10 Best Spikeless Golf Shoes (Buyer's Guide)

In the busy business world, there is no time to stop and change shoes. You want to have one pair for commuting to work, holding a meeting, and stepping out for a quick game of golf during lunch.

Thankfully, nowadays, golf shoes have evolved to be more casual than the leather saddles with nails hammed at the bottom that they used to be.

A spikeless golf shoe will give you a sneaker-like look with a performance comparable to a spiked trainer.

How we get our top 10 spikeless golf shoes

Our team has researched over 60 spikeless golf trainers from 10 different brands. We summarized all the pros and cons of each shoe based on the following:

what golf shoe experts think of each model and its performance
what real-life purchasers think of using these spikeless trainers

Each model receives a CoreScore, a number from 1 to 100, reflecting the general users’ opinion. The best 10 make it to our cream-of-the-crop selection below.

Ranking of the 10 best spikeless golf shoes

Based on 20,376 user ratings 67 expert reviews

Rank

Shoe

Image

CoreScore

Reviews

Here is a list of all 61 spikeless golf shoes, where you can sort by “best rated” and apply filters.

Top 5 most popular golf shoes

Rank

Shoe

Image

CoreScore

Reviews

See all spikeless golf shoes sorted by popularity

Spiked vs. spikeless golf shoes

Even though spiked golf footwear is still held in high regard for the benefits it offers, the game started to change around 2010. That was the year when a brave Danish brand named Ecco released the first-ever spikeless golf shoe. It was soon followed by Adidas, Footjoy, and many others.

While there was a lot of skepticism around these sneaker-like models initially, spikeless platforms have significantly evolved over the past decade. From being the preference of casual golfers only, they have been increasingly present on professional players’ feet.

The market is currently split 50/50 between the two shoe types, as there is no straightforward answer to which one is better. Each one comes with a set of pros and cons, so the choice depends on what features you value the most:

Play on wet, soggy, and hilly terrain?

Need extra grip and stability?

Don’t mind changing footwear for golf?

Prefer taking the golf cart?

Play in dry or moderately wet conditions?

Need lightness and flexibility?

Want one pair for both golf and casual wear?

Prefer walking on the course?

Choose spiked golf shoes

Choose spikeless golf shoes

How to choose the right spikeless pair for you (3 steps)

Now that you have an idea of what to expect from the shoe’s outsole, it’s just as important to consider the upper part. Here are 3 important features to check out:

Upper material: leather, synthetic, or knit
Moisture protection: water-resistant, water-repellent, or waterproof
Fit regulation: laces vs. BOA

Upper material

A large part of your in-shoe experience and comfort is determined by the type of material that wraps around the foot. Spikeless golf shoes are available in multiple options:

Leather

classic, deluxe vibe

give more structure, support, stability

naturally waterproof

price: $$

Synthetic

variety: options range from the firmer synthetic leather shoes to the more breathable mesh ones

vegan-friendly

price: $-$$

Knit

highly breathable: perfect for dry, warm, or hot weather

flexible, light, soft, adaptive to the foot

trendy

price: $$

Moisture protection

If you see yourself regularly playing in wet or rainy conditions, consider getting a shoe with one of these protective features:

Water-resistant

for light rain, morning dew, and damp grass

Breathability

*****

Protection

Water-repellent

for moderate rain; might leak when pressure is applied

Breathability

***

Protection

***

Waterproof*

for heavy rain, snow, and stepping into the water

Breathability

Protection

*****

*Some waterproof golf shoes employ a Gore-Tex lining that lets air come inside the shoe while but keeps the water molecules away.

Some brands also offer shoes with a waterproof warranty. Depending on the shoe model and the type of damage, it can last for 1 to 2 years. Just make sure to keep the receipt.

Fit regulation

Even though 90% of spikeless golf shoes are employed with the conventional lacing system, there is still that 10%-room for innovation. The table below compares the novel BOA system to the regular laces:

Laced golf shoes	BOA golf shoes
Advantages:	Advantages:
cheaper easier to replace	faster to tighten and loosen keeps the hold permanently doesn’t get in the way of movement resistant to water, mud, ice
Disadvantages:	Disadvantages:
may lose hold, get untied, lead to tripping and stumbling takes time to adjust the fit	harder to replace more expensive

Bottom line: The BOA offers a host of upgrades compared to a standard lasing system. But it also comes at a higher price point. Thus, it can be recommended to the more professional players or those who want to stay on top of the newest tech.

Otherwise, laces are still a reliable option, especially if you are just starting out with golf.

Sneaker icons among spikeless golf shoes

Building upon the world-known fashion silhouettes, these golf shoes will take you from the street to the links without compromising neither comfort nor performance:

Golf shoes

Sneakers

Nike Roshe G