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What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the G/Fore Gallivanter G/Lock golf shoe.
It feels like G/Fore have momentum in the shoe market place. With trends changing from traditional to non conformist, G/Fore are riding the wave and have built a growing following of golfers that are interested in fashion and design, as well as performance.
The Gallivanter golf shoe is already extremely popular and can be seen worn on the PGA and DP World Tour, but G/Fore have decided to take it further with the G/Lock. 82% of tour players wore soft spikes in 2023, and G/Fore have added 10 of them to the Gallivanter. So how do they perform?
I feel like with every new release, G/Fore up their game. The Gallivanter shoes have been my favourite shoes, but as a preference, I do prefer spiked ones.
The Gallivanter G/Lock golf shoes provide the style I love with optimal on-course traction. These are as traditional as G/Fore come, but they still have that dash of colour and pattern that set them apart from the competitors.
G/Fore Gallivanter G/Lock Golf Shoe Review: First Impressions
These shoes are excellent out of the box. The leather feels great, the soles feel sturdy and there’s a whopping 10 spikes on the sole. I personally am a big fan of the camo design; it’s grey, so not garish, but adds a nice touch to let passers-by know that you care and have put some thought into how you look. Straight away the new spikes give you the impression that once you set up to the ball, your feet are not going anywhere.
NCG Verdict
Cards on the table, I am a huge G/Fore fan. Their casual but smart designs just suit my eye, and it’s not just all about the looks, as golf shoes they perform very very well. This is the 4th pair I’ve received, and with each pair, I have been more and more happy. The Circle G shoes were very casual, I practically lived in them and sadly just wore them out. The G.112 shoes were very comfortable, but the Gallivanters have been my favourite so far. That was until I received the Gallivanter G/Lock shoes.
The G/Lock shoes combine an athletic fit with premium stability. The upper part of the shoe is the leather we all know and love, which is easy to clean and maintain, but the main story with the new shoes is the new bespoke cleat design with 10 Softspikes for maximum grip. 82% of tour players wear soft spikes so we know professionals are looking for maximum grip and traction on the course. A foot slip at the wrong time could cost a player a tournament, so it’s vital their feet stay where they should be.
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I tested these shoes in a round of golf at my home club at Sand Moor, in north Leeds. Sand Moor is a fairly undulating course with a lot of sloping lie approach shots into greens, and with some soft areas due to the horrific amount of rain we’ve had in the UK recently, I was really able to put them through their paces.
They obviously were very waterproof so no issues there, and I did really feel like I was glued to the ground throughout all my shots. I wear the non-spiked Gallivanters all the time to play in, so I’m in a decent position to compare like for like, and there is definitely more stability in the G/Lock shoes. Not that I’ve ever slipped in my non-spiked Gallivanters (this is a swing fault of mine and the reason I don’t often play in spikeless shoes), but you do somehow feel locked in in the G/Lock.
These shoes do have a lot of the benefits you expect from G/Fore: the comfort system technology footbeds, the lightweight cushioned interior that removes the need for a break-in period, the mesh lining that makes the shoes really breathable, and the compression moulded insole. They are well worth the money and I would buy these shoes.
You will see these shoes on tour. They are the answer for players who want the Gallivanter shoes but also want spikes. If you love classic, traditional shoes, you will love the G/Fore Gallivanter G/Lock golf shoes.
