There is a lot of cool gear in the golf world that doesn’t always fit 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
Adidas ZG23 BOA Spiked Golf Shoe
Your Thick Kick Tester
Dave Wolfe– Though I mainly talk about putters, I also have feet so wide that I can walk between floor joists and not fall through.
adidas ZG23 BOA: A shoe with a history.
Welcome back to Dave’s Big Boot Bonanza, my ongoing series exploring golf shoe options for the wide of foot. Thankfully, there are excellent wide-sized golf shoe options for us. Take the previously reviewed adidas S2G wide spikeless shoes. Those shoes fit my wide-profile feet and have gotten more and more comfortable over months of play.
Today, I’m reviewing another adidas model, the ZG23 BOA spiked golf shoe. I’ve been looking forward to testing these. Truthfully, I was ridiculously excited to get the ZG23s on my feet. I don’t think another golf product generated the same amount of anticipation or elation this year. So pumped up for these kicks.
So why the giddy hand-clapping response? One might think that my excitement stemmed from the adidas ZG23 BOA finishing fourth in MyGolfSpy’s 2023 Best Spiked Golf Shoes Buyer’s Guide. Normally, that would be a good guess. This time, though, that is not the answer.
The source of my excitement was the ZG23’s pedigree. The adidas ZG23 BOA is the new incarnation of my favorite golf shoes, the adidas ZG21 BOA.
adidas ZG23 BOA Golf Shoes: Key Features
- Wide fit
- Micro-adjustable dial-based BOA® Fit System
- Soft, adaptive microfiber-leather upper
- INSITE® sockliner
- Hybrid Lightstrike Pro and Lightstrike cushioning
- Six-cleat Thintech TPU outsole
- One-year waterproof protection
- Upper contains a minimum of 50 percent recycled content
- Product color: Cloud White / Core Black / Semi Solar Red
- MSRP: $220
adidas ZG23: The wide shoe that’s not a wide shoe…
Like its ZG21 predecessor, the adidas ZG23 BOA is not actually sold in wide sizes. Its pronounced width is mentioned in the product description but when you order the shoe, the sizing is standard.
For example, this pair of shoes are size 11, not 11W.
Those of us with wide feet know that we can occasionally fit into regular widths. Typically, this requires us to size up a half or whole size. For golf shoes in particular, that extra length can lead to fit and function issues. Empty toe space causes all kinds of problems with stability during the golf swing.
The “regular-width” ZG21s fit me perfectly. At least for my feet, the width and length of the ZG21 BOA were perfect. I am happy to report that the architecture is the same with the new ZG23 BOA. The shoe design has plenty of space at the edges and no empty space at the front.
The adidas ZG23 may not be officially sized as a wide shoe but it is a wonderfully wide shoe.
adidas ZG23: BOA makes the difference
Were I to pinpoint the feature that makes the ZG23 so wide-friendly, I’d say it’s the BOA closure system. Incorporating the BOA system opens up space in the shoe. No longer are you forced to have the laces at the top of the shoe, allowing for otherwise impossible innovation.
BOA really does make the shoe completely different from the laced version of the same shoe. With the ZG21, I found that the BOA versions and the laced versions were essentially different shoes in terms of fit. The size 11 ZG21 BOA fit amazingly well while I couldn’t even get my foot into the laced ZG21.
I’ve not had a chance to try the laced version of the ZG23, but I am expecting that it, too, will fit differently than the BOA version. If you only like laced golf shoes, don’t write off the ZG23 just yet. This time around there is a wide version of the laced ZG23 that may fit as well as the BOA.
adidas ZG23: BOA redesign
The BOA system in the ZG23 has changed a bit since the ZG23. The materials are lighter with the closure flaps working a bit more independently. The switch to lighter material is welcome. For all of its excellence, the ZG21 could get a little warm in the summer.
The two BOA closure system flaps in the adidas ZG23 BOA golf shoe secure the front of the foot and the foot’s instep separately but then combine at the end to provide a secure fit. Again, this is a departure from the ZG21 design and I would again rate it as an improvement.
The adidas ZG23 BOA is outfitted with BOA’s Li2 dial and TX4 textile lace. The Li2 is arguably the most versatile dial in the BOA catalog. In addition to the twist-to-tighten and pull-to-release functionality standard across all BOA Fit system offerings, the multidirectional Li2 allows you to quickly loosen the fit of the shoe without fully releasing the lace.
adidas ZG23 BOA Golf Shoes: On the Course
The adidas ZG23 BOA are comfortable shoes to play golf in. The BOA Fit system secures them to your feet without slippage. Should they loosen during play, just give the dial a click.
The cushioning in the ZG23 is walker-friendly. I’ve walked many miles on the course this spring, including 18 holes right after taking the shoes out of the box. I have zero comfort complaints and have yet to need a Band-Aid for my foot.
Lacing Spacing
With the ZG23’s BOA Fit system, lacing spacing is a non-issue. The securing of the shoe is at the side, not the top. The flaps on the top stretch across the top of your foot, essentially cocooning your foot.
You also don’t need to worry about the lack of support on the top. Snug as a bug in a rug, your foot will be.
Upper Overhang
The wide upper of the adidas ZG23 BOA golf shoe is paired to a base of similar width. Wide construction is found throughout the ZG23. You won’t “mushroom-top” these as you would with a wide upper on a standard-width sole.
The ZG23s support the foot front to back and side to side.
On The Grass
So far, I’ve had zero traction or stability issues with the adidas ZG23 BOA golf shoes. For my Northern California course conditions, the combination of the six perimeter spikes and traction squares on the sole have produced a slip-free experience.
If you play in wet conditions, the traction may decrease but I’ve had no issues in wet grass so far. The odd-looking cubist cleats do their job well.
The shoes remain supportive during the swing. This is not surprising as the BOA does such a great job of securing the shoe to the foot. I did not notice any separation of foot and shoe during play. Not once did it feel like the bottom or edges of my feet were unsupported.
adidas ZG23 BOA Golf Shoes: One Concern
While I did truly love the adidas ZG21 BOA golf shoes, they did have an issue with heel wear. As you can see in the photo, the heel material wore out relatively quickly in the ZG21s. Maybe I was over-tightening them or my super-soft Kentwool socks were too abrasive. Regardless, it was concerning that the heels were wearing out faster than the spikes on the bottom.
Hopefully, the updated BOA Fit system will address this issue. So far, I’m not seeing any excessive heel wear and my heels are not cut up by the shoes, either. I’m taking those as encouraging signs that heel wear will not be an issue.
adidas ZG23 BOA Golf Shoes: The Takeaway
When the adidas ZG21 BOA was released in 2021, I thought they were the pinnacle of golf shoes. After playing in them for a few months, I tried to buy a second backup pair. Unfortunately, COVID-19’s destruction of the supply chains doomed the ZG21 BOA to a very short production run. I never did find a second pair.
Now that we have the ZG23 BOA, I’ve ignored my ZG21s. The ZG23s have everything I liked in the ZG21s with upgraded design features make them superior to the original.
The ZG23 BOA Fit system is exceptional. I can’t think of another shoe with a better BOA incorporation. The materials are lighter in places with the ZG23 which should help them to breathe during the hot summer rounds.
Yes, I will be buying a second, maybe even a third, pair just in case we don’t see a ZG25 BOA down the road.
Find out more about the adidas ZG23 BOA spiked golf shoe at: adidas.com
FAQ: adidas ZG23 BOA Spiked Golf Shoes
Yes, these are wide shoes. Though not explicitly labeled as wide, the design of the shoe is very wide.
I would order your usual shoe size, just not with a wide width. For example, if you usually wear a size 10 wide, just order a size 10.
In my opinion, it is the best $20 you will spend today. The ZG23’s BOA closure system is amazing. In addition to the fit it provides, the ease of tightening and loosening is far superior to laces.
Yes, the six spikes on the sole can be replaced as needed.
Carlos Karim
10 months ago
I got these a couple of months ago, they fit well and are comfortable but they are super hard to clean and stain easy. The material of the mesh on the BOA flaps and it’s design makes it impossible to clean if you get any mud on them. The Material of the shoe stains easy with wet grass