Best Waterproof Golf Shoes 2023 Buyer’s Guide

While there’s no question that golfclubs are crucial to your game, so are the shoes you wear. The wrong shoes can make it difficult to find that stable foundation you need to make those powerful, smooth swings that can make your balls go the distance.

But the type of footwear you need will depend on the time of year, the weather, and course conditions. The best waterproof golf shoes can be invaluable during the rainy season. If you’re a serious golfer, then you probably practice year-round. You brave the course, wind, rain, or shine. These shoes can have a huge positive impact on your performance for a number of reasons.

If you’ve never worn waterproof golf shoes before, then you may not know where to start, or what features to look for. That’s where I come in. I’ve tried out several popular pairs, narrowing it down to six pairs that every golfer will love, and shoes that will keep your feet comfortably warm and dry in wet weather.

Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that includes each pair, their rating, and important features to pay attention to.

Waterproof Golf Shoes Comparison Chart

Product	Sizes	Material	Colors	Rating
Skechers Go Golf Torque Waterproof Golf Shoe Shop On Amazon!	13	Synthetic	3
New Balance Men's Striker Waterproof Golf Shoe Shop On Amazon!	13	Leather	3
Thestron Golf Sport Sneakers Shop On Amazon!	12	Synthetic	7
New Balance Men's Minimus SL Golf Shoe Shop On Amazon!	26	Synthetic/ Leather	5
Johnston & Murphy XC4 H1-Luxe Golf Shoes Shop On Amazon!	9	Synthetic	3
Skechers Go Golf Elite 4 Golf Shoe Shop On Amazon!	5	Synthetic	1

Skechers Go Golf Men’s Torque Waterproof Golf Shoe

Our Rating: (5/5)

The Skechers Go Golf Torque shoes are waterproof, lightweight, and have responsive cushioning that’s supportive and comfortable. The shoes have an H2GO shield waterproof coating that’s good for up to one year of waterproof protection. On the bottom of the shoes, you’ll find replaceable soft spikes that are designed to improve your grip, without tearing up the terrain. You’ll need to check with your club to see whether or not soft spikes are dress code approved. The shoes are made out of synthetic materials, with a breathable design. The short lifespan of the waterproof protection may be a drawback for some golfers; however, waterproof coatings can be reapplied.

Conclusion

These shoes are lightweight and offer one year of waterproof protection. The replaceable spikes can offer better traction compared to spikeless soles, but they don’t offer the same level of traction you’ll get from a true spiked shoe. Overall, the shoes offer a comfortable fit, flexible design, and are available in thirteen sizes and three color options.

New Balance Men’s Striker Waterproof Spiked Comfort Golf Shoe

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

New Balance has a reputation for their running, walking, and hiking shoes, but their latest golf shoes to hit the market are also creating a buzz, primarily because they offer the type of comfortable fit the company is known for. These golf shoes are covered by a two-year waterproof warranty and are made out of 100% leather. The shoe’s exoskeleton TPU outsole offers the type of flexible design you need. According to the manufacturer, the outsole is designed to move naturally, with the foot. The midsole is responsive and provides a lightweight cushioning that’s supportive.

Conclusion

The shoe’s biggest selling point, aside from the waterproof design, is the TPU exoskeleton outsole, that’s designed to match the foot’s natural motion. This type of fit can relieve or prevent fatigue, allowing you to make it to all eighteen holes, without taking a break. The lightweight design, flexible outsole, supportive midsole, and the overall durability of these shoes will allow you to easily wear them year-round in total comfort.

Thestron Men Golf Shoes Professional Waterproof Spikes Golf Sport Sneakers

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

These spiked golf sneakers by Thestron are very breathable, so they’re designed for year-round use. This is due to the mesh and microfiber design that allows the feet to breathe, without allowing water to access the interior of the shoe. The shoes have a very narrow design, which makes them a poor choice for golfers with wider feet. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn’t offer wide shoe sizes. Aside from the fit, you’ll find a spiked sole, which can help you maintain your balance when you’re walking over wet terrain.

Conclusion

These simple, muted waterproof golf shoes can be worn year-round and do an excellent job of keeping the feet dry on wet terrain or during rainy weather. The biggest issue is the narrow toe design, which can cause toe box discomfort for golfers with wide feet. Overall, the shoes themselves feature a lightweight, durable construction, breathable design, and offer the level of waterproof protection many golfers are looking for.

New Balance Men’s Minimus SL Waterproof Spikeless Comfort Golf Shoe

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

The latest waterproof golf shoes by New Balance, the Minimus, are made out of synthetic materials and have a microfiber waterproof leather upper that comes with Fantom Fit support. The uppers are designed by fusing a couple of thin pieces of material together, with a no-sew manufacturing process that helps improve durability and comfort. The spikeless rubber outsole is flexible and can help improve your balance on a wet course. The shoes are covered by a two-year waterproof warranty, which is better than average.

The midsole features the patented REVLite design that consists of a foam that’s 30% heavier than standard foam, yet the weight of the foam itself is relatively light. The lightweight design does not sacrifice the midsole’s durability.

Conclusion

These shoes are flexible, but supportive, with an outsole that can help improve your traction on slippery, wet terrain. With a two-year waterproof warranty, you can rest assured that your feet will remain warm and dry on wet terrain or in rainy weather. The shoes themselves offer a comfortable, supportive fit, with just enough flex to allow you to swing easily, yet still maintain your balance in wet weather conditions.

Johnston & Murphy Men’s XC4 H1-Luxe Hybrid Golf Shoes

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

These shoes offer a higher level of waterproof protection. The shoe’s sealed seams combined with the waterproof materials used, provide ultimate protection from the elements. The sole of the shoes is flexible, due to the hybrid lug rubber design that improves your stability and traction on a wet course. The midsole is made out of EVA foam, which is flexible and shock absorbing. The shoe’s smart degree technology will cool the interior of the shoe once it begins to get hot and warms up the interior once the temperature drops. This allows your feet to stay comfortably warm in any type of weather conditions.

Conclusion

These shoes offer better than average protection from the elements. The waterproof construction combined with the fully sealed seams will prevent any water from making its way into the interior of the shoe. The popular smart degree technology will allow you to wear these shoes year-round, in hotter and colder temperatures. Versatile, comfortable, and supportive, these shoes from Johnston and Murphy offer an all-weather design that many golfers are looking for.

Skechers Go Golf Men’s Elite 4 Prestige Relaxed Fit Waterproof Golf Shoe

Our Rating: (4/5)

The Elite 4 Prestige features a spikeless grip flex outsole that offers multidirectional traction. The midsole is lightweight, responsive, and dense. The uppers are made out of a combination of knit and leather materials that are soft, breathable, and can improve wearer comfort, while protecting the feet from rain and wet course conditions. These shoes are lightweight, but they still provide the type of dense construction that will make you feel more stable on the course.

Conclusion

Unlike competing shoes, these waterproof golf shoes by Skechers feature a relaxed fit design that makes them perfect for both golfers with narrow or wider than average feet. The design maintains a medium width in the heel area and a roomier toe box, so your toes will not feel cramped and pinched. These shoes can handle both dry and wet conditions, in addition to warmer and colder temperatures, so they will make a great year-round golf shoe, and a pair that can handle anything that mother nature throws at them.

Waterproof Golf Shoes Buyer’s Guide

If you only want the best golf gear, whether it’s your clubs, your bag, or your footwear, then waterproof shoes are exactly what you’re looking for, especially if you need an edge on the course during the rainy season. Like with any sport, your footwear matters. If you’re not certain about investing in a new pair of shoes for the course, or whether or not you even really need them, then read on to learn about the many benefits this type of footwear has to offer.

Advantages of Waterproof Golf Shoes

• The biggest advantage that this type of golf shoe has to offer is keeping your feet dry. If your feet stay dry and comfortable, your head will remain in the game. Wet socks and shoes can be extremely uncomfortable to play in and it can also result in athlete’s foot and general irritation. A quality pair of waterproof shoes are specifically designed to allow the golfer to easily walk over wet terrain and through shallow puddles, without getting their feet wet. Walking around in wet shoes, even for a short period of time, can have you calling it quits on the course.
• Waterproof shoes are designed to improve your technique and swing on a wet course. A standard pair of golf shoes will be difficult to use on wet terrain because they lack the type of traction waterproof shoes offer.
• If you’ve chosen a pair that are breathable, then you can wear them year-round. If you’re someone who makes it a goal to be the first on the course, early in the morning, then dew or a freshly watered course can also make playing a round a challenge. The ability to wear your shoes year-round will give you more bang for your buck.
• Shoes that come equipped with the right type of outsole can improve your performance by offering better than average traction and balance. Since these shoes are designed for wet conditions, it makes sense that their outsole is also constructed with wet terrain in mind. The outsoles will provide the extra grip you need to handle soft turf and wet grass.
• Now, you can focus on golf chipping techniques, not your feet. When you put on a pair of shoes that are supportive, breathable, and waterproof, even in rainy conditions, you’ll find that you can concentrate on your game rather easily.
• These shoes can provide the type of support you need when you shift your weight through your swing. The shoe’s arch can handle the extra pressure, allowing your body to remain in line and ready to power your swing.
• If you’ve ever slipped on a wet course, then you know, not only is it embarrassing, but it can also lead to a serious injury. Wearing the appropriate footwear will help prevent mild to serious injuries due to a bad fall, one that can keep you off the course for weeks.

What to Look for in Golf Footwear

When you’re taking a challenging shot and the rain is pouring down, wearing waterproof footwear can have a major positive impact on your performance. You want to keep your feet warm and dry when you’re braving the course in the fall and winter months. While there are many pairs of golf shoes on the market that claim to be waterproof, many will still allow plenty of water in, which can result in wet soggy feet and a poor performance on the course.

Finding the right pair of shoes can be a matter of personal preference but it can also involve the types of materials the shoes are made out of, how breathable they are, and how comfortable they are.

Before you decide on a new pair of shoes, based only on aesthetics, let’s take a look at the important factors you’ll need to consider before you buy, so you end up with a pair of shoes that are waterproof, yet breathable, and comfortable to wear on the course, all day long.

Fit/Comfort

If you normally walk the course instead of riding in a cart, then you’ll definitely want to pay attention to size and fit.

You may mistakenly believe that your new golf shoes should feel tight and pinch a little, until they’re broken in. But golf shoes aren’t like hiking boots. These shoes should feel pretty comfortable from the get-go. If you want to ensure you end up with shoes that fit you the way they’re meant to, measure your feet before you start shopping around. Most manufacturers will have a size chart, complete with measurements, clearly listed with each model. Pay attention to this, to find a pair that fits you well and won’t cause blistering, chafing, or other types of discomfort.

Traction

The treads on the bottom of a shoe are designed to improve your grip when you’re walking over wet terrain. On a pair of sneakers, the treads feature a simple design that provides traction on basic surfaces. Waterproof shoes feature a special design that helps to redirect water away from the sole as it grips the ground. The soles should have pegs and channels, both of which work together to improve your traction as you navigate across a wet course.

The sole of the shoes will be great indicators of how stable the shoes will be on a wet course. Remember, these are waterproof shoes, so they should have a sole that can also withstand wet conditions. You’ll want to check out the golfing dress code and pay attention to the footwear section. Some clubs will not allow spiked golf shoes, since they can do some serious damage to the green. If that’s the case where you play, then you’ll need to take extra care when shopping for shoes that offer both waterproof protection and traction.

You’ll have a choice between spiked and spikeless.

Spiked and Spikeless Soles

The soles of spikeless golf shoes make the shoes look more like running shoes than your traditional golf shoes, but they also have a reputation for being more comfortable, with a sole that offers more flex. But spiked shoes offer the benefit of top-of-the-line traction, since the spikes will dig into the ground, preventing you from slipping on wet or dry terrain.

Balance

Aside from traction, you want shoes that will help you maintain your balance. Whether you’re practicing short game basics or your long game, your balance, or lack thereof, will be a major factor in your performance. Shoes that have spikes that are placed toward the exterior of the shoe can improve stability.

Flexible Sole

The soles of the shoes must have some flex to them. This allows the shoes to fit your feet like a glove, so the soles will move with your foot as you stand at address or take a swing.

Construction

Waterproof shoes tend to be more expensive than your average golf shoe. The biggest reason for this is the quality of the construction. Waterproof shoes are designed not only to help improve your performance on the course, but to also protect your feet from the elements, keeping them nice and dry in wet conditions.

Aside from their waterproof design, the shoes should also be lightweight. A heavier golf shoe can really weigh you down if you’ve been walking the course all day. The average golfer who walks the course can easily log in six miles a day. If you’re on the course wearing heavy shoes, you’ll end up finishing a round with a poor performance and aching feet.

Before you buy, take a close look at the shoe and inspect all the elements including the type of material the shoes are made out of, how thick and flexible the soles are and the type of lacing system the shoe has.

Breathability

Now, with golf shoes, comfort, flex, and stability are all very important features to look for. They ensure the shoes are comfortable and provide the type of fit and feel you need when you’re walking the course for several hours. With waterproof golf shoes, breathability is also going to be a big deal. Shoes that are waterproof should prevent moisture from entering the shoe, but they must have some type of waterproof lining or membrane that also allows moisture to escape from the inside. By moisture, I mean sweat. If you’ve ever worn waterproof hiking boots, then you know that by the end of the day, when you remove your boots, your feet and socks are soaking wet. Wet socks can make you feel cold, can irritate the skin, and will make you feel miserable.

Golf shoes that are breathable are still tough enough to keep water out, but will have great ventilation around the tongue area, that allows your feet to breathe. One way to determine whether the shoe is breathable or not is to take a closer look at the types of materials they’re made out of.

Materials

Leather is one of the most common materials used for waterproof shoes, although you’ll also come across a variety of synthetic materials to choose from.

Both leather and synthetics have their pros and cons.

Leather is more expensive, but more durable. However, there are some tough synthetics out there, such as nylon. Shoes that are made out of synthetic materials are also said to be more breathable.

But that doesn’t mean you have to trade durability for breathability.

Instead, you can find shoes that are made out of both leather and synthetics, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Seams

Seam quality matters, especially when you’re looking at waterproof shoes. The seams are where water can easily enter the shoes. The seams in the shoes should be perfectly sealed. Double sealed seams are heavy-duty and offer the level of waterproof protection that you need in a heavy downpour.

Do I Need Waterproof Golfing Shoes?

This can depend on how often you play and when. If you’re someone who only hits the course once a month, or a few times a year, then you can probably get by with a pair of standard golf shoes. But if you’re a diehard player, someone who makes it to the course several times a month, year-round, then you definitely need this level of protection. You’ll be amazed by how much these shoes can improve your game and your overall performance on the course.

Fortunately, many of the biggest brands now offer a few selections of waterproof shoes to choose from, so you can go with a brand that you’re familiar with.

Final Thoughts

The best waterproof golf shoes are breathable, will keep your feet nice and dry all day long, and feature the type of durable construction that you need, especially if you’re one of those golfers that logs several miles at a time, when you’re walking the course. The shoes that I’ve included here each have something special to offer, whether it’s a lightweight design, impressive durability, or the type of construction that prioritizes traction and stability. With this guide, and my product recommendations, you should have no trouble finding a pair of golf shoes that can have you comfortably walking the course, all day long.