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
adidas Ultraboost Golf shoes. The very popular runner has been retooled for the course.
Who Tried It?
Connor – Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers. I”ve been a fan of the original Ultraboost since high school.
A Challenger Approaches
By and large, the adidas Ultraboost gained its wild popularity through comfort. Heck, here at HQ, we have several staff members (including myself) who swear by BOOST cushion.
If you’re unfamiliar with the adidas Ultraboost, here’s a quick rundown: It’s a lightweight, cushy running shoe that’s most often considered a long-distance runner—something that lends itself to long walks on the golf course.
Does the Ultraboost Golf have what it takes to dethrone the most comfortable spikeless golf shoes on the market? I put the brand-new adidas Ultraboost Golf to the test. Here are my thoughts.
Ultraboost Golf Stands for Outstanding Comfort
From the moment I laced these up, I knew I was in for a treat. The adidas Ultraboost Golf features a full length BOOST foam midsole. Man, is it comfortable. Right out of the box.
If comfort is your number one priority, you’d be hard pressed to find a spikeless golf shoe that rivals the Ultraboost Golf.
Structure and Stability
My main concern heading into this review was stability. The original Ultraboost, though extremely comfortable, is not what I’d call stable. Most running-style shoes lack the lateral and medial structure to counter the torque of the golf swing.
The Ultraboost Golf features a reinforced heel cup for added stability as well as some TPU plastic overlays near the forefoot to stop the toes from sliding over the footbed. It also has a saddle that wraps around the midfoot when the laces are tightened. Each of these features should enhance the overall stability.
All that said, how stable was the Ultraboost Golf? Overall, it’s more stable than a running shoe but it’s not anywhere near as stable as something like the adidas CodeChaos 22, adidas’ performance spikeless model.
Gripes about Grip
If there’s one place the Ultraboost Golf struggled to impress me, it was traction. The rounded, shallow nubs on the Ultraboost Golf aren’t grabby enough for wet conditions. I’d liken the traction on the Ultraboost Golf to that of a trail running shoe — it’s better than nothing but not up to snuff with the best spikeless golf shoes.
As someone with an average swing speed, I was able to get by but those of you who swing with more vigor than I do should look elsewhere.
The adidas Ultraboost Golf is Perfect for a Spring Fling
The adidas Ultraboost Golf excels in the breathability department, too. Even on a muggy spring day on the East Coast, the cool, breathable knit upper kept my feet from overheating.
Naturally, this comes with some tradeoffs. The Ultraboost Golf is water-resistant not waterproof. Even still, it does a good job at repelling water when your sunny day turns stormy in a flash.
Predictable Performance
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Not all golf shoes are designed to be top performers. Today’s spikeless golf shoes often lean more into style and comfort rather than on-course performance.
The adidas Ultraboost Golf falls under that umbrella and that’s OK. It won’t ever take the PGA TOUR by storm but I’d be willing to bet you’ll see it all over your local muni.
Knowing full well that the Ultraboost Golf isn’t meant for the one percent of professional athletes who need the best of the best, why not grab a pair if they suit your eye?
A Love Story
I’m in love!
Is the Ultraboost Golf cracking into my golf shoe rotation? Absolutely. The comfort alone is enough for me to give these a permanent spot in my golf bag. Couple that comfort with a tried and true style? It feels like this golf shoe was made for me.
Consider me impressed, adidas. Thank you for FINALLY bringing the Ultraboost to the golf course.
Ronan
12 months ago
Completely agree about Ultraboost / Boost trainers. Have worn various pairs since the first iteration and love how comfortable they are. Then I bought my most recent pair DNA 5.0 and they are terrible! For some reason the tongue is significantly thicker than previous models and the tops of my feet go purple (and on occasion numb) when I wear them. They look fantastic but it’s made me really cautious about buying more Ultraboost. There only seem to be a few with this thick tongue, but from the pics here it looks like the golf shoes have them.