Hiking Boot Or Golf Shoe? Our Take On TRUE Linkswear’s OG3 High

The TRUE OG3 High is a unique golf shoe, to say the very least.

When I opened up the box, I wondered if I had ordered hiking boots by mistake. After a quick double-take, I noticed the big “TRUE” logo on the side of the shoe and realized that I was, in fact, holding a golf shoe.

The OG3 High is labeled as a high-top but really is a mid-top. Either way, it was created to be your shoe of choice in inclement weather. If that describes where you live, read on.

The pros

• “Waterproof” is an understatement.

TRUE Linkswear is headquartered in the Pacific Northwest which gets more than five feet of rain annually. Reacting to that environment, TRUE does a great job of playing to their strengths and flipping the bird to the wet and miserable conditions.

I did everything short of waterboarding the OG3 High and my socks stayed drier than Nevada in July. There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and the OG3 High being incredibly waterproof.

• The upper is durable.

TRUE Linkswear touts the “TRUEdura” upper technology on the OG3’s product page but I would love to see deeper explanation on the materials, construction and purpose of the “TRUEdura.”

The upper seems to be synthetic with heavier-duty construction above the toes and heels. You could hike like a madman in these shoes. If you want your feet structurally safe with additional ankle support, the OG3 High is great. If you have weak ankles, the OG3 High may be the best shoe out there for protecting them.

The cons

• I really, REALLY wish this was a spiked golf shoe.

The OG3 High is positioned as a weather-proof machine but I can’t confidently endorse that due to the spikeless design choice. The OG3 High is labeled as TRUE’s “most capable golf shoe yet” but I’m hesitant to believe that knowing they have spiked options. The OG3 High needs spikes.

• The fit is subpar.

I didn’t experience any issues with the fit but about half of the reviews left on TRUE’s site noted some type of issue with the fit. To be precise, 15 reviews stated that the fit was too small and one said the fit was larger than expected. When nearly half of the reviews explain some type of sizing issue, proceed with caution.

• I felt fatigue in my heels after two hours.

The cushion is basic. The “Wanderlux” midsole is good but the removable insole needs an upgrade for award-winning comfort. Having a durable upper with top-tier waterproof technology is great but is wasted if the comfort is mediocre. Don’t get me wrong, the OG3 High isn’t uncomfortable. It’s just not on par with the shoes that win our testing every year when it comes to comfort and traction.

Wear the OG3 High if …

If you deal with terrible weather on the course, the OG3 High is a good option. You’ll appreciate the mid-top design which will inevitably keep your socks drier. If you hike, camp or spend a lot of time outdoors in general, the OG3 High is a good pick. Buy this shoe IF you’re planning on doing more than just golf.

Final thoughts

All in all, the OG3 High is a solid shoe but not a great golf shoe.

I can’t confidently recommend the OG3 High for strictly golf but I would feel comfortable offering it as an option for outdoorsmen who also golf. If you do live in a place with heavy rainfall, knock yourself out. If you don’t experience much precipitation and don’t spend a lot of time outdoors, look elsewhere for your next golf shoe.