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There is a lot of debate about which golf shoes you should look to buy; Spiked or Spikeless. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know before purchasing your next pair of golf shoes.
When it comes to golf footwear, golfers are more than spoilt for choice. There are plenty of top quality options on the market. But the choice remain. Do you go with a spiked offering or down the spikeless golf shoe route. Well, understanding the key differences between the two can help you make the best decision for your game and personal preferences.
The choice between spiked and spikeless shoes has become a topic of ongoing debate among golfers of all skill levels. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages in key areas like comfort, traction, and style.
Some golfers will undoubtedly have a preference either way. The off-course versatility and generally more casual look of spikeless golf shoes make them a big appeal, especially for younger golfers. I have to say I tend to lean to more of a spikeless offering for these reasons, especially int he summer.
Alternatively, other golfers prioritise stability over anything else. If this is the case then the spiked options will keep you nicely rooted to the ground better, I feel. For me, when playing a more competitive game rather than a casual round, my spike shoes are often my go-to.
Anyway, enough about my personal preferences, let’s take a further look at the key areas of what separates the two styles. Here’s a look at the technology to see how they differ from each other and ultimately, what are the best golf shoes on the market?
Spiked Golf Shoes vs Spikeless Golf Shoes: Comfort
This is often the deciding factor for a lot of people when buying shoes in general, never mind golf shoes. Comfort is king after all. Many people will tell you that spikeless shoes are more comfortable and have the upper hand in this category. But is this purely due to the fact they are often lighter or are they built to be more comfy?
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Some spikeless shoes out there are so light you can barely feel them. But they are also built more like athletic sneakers, offering more flexibility, and better cushioning. Our reviewers found that their designs make them just as useable and comfortable way from the course and in a casual.
Many brands will argue that once a shoe becomes too light, it ceases to have the ability to perform properly as a golf shoe.
But, I have to say, there’s no real technological grounds on why a spiked model can’t be as comfortable.
It simply depends on the quality of the shoe. From our testing, we found that the FootJoy Pro/SLX Carbon Golf Shoe has exceptional out of the box comfort.
Sometimes a spiked shoe has a more rigid structure because they are trying to keep the foot more stable through the swing. But there’s absolutely no reason why a spiked shoe can’t be just as comfortable as a spikeless golf shoe.abs
Spiked vs Spikeless Golf Shoes: Traction
Spikeless golf shoes were pretty much unheard of until Fred Couples rocked up at the 2010 Masters in a pair of Ecco Street. Now, most golfers a wearing a pair, whether that be club golfers at your local course or pros playing at Augusta National. They are far from uncommon today.
One of the reasons for this is that they no longer believe there is a trade off when it comes to traction. To be fair it’s quite rare for golfers, especially on the PGA Tour to be playing in slippery conditions. But even in the wet conditions we’ve seen at recent Open Championships, a large percentage of the field have still opted for spikeless models.
A spikeless model doesn’t seem to pick up as much of the golf course. And I know which type of shoe greenkeepers prefer but from my experience with spiked models, I believe these have all given me better traction than any spikeless model I have worn. I think spiked golf shoes are unmatched in this area.
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So do spiked shoes offer more traction? In my opinion, they do. Although spikeless shoes have come a long way with advanced rubber outsoles and aggressive tread patterns, and they can perform admirably in dry, well-maintained conditions.
Spiked vs Spikeless Golf Shoes: Style
There aren’t many spiked golf shoes which look overly stylish. They’re the more traditional golf shoes, that’s for sure. But that’s not much of a negative as the FootJoy Premiere Series Field LX 2025 Golf Shoes still set the benchmark for classic spiked shoes.
Their traditional styling that looks high quality thanks to its leather features. Our review team loved the classy look and if Keith Mitchell, Style Icon, wears them, then they’re good enough for us.
On the whole, however, most other brands seem to be transitioning their spiked golf shoe models to a more trainer-like (or even football boot) style. I think this follows the shift in golf fashion over the last decade to a more casual look to perhaps appeal to more beginner younger golfers and those who prefer a more laid-back aesthetic.
On the contrary, there are some really smart spikeless shoes out there this year. As well as what we have come to expect which are shoes that look great with a pair of jeans and can be worn down the pub.
So what are better, Spiked or Spikeless Golf Shoes?
The answer to this is ultimately ultimately down to personal preference. Before jumping in to buy a pair of new golf shoes then consider the above factors and how important each one is for your needs.
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If you often play in challenging weather or on hilly courses, spiked shoes may offer the traction you need. If comfort, versatility, and everyday wear are more important, spikeless could be your best bet.
One solution could be to invest in one of each and here at NCG we have some great picks for you to choose from…
NCG Top Three Picks – The Best Spiked Golf Shoes
FootJoy HyperFlex 2025 Golf Shoe
It seems that with each successive FootJoy shoe review I do, they get more comfortable, and the new HyperFlex is no exception – it delivers outstanding comfort. My foot felt securely cosseted and so well supported from toe to mid foot through to heel. I cannot recall enjoying wearing a golf shoe more than this model.
I have worn this shoe on several rounds at my home heathland course in typical spring conditions. My feet have remained dry throughout, and although I haven’t yet had the opportunity to wear them for 36 holes in a day, I am sure that they would be fine.
These are a year-round golf shoes, When you buy them now they are bright and summery and can be worn nicely with shorts, but will keep up performance in the wet and soft. I really like how versatile they are.
One of my favourite parts of owning these shoes is how easy the aftercare is with them. They are made from a waterproof TPU material, which just needs a wipe down to keep clean after play, and they have an odour-inhibiting textile lining, which has been a huge victory for me and the passengers in my car. I have managed to keep them relatively pristine with very minimal effort after quite a number of rounds.
As you can probably tell, I have pretty much worn these golf shoes for every round of golf I have played since receiving them. I have a wonderful G/Fore shoe collection growing now and these have gone to the top of my list as preferred to play in and wear. I really love my pair of Gallivanter G/Lock shoes that are full leather, but these are lighter and a bit more flexible with the flex channels throughout the sole, which I just prefer. This is of course just my personal preference, I did give those Gallivanter shoes a glowing review also.
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Pros:
Comfortable
Great traction
Very waterproof
Cons:
No cons
RELATED: Read our review of the G/FORE Gallivan2r G/Lock Saddle Golf Shoe here.
After 9 holes my feet felt great – all the innovations by Skechers were definitely paying off as my feet have usually warmed up by this stage and I can usually feel my golf shoes a bit tighter – no problem with these and no sign of any potential blisters from wearing new shoes.
I read that Skechers had developed the Arch fit support with podiatrist input and data from over 120,000 foot scans. I can certainly attest to the comfort underfoot from these shoes and over the full round my feet felt fresh throughout.
On top of comfort these shoes felt really stable, Sandmoor is pretty undulating at times, with sidehill and up and downhill lies – no problem for these shoes, I was testing the spiked version ( 7 spikes) and these provided good traction and firm stability no matter what incline I was stood on. There is a spikeless version and as I enquired how this worked the very helpful Skechers team told me that the spikeless shoes featured a traction plate that incorporates strategically placed, multi-directional lugs that are designed to grip the turf without feeling bulky or cleat-like.
Pros:
Great looks if you like the traditional golf shoe style
“Slip-in” design works, even for people like me with wide feet!
Lots of features to maximise comfort and support your feet
100% waterproof
Cons:
Make sure you choose soft spikes or spikeless (SL version) if you have a preference
Not so keen on the ‘Skechers slipins’ printed on the heel
RELATED: Read our full Skechers GO GOLF Prestige Golf Shoe review here.
NCG Top Three Picks – The Best Spikeless Golf Shoes
Payntr X-001 Mesh Spikeless Golf Shoe
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Better known for producing quality cricket shoes Payntr have now entered the golf market. It is not often a new golf shoe comes along and you think, yep, I might just consider shifting allegiance and move away from the more established brands. Having tested these shoes I do think they could be a disruptor in the market. Along with Jason Day, I would happily be a Payntr brand champion!
Simply – they are the best golf shoes I have ever tested.
They are unbelievably comfortable, attractively designed and leaves you with the feeling a lot of thought has gone into producing a shoe to break into the golf market.
If you are looking for a new shoe for the Spring/Summer I would seriously consider the PAYNTR brand. What’s more if you get lucky with your size and colour preference there are some great deals to be had – read on to find out more
Pros:
Unbelievably comfortable
Attractive sporty style
Colourway of grey and green I loved
Cons:
Might be hard to clean and so not a 12 month a year shoe
I only ever tend to go for a trainer look when selecting golf shoes. So, these Paganis were ideal for me. Straight away I was impressed with the casual look and stylish colour scheme. It’s the first time I have worn Duca Del Cosma golf shoes and I have to say I was extremely impressed with them.
I wore them all week The Open Championship 2024. I spent a considerable amount of my time working the links course of Royal Troon, rarely giving the shoes a break. At no point did I feel uncomfortable in the shoes. There was no rubbing on my feet, discomfort with the sole of the shoe or any tightness with the fitting. The shoes stacked up all week with no issue to report. If you have ever been to Royal Troon you’ll know it isn’t an easy or a short walk, but the Pagani shoes seemed to cope brilliantly.
When swinging the golf club, I thought the stability was also great. Duca attribute this to there spike technology, combined with the USP, allows for a balance of stability and grip during the downswing.
Pros:
Comfortable
Looks great
Waterproof
Can wear both on and off course
Cons:
No cons
RELATED: Read our review of the Duca Del Cosma Pagani Shoe here.
I have owned my fair share of Adidas trainers in the past and these are not too dissimilar. You can be forgiven for thinking these are a regular pair of shoes at first glance. But, that is what I love about the Adidas Retrocross 25 spikes golf shoes. They can be worn anytime, anyplace including on the golf course.
Most importantly they perform fantastically. They are extremely comfortable and provide quality grip despite being spikeless. They also offer some protection from the elements with waterproof upper material. This may be the most fashionable golf shoe on the market currently.
