Firstly, for those of us who are continuing to get out on the course during this wettest of autumns, congratulations! You are putting those fair-weather golfers amongst us to shame! But to cope in these wet and muddy conditions, what is absolutely essential? A good pair of winter golf shoes! Nobody wants to be thinking about their feet during a round of golf and even worse, nobody wants wet feet while we are traipsing round!
To successfully enjoy golf in winter, we need to be winter-ready and there is nothing more important than our choice of footwear. That’s why at AMERICAN GOLF, we have picked out some of the best winter golf shoes available to keep us warm and dry over the coming months.
Top 10 Winter Golf Shoes
Under Armour Men's Medal RST Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £59.99
Sizes: 6, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11
In the last few years, Under Armour has become one of the go-to names in golf for equipment and clothing. And these Medal RST winter golf shoes are no exception.
Rather than the clumpy golf shoes we may have had to wear from November to March once upon a time, these shoes remain lightweight, but waterproof thanks to a special membrane. The moulded EVA midsole can soak up any pressure we may exert during a golf swing while the Zarma Tour spikes offer maximum traction and stability.
These shoes are available in four different colours – black, halo gray, white with a black trim and a white and royal blue combination. A pair of Under Armour shoes would be a good option for those who like a half-size, but they are not compatible for those of us with a larger shoe size.
Adidas Men’s Traxion Lite Max Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £64.99
Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Adidas golf shoes are good at any time of the year, but the sportswear giant’s manufacturers have put their heads together to produce a golf shoe specifically designed for wet conditions. And if we haven’t noticed, we often have to face those here in the UK!
Stability and traction are at the heart of these winter golf shoes as the six rubber cleats (spikes) on the outsole offer exactly that, while not leaving heavy footprints on any putting surface. This core black winter golf shoe, complete with the famous three stripes, prides itself on long-term durability and its waterproof performance.
The winter golf shoes are made with a special recycled polyester to reduce environmental impacts, but one thing is certain is that customers love how comfortable these shoes feel, while not having to worry about their feet getting wet.
FootJoy Men’s Pro SL Sport Waterproof Spikeless Golf Shoes: £124.99
Sizes: 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12
FootJoy likes to proclaim itself as the #No1 shoe in golf, so it is only fitting that they have produced winter golf shoes that demand our focus. And as with any FootJoy product, great care and attention has been taken to deliver something that any golfer would appreciate. The shoes may be for winter, but that does not mean they cannot look good, as emphasised by the contemporary styling with the ultra-thin top layer on the Pro SL Sport, giving a sleek look and waterproof protection.
The use of Fine-Tuned-Foam (FTF) makes these winter golf shoes lighter than those using conventional EVA foam soles, bringing even greater comfort and stability, while the spikeless traction system guarantees a superb grip on any surface. The fact that these are spikeless winter shoes means they can be worn on and off the course - as long as they are not in too much of a state after 18 holes of winter golf!
In terms of colour, all are decorated with a stylish white upper. Our choice is whether to go for a blue, grey or black heel. One huge plus is the tremendous range of sizes available, with everything from the smallest of men’s feet to near the largest and with an excellent array of half-sizes to help us find that snuggest of fits for our winter golf shoes.
Skechers Men’s GO GOLF Torque Victorious Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £99.99
Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Any of us who have ever had a pair of Skechers trainers or golf shoes before will know just how comfortable they are. It’s the type of comfort we normally get from a pair of slippers. And the GO GOLF Torque Victorious Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes do not let us down on that front either.
The synthetic leather upper offers a protective shield to keep out any moisture while the midsole and insole benefit from special technology to provide high-rebound cushioning for the Skechers-quality comfort. While the six-removable rubber cleats (spikes) give us maximum grip in whatever position we find ourselves on the course.
Exclusive to American Golf, these winter golf shoes have an excellent array of colours with black, grey, navy blue and white from which to choose and they should be under consideration from any serious winter golfer.
Puma Men’s IGNITE Articulate Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £94.99
Sizes: 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12
We know that we are going to get tons of style with a Puma golf shoe. Just think, American star Rickie Fowler has built up an army of fans over the years almost as much for how he looks from head to toe on the golf course as for his actual golf.
That style is once again guaranteed with the IGNITE Articulate, as Puma offer a fine selection of colours with black and grey, black and silver, white and what they term ‘quiet shade’, which is a greyish-blue with black trim and a golden cat logo on the side. There is also an excellent range of sizes.
This is more of a ‘locked-in’ shoe rather than a classical one as there is no traditional tongue. The idea behind this winter golf shoe is to have an improved 360-degree fit, comfort and support, with the whole foot benefitting from this, once the laces are tightened. The science behind it is articulation geometry as the shoe is designed to move with the foot rather than push back against it, ensuring maximum stability and comfort.
Fazer Men’s Fortuna 2 Waterproof Spiked Golf Boots: £64.99
Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Hang on a minute, these are not golf shoes, are they? At first glimpse the Fortuna 2 Waterproof Spiked Golf Boots from Fazer look more appropriate for taking the dog out for a walk or going for a day’s walking in the Lake District. But they are most definitely golf shoes!
Fazer’s idea here is to combine the best elements of a walking boot and a golf shoe into one. The rubber spikes on the bottom offer the grip and control that a golfer wants while there is extra stability, particularly around the ankles, provided by the boot design. The golf shoes also come with a one-year guarantee of waterproof protection.
Rife Men’s RF-09 Delta Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £39.99
Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Rife may not be a familiar name to all, but they have produced a pair of winter golf shoes that are worthy of comparison. The RF-09 Delta trumpets its on-course performance with a modern styled upper complete with Nano Pu for long-lasting durability and waterproof protection, which we all want from a golf shoe worn in challenging conditions.
The EVA midsole gives stability and the EVA insole provides comfort and the spikes on the rubber outsole are there to ensure maximum traction when we are playing our shots. Available in either pristine white or black, these winter golf shoes are regarded as good value for money by purchasers.
Adidas Men’s S2G Mid-Cut Waterproof Spiked Golf Boots: £99.99
Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
A second offering from Adidas, but these winter golf shoes are along the lines of the golf boot, as demonstrated by the Fazer Fortuna 2. Make no mistake, these Adidas shoes would look perfectly at home on a day out hiking.
They may not be to the golf traditionalists’ liking but customers have loved how warm and dry their feet have been in these golf boots – surely the principal aim of winter golf shoes. The combination of synthetics and leather upper brings lightweight durability along with the special RAIN.RDY technology to give that dryness we all want.
Don’t worry, the three stripes on the side remind us that these shoes are for playing sport in, along with the cleats (spikes) and lugs on the outsole that will give us the grip we need in any muddy conditions. But if we need a new pair of winter golf shoes AND a new pair of walking boots, why not consider just buying these shoes from Adidas and using them for both activities?
New Balance Mens’s Brighton Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £129.99
Sizes: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5
New Balance have emerged onto the golf market in a big way and the Brighton Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes are their latest offering in winter golf shoes.
Exclusive to American Golf, these shoes are a combination of style and performance. The microfiber leather provides 100% waterproof protection but still looks good. There is an ultra-responsive midsole that enhances our comfort while five removable Pulsar cleats (spikes) should give us maximum grip during the golf swing.
There is a choice of black, grey or white but in every colour, this winter golf shoe still maintains the New Balance style where it looks like a golf shoe and a trainer. One difference for these winter golf shoes are the sizes, as they go up from 7.5 to 11.5 using only half-sizes, so we may need to try different ones to see which one suits us best.
Stromberg Men’s Tour Classic Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes: £89.99
Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
At first look, the Stromberg Men’s Tour Classic Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes are sleek and stylish, whether opting for them in either white or black. We would want to keep these shoes looking good in between rounds, but that is manageable thanks to a leather upper that is super soft and easy to maintain.
The Phylon shock-absorbing midsole and Ortholite footbed protect the joints during the round and a dynamic TPU permanent traction sole is good on any surface and will keep us stable on the golf course. Overall, this is a solid, performing winter golf shoe that has proved a popular hit with customers already.
About the Author
Adam is a freelance news and sports journalist who has written for the BBC, The Sunday Post, The I, The Times, The Telegraph and more. He has been writing about golf for nearly two decades and has covered 13 Open Championships and two Ryder Cups. Not only does Adam cover golf, but he has played golf for as long as he can remember. He was a member at Northenden Golf Club for around 25 years until his children arrived and his last official handicap was 11, although on any given day his form fluctuates anywhere between eight and 18.