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G Fore create bold twists on classic golf shoes. We got our hands on their flagship shoe, the Gallivanter, to see how they perform.
G Fore may not be a name that springs to mind when considering your next golf footwear purchase, but they are building a reputation for striking designs and excellent performance. Here we test the classic-looking G Fore Camo Gallivanter golf shoes.
This is a stunning-looking golf shoe which will ensure you stand out from the crowd. It also performs really well out on the golf course.
PROS
CONS
Wow! Just look at this shoe. And the good news is that it feels as good as it looks. The pebble full-grain leather feels soft and supple. The ‘camo’ midsole offers a pleasing note of contrast in what is a really clean and classic golf shoe design.
This model comes in a whole range of colours and a variety of styles. I tested the eye catching snow and blueprint camo version, which looks really stunning.
There is a subtle ‘Circle G’s’ logo just to the side of the lacing system. The same logo is reproduced on the sole of the shoe, where it is a little less subtle! You might think from the appearance of the shoe that it would take a bit of wearing in but there is a lovely soft and cushioned interior, along with the ‘signature’ G Fore footbed, comprising small bumps (or nubs) which we’ve seen before and liked in the G Fore MG4+ shoe.
The heel cup felt reassuringly firm. The sole boasts a bespoke cleat design which G Fore call G/Round control technology. The cleats certainly feel very durable and the shoes come with a spare pair of laces because ‘the laces will wear out before the cleats’.
And a word about the appearance of the sole. As you can see from the accompanying pictures, the sole is pretty colourful. Of course it’s not visible to you as the occupant of the shoe but may well provide a distraction to your playing companions. I think it looks tremendous!
The UK size 8 (Euro 42) fitted my usually sized 7.5 wide foot pretty well out of the box. The standard Gallivanter fit tends to run narrow although, depending on the precise style you choose, a wider fit may be available. The advice on the excellent website is to size up if you’re between sizes, which is what I did and it worked just fine.
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Testing was carried out over two rounds in dry conditions on my home heathland course. I found the shoe to be surprisingly comfortable straight out of the box. I say ‘surprisingly’ because I am used to classic styling shoes that look like this requiring a few rounds to ‘wear in’. The leather upper felt supportive but flexed nicely in play.
I’d met the cushion footbed nubs in the G Fore MG4+ and so was familiar with the feel and concept. The idea is that they offer a massaging effect to the bottom of the foot and also promote airflow within the shoe. I’ve not seen this in any other shoe brands and I think it’s a really good idea.
So that’s the comfort discussed. How about the performance of the shoe? Well I have to say this shoe performed exceptionally well in the test conditions.
There was a strong sense of stability thanks to the heel piece, and the cleated system on the sole provided excellent on course traction. There was no hint of slipping on uneven lies or in the couple of fairway bunkers that I found.
The conditions were dry so I couldn’t assess the waterproof characteristics of the shoe but I wouldn’t anticipate any issues here. That said, I do feel that this is the sort of shoe that I would be tending to save for fine days rather than all year round use thanks to the premium waterproof and breathable membrane laminated to the lining of the shoe all the way up to the collar and tongue.
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There were no issues with breathability which is not surprising, given the thought that has clearly gone into the construction of this shoe.
The configuration of the outsole really means that this shoe would be perfectly at home in the clubhouse. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say that this is the shoe for the individual who prefers to put on their footwear at home.
As with all leather shoes, the pebble grain leather upper will need looking after to maintain the appearance and performance of the shoe and the website offers straightforward advice regarding care.
I think that the appearance, comfort and performance of the G Fore Camo Gallivanter golf shoes fully justifies the pricing and I feel that this is a shoe that will be getting a lot of use over the upcoming season.
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: 9.5/10
Value for Money: 9.5/10
Available: Now
RRP: £195 / $225
Sizes: UK 6-12 (inc. half sizes). 12-13
Colours: Multiple options.
More info: G Fore Website
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