I Test Golf Shoes For A Living. Here’s What I Learned In 2026 And What I’m Changing In 2027

As 2026 comes to a close, I've taken a moment to reflect on the golf gear I use on a weekly basis.

When it comes to golf shoes, I've often prioritized ones that are easy to put on and offer enough performance to get the job done for a mid-handicapper like me. In all honesty, 2026 may have been the year that changed my perspective and priorities when it comes to golf shoes.

As I inch closer to my 30s, I'm realizing more and more that I can't just "put up with soreness" anymore. I walked just under seven miles while playing a beautiful course in North Carolina and I truly believe the footwear I chose that day caused my back to flare up for the next 10 days. I hadn't experienced major problems with those shoes in the past but I noticed soreness the next time I wore them as well.

I finally realized that I need golf shoes that are high-performing in terms of comfort. I cannot survive without them anymore. I will not put up with mediocre or even slightly above average comfort on the golf course for another second.

Testing golf shoes is a primary function of my job and I commonly rotate between shoes on a round-to-round basis.

Most recently, I spent time wearing the TRUE Linkswear Original 1.2. I won't go as far as to say that the OG 1.2 is a bad shoe-I actually believe the opposite. At the same time, people aren't riding through town like Paul Revere shouting that the OG 1.2 is the most comfortable golf shoe of all time.

In fact, in my full review, I labeled the comfort as just "fine" on the course but much less comfortable when walking on the cart path or in the parking lot. TRUE Linkswear is incredible for convenience on and off the golf course but the OG 1.2 wasn't and the brand isn't the industry leader when it comes to comfort.

During my seven-mile walk in North Carolina, the OG 1.2 felt fine. Afterward, my back experienced much more soreness than I'm used to.

What I'll do differently in 2027

If you haven't guessed it yet, my plan for 2027 is simple.

Comfort, comfort and more comfort.

Maybe 26 is the age cut-off for golfers who can get away with wearing shoes that lack adequate comfort or maybe my back injuries have gotten worse but whatever the problem is, I'm fixing it in 2027.

Every golfer has priorities when choosing golf shoes but I've come to the conclusion that lack of comfort should be a non-starter. If you're like me, it may take you until the ripe age of 27 to realize this but it should be the most important factor when choosing your next pair.

It's easy to choose to sacrifice a bit in terms of traction, stability and price if the shoe is comfortable but when was the last time you heard someone say "Wow, this shoe is really uncomfortable but the traction is great!"?

The best golf shoes don't compromise. In our shoe testing every year, we evaluate the best spiked and spikeless golf shoes in terms of comfort, traction, stability and whether they can out-duel the elements.

If you're in a similar spot with achy feet, sore back or noticing more body fatigue after playing golf, take my advice and do a deeper dive into the comfort that is readily available at the click of a button.

The next shoe that I'll be putting to the test is the SUBTXT Macaw Golf which features Blumaka Max Cushion insoles for enhanced comfort. I've only put a couple of miles on them so far but I've been impressed at how they've felt.

If you're unsure of what shoes are the most comfortable, you can click one of the two links below to view our spiked and spikeless testing results.