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Have you ever seen an elite marathon runner pull up to the start line in dress shoes?
No? Me, neither.
Why do you think that is?
It’s simple, really. In sport, advantages can come from anywhere. And, for golf, not unlike running, basketball or pickleball, one of the things that can give you a leg up on the competition is proper footwear.
Because running a marathon in a pair of Allen Edmonds sounds silly, doesn’t it?
So why, then, do you insist on playing golf in sneakers?
If golf is truly a game of inches, then the 10 to 12 inches of leather, plastic foam, etc., on your feet must matter more than you think.
Because traction is an advantage. Comfort to walk 18 is an advantage. And elite waterproofing is certainly an advantage, too.
The right spiked golf shoe can be the difference between that new personal best and falling flat on your face, figuratively and literally.
The problem is that not all “golf” shoes are really built for golf. They sit as wolves in sheep’s clothing: everyday casual shoes masquerading as “golf” shoes.
Enough of that. MyGolfSpy’s mission is to help you play your best and the proper pair of spiked golf shoes is certainly one thing that will get you closer to the finish line.
That’s why MyGolfspy exists. To give you the confidence you need to make a real, informed decision that will help your golf game. To cut through the noise. To tell you what’s good and maybe, just as importantly, what’s not good.
Let’s find you a new pair of spiked golf shoes, friend.
Spiked golf shoes are like that proverbial box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get.
At least that’s what it feels like walking into a retail shop looking for a new pair. With so many options, how can you possibly know what will be best for you and your game?
What if you’re looking for that oh-so-elusive peanut butter dark chocolate, only to bite into a nasty cherry cordial? Mood ruined.
Some have stellar traction but feel like walking on bricks. Others might feel really stable but they’re about as effective as a sponge at repelling water.
That’s where we come in. We test, rank and score all spiked golf shoes with one goal in mind: find the best fit for your game.
So whether you’re a walk 36 type who cares most about comfort or you want the most perfect shoe money can buy, we’ve got something for you.
Let’s dive in. These are the best spiked golf shoes of 2026
Skechers is known for comfort and the Blade Tour delivers.
The TPU outsole and fantastic fit make this shoe stable enough for all types of swings.
While the Blade Tour has great traction, it has fewer spikes than the competition.
The Skechers Blade Tour is the best spiked golf shoe of 2026. No shoe offers a better blend of comfort, traction and stability.
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Testers praised the fit and comfort of the Blade Tour. One tester remarked that it was the most comfortable spiked shoe they had ever worn.
Stop sleeping on Skechers. Seriously, does it have to be said? They’ve stepped up their game in a serious way.
The full-grain leather upper and knit bootie contribute to a very comfortable ride.
The traction is stellar here. From the spikes to the secondary lugs, it flat-out works.
A roomier forefoot and the lack of any lateral reinforcements make the PAYNTR Chef RX Tour Knit less stable than shoes such as the adipower 26 and Victory Pro 4.
The PAYNTR Chef RX Tour Knit blends comfort and traction to create what is undoubtedly one of the best spiked golf shoes ever tested.
Testers praised the leather upper, citing its comfort and lack of break-in time. Testers found the knit bootie to be snug, providing a good fit. Some testers had too much room in the forefoot, causing the foot to move around too much.
Min Woo Lee’s signature shoe with PAYNTR may just be their best shoe ever. Materials, performance, looks. It’s all there.
The fit of the Adipower 26, coupled with the reinforcements on the lateral side, make it a very stable shoe.
No other spiked shoe in this price range performs this well. Nothing else comes close for the price.
Compared to previous adidas models, the Adipower 26 has a firmer cushion setup.
The adidas Adipower 26 finished tied for second place and was named the Best Value spiked golf shoe of 2026. You won’t find better performance, especially in terms of stability, for under $140.
Testers praised the fit and the traction. One tester mentioned that the fit was a little snug in the toe. Other testers were impressed by the overall stability of the shoe.
The adidas Adipower 26 isn’t just a great value. It’s a great golf shoe. Period.
The Clone upper and dual-foam setup make the Drive Pro Clone a great walking shoe.
The spikes and secondary lugs of the Drive Pro Clone hold up in any condition.
The Drive Pro Clone has a wider fit, especially in the toe area. Extra room might lead to less stability for those with narrow feet.
The Under Armour Drive Pro Clone finds itself in the third-place spot for our testing due to tremendous comfort and traction.
Testers loved the new Clone upper, noting its improved performance over the predecessor.
Under Amour took feedback and made their Drive Pro better with the addition of Clone. It’s the most well-rounded shoe they’ve produced to date.
The Victory Pro 4 is extremely stable thanks to a TPU outsole, firm midsole and the stability wings on the lateral side of the shoe.
The Cushlon midsole of the Victory Pro 4 is comfy but very firm. It won't provide that marshmallow-like sensation that some love.
The NIKE Victory Pro 4 is the brand’s best shoe of this decade and it’s one of the most stable golf shoes we’ve tested.
Testers found the shoe to be very stable. Testers also noted that the traction was very good.
NIKE has struggled in the past but the Victory Pro 4 shows that with proper thought, the Swoosh can design a great performer.
The NuAge Mega packs Hoka-level comfort into a functional golf shoe.
In addition to being wildly comfortable, the NuAge Mega has good traction.
With a tall stack height like this, you won't find a whole lot of stability.
The TravisMathew NuAge is the most comfortable spiked golf shoe of 2026. It’s like a Hoka but with spikes!
Testers were very impressed with the midsole, stating that they felt they could easily walk 36 holes in this shoe.
If the only thing you’re concerned about is foot fatigue, you won’t find a better option in the spiked market. It seriously feels like your favorite maximum cushioned running shoe.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. No two golf shoes are created equal. Too often, golfers have relegated themselves to inferior footwear. Why? Because they fall victim to false marketing claims and total brand bias.
Your track record doesn’t earn you brownie points here. Just because your shoe performed well last year doesn’t mean your new one is given the benefit of the doubt.
Each year, we test shoes head to head based on what golfers need most: comfort, traction, stability and waterproofness. No recency bias, no preconceived notions.

MyGolfSpy looks at comfort holistically from the bottom to the top of the golf shoe. A comfortable spiked golf shoe earns high scores from testers when it is comfortable to walk in for long periods of time.
Testers examine the midsole, cushion and insole of the golf shoe for step-in comfort. The flexibility and fit of the upper, tongue and heel are also considered in this regard.
Things like pinching or uncomfortable creasing detract from the overall comfort score of a spiked golf shoe.
When choosing a spiked golf shoe, comfort should be your No. 1 consideration. If you find yourself more fatigued after a round, you probably need to reconsider your golf shoe choice.
All three of our top choices, the Skechers Blade Tour, PAYNTR Chef RX and the adidas Adipower 26 fit the bill.

Your next consideration should be stability. Why? Because this is what keeps your foot and lower extremities strong and healthy.
Think of it this way. A spiked golf shoe that is too flexible can cause overrotation and unnatural bending of your foot and ankle. That’s a recipe for disaster.
On the other hand, a spiked golf shoe that is too rigid can be wildly uncomfortable to walk in and may actually cause your feet to lose strength (similar to how bracing an ankle can cause it to become weaker).
So it’s all about finding the right balance. A good, stable golf shoe should provide torsional support and a one-to-one fit because the right fit is just as important to stability as the actual construction of the shoe itself.
Shoes like the adidas Adipower 26 and NIKE Victory Pro 4 provide snug fits and torsional support for a very stable experience overall.

There’s a reason we name a “Best Value” spikeless golf shoe each year. Because shelling out $200 for a golf shoe isn’t always feasible. Once you’ve determined your comfort and stability needs, your next step is to figure out your ideal budget.
If you want the ultimate value play, the adidas Adipower 26 provides a great value proposition at $140, especially when compared to something like the PAYNTRY Chef RX at $200
Don’t get it twisted. More money can buy you a great golf shoe. But less money can still buy you a pretty darn good one, too.

Each pair of spikeless and spiked golf shoes is tested by our expert staff. They undergo rigorous tests using strict protocols to ensure each meets our standard before receiving a final score.
Spiked and spikeless golf shoes are scored based on the following criteria.
Comfort: A good golf shoe must be comfortable. This accounts for the upper, midsole and overall flex of the shoe. If you can’t walk comfortably, it won’t score well. Insoles, heel cups and the construction of the tongue are also taken into account.
Traction: Spiked golf shoes should provide excellent traction. Shoes are tested for traction indoors and outdoors.
Stability: How resilient is a shoe to the pressures and twisting of the golf swing? Stability takes into account overall lockdown, fit and torsional rigidity.
Elements: A golf shoe must be waterproof. All shoes are run under water for 30 seconds in order to determine whether water is able to permeate the membrane. A good spiked shoe should also be easy to clean.
| Brand | Model | Elements | Traction | Comfort | Stability | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skechers | Blade Tour | 15 | 9.5 | 45 | 29 | 98.5 |
| PAYNTR | Chef RX Tour Knit | 14.5 | 9.75 | 44.75 | 28.5 | 97.5 |
| adidas | adipower | 14.5 | 10 | 43.5 | 29.5 | 97.5 |
| NIKE | Victory Pro 4 | 14.5 | 9.75 | 43.5 | 29.5 | 97.25 |
| Under Armour | Drive Pro Clone | 14.5 | 9.75 | 44.5 | 28.5 | 97.25 |
| PAYNTR | Classic Tour | 14.5 | 9.5 | 44.75 | 28 | 96.75 |
| FootJoy | Premiere | 14 | 9.75 | 42 | 29.5 | 95.25 |
| TravisMathew | NuAge | 14.5 | 9 | 45 | 26 | 94.5 |
| Sun Day Red | Willow | 14 | 9.5 | 40 | 29.5 | 93 |
| SQAIRZ | Pro S2 LT | 14.5 | 9 | 43.5 | 26 | 93 |
| SQAIRZ | Speed 3 | 14.5 | 9 | 43.5 | 26 | 93 |
| PUMA | Avant Tour | 14 | 8 | 40 | 30 | 92 |
| Asics | Gel-Ace Pro | 14 | 9 | 42 | 27 | 92 |
| Duca Del Cosma | Orlando | 14 | 9 | 35 | 23 | 81 |
World-class testing requires world-class equipment. This is the gear we trust to help us fulfill our Most Wanted testing.
1 month ago
I really wish you guys considered testing brands that offer WIDE version of their shoes. Almost every year, it seem like the top brands you recommend almost never or offer limited WIDE version of their shoes. This is probably why I always end up with FootJoy
PAYNTR – very limited; almost never in stock
Under Armour – No wide
TravisMathew – No wide
3 months ago
Love Skechers because of how many wide fit offerings they have and comfort. Hate them because of they’re odd choices in color combinations and that dadgum “S” logo they put in odd places. I still buy them. I’m not a geriatric either.
3 months ago
First it was Brittany, and now, Connor, I’m sad to say, it’s you too. Dude, other than MF, nobody wears Skechers. Them making one okay golf shoe, is irrelevant.
3 months ago
What happened to the G-fore
3 months ago
MGS should look into The APMA Seal of Approval/Acceptance list. There are zero spiked golf shoes on the list. I’ve been using the Adidas Tour 360 for years but I walk 90% of my rounds. A constant sore right foot told me to switch shoes. So I looked at which Hoka trail running and hiking shoes were on the list. I went with the speedgoat 6 and haven’t noticed a traction difference between them and the 360. And my foot feels fine now.
3 months ago
Another set of shoe rankings & reviews, another that basically ignores those with wide feet. Anywhere from 25-50% of the US population should be wearing wide shoes, but just one mention in this article – and no way to filter out by width options without searching each model.
3 months ago
Squairz is specifically designed as a wide shoe. Stop whining.
2 months ago
If you need a wide shoe size, squairz do not cut it…they don’t even make them. Stop being a prick.
3 months ago
I know hardly anyone, even low handicappers who are still wearing spiked shoes. To dismiss the stability and support of high end spikeless shoes is simply naive and wrong. And, you can’t go from course to clubhouse, to car, to home or other destination without a change in spiked shoes.
3 months ago
I know tons that still do (myself included) but most have spikeless as well.
As for your comment about stability, I have several spineless models I love but have never seen one that has even 50% of the stability of a spiked shoe
3 months ago
@DrTee…If you’re looking to swing over 108-110, you need spiked shoes. There’s maybe 3 high level players using spikeless in all conditions, and most of them are freaks. Spikeless suck for wet bermuda, especially on early morning, first off the tee rounds.
3 months ago
My Nani wears orthotics too.
These are the ugliest spiked shoes on the market… at lease the Jordan 1’s have some style.
For my dime and peace of mind, strap up the spats and me Gary Player will walk 36… steel shank and all.
Spatted and at it. Footjoy classic or bust. Blisters and all ;-)
3 months ago
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the Skechers are great but they just don’t last. It’s like they are disposable shoes. Good for 25 – 30 rounds at the most.
3 months ago
Was the testing just for new iterations of shoes? If so what’s the comparison between the skeckers as top this year vs adidas tour 360 from last year given the tour 360 are still readily available?
3 months ago
Just new iterations, especially because adidas had new product (adipower) and TOUR360 is 2 years old. If I had to choose, Tour360 is more stable and better traction, but skechers more comfortable!
3 months ago
So, the PAYNTR Chef RX Tour Knit isn’t on the PAYNTR website. Is this a shoe that hasn’t been released yet yet they sent you a set to test first?
3 months ago
I noticed that too.
3 months ago
Best shoe can never be white they are worthless for golf
3 months ago
Are the Chef RX Tour Knit yet to be released, don’t see them on their website?
3 months ago
Correct, we tested them ahead of release.
Todd Swinford
1 month ago
The payntr shoe you name in the spiked list is not shown by the name you have in the article on their website.