Comfort. That's what we demand from golf shoes today. But for many years, golfers had been forced to compromise comfort for performance. The more painful the shoe, the more support it offered. The more rigid the shoe, the more stability it had. Not anymore. Designers are borrowing technologies found in cleated-shoe sports like soccer and baseball, and non-cleated ones like skateboarding and wrestling to create footwear that offers the ideal combination of stability, traction, support and even comfort. "In its purest form, the game is played walking," says Dav Mattuicci, footwear product manager at Adidas Golf. "So we design all of our shoes for walkers."As more engineers construct golf shoes for walkers and make comfort their No. 1 priority, they're increasingly adopting footwear techniques used for other sports."Tiger was our muse for the TW '13s," says Lee Walker, footwear-product director at Nike Golf. "He was training in Nike Free running shoes and wanted to get that same fit and feel in his golf shoes." When we evaluated more than 50 pairs of shoes to pick the 20 here, we considered comfort and style. "Footwear is grounded in style," says Golf Digest fashion director Marty Hackel. "Nobody should wear an ugly shoe, no matter how great it is."Even the most classic-looking shoes in this guide offer elements of comfort, but some models push the idea of natural motion, offering a super-flexible, low-profile, spikeless sole that is designed to allow your foot to grip the ground while you swing. In fact, more are accepting the merits of spikeless soles; sales of non-cleated shoes increased by 136 percent in 2012 versus 2011, according to Golf Datatech. But how can you know which shoe is best for you? "It comes down to preference," says Grant Knudson, Puma Golf's product manager for footwear. "Ian Poulter grew up wearing FootJoy Classics, so he likes a rigid shoe. But Rickie Fowler wants more flexibility."Technology now allows a seamless transition from everyday footwear to on-course footwear. If you wear a dress shoe eight hours a day, for example, you'll likely want to stick with a more structured shoe on the course. If you spend a lot of time in sneakers, you might want a flexible, street-style or sport-performance shoe.Thankfully, the days of forfeiting comfort for performance are over. Walk on.
Listed A - Z
ADIDAS PUREMOTION
SpikelessPRICE: $120TECH TALK: Specifically placed traction points on the rubber outsole are designed to allow your toes to spread out during the swing, providing stability. The barefoot shape reduces heel lift, and the wicking waterproof mesh is highly breathable.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "A functional shoe that works in all types of conditions and with a number of outfits."MORE INFO:adidasgolf.com
ALLEN EDMONDS HASKELL
SpikelessPRICE: $295__TECH TALK:__The leather blucher-style upper is embossed with a crocodile-skin-inspired pattern and features a spikeless sole that's designed to be lightweight, yet provide traction through dozens of studs arranged uniformly across the heel, midfoot and forefoot.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "This grown-up, no-nonsense, modern version of the classic three-eyelit shoe earns high marks."MORE INFO:allenedmonds.com
ASICS MATCHPLAY CLASSIC
SpikelessPRICE: $95TECH TALK: The rubber outsole has traction lugs that are closely studded for a better grip. Foam in the midsole offers more cushioning, and a protective rubber toe wrap strengthens durability. The synthetic leather upper is waterproof.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "It has the look and feel of your old Asics Tigers. You'll never want to part with these shoes."MORE INFO:asicsamerica.com
ECCO BIOM GOLF HYBRID
SpikelessPRICE: $190TECH TALK: The yak leather upper is soft, breathable and water-resistant. A three-part insole offers extreme cushioning, and the low profile means your feet are closer to the ground. The thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) outsole has 150 traction bars.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "This style is extremely versatile: It pairs just as well with trousers as it does with shorts."MORE INFO:eccousa.com
ECCO TOUR HYBRID WINGTIP
SpikelessPRICE: $190TECH TALK: The leather upper has hydrophobic compounds that make it water resistant, and it's built upon Ecco's iconic Street outsole, which has more than 800 TPU-traction angles for maximum grip. This classic-looking shoe is available in three upper patterns.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "Going dress-up with a nice pair of kicks finishes the look, and now it doesn't have to be painful."MORE INFO:eccousa.com
FOOTJOY FJ SPORT
SpikelessPRICE: $120TECH TALK: This design features the same external wraparound heel stabilizer, full rounded toe and waterproof membrane as its cleated version. However, this shoe offers a proprietary rubber compound in a cleatless outsole that is focused on enhancing traction and durability.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "The go-to shoe for many tour players has a great, trim fit."MORE INFO:footjoy.com
FOOTJOY M:PROJECT
SpikelessPRICE: $120TECH TALK: The lightweight, highly flexible design features a wider forefoot area intended to better allow a player's toes to spread and grip the ground. The thin outsole also wraps over the toe of the shoe to reduce wear. Of the five styles, two are leather and three are mesh.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "Stylistically hip and cool, this entire shoe is stripped down to its functional best."MORE INFO:footjoy.com
KIKKOR SLYDER PREMIUM
SpikelessPRICE: $80TECH TALK: Intended to be your second or third pair of shoes, these slip-ons are made with a leather upper and a flexible rubber outsole that has 11 fixed cleats. They're ideal for a quick nine holes or a long practice session but can handle 18 as well.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "When you put these on, you slide right into serious style. Young and hip."MORE INFO:kikkor.com
NIKE LUNAR SWINGTIP
SpikelessPRICE: $100-$120TECH TALK: The rubber outsole's pattern was designed by pressure-mapping a golfer's foot during the swing to build traction in the high stress areas. Available in leather, suede or canvas styles, the casual design features a dense foam sockliner for cushioning.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "Michael J. Fox's favorite shoe means it's immediately high on my list. Very cool."MORE INFO:nikegolf.com
OAKLEY CIPHER 2
SpikelessPRICE: $150TECH TALK: The lightest waterproof shoe on our list, it has a sandpaper-like sole made of ceramic alumina that is designed to grip into grass for optimal traction and bring the golfer lower to the ground. The TPU outsole is designed to enhance stability, and the one-piece synthetic upper is lightweight.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "It looks fast and feels fast. Another great contemporary entry."MORE INFO:oakley.com
PUMA FAAS LITE MESH
SpikelessPRICE: $90TECH TALK: Grooves in the rubber outsole increase flexibility and ground contact during the swing, and carbon-rubber traction lugs in the forefoot and heel are designed to increase stability and grip. Zero drop from heel to toe allows the foot to move naturally, and the mesh upper is lightweight and breathable.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "You won't want to take these off, even hours after you finish."MORE INFO:puma.com/golf
TRUE LINKSWEAR TRUE SENSEI
SpikelessPRICE: $100TECH TALK: Three elements of this shoe are designed to let your foot function naturally during the swing: (1) a thin outsole; (2) zero drop from heel to toe; (3) a wide toe box. The co-founder of the company ran an entire marathon in them. A leather, waterproof version is called Proto.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "If a shoe can feel comfortable by just looking at it, this is it."MORE INFO:truelinkswear.com
ADIDAS ADIPURE MOTION
CleatedPRICE: $220TECH TALK: The TPU outsole, which has seven cleats and numerous traction nubs, is designed to allow for stability of the foot and mobility of the ankle joint. An insole provides cushioning, and the suppleness of the leather upper, which has an X pattern over the heel for stability, allows for a better fit.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "Clean lines make this shoe smooth, sleek and timeless."MORE INFO:adidasgolf.com
ADIDAS ADIZERO TOUR
CleatedPRICE: $180TECH TALK: The thin outsole is lightweight and made with an elastomer that maximizes rigidity where you need support, and flexibility where you need movement. Two insoles are designed to provide cushioning, and the microfiber leather upper is light, thin and strong for a consistent fit.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "This adiZero is simple and technologically clever."MORE INFO:adidasgolf.com
CALLAWAY TOUR STAFF
CleatedPRICE: $230TECH TALK: This shoe, which features input from Callaway's tour-player staff, has a leather upper with a leather interior lining. A gel in the tongue adds cushion, and a thin TPU outsole uses a low-profile cleat-receptacle system to keep your feet close to the ground.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "Old-fashioned styling with some modern touches. This is a timeless, classic shape."MORE INFO:callawaygolf.com
FOOTJOY FJ SPORT
CleatedPRICE: $130TECH TALK: An external wraparound heel stabilizer in the full-grain leather upper is designed for support to control unwanted rocking during the swing. A lightweight midsole maintains cushioning, and a channel in the forefoot creates more flexibility.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "This is a tour-proven performer in a clean, contemporary style. This shoe will deliver."MORE INFO:footjoy.com
FOOTJOY M:PROJECT
CleatedPRICE: $130TECH TALK: This low-profile, minimal-construction shoe is for players who use their feet to generate power. The thin cleat receptacle features an exclusive Softspikes Stealth cleat. The uppers use a special Pittard's leather that's designed to be thin and strong.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "I love that FootJoy offers this style. It's ideal for the golfer who wants to break into the sporty category."MORE INFO:footjoy.com
NIKE LUNAR CONTROL
CleatedPRICE: $160TECH TALK: This update for 2013 enhances the lightweight support fibers in the upper by extending them from the midfoot to the heel. The outsole is designed to encourage natural motion, and the dense-foam insole provides cushioning across the entire foot.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "With smart technology and cool color options, these shoes are a great, modern choice."MORE INFO:nikegolf.com
NIKE TW '13
CleatedPRICE: $180TECH TALK: Built on the Nike Free running shoe outsole concept, this model is designed to promote a more natural movement during the swing. Strong nylon threads in key areas of the stretchable synthetic-leather upper add lightweight support.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "The perfect marriage of functionality and fit. No need to compromise one for the other."MORE INFO:nikegolf.com
PUMA AMP CELL FUSION
CleatedPRICE: $200TECH TALK: The TPU outsole has 10 cleats and numerous molded spikes for traction. A light carbon-fiber shank in the midsole offers arch support, and the design of the synthetic-leather upper—which is waterproof—was inspired by Rickie Fowler's motocross boots.MR. STYLE'S COMMENTS: "Player input means a great deal. Hats off to Fowler for inspiring a signature look."MORE INFO:puma.com
