Cole Haan OriginalGrand Tour Shoe Review

Cole Haan OriginalGrand Tour Shoe Review

If I’m being honest, it was only recently that I discovered Cole Haan had reentered the golf shoe market after a lengthy absence. I’ve had several pairs of Cole Haan dress shoes through the years and been pleased with every pair I’ve owned, so I was definitely looking forward to testing the newest Cole Haan golf shoe, the OriginalGrand Tour.

Upon unboxing the shoes when they arrived, my first impression was … wow! Simply put, these shoes are visually stunning. The premium, leather uppers oozed quality and the detailing incorporated into the design was thorough and impressive. There are three color options available in the OriginalGrand Tour – white, black, and a white/black combo. I was sent the white version, which took me back to a time when the most popular and best golf shoes looked like classic wingtips.

Of course, anyone who decades ago wore classic, leather golf shoes like the ones I’m describing also knows how heavy they could be, with their metal spikes not helping the cause. Even the most comfortable pairs could take a toll on your feet after rounds because of their sheer weight. The OriginalGrand Tour wasn’t heavy at all, however. It looked like an old-school classic but in hand felt like a modern athletic shoe from a weight standpoint.

Upon putting the shoes on for the first time, their cushioning stood out immediately from a comfort standpoint. I would also say that if anything they ran slightly large from a size standpoint, most notably in terms of width. There was ample room in the midfoot and heel sections, making the OriginalGrand Tour an option worth exploring for players with wide feet.

On the course for the first time, the shoes did feel a bit rigid out of the box, and it probably took about 27 holes for me to feel as though they had fully broken in. After that, however, the comfort I’d expect from a high-end golf shoe was present, and I had no issues with foot soreness during or after rounds.

From a performance standpoint, the OriginalGrand Tour also impressed. The TPU outsole’s traction pattern and soft spike positioning combined to provide impressive traction in wet conditions and from uneven lies, of which there are many at my club, and the shoes also offered significant stability and support during golf swings and while walking between shots.

The OriginalGrand Tour golf shoes are also waterproof, and while I didn’t have the chance to do any testing in the rain, I did play early one morning when the grass was covered in heavy dew and my feet stayed completely dry.

I also wore these shoes on a couple of very warm days and found them to breathe well. I was concerned that my feet might get hot given the leather uppers, but that wasn’t the case and they exceeded my expectations in that regard. I’d also add that the shoes cleaned up well after play, although I would advise staying on top of that task, especially in the all-white colorway.

There’s plenty to like about the OriginalGrand Tour, which retails for $200 and is a great option in the spiked golf shoe category. I loved the throwback look and believe these shoes are incredibly stylish, but I would also expect that the more traditional design won’t appeal to everyone. Beyond the aesthetics, they were comfortable after a modest break-in period, stable and supportive, and the traction they delivered was exceptional. As mentioned, I found them to run a bit wide, so that’s worth keeping in mind, but overall this is a quality offering from Cole Haan.