FootJoy Traditions Golf Shoes Review
What’s new? How much do they cost? And how do they perform? Tom Irwin brings you the low down on the new FootJoy Traditions golf shoes
FootJoy have been leading the charge in golf shoe technology for years now, the FootJoy Tradition is well traditional but with some twists as classic style meets all-day lightweight comfort
So how did we find them? Find out in our FootJoy Traditions golf shoe review.
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FootJoy Traditions golf shoes review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
The mullet of golf shoes, business on top and a party underneath. Looking down they are every inch the two-tone classic looking golf shoe from yesteryear, the sole and the comfort are much more erm youthful.
I have had many pairs of FootJoy shoes over the years, if I had a criticism in recently it has been around a slightly loose fit. These change all that. I tested them on the same day as several other brands and these were miles ahead for out of the box snug fit. They feel stable, and grip the foot but are extremely comfortable. This is quite the feat (pardon the pun)
This hybrid look is slightly strange out of the box as the sole is so unrelated to the upper but you don’t notice this when they are on, and you get a classic looking shoe with trainer levels of comfort.
Little insider knowledge, Bill Ho wears these as a preference to more premium models as they are super light weight. He knows his onions.
PROS
- A proper fit, like a golf shoe should fit
- Trainer levels of comfort
- Classic styling is a antidote to all the other on course off course carry on
CONS
- Probs would not choose two tone
FootJoy Traditions golf shoes
Now: £109.99
Check out the best deals on the FootJoy Traditions golf shoes
First Impressions
These come in loads of different colourways, so don’t get hung up on the two-tone upper. They are also available in spiked, spikeless, classic saddle or shield tip, so the options are many and varied.
I have come full circle on golf shoes, perhaps it is an age thing, but when wearing trousers I want a golf shoe that looks like, well a golf shoe. So that is a big tick for these FJs. There is a but though, they are super light, and this is immediately obvious. Classic looking but they have the everyday comfort and wearability of sportier models.
The jazzy sole does jar a bit for me. I think I would have preferred more consistent styling and out of the box they do look a little bit confused. This is really not a factor once they are on though and the view from the top is very reassuring as is the fit. They kind of grip the foot which gives a great sense of stability and the upper around the heel and ankle bone that are so often a problem with new shoes speak of a brand that has been doing for this years. I love how they feel on.
On Course Testing
These are FootJoy golf shoes, and their natural habit is the golf course. They are so lightweight. They are effortless to wear and you feel like you could run in them, alright well maybe not run, but certainly walk a long way in comfort. I keep coming back to the fit. I do not want daft amounts of padding under my foot, I want to be able to feel the ground, and not feel like I am wearing stilts. Again the modest depth sole and the high levels of stability speak of a brand-making footwear for proper golfers.
The grip provided is also faultless, I played my first round in these in a typically British ‘light drizzle’ and experienced no slippage from the spikeless sole. I think if I had blind-tested these shoes I would pick them over any other as they feel like they are offering your all of the athletic support and performance you need with zero compromises on comfort or weight.
The 19th hole
Depends on the 19th hole. At my home club of Alwoodley these were meeting with nods of approval that the golfing trainer can only dream of. I am not going to slip them on with a pair of jeans though. So I guess that goes back to personal preference.
I am choosing shoes for specific requirements. I am not choosing on pitch off pitch football boots, or in bog out of bog wellies, and nor am I choosing golf shoes for The Hacienda. If you want a golf shoe to play golf in though, these are hard to beat.
I would definitely own a pair of these. I would wear them with trousers for a 36-hole day at Sunningdale or in my club champs. They are proper high-performance golf shoes you can wear all day on days when you want to look and play your best.
Fit: True to Size/Small/Large/Wide/Narrow
Style: Athletic/Traditional/Off Course Friendly/All Weather/Casual
Out of Box Comfort: 9.5/10
Stability: 10/10
Value for Money: 9.5/10
FootJoy Traditions Golf Shoe Review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £119.99
Sizes: UK 6-12 (inc. half sizes).
Colours: White / Khaki / Light Grey or Tan / Navy / Red or White / Navy or White / Black / Grey.
More info: FootJoy Website
More FootJoy Golf Shoe reviews
- FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon Golf Shoe Review
- FootJoy Fuel Sport golf shoes review
- FootJoy Stratos golf shoes review
How do we test golf shoes?
At National Club Golfer, we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and making sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each pair of shoes performs.
Each shoe is worn out on the golf course whilst playing golf, so we can get an idea of overall performance in terms of factors like comfort, grip, stability in the golf swing, waterproof protection and how they actually look on the golf course.
What is important when buying Golf shoes?
When buying new golf footwear its important to know what attributes or features you value the most before deciding on a brand or model to buy. For example, do you want spiked or spikeless shoes?
A lot of golfers think comfort is paramount when choosing a shoe, we are going to be standing in them for 3-5 hours right? Some golf shoes on the market have special insoles and cushioned mid-soles designed to keep your feet feeling fresh.
Grip is vital to good performance on the golf course as any foot slip in dry or wet conditions can not only cause the golf club to swing improperly but may also lead to an injury.
Nearly all golf shoes will either be fully waterproof or offer some kind of water resistance, and this is important as real die-hard golfers play in every weather condition. Having wet feet for 4 hours is not and will never be fun.
How good the shoe looks is of course subjective to personal style, but is important to any player. Do you prefer an athletic-looking shoe, or are you more traditional? Does your shoe offer on-course off-course style or do you want shoes purely for the course? Does the style of shoe you like have the best color options for your golfing wardrobe?
Price is the last factor to consider. With the models above we have tried to find shoes at all different price points so if you want a shoe at a lower cost, you can get one. Or if you want to spend more, you can do that too. Importantly there is something for everyone.
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
