Best Golf Shoes for Walking 2023 (Our Top 12 Picks)

Today’s golf shoes provide superb comfort, exceptional traction, and a host of features that keep feet dry and well-ventilated over an 18-hole round with friends.

But… 

How do you pick the most comfortable shoes for walking the golf course?

With walking the golf course finding a surge in recent popularity, golf equipment manufacturers have emphasized creating shoes that are not only high-performing but also share common traits typically associated with the best athletic shoes available on the market today.

Here’s a list of the most comfortable golf shoes for your next round.

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Last updated on 2023-09-27. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.

Best Golf Shoes for Walking 2023

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Specifications

• Material: Leather Hybrid
• Traction: Spikes
• Waterproof Warranty: 1-year

Pros

• Upper layer is very breathable, ideal for warm climates
• Exceptional traction due to the six-fang spikes on the bottom of the sole
• Adidas’ EVA insole provides stability to misstep
• Shoe is very comfortable to walk in, even over long distances

Cons

• Does not have waterproofing coverage
• Spiked shoe that has a sole is slightly tougher than other spikeless models

For the golfer who prefers a spiked sole but wants the comfort of a spikeless shoe when walking the course, a great choice is the Adidas Tech Response Shoes. 

Very lightweight, the Tech Response 4.0 golf shoe responded well to the rigors of walking 18 holes with little friction to our feet. 

With an enhanced mesh upper layer, it keeps your feet dry even though it is missing waterproof protection. 

A spiked sole provides incredible traction throughout your swing. We were blown away at the combination of lightweight feel and the exceptional stability from the outer sole.

Comfort in the Tech Response 4.0 golf shoe begins with the lightweight material. 

These shoes did not burden us while walking the course with the additional weight, so we felt as fresh at the end of our round as we did at the beginning. 

The EVA midsole aided each step in these shoes for a premium walking experience.

The outer layer of the Tech Response 4.0 golf shoes is created from a high-quality mesh that gives the foot all the air it needs to stay dry during a round. 

These golf shoes, however, do not have waterproofing, so we noticed slight penetration of moisture during early morning rounds. Something to consider if you play in areas that receive a lot of rain.

Waterproofing on the Tech Response 4.0 golf shoes is missing, and that is a great regret with this shoe because otherwise, it is a wonderfully high performer.

The EVA midsole insert boosts the insole. The insert keeps the foot stable throughout walking the course and helps provide exceptional comfort. 

In addition to the midsole insert, the golf shoes have a rounded toe for a larger landing area when your foot contacts the ground. This additional feature reduces friction and potential blistering.

Adidas’ patented TRAXION outsole aids in providing additional stability when coupled with the six-spike configuration. 

The outsole has been streamlined to prevent slipping and add durability to the shoe. The Tech Response 4.0 is one of the best golf shoes for walking primarily because of the supple outsole.

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Specifications

• Material: Leather Hybrid
• Traction: Spikeless
• Waterproof Warranty: 1-year

Pros

• Very lightweight and breathable
• Decent traction for spikeless golf shoes

Cons

• Water “repellent” but not waterproof
• Toe box takes some time to break-in

The Adidas Adipower 4orged S Golf Shoes are a lightweight, very breathable pair of shoes that are made for hot, sunny days on the course.

They’ll keep your feet cool and won’t drag you down even if you’re walking eighteen holes or more. They’re excellent for caddies too, as they provide good traction for spikeless golf shoes.

Combo Upper

The upper of the shoe is a combination of forged microfiber leather, fabric, and synthetics that help keep it lightweight but sturdy.

This is not a heavy, dress-shoe style golf shoe; it bears more resemblance to cross trainers than your typical golf shoe. If you’re a golfer who likes to walk, after 18 holes, your feet can start to feel awfully heavy in traditional shoes.

These have a bit of stretch, so they fit snugly but comfortably, staying stable all day long. However, the combo upper and high breathability factor means they’re not waterproof.

While they’re water repellent, that’s basically enough to ensure that a bit of morning dew won’t soak your feet.

But if rain starts falling, your feet will get wet. And they’ll stay pretty wet, as it takes a full overnight to dry them out. These shoes are suited more for hot, sunny days when you know there’s a low chance of rain but a high chance of lots of golf.

Sole

The sole is a typical rubber one found in most spikeless golf shoes. The traction nubs do their job on dry days, although there’s a little slippage if you have a sidehill lie and it’s early in the morning enough for the grass to be still dewy and damp.

You can easily wear these indoors without worrying about damaging any floors or looking too out of place.

Overall

If you’re an occasional player who only keeps one pair of golf shoes around, you may want to look for something that’s fully waterproof if your round is interrupted by a surprise rainstorm.

But if you play a lot in a fairly dry climate, the Adipower 4orged S shoe will be a good addition to your arsenal. The toe box takes a little time to break in, but they’ll be among the more comfortable shoes you own after a round or two.

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Things to Consider When Buying Golf Shoes

Comfort

How the golf shoe feels on your feet during a round is incredibly important.

Having stable feet promotes confidence in your swing and improves contact with the golf ball at impact. 

By feeling comfortable in your golf shoes, whether spiked or spikeless, you give yourself the best chance to post your lowest score ever.

Comfort in the golf shoe comes from three areas. The first is how the shoe feels during movement on the course. 

Golfers who prefer to walk the course are becoming more and more popular. As a result, golf shoe manufacturers are tailoring their shoes to provide an enhanced cushion on the feet. 

Next, how the bottom of the shoe feels during the stride is crucial in providing a solid walking experience. And finally, the material used to construct the shoe aid in helping keep the feet dry throughout the round.

Breathability

The outer layer of the shoe that rests against the top of the foot is significant for providing breathability. 

Why is it important for the shoe to allow airflow to the foot? 

Well, it helps keep the foot dry so that the shoe doesn’t become a humid box that creates sweat on the skin. 

By having dry feet, the golfer experiences added comfort during walking and when it comes time to strike the golf ball.

Golf shoes have made tremendous strides in utilizing materials that help keep your feet well ventilated on and off the course. 

By finding a shoe that breathes well, you ensure that your feet stay fresh throughout the round. 

This is especially true during the summer when most golf is played because keeping sweat away from the foot improves stability through the swing.

Waterproofing

For golfers who love to play golf year-round, finding waterproof golf shoes is necessary. 

Waterproof shoes help not only on those rainy days but also in the morning when the grass holds dew. 

Having your feet get wet on the first hole can ruin a round because no one likes the feeling of wet socks wrapped around their feet. 

Your stability and confidence go down the drain as you miserably suffer through the remainder of the round.

By having waterproof shoes, you assure that your feet will stay cool and dry throughout the day. 

For top performance, you want to be able to not worry about things like dry feet and instead focus on the shot that lies ahead. 

So, finding waterproof golf shoes is crucial to helping your game’s mental side.

Insole

How a shoe feels on the inside is everything to a golfer. 

If the shoe feels stiff or there is not enough cushion on the interior, then the golfer can feel unsteady about the foundation of their swing. Golf manufacturers have gone out of their way to improve the insoles of their shoes for this very reason.

By providing a comfortable experience directly to the bottom of your feet, the shoe’s insole helps with confidence and stability. 

Over time, a great insole will mold itself to the bottom of the golfer’s foot, providing an exceptional feel throughout the swing.

Judging an insole can be difficult because all feet are not the same, so golfers of all shapes and sizes can have different responses to the quality of the interior of the shoe. 

That said, these criteria are based on comfort and feel while using the shoe.

Outsole

One of the essential areas of the shoe that are directly related to how a golfer will feel overall about the golf shoe is the outsole. 

Most outsoles are made from rigid compounds that stabilize the shoe and provide a home to the spikes or studs connected to the bottom.

Outsoles can also be softer, especially when dealing with a spikeless shoe. 

A golfer’s response to a golf shoe is primarily based on how they feel the outsole responds to their feet and walking style. 

Like insoles, people can have different experiences with outsoles, but this criterion will primarily take into account the quality of construction and the comfort provided during walking.

Outsoles are the backbone of the golf shoe and, as a result, are crucial to the shoe’s overall performance.

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Questions & Answers

Several types of golf shoes on the market provide traction, style, and quality to the weekend warrior.

The first is the spiked golf shoe that is preferred by younger amateurs and professional golfers. 

The spiked shoe has a rigid outsole constructed of compound materials that provide strength and exceptional grip. 

The downside to spiked shoes is that they are tougher to break in and can be hard on your feet over the course of a round.

Next, the spikeless shoe is made for comfort. Instead of spikes, the shoe has softer studs or dimples that take the place of flared, hard plastic spikes. 

The outsole is softer on spikeless golf shoes, making them the preferred shoe for walking golfers due to their short break-in period and overall comfort.

Finally, there remains a small corner of the market that utilizes the old metal spikes that were popular during the days of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. 

Made with tough leather and hard rubber soles, the metal spikes have faded in popularity due to their stiffness and damage on golf courses.

On top, golf shoes for women are also available.

The gold standard of golf shoe construction remains leather, as it’s still the best combination of breathability, durability, and looks. Once it’s waterproofed, it maintains it for an extended period.

However, newer synthetic and textile shoes are becoming more and more popular recently, with lightweight Gore-Tex and synthetic leather being used for their breathability and weather-proof qualities.

With a recent move towards more sneaker-style shoes, many shoes are available that are entirely made of textiles and synthetics and bear more resemblance to cross-trainers than to the heavy, dressy golf shoes of past generations.

The one constant seems to be that golf shoes have rubber soles, either spikeless with traction nubs or spiked with plastic “alternative spikes” screwed into the rubber soles.

Golfers can be very picky about their style of golf shoes. With the recent surge in popularity of the spikeless golf shoe, the debate has reached a fever pitch on what shoe is better. 

Is it spikeless or spiked?

For most golfers, the difference is about the shoe’s feel as it comes into contact with the turf. 

Golfers who swear by spiked golf shoes claim that their grip is better throughout the golf swing with spikes, whereas golfers who tout spikeless golf shoes claim that they do not lose grip, but their preferred shoe is much more comfortable.

In comparison, spiked golf shoes have actual spikes on the shoe’s outsole, whereas spikeless golf shoes replace the spikes with rubberized studs that aid in gripping the ground during the swing.

It is vital to understand how the two differ in construction when deciding between the two options. 

Spiked shoes tend to have a more rigid outsole, whereas the spikeless sole is softer and pliable. Older golfers love spikeless shoes due to their comfort, but younger, more competitive golfers prefer the feel provided by spikes.

Golfers who hate spikeless shoes complain about their inability to grip the turf in wet weather, although manufacturers have created better soles recently to combat that problem.

No one argues that spikeless shoes are not easier on the golf course. The lack of a hard spike does help the health of the grounds over the long run, but the adjustment in feel may not be worth the trade for some golfers.

In the end, your preference for shoes will be based on your choice of features. The days when one type of shoe reigned over the other are now gone. 

Both styles of shoes offer tremendous benefits and high performance. Whether spiked or spikeless, either shoe can have you playing for your personal best score.

The primary reason for wearing golf shoes is because the spikes on the bottom of the shoe anchor the lower body during the golf swing. 

When your feet slide or become unstable during the swing, you lose your power as it is transferred to the golf ball. Therefore, golf shoes provide an essential service by keeping the lower body stable during the twisting and turning of the swing.

Many amateurs don’t understand the difference between buying a specifically designed golf shoe and wearing regular athletic shoes. Still, they are missing out on the improvements that a crafted shoe can make to an individual’s golf game. 

By anchoring your lower body to the ground, you allow the body to work in sync to deliver a powerful downswing that improves contact with the golf ball at impact.

Beginning players would help their learning curve immensely by finding a quality pair of golf shoes when they start their lessons because it would remove the uncertainty of shifting feet during the swing.

The average golf course runs 6500 yards in length, meaning the walking golfer can expect to walk roughly 4 miles over an 18-hole round. 

When you consider the walking to the clubhouse, between greens and tee boxes, and any practice the golfer may do before the round, you are looking at a day that will total up to 6 miles of total walking.

With that amount of walking, it is easy to assume that your feet will pay the price in new golf shoes that have not been broken in yet. 

If you are playing in spiked golf shoes with a rigid outsole, it is crucial to slowly break in these shoes over time rather than hitting the course and hoping the shoes won’t damage your feet. 

Blisters caused by ill-fitting shoes can hang around for days. If not appropriately treated with topical creams and solutions, it can become infected, causing even greater time away from the course.

Yes, golf shoes can help you gain stability with your swing.

There are three major areas that the golf shoe helps during a golf swing. They are balance, stability, and flexibility.

Golf shoes help with balance because they are designed to keep your feet connected to the ground throughout the swing. 

If you look at a golf shoe, you will notice that they are wider along the shoe’s base. This is intentional because it helps keep the lower half of the body steady during the swing to maximize swing speed. This also helps to find the best golf shoes for wide feet. 

Stability is also helped with golf shoes because of their design. Whether you choose spiked or spikeless shoes, either option will connect with the turf, allowing for traction and optimum gripping throughout the downswing.

And finally, golf shoes help with flexibility during those tough shots where your feet find themselves on uneven ground. 

Having flexible golf shoes lets you steady your body by having the spikes or studs grip the playing surface.

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