insole should have some supporting technology to increase the fit and stability." According to Bassarab, golf shoes should have a secure fit at the heel and a wider toe box that allows the toes to be comfortable while swinging the golf club. “Golf shoes should not be tight, especially in the toe box area,” she says. “If you cannot move your toes inside the shoe, they are too small.” While many of today’s golf shoes don’t need much of a break-in period, a little extra care can make the first few rounds in new kicks more comfortable. Before going out to the golf course, try walking around the house for 10 minutes for a few days, then increase the amount of time until your feet feel comfortable. Price Good golf shoes typically cost between $100 to $300. How long a pair lasts depends on how much you play and the weather conditions. A good pair can last from one to three years. But when the shoes start to look worn or the spikes start to lose grip it is time to get a new pair. FAQs How should you clean golf shoes? A cloth with warm water should be sufficient to clean your shoes after a round. Some golf shoes can be polished, but you will want to check the care instructions that come in the box. How long do golf shoes last? Golf shoes last between one to three years, depending on use and weather conditions. Do golf shoes need to be broken in? Most contemporary golf shoes don’t need to be broken in but doing a little work will help make them more comfortable over their first few rounds. Why Trust TripSavvy? Nicholas McClelland is a passionate golfer who has written about the game and its gear for Men’s Journal, Fatherly, and InsideHook. He takes his clubs with him almost everywhere he goes, and when he’s not playing, he’s likely planning his next round. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! 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