10 Stylish Golf Shoes That Deliver Big Comfort and Performance

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GOLF SEASON IS here, which means it's time to bust out the golf polos, golf pants, and of course, golf shoes. It's true golf shoes are traditionally more formal (think brogues made for the links), but the boom of sporty cleat styles that evolved through the 2000s really opened up the definition of what a golf shoe can look like. And now, in 2024, thanks to forward-thinking footwear designer, we're seeing innovation in golf shoes more than ever before.

Like golf apparel, the best golf shoes are becoming more casual and comfort-driven. Pairs certainly aren't as bulky and heavy as they used to be, and they certainly don't have scary metal spikes. "Today's golf shoes are more like sneakers; comfortable, cushioned, breathable, and versatile," says Paul Sliva, the head golf pro and tournament director at the historic Van Cortlandt Golf Course in the Bronx. "Technology has gotten better when it comes to traction too, and so you have golf shoes with grippy rubber patterns that a much more gentle on the grass," says Sliva.

The Best Golf Shoes

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What Shoes Are Good for Golf?

The best shoes for golf take notes from the most comfortable sneakers. According to Sliva, part of that reasoning is because of the game's growing population of cross-sport individuals. Another reason is due to the fact brands are just getting better at creating golf shoes that provide grip and cushy comfort. "When I was a kid, you wore FootJoys. Then the Tiger Woods era came and it was Nikes everywhere,' says Sliva. "Now you have so many people who go to the gym, then they play pickleball, then they play golf—the first golf shoe they grab when I'm in the pro shop is something that looks like a sneaker," says Sliva.

Do Golf Shoes Make a Difference?

Though many golf shoes can blend in with sneakers these days, it's important to wear proper footwear. Why? Well the biggest risk you pose is injury, especially to the knees and ankles. Golf shoes are designed to optimize traction and help keep your feet (and heel) in place when swinging a club.

What to Look for When Buying Golf Shoes

There's no one-size-fits-all golf shoe, but there are a few key characteristics to look for when buying your next pair of golf shoes. Read our brief guide below before taking a look at our entire list of picks.

Outsole Design

Golf shoes are only as good as their outsole. A strong outsole is going to keep you from slipping on your swing, helping to create the conditions for a squared-up ball on every shot you take. Look for durable rubber with some sort of traction pattern on your golf shoes. The traction pattern should be formed well enough to dig into the ground a bit, especially when playing on dewy courses in the morning.

Weight and Breathability

Avoid chunky golf shoes that are made with materials that trap heat. You can usually go by the eye test with this step: if it looks hot and heavy, the chances are it is hot and heavy. Instead, keep an eye out for golf shoes made with durable foams and breathable uppers like mesh. Pro tip: a lot of our editors like to bring a second pair of golf socks to change into when making the turn on a round of 18.

Water Resistance

Owning a pair of golf shoes with at least a minor level of water resistance is smart, because even when you're playing in dry temps you're likely to encounter fresh dew on the course and/or post-watered grounds. Sliva notes that buyers need to remember water resistance is different than waterproof, as water resistant is only going to minimally keep away moisture. "If you're a more consistent player who will go out when the weather is questionable, then you could probably use a pair of waterproof shoes to have around," says Sliva.

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How We Selected

Aside from writing about exercises to improve golf fitness for over 10 years, the editors and writers of Men's Health have been heads-down on the best golf gear for over four years.Experts, including our Senior Gear and Commerce Editor John Thompson, put several golf shoes to the test and evaluated each pair's support, comfort, and performance. We also considered top-reviewed shoes mentioned in popular golf community forums like r/golf on Reddit, in order to discover lesser-known models that provide a ton of value.

Men's UA Phantom Golf Shoes

Under Armor has been a hit in our office for the past two years, especially when it comes to the Phantom golf shoe line. The latest Phantom release has an incredible level of breathability, so-much-so that they performed like a champ when keeping our feet dry on golf vacation in Florida and the Bahamas (in the peak of summer, mind you).

The sock-liner of the shoe also makes for high comfort, especially when paired with the responsive HOVR cushioning stack (the stack reminds us a lot like some of our favorite walking shoes). The tractioned rubber outsole provides just enough grip while playing, and the simple lacing kept our feet secure without feeling squeezed to death.

If you don't prefer such a high level cushioned stack while playing, then you'll want to look at other pairs (the complete opposite of this shoe design would be the True Linkswear Original 1.2). The Phantom also prioritizes breathability more than waterproofing, so expect minimal water resistance.

If you are playing casually throughout the year (and are beginner to intermediate level) then the Phantom is going to be a must-buy choice. It's got all the levels of performance you want when playing in steady weather conditions (i.e. not rainy or too cold out). This pair also comes with some huge style points (remember, Steph Curry also reps Under Armor golf shoes, not just Under Armor basketball).

The Daily Pro Hybrid

The golf/everyday sneaker crossover doesn't get much stronger than this. TravisMathew's Daily Pro Hybrid is designed specifically for the guys who have plans after their morning tee time. The shoe is made with a breathable knit upper and a reverse lugs outsole for trusted wearing on the course.

One note we loved when wearing these is how sturdy the heel and upper knit is (the shoe isn't too flexible to the point of your foot sliding around), Even the lacing has a reinforcement to help keep your foot locked in place; so there's reassurances you can point to all around that the Daily Pro Hybrid is golf first, athletic shoe second.

If you want something functional, versatile, and stylish for your golf-active lifestyle, then look here first.

S2G SL Leather 24

Adidas has some of the best golf shoes around, especially when you consider the value for what you pay. The latest edition of the S2G golf shoes cost just over $100; with it you get a versatile pair that can be worn with a number of golf outfits and casual outfits. The upper of the shoe is made with a soft waterproof leather (we love how adidas added a toe cap for better reinforcement and water-resistant). We also noticed the deep, sturdy heel adds solid heel protection and stability.

The adidas Lightstrike cushioning for the midsole is well made, but it's not the most cushioned golf shoe you can buy. Instead, the SG2 sits somewhere in the middle of supportiveness and cushioning. As for the outsole, you get ample traction with the circular rubber pieces. However, similar to the midsole design, you shouldn't expect the shoe to be the most grippy. The outsole sits somewhere in the middle of grip; just be careful when the greens are slick.

True Original 1.2

We've been fans of True Linkswear's forward-thinking golf shoes for years now, but our current favorite is the Original 1.2. This is because it's a zer0-drop shoe (something that's actually pretty hard to find in golf shoes), which indicates the shoe has zero angular elevation between the heel and the ground.

The Original 1.2's zero-drop design mimics a barefoot feel, which some golfers prefer over heavy cushioned shoes thanks to the zer0-drop feeling more comfortable and more in-tune with their swing. Ulitmately the zero-drop design comes down to feel for golfers, but it's worth pointing out players with flatter feet might enjoy a barefoot feel more than players with high arches.

Another unique design feature about the Original 1.2 is its wide toe box design, which will boost comfort for most users, but especially those with wide feet. The shoe comes outfitted with flexible rubber outsole, and a alternative leather, two-piece upper construction. Last to point out is True Linkswear's 2-year waterproof warranty assurance.

The Orignal 1.2 is a bit expensive, but the materials backing it make it worth the price. If you don't think you'd like the zero-drop design, it's worth looking at other pairs from the brand.

FootJoy Men's Hyperflex Golf Shoe

FootJoy makes the best traditional leather golf shoes, but they also make some pretty awesome modern golf shoes too. The Hyperflex is a star-studded performer, featuring materials like a breathable mesh upper, a supportive foam midsole, and a hidden soft spikes outsole.

Few average joe golfers utilize spike these days, but if you want to play like the pros then a of shoes with soft spikes is worth a look. Soft spikes mimic metal spikes, but soft spikes are more forgiving to course terrain while still providing insane traction. With this pair specifically, you essentially limit the chances of slipping and sliding in these bad boys—even when the course is glazed in morning dew.

FootJoy also backs this pair with a 2-year waterproof warranty, which adds to our claim that these are some of the best golf shoes for serious players in 2024. You get sneaker-like comfort with premium features, making the shoes great for even subpar weather conditions that you decide to play in anyways.

Ecco Biom C4 Shoe

Ecco golf shoes are some the most comfortable performance pairs the golf community loves. The Biom C4 with a BOA construction lacing system caters to those who love that secure, worry-free feel of all-day play. Quite literally, you won't hardly have to worry about retightening your laces while playing.

For the upper, Ecco outfitted the Biom C4 with a luxury tanned leather that's combined with a stretch-sock. For the midsole, a bouncy foam cushioning for responsive support. And for the outsole, a grip pattern with three different stages to provide stability and rotational support.

Ecco went all out on waterproof for this shoe by wrapping it with a Gore-Tex liner, so you can count these as one of the best pairs for those who are playing frequently. The high price tag makes these an investment, but anyone who prefers BOA lacing, and anyone who appreciates luxury feel, needs to consider grabbing a pair.

Gore-Tex Ripstop Golf Shoe

NoBull has been on a roll with its golf apparel and golf shoe releases lately. One of our personal favorites is the Gore-Tex Ripstop Shoe, a sleek, high-comfort golf shoe that manages to repel moisture with ease while still staying breathable.

The trick to this shoe seems to be how NoBull went with a one-piece ripstop upper and then applied a Gore-Tex membrane, so there are multiple steps put in place to keep water from getting to your feet. As far as traction goes, you've got a trusted lug pattern for staying locked in on the greens and a bouncy phylon midsole to help keep a pep in your step from hole one to hole 18.

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Asics Gel-Kayano Ace 2 Golf Shoes

Asics provides the same high-quality cushioning and support in its golf shoes as it does in its running shoes. The Gel-Kayano Ace 2 Golf takes on many of the same qualities we love in the Gel-Kayano Ace running shoe, except the Ace is modified to include a strong outsole with a deep traction pattern to improve grip for golfing.

The Ace 2 Golf also emphasizes its TPU heel cradle, a key design note that helps hold your foot in place through your swing. As for cushioning, you get ultra-luxe feeling Flytefoam—one of the best midsoles in shoe tech across the board.

Nike Men's Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 Golf Shoes

The Zoom Victory Tour 3 is the latest iteration of one of Nike's top-of-the-line golf shoes. This high-performance shoe, built for competitive play, features design notes like a Champs Spike System, a 3-D collar to help keep your foot stabilized, and a full-length plate under the air unit to help with energy transfer. It's wildly good for all-day play, but even better are the style points this shoe exudes.

You can get the Victory Tour 3 is a bunch of awesome colors, but we love this classic all-black look with the pebbled leather. The leather will break in and get softer over time, so you have an incentive to play even more rounds with these bad boys.

Premiere Series Wilcox

The FootJoy Premiere Series line is a huge favorite among pro golfers. Among them is Tiger Woods, who wore these timeless shoes at the Masters in 2022 and 2023. It's a pointed move, given Tiger only used to wear Nike on the links. But after his recent car wreck, he was quoted in needed a shoe that was "more stable" and opted for the Premiere Series Wilcox, which has an OrthoLite footbed that's plush and secure to offer all-day-long comfort.

Other design features that make the Wilcox great is a soft waterproof leather. FootJoy backs its waterproof claims with a two year warranty, so if you do get massive water damage they can be replaced. Traction is elite in the shoe too, as it not only comes with a special VersaTrax+ outsole but also with removable soft spikes. If this shoe is good enough for Tiger, it's good enough for us.

Meet the Expert

• Paul Sliva, Head Golf Professional at Van Cortlandt Golf Course in the Bronx, NY, the oldest public golf course in the U.S.

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