Best Golf Shoes 2024 (For Men and Women)

One of the most significant areas of the golf game that amateurs overlook is their shoes.

Golf shoes have come a long way in recent years, offering a massive leap over those hard leather metal spikes that golfers were forced to wear in agony in the 1970s and 80s.

Today’s top golf shoes offer superior traction, the comfort of a well-made running shoe, and a modern style that rivals the best basketball shoe on the market.

Golfers can find shoes that are absolute weapons for the links or pick a hybrid shoe they can actually wear from the course to dinner.

In this review of the best golf shoes of 2024, we’ll examine all the best footwear for the course, providing in-depth information to help you play and look your best the next time you step on the tee box.

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Last updated on 2024-10-12. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.

What are the Best Golf Shoes?

The FootJoy Pro/SLX Carbon Golf Shoe is the best spikeless shoe, the Adidas Tour360 24 Boost Golf Shoe for spiked shoes, and the FootJoy Women’s HyperFlex Golf Shoe for lady golfers. After spending hours of testing, here are the other golf footwear that made it to our top 10 list this 2024:

Best Spikeless Golf Shoes

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Best Spiked Golf Shoes

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Best Women’s Golf Shoes

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How We Tested the Golf Shoes

Once we receive a pair of golf shoes, we begin our testing by noting its appearance and style.

Golfers have hundreds of shoes to choose from these days, and the modern offerings can mix fashion and substance while providing the traction they need to grip it and rip it.

Once we finish our appearance evaluation, we will examine the shoes’ traction area.

Specifically, we note the type of traction. We answer questions such as: Do the shoes utilize spikes, or are they spikeless? If they have spikes, what kind of spikes are used, and what’s the traction pattern?

This information is essential before we head to the course to put the shoes into use.

After our initial evaluation of the shoes’ appearance and traction, we finally head to the course for our favorite part of testing.

While we hit plenty of shots on the range in each shoe model, the best way to test a golf shoe’s performance is by using it on the golf course.

We need to understand how the shoes feel when we walk in them and make notes about their stability. Golf shoes that slide on your feet are practically useless, so we need to note how they feel while walking.

The same rule applies to swinging the golf club. Considering its makeup and construction, we must see if the shoe stays in place and provides the best possible traction.

After a few rounds and range sessions, we give each pair a final grade and assemble our list of the best golf shoes of 2024.

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Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Golf Shoe

Waterproofing

Not all golf shoes are waterproof, but golfers should wonder if buying shoes without this protection is worth it in the long run.

Yes, the waterproofing only lasts for a year or two, but to have that barrier to keep water out and your socks dry is a welcome bonus when you hit the course early in the morning.

Waterproofing comes together when the manufacturer sprays an even layer of a chemical coating that repels water and keeps the insole area completely dry.

In warmer and drier climates, the need for waterproof shoes may not be as vital as in other areas, but it rarely increases the cost of footwear.

Insole

The insole is the inner area of the shoe where the foot comes into contact with the footwear.

All golfers are looking for an insole that offers cushion and comfort while reducing friction against the skin to prevent blisters. The first initial feel of the shoe on foot is crucial for the golfer’s confidence and the overall playability of the footwear.

When looking at the insole, we are judging how quickly the insole molds to the foot and whether it provides ultimate comfort if you are walking the course or riding in the cart.

Outsole

The outsole covers a lot of ground as it encompasses the shoe’s contact point with the ground and the outer layer that covers the top of the foot.

When looking at the shoe’s sole, we want to note how the bottom binds itself to the turf for maximum stability.

As we grade the top layer of the shoe, we are looking for flexibility and how well the foot works with the shoe as the golfer moves about the course. The outer layer must also breathe well to keep the foot dry.

Comfort

The last thing a golfer wants on the golf course is a shoe that restricts the body’s movement.

Friction is a killer to the heel and toes of an improperly fitted golf shoe and creates blisters that are painful and prevent a quick return to the links.

Finding a golf shoe that is not only comfortable but also provides a reliable fit is a worthwhile endeavor for the weekend warrior. It maximizes performance while taking care of the lower body to reduce soreness and possible injury.

Comfort is an essential criterion because it is the first response a golfer has to a golf shoe.

Must read: How to Break in Golf Shoes

Breathability

Breathability is another crucial feature of the best golf shoes because no one wants footwear that traps the heat from the foot and creates a warm and sweaty hot box that builds odor.

Instead, golfers need a shoe with a mesh interior that allows moisture to dry and the foot to breathe throughout an 18-hole round.

As we grade the breathability factor of a men’s golf shoe, we attempt to spend as many hours in the footwear as possible. Our process includes walking a round to see how the feet react, especially during the summer when the shoe needs to be at its best.

Spiked vs. Spikeless

While each type of sole offers its advantages, if you want to maximize power, you should consider spiked golf shoes.

The wide-reaching spike allows for more anchor points into the turf, helping stabilize the foot during the golf swing’s twists and turns.

The best spikeless golf shoes provide more comfort and flexibility for golfers who like to walk the course and may not be completely occupied with swinging from their heels with their driver.

Instead, shoes without spikes are tailored to provide comfort without the rigidity of the classic leather spiked model of footwear.

Athletic vs. Traditional Style

If you typically play your rounds in an upscale golf club, there may be pressure or even a dress code requiring you to wear traditional golf shoes.

These golf footwear commonly feature a leather outer layer that offers waterproof protection but might have a lengthier break-in period before feeling completely comfortable.

Athletic shoes significantly reduce break-in time due to the emphasis placed by manufacturers on creating a lightweight experience that supports the foot and offers breathability and comfort.

Most athletic-style golf shoes highlight synthetic materials built to reduce weight and increase flexibility.

Laces or No Lace

One of the benefits of laces for a golfer who likes customization is the perfect fit. Some golfers like a tight feel along the sides and top of their feet, and laces provide that ideal fit.

For traditional golf shoes, laces are required to complete the appearance commonly associated with the classic style.

No-lace shoes typically offer a single disc that sits where the golfer commonly knots the shoes. The disc allows the wearer to tighten the laces with a quick circle turn, allowing golfers to get the fit they desire from their footwear.

Material

When considering the material of the golf shoe, you should look at it through the window of flexibility.

Also, by finding a shoe that provides maximum comfort and waterproof protection, you can ensure that the shoe will offer long life and high-grade durability.

Where flexibility really shines is through the mid-sole. This point of the shoe is where the foot flexes the most, and if the shoe pushes back or resists the stride, foot pain can develop.

While traditional golf shoes, made from leather, provide a firmer outer layer and longer break-in period, shoes featuring synthetic materials offer the best combination of support and freedom of movement with the foot.

Budget

Regardless of your budget, you can find golf shoes that offer first-rate features. For less than $100, you should be able to locate comfortable shoes that provide waterproofing, excellent traction, and a flexible midsole.

If you prefer spiked or spikeless golf footwear, either sole type will be available at this price point. A spikeless model will provide the closest fit and feel for a comfortable fit that mimics an athletic shoe.

For golfers worried about traction, spiked golf shoes keep the feet grounded throughout the swing. Manufacturers such as Adidas offer shoes at a price point suitable for all levels of golfers. 

Key Takeaway: Golf footwear should at least be comfortable to wear on and off the golf course, use the latest sole technology, and have excellent stability to maximize swings.

Related: The Best Golf Shoe Bags

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Questions & Answers

There are a lot of golf shoes, especially newer ones that offer spikeless soles. They have been quite successful, so now we have more options in choosing the sole types.

Both men’s and women golf shoes are usually available in spikeless and spiked shoes. 

In general, here are several differences between spiked and spikeless sole:

• The spikeless sole is lower-profile and generally lighter (the spikes do not add weight). As a result, it is generally more comfortable.
• Spikeless soles usually have rubber studs or dimples to provide enough traction on firm surfaces (e.g., the driving range, the 19th hole).
• Spiked shoes offer a classic sole design with the best traction on any surface.
• Spiked shoes usually provide more waterproofing because the sole won’t need to be molded.

While discussing spike soles, we will discuss several popular spike materials and their advantages.

Sole Spike Material #1: Plastic

Plastic spikes are arguably the most popular golf shoes and are generally a safe choice. 

Plastic is lighter than other spike materials and is more ‘friendly’ to the green. Meaning, it’s less likely to tear up the grass than wearing metal spikes.

Plastic spikes are also generally spread in a wider size, so the weight distribution is better.

In the past, the major downside of plastic spikes was that they provided less traction compared to metal spikes.

However, plastic spike technology has advanced, so the traction in some products is even better than that of metal spikes. So, if you are looking for comfortable golf shoes with decent traction, plastic spikes are generally a safe choice.

Sole Spike Material #2: Metal

Metal spikes are less common nowadays since plastic can provide similar or better traction with less weight. Metal spikes are also often guilty of tearing up fairways and greens. Under the rules of golf, players cannot interfere with spike marks on greens, which might hinder your address.

Although the traction is generally excellent, metal spikes can be heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Also, many golf courses ban metal spikes, so you might want to think twice before purchasing one.

Key Takeaway: The best men’s golf shoes in 2024 have plastic spikes over metal ones.

Yes, many professionals and Tour players nowadays are also wearing spikeless shoes. Some prefer them for the look or the added comfort that can help with foot or back pain.

While they are generally more comfortable, spikeless shoes often have problems with waterproofing and traction. While they are decent on flat surfaces, they might have issues with wet surfaces or tall greens.

Many high-end spikeless shoes are quite good with traction and provide some form of waterproofing. A spikeless shoe will also be an excellent choice for the driving range due to the mostly flat surfaces.

So, purchasing a pair of spikeless golf shoes is viable, especially for the driving range. However, if you want to wear them on the course, you just have to make sure that they are well-built and have decent quality regarding traction and waterproofing.

Key Takeaway: Spikeless and spiked shoes are viable for the golf course. Prefer a spikeless shoe if you like lighter shoes. Opt for spiked shoes if you need excellent stability and traction. This is true for men’s and women’s golf shoes. These criteria don’t truly matter when deciding which golf shoe is best.

Most high-quality golf shoes are designed for long-distance comfort, so this will likely not be an issue.

We’ve also picked shoes that are best for walking. Long golf games often mean many miles to walk, so we’ve naturally included those criteria in our product choices.

You should look for several qualities to ensure comfort in a long game. To summarize, they are:

Material Choice

The more flexible and soft the material, the more comfortable the shoes will be for long-distance walks and prolonged usage.

Most high-end men’s golf shoes use genuine leather or synthetic material to achieve lightweight, breathability, and overall comfort. Not to forget, there should be some form of the waterproof lining.

Breathability

Although material choices might dictate breathability, that won’t always be the case.

Some manufacturers might opt to add extra technology to improve ventilation.

The breathability of the shoes is essential for long-distance walking to prevent your feet from sweating a lot.

Weight

Material choices for the shoe itself and the spikes (for spiked shoes) will dictate the weight. Of course, heavy shoes can be tiresome for long-distance walking.

Most high-end men’s golf shoes nowadays use plastic spikes or spikeless rubber soles to address this issue.

Once all those qualities are in check, you should not worry about long distance walking.

Remember, you also need to consider in-swing comfort. A good pair of men’s golf shoes will be comfortable for walking and swinging.

Key Takeaway: Don’t worry about feeling your feet hurt when walking a long distance on the golf course. Most of the best golf shoes nowadays include extra comfort material that prevents you from feeling pain after walking a few miles. Advancements in shoe technology make this a worry of the past.

In our opinion, they are more akin to tradition than necessity.

The sophisticated and tidy look of shoelaces is preferred by many. However, regarding purpose, other fastening systems like velcro straps or even zippers (if any) can do the job just as well.

Velcro can indeed give more ease in securing or removing the shoe and prevent the biggest issue of laces: when they loosen in the middle of a round.

Many manufacturers also modified their lacing system to have both the classic style and modern ease. For example, mechanical lacing systems prevent loosening and improve stability. If you are familiar with ski or ice skating boots, the lacing system used is similar.

Key Takeaway: To answer the question, the answer is no, shoelaces are not necessary for the best golf shoes of 2024, but instead have more to do with style. 

If your budget allows, the answer is yes. Different types of golf shoes can perform better in certain weather conditions and even on different surfaces. You will then have the best golf shoes for whatever weather conditions the game will endure.

In dry and warm summer conditions, a spikeless shoe that is lighter and more breathable will be a more comfortable choice. Since they rarely have good waterproofing technology, they won’t perform as well in wet and rainy conditions.

On the other hand, spiked shoes will perform better with mud and wet course conditions in rainy seasons or even with snow. They are not as breathable and generally heavier, so they might not be comfortable in a hot summer.

Some high-quality golf shoes, including those we will discuss further below, can provide a relatively nice balance to perform in different weather conditions. 

Key Takeaway: We recommend that you purchase the best golf shoes for you first and foremost. But if your budget allows for several pairs, it is an excellent choice to own two good pairs of spikeless and spiked shoes for dry and wet conditions, respectively.

Golf shoes can begin to deteriorate in a variety of ways. From falling apart due to poor construction or through typical wear and tear from use, it is essential to pay attention to the health of your shoes before and after each round.

Areas of vulnerability in golf shoes include a breakdown of waterproofing, the sole separating itself from the body, and the wearing down or difficulty replacing old spikes.

Let’s start with the waterproofing. It is vital that the best golf shoes can keep feet dry throughout a round. This is especially important if you like to play morning rounds when the dew is at its heaviest on the grass.

I think we can all agree that playing a round with wet feet is uncomfortable and raises the possibility of blisters that tear the skin.

What most golfers don’t know about waterproofing is that it is a feature that doesn’t have a long shelf life.

If your shoes are older than two years, they are likely no longer effective at keeping water away from your feet. If that criterion fits, it is time for a new pair of golf shoes.

Here are three different materials that help create top-notch golf shoes.

Leather-Based Material

Leather has played a considerable part in manufacturing golf shoes throughout the years. Early versions of leather-based golf footwear were very stiff and lacked flexibility.

But today, leather golf shoes are soft and supple, allowing the golfer to move and use their feet throughout the swing freely. Also, with the creation of waterproofing, leather lasts longer and is more durable than in previous years.

Synthetic Material

An alternative to more expensive leather-based shoes is golf shoes made from synthetic materials. A downside to synthetic materials is that they don’t breathe as well as leather-based shoes.

Another issue with synthetic materials is that despite being cheaper than leather shoes, synthetic shoes tend to have a short shelf life, showing wear and tear quicker than more expensive shoes.

Waterproofing Compounds

Golf shoes made with Gore-Tex are guaranteed to be waterproof. If you play in the morning hours, Gore-Tex lined shoes are crucial to keeping your feet dry and free from blisters. Gore-Tex also keeps feet warm and cozy in the wintertime, so you’ll never have to worry about feeling the elements on cold days.

Yes, you need golf shoes because they provide a connection to the ground during the swing that athletic shoes cannot provide.

Golf shoes are essential for professional golfers, for example, because their swing speed is incredibly high. These golfers need to be locked into the ground to freely swing at maximum velocity to create the distance they need for their game.

While not essential, the amateur’s ability to have golf shoes provides an advantage over athletic shoes because the spikes help keep the golfer grounded while allowing them to become more balanced throughout the swing.

That said, some amateurs find golf shoes too restrictive to freely move throughout the swing, leaving them wanting a more flexible shoe, such as a running shoe.

Golf shoes are more rigid than your typical running shoe because they are meant to be used as a solid foundation for the golf swing, whereas running shoes need to be softer and easier to move.

After all, the intended purpose of the shoe is to run long distances.

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