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Looking for a good value and waterproof winter shoe? We got out hands on a pair of the Ram XT1 golf shoes to see if they should be on your radar.
Ram Golf Corporation began making golf equipment back in the 1940s and is perhaps best known for its endorsement of players such as Tom Watson, Nick Price and Nancy Lopez some 40 years later.
Ram produced some wonderful clubs, including the classic bladed Tour Grind irons with which Tom Watson won a number of Open Championships. My own particular favourite was a Ram Tom Watson 64′ wedge (nicknamed Johnny Nostrillo) which helped me ‘up and down’ it from almost anywhere.
Nowadays, Ram is a very different organisation – making a range of golf products aimed more at the casual or starter golfer. Here we test the XT1 golf shoe.
What was striking out of the box was the rich blue colour of the shoe with contrasting white soles and white laces. The synthetic upper has some contrasting grey detailing along with a tidy-looking Ram logo on the outer aspect of the shoe. It doesn’t really have a premium look or feel, but it does look quite sporty – perhaps because of the colour.
This model comes in four colours, and I think that the blue that we tested looks really good and is practical enough for year-round use.
It was quite noticeable that the tongue of the shoe is integrated with the rest of the upper. This makes the shoe slightly awkward to put on as it is, in effect, a slip-on. It makes the contrasting white laces almost seem incidental, as the lacing doesn’t seem to do much. On the other hand, it does aid the waterproof performance of the shoe in that there is no gap between the tongue and the upper for water to get in.
The heel piece felt reassuringly firm, and although there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of padding, the shoe felt snug and comfortable. Although this has a spiked construction (you fit the spikes yourself), it feels pretty light to wear and also runs true to size.
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On Course Testing
Testing was carried out over one round and one practice session in rainy conditions on my home heathland course. The shoe did feel very comfortable straight out of the box. The heel was pretty supportive, although I felt that mid-foot support was somewhat lacking compared to most recently tested shoes.
The grip felt secure in the wet conditions, and my feet remained completely dry despite some filthy weather. It’s difficult to comment on breathability because it was also quite cold, but I would not expect any issues here.
The 19th hole
The configuration of the outsole means that this is a shoe that belongs on the course rather than the clubhouse. So this is not the sort of shoe for the individual who prefers to put on their golf footwear at home.
I should add that these shoes come in with an RRP of £59.99, which is less than half the price of most of the shoes that I have tested over the last few months. As such, I think they represent very good value for money as a year-round shoe. In fact, the closest competitor at this price point is the Ram FX Tour golf shoe. I prefer the FX Tour look, although that is a personal preference.
The XT1 comes with a 12-month waterproof guarantee and will be easy to care for with its clean construction.
Although I was not particularly fond of the shoe’s look, the comfort and performance were first-class, and I think this would make an excellent winter shoe.
Fit: True to Size/Small/Large/Wide/Narrow Style: Athletic/Traditional/OffCourse Friendly/All Weather/Casual Out-of-Box Comfort: 9/10 Stability: 8/10 Value for Money: 9.5/10
Ram XT1 golf shoes
Now: £49.99
Check out the best deals on the Ram XT1 golf shoes…
Sizes: UK 6-11 (inc. half sizes). 12. Colours: Blue, White, Grey, Black. More info:Ram website
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