A revolution has occurred over the last few decades with regard to golf shoes. For many years, metal spikes were just about the only choice for any golfer remotely serious about the game.
The problem with metal spikes is obvious if you have ever followed a group wearing them. The damage they do to greens can be extensive, particularly if someone is careless and drags their feet.
Tired of the damage to their greens, golf courses embraced a new technology called “soft spikes,” which are spikes made of plastic, not metal. Many courses eventually outlawed metal spikes altogether.
But soft spikes were far from perfect. In some ways, they were a poor compromise on both ends. They were not as effective as metal spikes but still could cause greens to be marred.
Recently, a spikeless golf shoe trend has taken shape. These shoes are often every bit as effective as soft spikes but are healthier for the course. They are also much more comfortable than either of their predecessors, hard or soft.
Going spikeless means replacing the entire shoe when they are worn out, not just replacing the spikes. That makes choosing the right shoe even more paramount.
At A Glance:
- Adidas Tour360 XtBest Overall
- FootJoy FJ FlexBest for Comfort
- Etonic SP LiteBest on a Budget
To that end, here are some of the best spikeless golf shoes on the market today.
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Adidas Tour360 Xt
These have the classic Adidas look with three stripes down the side, but hardly skimp on performance.
These are high quality spikeless golf shoes offering comfort, stability, and traction. An upper made of leather and microfiber synthetic material aids in the comfort. What the company calls Spikeless Puremotion, the outsole of the shoe, is responsible for the stability. The grip comes from X-Traction primary lugs on the sole.
A nice added bonus is the sock liner for comfort.
These spikeless golf shoes fit well and perform well. You would have a difficult time finding a better shoe.
Pros
- Leather and microfiber construction
- Stable
- Grip well with spikes design
Cons
- If you like the old-school wingtip look, you won’t like these.
FootJoy FJ Flex
While this spikeless golf shoe may not provide as much sturdiness as some golfers look for, it trumps almost anything you can find for comfort.
The lightweight mesh design makes these feel like a couple of little pillows for your feet. Anyone who suffers from sore feet, or has some kind of injury to the feet, will appreciate these.
As for performance, the design of the sole is just fine, providing plenty of grip during the swing. As such, it is one of the best spikeless golf shoes on this list.
Pros
- Super comfort
- Increased cushioning in undersole
- Nice traction
Cons
- Aesthetically unusual, which may not appeal to many players
Puma Ignite Nxt Lace
This offering from Puma might be a good compromise for those wanting both performance and comfort. Many spikeless golf shoes can promise both of those but it’s difficult to get both just right.
As for comfort, these feature a performance mesh on top of these spikeless golf shoes. It’s a low-top design which also is often more comfortable.
Performance-wise, it has a traction design on the sole that is adequate for almost every situation. The spikeless golf shoes is also advertised as waterproof.
Pros
- Organic Traction
- Low-top design
- Mesh on uppers
Cons
- Performance and comfort are merely OK.
Etonic SP Lite
If you are at all budget conscious, this could be a good choice for you. A reminder here that you can cut cost corners with some golf equipment, but be careful when doing so with your spikeless golf shoes.
Still, these are plenty good enough, even if they fall short of some of the better options shown here.
The block-y toe leaves something to be desired with appearance. But they are waterproof and not merely water resistant. That’s a plus.
Pros
- Price
- Waterproof
- Lightweight and flexible
Cons
- Does not perform as well as others here.
Skechers Drive 4
Depending upon your personal tastes, these are stylish spikeless golf shoes that perform well. They offer a good deal of ability to let your foot breathe, as it were.
They are good-looking and comfortable enough to wear off the course in relaxed settings.
Some users have expressed that the sizing seems off. If you face that problem, consider these to be more like sneakers than spikeless golf shoes.
Another option are the Sketchers Go Golf Elite 4.
Pros
- Made with ultralight foam
- Stylish
- Water resistant
Cons
- May be sizing issues
New Balance Breeze
Almost every shoe made by New Balance, golf or otherwise, seems to have a similar aesthetic, which is to say sneaker. No different here. That may be a turn-off for those who like a more classic look.
But that look is much more common on the golf course these days, and if you can overlook it, you could have a nice pair of spikeless golf shoes.
This is a good combination of comfort and performance as the Breeze features an aggressive tread design and a breathable upper. The insole is cushioned for additional comfort.
Maybe not the best spikeless golf shoes for wet weather.
Pros
- Breathable upper
- Cushioned insole
- Heavy tread pattern grips well
Cons
- Not great in wet conditions
Ecco Hybrid Biom Hydromax
The Hydromax was a contender for our best overall spikeless golf shoe. It’s a fine piece of work. The only downside is the relatively high cost.
But you get plenty for your dollar. The shoe is made completely from yak leather, chosen for both its comfort and resistance to moisture. This is a great fitting shoe that is heavily engineered, all the way down to its outsole, which features more than 800 traction angles.
All in all, these are high performance and comfortable spikeless golf shoes for all weather conditions.
Pros
- Highly engineered
- Great traction
- Weather resistant
Cons
- Price
Callaway Balboa Vent 2.0
Another fine sspikeless golf hoe noted for its breathability. But the Vent 2.0 is not just comfortable, it is designed to keep your feet cool.
It does this via a dura-weave mesh upper that allows about as much airflow as one can expect from any spikeless golf shoes that aren’t a sandal.
What Callaway refers to as a “3D stability cage” helps keep you stable during the swing, an important feature. The tread design helps with its protrusions that go in different directions.
Pros
- Ventilated
- Comfortable
- Nice tread design
Cons
- Maybe a bit too sleek to offer protection for your feet.
Under Armour HOVR Fade
We cannot discuss this shoe without taking a moment to understand what HOVR technology is.
Many shoe companies have endeavored to produce a lightweight foam material to use in its athletic spikeless golf shoes that also provides a return of energy. If it can do that even in a small way, it helps with any athletic movement.
Specifically, HOVR is an extremely lightweight and soft foam material wrapped in a material Under Armour calls EnergyWeb. This is used primarily to help the foam hold its shape. Rubber was then added underneath for rigidity and strength.
The foam cushions your feet while the EnergyWeb returns some energy back to the athlete. The rubber ensures a long-lasting shoe.
The energy return is more commonly seen in running shoes, where it provides an advantage. But it can still be utilized in other sports.
So what does that mean for the golfer? During the swing, it helps with feel. The energy returns helps you stay connected to the ground in a way that is unmistakable. And the small but noticeable energy boost helps while you are walking.
This is a great shoe for any golfer but especially good for those who like to walk the course instead of using a cart. That extra energy boost will pay off in the final holes of a round.
Pros
- Microfiber upper
- HOVR technology provides feel
- Increased energy
Cons
- Could take some getting used to
Nike Roshe
This might be Nike’s most comfortable golf shoe.
A foam midsole provides plenty of cushion. The design is both lightweight and breathable, aiding in that comfort.
While that is the main feature of these spikeless golf shoes, they still holds up in performance.
The outsole is pressure mapped to give the best possible grip where it is most needed. The sidewall and heel design aid in flexibility and support.
This is a good quality spikeless golf shoe.
Pros
- Nicely designed
- Pressure-mapped outsole
- Gusset to keep out debris
Cons
- More comfortable than functional.
Skechers Pivot
This is about as basic as you can get and still get a golf shoe that does the job.
There is nothing particularly special about the shoe, but also nothing that detracts from its function.
It is made from synthetic materials, like most spikeless golf shoes. It also shares other traits, such as: lightweight design, mid-top shaft, foam inserts, and a tread designed for grip.
It’s a decent golf shoe for someone looking to step up from a cheap shoe but is not ready to splurge on the best.
Pros
- Water resistant
- Lightweight
- Foam inserts
Cons
- Nothing special about the shoe.
Three Shoes We Like
The Adidas Tour360 Xt is our choice for best spikeless golf shoe. These shoes have just about everything you could want in a spikeless shoe. Most importantly is that the spikeless golf shoe performs well, a problem you sometimes encounter when going spikeless.
If feel is most important to you, then the FootJoy FJ Flex makes the grade as best in comfort. This golf shoe still does an adequate job performance-wise but is hard to beat with its soft and pillow-like feel.
For those of you with little money to spend, we suggest Etonic SP Lite, a winner as our best budget spikeless shoe. They still get the job done, even if they fall short of the others here in performance and durability.
Spikeless Golf Shoe Design
While you will see some variation in the design of spikeless golf shoes, and certainly a difference in quality between manufacturers, most share a few traits.
With a few exceptions, spikeless shoes are lightweight, using some type of foam material that also provides comfort.
Since there are no spikes and you still need to maintain solid contact with the ground, spikeless shoes have an aggressive tread design. While it is true that you may not get quite the performance as you would with soft spikes (and definitely not as much as metal spikes), there are advantages.
Spikeless shoes are almost always more comfortable and easier on the feet. And you can be assured you want be turned away from courses that have outlawed spikes.
As for appearance, many look more like sneakers than traditional golf shoes. Since that has become the norm, it isn’t as if you will stand out on course. You would have to be truly old school to not want to wear spikeless shoes because of the way they look.
One area where you will see some variability is in how the shoes respond to moisture. A few are waterproof, some are water resistant, while others do rather poorly in wet conditions.
Also, the design means you can easily wear these off the course. No need to change shoes at the course if you don’t want. Just drive to the course while wearing your spikeless shoes. Try doing that with spikes. On second thought, do not try that.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Finding a spikeless golf shoe that performs the functions of a golf shoe is of utmost importance. This is because of the nature of the shoes, with tread patterns that are better than ordinary sneakers but lacking when compared to traditional golf shoes.
With that in mind, we believe it is best not to cut corners when it comes to your shoes. The Adidas Tour360 Xt is the golf shoe we have rated highest. But rest assured, almost any of the shoes on this list is of good quality.
A bonus is that almost every spikeless golf shoe is going to be easier on your feet than spiked golf shoes. Most golfers have at least tried spikeless shoes. If you are among those who haven’t, may as well join the revolution.
