The adidas Golf Shoe I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About Is Finally Back

I’m as big a fan of the adidas CODECHAOS line as anyone. The OG pair was great. The CODECHAOS 22 was even better (hence it took the title of Best Spikeless Golf Shoe of 2023).

And, honestly, I’ve been chasing the performance high of that 2022 pair ever since.

Not that adidas hasn’t tried.

The CODECHAOS 25 came and went with hardly anyone, including me, batting an eye. It just wasn’t very good. That’s the best way I can say it. A move away from BOOST was the main culprit, in my opinion.

So when I heard that CODECHAOS was going back to its roots, I was more than excited. And I’m elated to report that after spending ample time, including walking The Shoe, a very hilly short course here in Colonial Williamsburg, in the new CODECHAOS 27 BOA (yes, it’s the second time in a row that adidas is billing the BOA Fit System as the flagship offering), we’re so, so back, baby!

Like the prodigal son returning home, the adidas CODECHAOS 27 has turned away from its past and back to its roots as one of the most comfortable, versatile golf shoes on the market.

Period.

There are really three things that CODECHAOS has always excelled at: comfort, traction, stability. The three most important things when choosing a new golf shoe.

Comfort and traction

The comfort part is easy. Full-length BOOST? You already know my thoughts. Responsive, cushioned, just enough plushness to create a comfy yet energized feeling underfoot. It’s the real deal.

And the traction pattern remains largely unchanged because it flat-out works. You’ll be hard-pressed to find many other spikeless lug patterns that rival what CODECHAOS has been pumping out for years.

Stability

Stability is where this year’s pair, particularly the BOA Fit System variant, really shines. Stability is a function of two things, in my mind. First is fit. An ill-fitting golf shoe cannot be a stable golf shoe. This is where the BOA Fit System really shines.

It provides the most customizable fit. The placement of the BOA Fit System is key,. Rather than placing it on the top of the foot, it sits about halfway back on the lateral side. This pulls your foot back into the heel cup as it tightens, producing a locked-in, stable fit.

The second thing that contributes to the stability is the torsional support system which adidas is calling AXISLOCK. It’s basically a shank plate that runs the length of the shoe and integrates into the heel cup. It creates the torsional rigidity needed to handle the torque of the golf swing.

Those two systems work in tandem to create a stable platform on which any golfer will feel comfortable swinging, whether your swing speed is 85 or 125 miles per hour.

Still chasing

I’m still chasing the first-wear feeling of the adidas CODECHAOS 22. But the CODECHAOS 27 BOA is as close as I’ve come in years.

Are you a fan of the CODECHAOS lineup? Have you tried this year’s model? Leave a comment and let me know.