Stuburt was formed as a shoemaker over 150 years ago by Ralph Stubbs and his assistant Frederick Burt. Initially, they developed the yachting shoe, and the company rose to prominence when their football boots were worn by the England World Cup squad in 1966.
Tony Jacklin wore Stuburt golf shoes back in 1980. Graham McDowell won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, Darren Clarke won The Open at Royal St. George’s the next year, and both were clad in Stuburt shoes. Here we test the Stuburt Evolution Casual golf shoes.
Stuburt Evolution Casual golf shoes review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
This is a comfortable and flexible golf shoe that comes in at a very reasonable price point.
PROS
- Off-course friendly.
- Comfortable.
- Excellent value.
CONS
- Lacks ultimate performance.
- Rather plain looks.
Stuburt Evolution Casual golf shoes
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First Impressions
Out of the box, these shoes presented a somewhat plain and understated appearance. These are very much at the trainer’s end, design-wise. Indeed Stuburt call this ‘casual styling’. The perforated soft grain PU (synthetic) upper is lined with a waterproof membrane in order to deliver comfort and protection. There’s a so-called Sock-Fit system with an elasticated cuff which gives a slip-on type of fit. It almost (but not quite) renders the lacing system redundant and does provide a cosy fit.
This model is presented in three colours. I tested the Droplet (grey) version, as you can see in the accompanying images. I think this is the best colour option in this design because it offers contrasting sole and tongue colours. This seems to be very much a summer shoe for me so I’d certainly favour this colour or the white option rather than the black. There are a couple of unobtrusive Stuburt logos on the tongue and also the lateral aspect of the shoe.
The UK size 7.5 (Euro 41) standard width fitted my usually sized 7.5 wide foot reasonably comfortably out of the box. I did feel that the toe box was a little on the narrow side for my feet, but I would expect the shoe to ‘give’ a bit in time. So I’d say that these shoes fit true to size.
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On Course Testing
Testing was carried out over two rounds in damp conditions on my home heathland course. The shoes were comfortable to wear straight out of the box, with good support around the ankle in particular.
I wasn’t so sure about the dual outsole technology, which Stuburt states can be worn anywhere. The outsole certainly makes the shoe appropriate for off-course use, but I don’t feel that it will provide sufficient traction in anything other than very benign conditions.
A further point is that I didn’t feel that the design of the shoe offered as much torsional stability as I would prefer.
That said, I did enjoy wearing the Evolution Casual. They remained waterproof in the test conditions, and they do come with a 12-month waterproof warranty. My feet felt comfortable and fresh after playing in warm but damp conditions, so I can certainly attest to the breathability of the shoe.
The 19th hole
As this is very much a hybrid design, this is certainly a shoe that can easily be worn on and off the course – which I think is one of the main aims of this model.
Although personally, I’m not bowled over by the look of the shoe, I do think it will appeal to a broad range of golfers and can be easily worn on and off the golf course.
As with the leather PCT Classic stablemate, I think this is a shoe which is perhaps more suited to good conditions and for the golfer who isn’t swinging out of their socks. Personally, I’d pay the extra few pounds for the PCT Classic because I prefer the appearance and slightly better grip, but this is certainly a good all-round choice.
Fit: True to Size/Small/Large/Wide/Narrow
Style: Athletic/Traditional/Off Course Friendly/All Weather/Casual
Out of Box Comfort: 9.0/10
Stability: 7.5/10
Value for Money: 9.0/10
Stuburt Evolution Casual golf shoes review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £69.95
Sizes: UK 7-11 (inc. half sizes). 6, 12 and 13
Colour: White, Black, Droplet.
More info: Stuburt website
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