For those who are averse to change, brace yourself. The newest styles from several established golf footwear brands represent noteworthy departures for those companies. Here, we spotlight nine new golf shoes in 2024 that have us excited and are likely to excite you, too … even if a few of them might force you outside of your comfort zone.
TRUE Linkswear LUX 2
After years creating golf shoes that emphasize versatility and a from-the-course-to-the-streets aesthetic, TRUE Linkswear is stepping out—specifically with its first spiked golf shoe. Not only does the LUX 2 ($295) feature soft spikes (with receptacles that can easily support any soft spike model), but it also sports an outsole made from an advanced compound material. According to Jason Moore, TRUE Linkswear’s CEO, the outsourced laboratory that makes that material claims it to have the highest energy return in footwear history. What that means, as Moore excitedly says, is “the ground force reactions with the LUX 2 are through the roof.” In tandem with that outsole, the brand has implemented a carbon-fiber plate that is as much about comfort as it is performance. “The carbon plate protects your feet from feeling the spikes” he explains, “and the combination of the carbon plate and the midsole actually make a really comfortable ride that performs extremely well.”
G/FORE G/LOCK Gallivanter
Much like TRUE Linkswear, G/FORE is entering unchartered territory … at least for them. The new G/LOCK Gallivanter (from $245) represents the California brand’s first foray into the soft spikes territory. The lightweight shoe features a classic aesthetic; however, an abundance of interior cushioning allows it to feel more like athletic sneakers that require no break-in period—these G/FOREs are comfortable right out of the box. Crafted from waterproof, full-grain leather, the shoes are mostly understated; yet a bold-printed sole delivers just the right amount of edgy style. (BUY NOW)
Boxto Legacy Hybrid
Whereas G/FORE and TRUE Linkswear are forging new spike-marked paths in 2024, Boxto—a relatively new footwear company based in Houston—is introducing a shoe that’s inspired by mid-20th-century fashion but equipped with a sole that screams 21st century. With classic FootJoy styles from the mid-1950s as its muse, the Boxto Legacy Hybrid ($239) features a water-resistance full-grain leather upper; a soft calfskin leather liner; and an insole constructed of both PU foam and memory foam, which offers plenty of support and cushioning. That said, the shoe’s most notable feature—at least as it relates to the model’s nostalgic styling—is a thermoplastic, high-abrasion outsole that, although devoid of traditional cleats, provides plenty of traction and durability. (BUY NOW)
Payntr Tour Proto
Aesthetically, Payntr’s newest shoe, the Tour Proto ($220), blends seamlessly with the British company’s prior releases, so while it may not stand out visually, it does differentiate itself in its performance capabilities. Most notably, the shoe is outfitted with seven Tour Flex Pro spikes, which are designed with three degrees of traction and 10 contact points, all of which delivers tour-level grip. Elsewhere, a graphite propulsion plate enhances wearers’ abilities to harness ground forces, while a dual-density PMX Foam midsole maximizes that energy return and provides plenty of support. Those features are combined with a water-resistant, full-grain leather upper and a footbed injected with nitrogen (a process that the brand calls PMX Nitro+), which allows the footbed to be comfortable while walking but stiffen up when it’s subjected to more pressure. That makes the Tour Proto a shoe that is as satisfying as it is capable.
FootJoy Pro/SLX
A flagship style for FootJoy over the past several years, the Pro/SL is benefiting from a significant evolution that will solidify its place as a flagship style for years to come. The new Pro/SLX (starting at $210) is now outfitted with a state-of-the-art traction system. Known as PWR TRAX, this system was inspired by racecars’ wide bases and, as such, it redistributes energy to the perimeter of the golf shoe, which promotes enhanced stability and more effective capture of ground forces during the swing. In conjunction with that, the shoe is equipped with an exposed heel stabilizer and a sidewall TPU wrap, both of which stabilize lateral and upper movement. “Golfers are going to be excited about the performance of the new Pro/SLX,” says Patrick Trubiano, FJ Footwear’s director of product management. “It’s very comfortable, it’s very stable, and it looks phenomenal.” (BUY NOW)
SQAIRZ Velo
“If I can improve your balance and stability,” says Robert Winskowicz, the founder of SQAIRZ, “you will hit the ball farther and straighter.” That’s the core of the SQAIRZ philosophy, which is why every shoe to date has featured the brand’s widened toe box, which sports a patented 70-milimeter radius. That design element has allowed SQAIRZ engineers to create shoes that are four millimeters wider at the broadest point of the front foot than any other golf footwear company. The brand’s newest model, the Velo ($220), benefits from those core attributes, but its upper also incorporates a proprietary carbon-based material that is both lightweight and exceedingly strong. Winskowicz likens it to titanium when compared to stainless steel. Moreover, he explains that it’s instrumental in harnessing energy during the swing, since the most energy loss in golf shoes has historically occurred laterally.
ECCO LT1
Much like SQAIRZ’s newest offering, the most notable release from ECCO, the LTI (starting at $200), is headline worthy thanks to a state-of-the-art material. More specifically, it’s all about Lytr Foam, a cutting-edge substance that is injected into the sole and creates a golf shoe that offers the most cushioning and rebound in ECCO’s history. How the Danish brand has integrated that foam into the shoe’s sole is just as noteworthy—the process is what ECCO calls Fluidform technology, which uses hot, liquid polyurethane that is injected into the sole. In just over a minute, the material cools and hardens, adhering the upper to the outsole in a manner that creates a watertight seal. Ultimately, the presence of Lytr Foam, combined with ECCO’s ultra-soft Phorene material in the midsole, has produced a highly flexible shoe—one that, according to the brand, delivers a “cloud-like sensation for the wearer.”
Under Armour Drive Pro
Leveraging a partnership with the engineering team at Softspikes, Under Armour has designed a spiked golf shoe, the Drive Pro ($170), which features a directional traction system that aims to improve all players’ games. More notably, the athletic apparel brand has partnered with world-renowned golf biochemist, JJ Rivet, to create a shoe that draws the most performance out of a player’s natural swing. According to Jake Haley, Under Armour’s senior product line manager for golf footwear, Rivet is the foremost biochemist when it comes to studying golfers’ feet. “He has a proprietary ForcePlate system that he uses,” Haley explains, “and he understands more than anyone what the feet do during the swing and how golfers can use the ground to help with power, support, and dispersion rates.” The shoe born from this partnership is outfitted with a unique lockdown lacing system that is comprised of a band that keeps the foot supported and in place during the swing’s 360 degrees of motion. (BUY NOW)
Duca del Cosma Davanti
Crafted from Italian Nappa leather and outfitted with a memory foam inner sole that also features recycled cork, Duca del Cosma’s new Davanti golf shoe ($249) is lightweight, eco-friendly, and comfortable. However, its most striking component is the new Airplay 15 smart sole, which is made from compression-molded EVA—a unique, soft and flexible foam—and shaped to provide extreme stability in the heel. According to Ryan Leahey, the brand’s sales director, the outsole’s unique profile provides level-ground-like stability on all uneven lies. “It looks like something you’d see in Back to the Future,” he acknowledges with a chuckle, “but then I put it on, and it’s amazing. It’s innovative, fashionable, and the function that it provides is unlike anything on the market.”
Are you in the market for new golf shoes? Let us know which model intrigues you most in the comment section.
