Are these the best value shoes in golf right now? 

Introduction

Cards on the table, I am something of an Adidas fan. Trimm Star, Stan Smith, SL72, Gazelle, Hamburg, Handball Spezial – these trainers are just on my regular rotation. 

That’s not to mention the Superstar, or Tour360s, you’ll normally find me wearing on the golf course. What I’m trying to say is that when it comes to the ‘Brand with the Three Stripes’, we’ve got history. 

So you’d clearly expect me to be positive about the latest version of Adidas’ S2G range – the S2G stands for Street to Green – with their casual trainer look and off-course wearability. 

And you’d be right. I’m going to give away a spoiler right now. I think these are the best value golf shoes on the market.  

But this isn’t just the bias of a fanboy. There are compelling reasons why you should think about putting these on your feet for the coming season.  

Keywords

Comfortable, Value for money, casual, off course wear, lightweight, stability, traction, heel support

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NCG Summary and rating

NCG SUMMARY

The S2G 26 might be a ‘budget’ golf shoe but the only thing economical about them is the price. Comfortable, great looking, and an option on and off course, they’re a sure-fire winner in a market that doesn’t always prioritise value. They’re the best shoe of their type.  

PROS 

• Very comfortable fit  

• Premium build 

• Casual look means they’re as wearable off course as on it 

• Really good value 

CONS 

• You might need to go up a size 

Key Facts

Key benefits and downsides

First Impressions

Given my noted predilection for Adidas Originals, the S2G 26 just jumped right out of the box. I tested the textile model (they come in leather too) in the crystal sky colourway and I was getting instant vibes of the classic Marathon and LA Trainer. 

From above, they’re like an old school running shoe, with a suede strip. While the rubber outsole is obviously designed for golf, it doesn’t make it look like you’re about to stride onto the 1^st tee.  

If that doesn’t make you fall in love straight away, the price should. You might be used to shelling out well into three figures for your shoes, but the RRP of the textile S2G 26 is £85 / $100 – and you’ll likely find markdowns on that already if you shop around. 

Normally you’d expect some pretty hefty compromises for shopping around the ‘budget’ range, but you don’t feel that when slipping these on for the first time. 

The first thing you notice is the well-padded tongue and just how much these shoes mould to your feet and move naturally with them.  

I find a lot of traditional golf shoes to be a bit rigid, particularly right out of the box, but the S2G 26 prioritise comfort from the first step. That’s great if, like me, you can be prone to blistering.   

If I have one criticism of Adidas, it’s that they can occasionally be variable on size. I’ve got trainers at home in 9 and 9.5 (I’m actually an extra-wide 8.5) – and I’ve learned to size up in their golf shoes.  

If you’re not trying them on in a shop, you might want to bear that in mind. I was in a 9.5 and they felt spot on. But they also feel generally like they’re a wider fit and that might influence your sizing. 

The 80s casual look in the textile model – I think the leather is a touch more conventional – really suits off-course wear. They look great in jeans, and if I didn’t have about eight pairs fighting for room already, I’d be happy to don the S2G to the football or down the pub.  

How I undertook the review

I took the golf shoes out for a proper spin by playing 18 holes at my local course. I paid attention to how comfortable, stable, and supportive they felt during the round, especially on different parts of the course.

So far, I’ve only tested them in non-adverse weather, but it gave me a good idea of how they perform on the course and off.

What I found

Exceptional performance

How well can trainer-style shoes perform on the course, especially when they’re so plainly influenced by models designed to pound the streets in 10Ks? 

Exceptionally is the answer in the S2G 26 but that’s down to a couple of tech hacks you might not see straight away.  

Heel stability

The heel feels higher, for a start, and that gave me quite a bit of stability when swinging a club. The padded tongue also helps to briefly hold your feet in place during that motion and, while they may look like old-school sneakers, there is not quite as much give in the upper. 

That might seem a contradiction of my earlier statement that the S2G move with your feet but it’s where they move that’s key. In the points where you swing, compared with when you’re on the move, they are stable. 

Lovely cushioning

I don’t think Lightstrike, the technology in the midsole, always gets the credit it deserves. The S2G are beautifully cushioned. When you first pop them on, it feels for a moment like you’re walking on a pillow. But that belies their main purpose – to help you be quicker and more explosive.  

I’d like to test these with a launch monitor as I suspect I’d see fractionally more ball speed from being able to push harder – particularly through my left side on the downswing – but right now that’s just a feeling rather than anything backed up with numbers.   

The outsole is a little chunkier than I might normally go for but still provided solid traction while walking.  

I have not tested the S2G in the worst of the weather yet and it will be interesting to see how they grip in the rain, but there is always a trade-off in that regard with spikeless shoes.  

But at well under £100, it doesn’t feel like any corners have been cut.  

They are a real joy to walk in, a feature that’s also overlooked. We get fixated on grip and stability, but most rounds are also a six-mile hike. The S2G glide and I certainly didn’t feel tired or had any discomfort at the end of a round. 

NCG Final Say

Great value

In this cost-of-living climate we’re all trying to get more bang for our buck. You’re absolutely getting that with the Adidas S2G 26 golf shoes. At £85 / $100 for the textile model, and £5 more for the leather version, they are a very premium golf shoe at a big discount on others out there. 

There is no scrimping on the build, they are extremely comfortable and perform admirably whether you’re swinging the club or walking the fairways. 

And if you love the look, they’re fantastic off the course too. Right now, these are the best value golf shoes you can buy.  

How they compare to other shoes

A little more of a golf shoe than the Superstar, but still fitting the casual mode, they’ve got a similar style vibe to the New Balance 574s, which are another high-quality option now at a great price.

Price information

RRP: £85 / $100

Other product details

Colours:

• Adidas UK – Collegiate Navy-Cloud White-Crystal Sky / Grey Three-Cloud White-Grey Four
• UK online retailers – Crystal Sky-Collegiate Navy-Better Scarlet / White-Core Black-Grey Two
• Adidas US – Collegiate Navy-Cloud White-Crystal Sky / Cloud White-None-Core Black / Cloud White-None-None / Crystal Sky-Collegiate Navy-Better Scarlet / Off White-Lucid Ray Blue-Gum / Cloud White-None-Dash Grey

Laces: Yes

Waterproof: Basic

More information: Adidas UK / Adidas US

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