I Thought Barefoot Golf Shoes Were a Gimmick. Then I Tried These.

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried

The Peluva Apollo Golf.

Who Tried It

Tyler. Soft Goods Testing Manager and Lebron James defender. I won’t talk your ear off about the Jordan v.s. Lebron debate if you don’t want to hear it, but don’t you dare slander The King.

Never in my entire life did I think that I’d wear toe-shoes—let alone on the golf course.

When our Director of Content (Connor Lindeman) looped me in on this potential testing opportunity, I was hesitant to say the least. Now that I’ve finished testing, I can admit I was pleasantly surprised.

The good

Traction: I was shocked at how good the traction was.

If you look at the picture above, you’ll notice a simple design with a plethora of rubber nubs across the bottom of the shoe. At first glance, one could make the assumption that the Apollo Golf would be unable to keep up (this type of design has struggled during previous testing).

I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve landed on the conclusion that ability to utilize each of your toes (individually) created better overall traction. Slippage wasn’t an issue, and the course was incredibly wet from nearly 4 inches of rain leading up to testing the Apollo Golf.

Comfort: A “Super Critical EVA” contributes to a comfortable on-foot experience (especially for walking).

I’ve tried a handful of other zero-drop golf shoes, and I’ve yet to find one more comfortable than the Peluva Apollo Golf. The midsole is designed to keep your feet feeling natural and close to the ground, creating that sought-after barefoot experience. If you enjoy being barefoot, the Apollo Golf is the closest thing to being truly barefoot on the golf course.

Fit: The fit was perfect. Order your normal size.

Overall feel: In terms of overall feel on the golf course, the Peluva Apollo Golf is one of my favorites from 2026.

The Apollo Golf took no time at all to break in, fit like a glove, and were extremely comfortable. As someone that tests golf shoes for a living, I was very impressed at the shoe as a whole. If you’re looking for a shoe that will perform the minute you take them out of the box, the Peluva Apollo Golf is a winner.

The mid

There’s not much to talk about here, but I did notice 5 small downsides.

Waterproofing: By hole nine, I felt water breaching the shoe and making my toes wet.

As I mentioned, we got a lot of rain leading up to testing but I disliked the feeling of water coming through the shoe and making my toes wet. On an extremely wet day, you may want to opt for a traditional golf shoe. If you play golf in a mostly dry climate, don’t let my waterproofing comments dissuade you from buying the Peluva Apollo Golf.

Support: The Peluva Apollo Golf is a minimalist golf shoe, so you can expect a slight reduction in support.

Specifically, you can expect the Apollo Golf to lack extra support around the ankles. If you’re someone with weaker ankles that prioritizes extra ankle support, you should be aware that the Apollo Golf is not designed to help your specific issue.

Minimalist golf shoes are meant to recreate the feeling of being barefoot on the golf course. Before purchasing a minimalist golf shoe, think about how your feet feel when walking barefoot and the type of support you typically prioritize.

Sweaty dogs: Unless you buy toe socks, you’ll be wearing the Peluva Apollo Golf without socks—leading to sweaty feet.

If you hate having sweaty feet, avoid the Apollo Golf. Within two holes, I noticed a sweaty, grimy feeling around my toes specifically. I live in a hot and humid climate, but most summer conditions would create sweatiness within the shoe.

Distraction: The first couple rounds with the Peluva Apollo Golf on foot will feel foreign, but you should adjust.

Putting with the Apollo Golf on my feet felt odd and distracting. The shape of the shoe is slightly different than the typical golf shoe, and I had to get used to lining up my shots/putts while staring down at my toes. I assume that you get used to it over time, but it’s worth noting that it may come as a shock at first.

Putting them on: Putting the Peluva Apollo Golf took some extra effort.

It didn’t take longer than about 60 seconds but plan on a little bit of extra time when putting the Apollo Golf on due to the fact that you have to get every toe in the right slot.

Who should wear the Peluva Apollo Golf

If you walk the golf course frequently and are accustomed to barefoot technology, the Apollo Golf is a great choice. If you’re not familiar with how barefoot shoes work, do some extra research (and potentially try a cheaper option) before purchasing the Apollo golf for $170.

Golfers in a dry climate will enjoy the Apollo Golf to its fullest. If you live in an area with light precipitation, you’ll be fine. If you get rain year-round, you should avoid the Apollo Golf (unless you don’t mind wet feet).

While the traction is great, those with high swing speeds may notice more slippage than those that swing easier. You can expect less traction than you get with spiked and/or the best spikeless golf shoes. For reference, I swing my driver around 90-95 mph and I didn’t experience any slippage.

Similar to MyGolfSpy reader feedback with Skechers, the biggest hurdle is going to be the aesthetic appeal. Who wants to wear toe shoes on the golf course? The answer is simple: the golfer who wants to be as comfortable as possible.