Best Winter Golf Shoes 2024

While some golfers shut it down when the temperature drops and the courses get wet, many golf nuts will continue to play all year round regardless of the weather conditions. If you are one of those hardy souls that will tee it up even in the wind and rain, it makes sense to have clubs, apparel and golf shoes that can deal with some of the worst winter conditions. 

Most of the best golf shoes will be able to handle adverse weather, but there are some that really come into their own when the conditions get wetter, more slippery and just generally more miserable. In this guide, we will be walking you through some of our favorites.

Firstly, there are certain factors you really need to think about when choosing a pair of winter golf shoes. First and foremost, they must have excellent waterproofing to keep any standing water or rain out, and this is especially important if the course you play has longer grass, such as semi rough or the deeper stuff. Grip and stability are vitally important too, because winter weather generally means the ground will be soft and slippery underfoot, which can have a detrimental effect when you are swinging the club. 

We'll be highlighting some of the best spikeless golf shoes in this guide, as well as the top spiked models because, while spikes ultimately provide better overall grip than spikeless, you'd be surprised with how well some of the spikeless options on this list can handle wet ground. 

So, with all of this in mind, we have compiled a list of the best golf shoes to deal with winter conditions below. Plus while you're here, why not also check out some of our other golf guides, including the best waterproof golf shoes or best golf shoes for wide feet.

The Quick List

Best Winter Golf Shoes

Best Spiked

The ZG23 is an impressive update to the adidas ZG21 golf shoe, which was a favorite among many players, including tour pros. The ZG21 was known for its support, robust stability and its grippy sole design, but the ZG23 has taken all of that to a new level to become one of the best spiked golf shoes available right now. 

The big change with the ZG23 is the upgraded midsole, which now features adidas' new Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro cushioning technology. This replaces the Boost padding seen in many of the best adidas golf shoes, with the new Lightstrike technology expanding on the comfort Boost provided to produce a very smooth ride out on the golf course. It is soft and supple and works very nicely with the comfy waterproof upper.

When it comes to winter golf, the ZG23 ticks all boxes. We loved the grip provided by a six-cleat design and, when complimented by plenty of rubber lugs, it provided additional traction on the ground during the golf swing.

• Read our full Adidas ZG23 Golf Shoe Review
  

Best Spikeless

Ranked amongst the best FootJoy golf shoes, we instantly noticed that the Pro/SLX is still recognizably part of the Pro/SL family tree, but with some new flashes of tech and color that gave it a fresh, modern and premium look we expect from a brand like FootJoy.

Along with the looks, we must talk about the outsole, which is a new Pwr Trax system. It features a moulded 3D X-Wing that has a prominent force on the edge, with a carbon fiber construction and Race Trak Outsole providing flawless grip across a range of conditions.

Given the name Carbon, these are extremely lightweight and, because of the material, the golf shoe is slightly stiffer than the standard TPU. In testing, we felt that it will benefit the very fast swing speeds even more, with the outsole truly unique and superb in all conditions.

• Read our full FootJoy Pro/SLX Carbon Golf Shoe Review

Best Support

Featuring nine spikes on the sole, Under Armour has managed to keep the shoe's weight down to just 12oz, which puts it amongst the best golf shoes for walking category. However, it's one particular aspect that we are interested in, with the Drive Pro receiving a big makeover from its predecessor.

You may wonder, how has it changed? Well, the key differences come in the form of a new midsole that utilizes softer, energy returning foam on the medial side of the foot, as well as firmer, more supportive materials on the lateral side of the foot to support it through the movement of the swing.

It's called a Swing Support System, or S3 and, in testing, we felt it worked perfectly to keep our foot supported and locked-in whilst tackling the golf course. Covering everything from traction and the midsole, all the way up to a new lacing system developed by the Under Armour team, there's a reason why we have selected it as the best for support!

• Read our full Under Armour Drive Pro Golf Shoe Review

Best Design

The new Victory Tour 3 got 5 stars in our review and we honestly can't speak highly enough of this shoe. Nike has improved the aesthetics from the previous release in several subtle ways. For example, the swoosh and midsole sections look slightly different and more aesthetically pleasing, in our opinion, while the new full-grain leather upper has a supple feel and sophisticated look. We also like the colors and special edition designs on offer too.

After extensively testing this shoe we can say with confidence that the grip and stability was excellent, while the shoes are 100% waterproof as well. We also found them to be relatively easy to clean and, when you factor all of these things together, it makes them the ideal shoe for those winter months when it gets wet and muddy.

In terms of comfort again, we can't fault this shoe. It's right up there with the best on the market thanks to the extra padding around the ankle, as well as the internal strap on the inside of the shoe which actually contours to your feet. There is a Zoom Air unit stitched directly to the upper which, along with the foam towards the heel, delivered exceptional feel and an almost bouncy feeling when walking on the course. 

• Read our full Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 Golf Shoe Review

Most Comfortable

We have selected the G/18 Golf Shoe as the most comfortable due to the support available, with the prominent external heel counter doing a superb job of supporting the back of the foot throughout the swing. As is the case with the best G/FORE golf shoes, there is also a nubbed massaging insole which, as we know from testing, is excellent and something that would be worth trying to fully understand.

Looks-wise, the G/18 has a number of bulges, bumps and details dotted all over. Although it's quite busy on the eye, we do like it and, personally, think it screams high fashion, as it reminds us of the sneakers you'll see brands like Balenciaga or Moncler produce.

Like the Puma Phantomcat, the G/18 has a low-profile look, with a new outsole construction meaning it works well on the course. Unlike some other G/FORE golf shoes, it doesn't have the versatility of other models but, for on course performance, the G/18 is excellent.

• Read our full G/FORE G/18 Golf Shoe Review

Best Low Profile

Ranked amongst the best Puma golf shoes on the market, the Phantomcat Nitro excels via its outsole, which has a totally new Flexspike integrated cleat and some flashes of colors. Essentially, Puma's engineers have been able to increase surface contact with the ground as well as improve weight distribution across the foot.

In testing, we were very impressed, overall, with the grip, especially on the wet and muddy days we tested them on. What's more, because of the cleats, it has a very low profile and, in-turn, it is much lighter than some of the best spiked golf shoes available.

Comfort-wise, Puma has used nitrogen infused foam for the first time. This foam has been injected into the heel area and, on the course, was extremely comfortable, with no rubbing visible. Admittedly, there wasn't as much arch support as we'd like in a golf shoe, but that will be personal preference. Importantly, the overall sensation underfoot was very soft and there was plenty of rebound as we walked the fairways.

• Read our full Puma Phantomcat Nitro Golf Shoe Review

Best Heel Support

The Payntr X 004 RS is the first golf shoe to use the all-new SoftSpikes Tour Flex Pro spikes in the outsole and it boasts one of the best soles on a golf shoe that we've tested in a long while. Each of the seven spikes per shoe has 10 different points of contact with the ground, meaning that when you swing you have 140 points of contact with the turf. 

The outsole features a carbon fibre propulsion plate which serves to help golfers take advantage of ground reaction forces to deliver more speed to the golf ball. In our testing, this sole seriously impressed us, as the grip was strong and the sole delivered a premium level of comfort and support. 

Where this shoe stood out, though, was in the heel cup, which is built from a slightly different, softer material to stop any rubbing on your ankle. We found it to be a great help to stop blisters from forming on the Achilles and, what's more, PAYNTR are actually so confident in this technology that they offer a 'blister-free' guarantee'.

• Read our full Payntr X 004 RS Golf Shoe review

Best Looking

Now releasing its third generation of its impressive spikeless franchise, adidas has launched the Codechaos 25 Golf Shoe, which keeps the bright colors and loud designs that we know and love. For example, with the model we tested we adored the neon green and pink accents that cover the outsole, with the colors adding a touch of flare and pizzazz.

It's not just the colors on the outsole, but also the overall look, with adidas returning to what we would consider a more conventional looking shoe. Although we are disappointed to see the funky outsole design on the 2022 version go, it's still a visually stunning model.

Another change, and one of the main reasons why we have included the Codechaos in this guide, comes in the form of the lugs on the sole, which have been placed over a greater surface area. In testing, we could really feel them work and, although it's a spikeless model, it's one of the only few times we would class them as 'all year round' shoes. The outsole was superb in all ground conditions and really gave us plenty of confidence.

• Read our full Adidas Codechaos 25 Golf Shoe Review

Best Stability

If you're looking for comfort and stability in your golf shoes, then you should definitely consider trying out the FootJoy Tour Alpha. This is by far one of the best FootJoy golf shoes on the market, and is packed to the brim with golfing technology. Featuring in three colorways, we tested the white/navy/lime version and found them to be smart, sturdy and stable.

The stability is largely due to FootJoy’s own OPS system (Optimized Performance Stabilizer) which uses three elements. There's the external 3D-molded heel counter, the A-Frame design and a lateral clip that works to lock your foot in so you can go at it with confidence. The spiked outsole features a total of nine cleats and greatly increases the stability, although this enhanced stability does compromise the mobility of the shoe as the sole is relatively inflexible.

As for comfort, well in testing we did notice some slight rubbing on the toes and ankles, but this is often the case for a brand new pair of shoes that need wearing in and we found that this subsided in subsequent rounds. The ChromoSkin leather upper and well-cushioned heel stood out too, with the Tour Alpha 100% waterproof. 

• Read our full FootJoy Tour Alpha 2024 Golf Shoe Review

Best For Seniors

Skechers have a well earned reputation for shoes that offer supreme levels of comfort. That applies right across the best Skechers golf shoes and certainly applies to the Elite 5 Slip 'In, which is definitely one of most comfortable golf shoes that we've tested. 

It is a completely different experience wearing these shoes. Usually, when putting on a pair of golf shoes, the first thing to do is ensure that not too much pressure is applied on the heel area at the back, for fear of causing lasting damage. With the Skechers Go Golf Elite 5 Slip 'In shoes this is not a problem – they slip on just like a pair of comfy slippers – and they feel just as good. 

Additionally, we found that the Twist-Fit dial system located on the side makes them very easy to fasten which enhances the user experience greatly. We can definitely see the appeal for those who suffer with back problems, as there’s no need to struggle with lacing up and there's no need to worry about the laces gradually loosening during the round and needing to be retied at the most inconvenient moments. Of course you can’t talk about Skechers without mentioning the removable Arch Fit insole, which provides podiatrist-certified arch support.

• Read our full Skechers Go Golf Elite 5 Slip 'In Golf Shoe Review

Best Women's

Puma says that this shoe is for women who take their golf seriously, but really it suits even the casual golfer too. Whether you play every week or just a handful of times a year, you still need something comfortable on your feet and, if it looks nice too, then thats a bonus.  

The Puma Ignite Blaze Pro shoe is a fantastic looking modern golf shoe that has a hybrid bootie construction, with the upper contrasting against the outsole of the shoe to deliver a sporty profile that puts it right up there with the best golf sneakers. It's an extremely versatile option that is ideal for wearing in your day-to-day life as well as around the golf course. 

While it certainly delivers aesthetically, the shoe also impresses when it comes to comfort and grip. A 'PU' foam thick white sole provides a responsive and cushioned midlayer that, in testing, gave us great support and kept our feet feeling fresh. While perhaps not the softest sole on this list, we would say it's great for those who like a little bit of ballast in their midsole. The shoe impressed when it comes to grip and traction too and this is certainly a shoe that is suitable to wear year-round.

• Read our full Puma Ignite Blaze Pro Shoe Review

How we test

Our golf shoe testing methodology  revolves around putting models to the test over a number of rounds and in different conditions. This is so we can gain a better idea of overall performance in terms of factors like grip comfort, grip, stability, waterproofing and how they actually look on the golf course. This is the best way of testing a golf shoe as using it in the real world over a number of weeks allows us to see how they perform when variables change like weather, ground conditions, different stances and lies, and so on. 

Particularly when testing the best winter golf shoes, we put these models to the test during the winter months to see which holds up during colder, wetter conditions on the golf course. We also like to test them during the summer months too, as that allows us to see which shoes offer the best breathability, traction on dryer ground and year-round performance. 

We think this also gives us information on the little details as well like which brands come up small or large, which models start to rub a bit too much after 36 holes, which designs can be used off the golf course and for the drive home? We are very comprehensive in our tests to the point where we will regularly attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology. That isn't to say manufacturers can buy a good review though, as all our reviews are made by golfers, for golfers. 

How to choose new winter golf shoes

Golf shoes come in many different shapes and have a ton of different features. From waterproofing outer shells to different grip styles, there is a lot to consider when purchasing your next pair of winter golf shoes. For that reason, we’ve put together a list of handy tips that you need to consider when purchasing your next pair of golf shoes. Check them out below!

1. Spiked or spikeless?

The best golf shoes above are split into the best spiked models and best spikeless designs and there are pros and cons to each. Ultimately, when deciding on whether to purchase a spiked or spikeless pair of shoes, it comes down to your personal preference of feel, grip and stability the shoe delivers when you swing through the golf ball. 

It's generally considered that spiked golf shoes offer better grip and stability but don't sit as low to the ground as spikeless models. They are preferrable for harsher conditions and wetter climates, which is something you should definitely consider if you're planning on playing a lot of winter golf or if you live in the UK where it rains a lot! 

Spikeless golf shoes, meanwhile, offer a lot more versatility away from the golf course. They are perfect for driving in the car to the golf course, playing a round, and then driving home again because they are usually light and comfortable, but most won't offer as much traction as a spiked shoe.

2. Waterproofing

If you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain then a waterproof shoe is a must. The best designs will keep your feet bone dry however if you play golf in glorious sunshine most of the time, then you may view other factors as more significant.

Many players choose to have one pair for winter and another, lighter pair for summer to keep them fresh and suit different requirements. But it is also worth checking out one of the best waterproof golf shoes on the market, especially as the weather is always so unpredictable. Why not also grab yourself one of our best golf rain jackets too!

3. Getting the right fit

When picking out golf shoes getting the right fit is important because otherwise, blisters can build up. Or your feet may slide around inside, which limits your stability. When trying a pair on for the first time, listen for the 'whoosh' sound when you slide your feet in - that's the sound of all the air leaving the shoe to confirm it is the correct size, but do a walking test to be sure. They shouldn't pinch anywhere, nor should your feet be moving around inside.

When it comes to the right fit it is also worth considering different laces. Normal laces are good for most but for some golfers, BOA laced shoes provide more convenient fastening and shouldn’t loosen during the course of a round, but are usually a tad more expensive. If you're after a more locked-in feel, then check out our guide to the best BOA golf shoes! 

4. Comfort and support

Similar to getting the right fit, you need to get a shoe that is going to give you ample comfort and support during your round. As you’ll be walking a long way in these shoes, it is vital that you get a pair that will give your ankles, feet and knees the best level of support possible. Look for shoes that have padded outsoles and are cushioned on the inside, to give your feet a spongey ride. We have plenty of options on our most comfortable golf shoes guide!

5. Styling 

Thankfully modern golf shoe designs have seen many brands not just create traditional, classic-looking shoes, but also modern styles that can be used off the golf course too. Therefore it is important to think about what your shoes look like and what style suits you. Whatever you like or dislike, there is something for everyone these days. 

There are plenty of styles available to suit any kind of golfer from many different brands. Why not check out our guides to the best New Balance golf shoes, best Asics golf shoes and best G/Fore golf shoes, for more fantastic options that will deliver a fantastic look, no matter what style you're going for. 

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