If you are in the market for a classic-looking golf shoe, chances are you have come across the FootJoy Traditions golf shoes. Although this looks like a golf shoe that Nicklaus or Palmer may have worn back in the day, there is no question that FootJoy has incorporated some modern technology into this design.
We tested the FootJoy Traditions on the golf course, in the sand, the rough, and in the great British weather to see how they perform. The shoe got 88.8/100 and had incredibly good overall comfort and performance.
Quick Summary
If you’re used to FootJoy’s old-school shoes like the FootJoy DryJoy Tour or Aqualites, you’ll love these shoes.
The FootJoy Traditions pair the looks of a classic style, with the performance and comfort of a modern sneaker-like feel.
These have a classic FootJoy last (shape) meaning they come up pretty standard in terms of fit and are slightly narrower than Adidas shoes.
These are a great buy for golfers who want a great pair of golf shoes that will perform in all conditions.
- One-year waterproof warranty
- Full-grain leather shoe
- Lightweight construction with a foam midsole
- High-density EVA Fit-Bed for underfoot comfort
- Fast Twist 3.0 cleat system with Pulsar spikes
- Laser street fit – rounded toe character, standard fit across forefoot and instep, slightly narrow heel
- 5 standard colour options and a design-your-own option
Comfort
These shoes pair a classical design up top with a far more modern, sneaker-like sole and inners. The comfort level is just as good as other sporty and spikeless options on the market, thanks to the super cushioned foam midsole.
The tongue and heel have more structure than sporty and spikeless golf shoes, but this didn’t cause any problems. We took these golf shoes straight out for 18-holes play and found them comfy straight out of the box.
Fit
The FootJoy Traditions golf shoes offer a medium fit with a mid-to-low arch. The shoe is just a little snugger around the heel, something you see often in this classic style design. There is a cushion on the back heel that adds additional comfort and helps to ensure you won’t get a blister after your first few rounds.
FootJoy claims that these shoes are standard through the mid fit and then wider in the toe. However, from other golf shoe testing, we’d say these come up similar to Nike and Under Armour golf shoes and a little narrower than Adidas golf shoes.
Performance
We’re really impressed with the way these shoes performed on the course. The sole doesn’t scream grip when you glance at the 7 soft spikes, but the flexible sole really helps keep your feet in contact with the ground.
The FJ Traditions offer plenty of traction for a golf swing from a good lie. In addition, we tested the FootJoy Traditions from the rough, wet grass, sand, and slope, and the shoes perform really well, even when attempting a Tiger-Esq recovery shot (if only they guaranteed the results…).
These are the type of shoes that offer everyday comfort and the performance you’ll want for the most important games of your year.
Looks
We love the looks of the FootJoy Traditions. Of course, this has to be your style as it is certainly a more traditional look, but it is a clean-looking shoe with classical full-grain leather.
The colour choices include Navy/White, White/Black Camo, White, Black, Grey/Blue, and, of course, the option to design your own and choose the colours you want across the entire shoe.
Value
There are cheaper shoes on the market and some of these are just as comfortable, but the new FootJoy Traditions shoes offer comfort and performance in spades. Combine this with the high-quality materials and we feel these are a great shoe for the price.
Waterproof
The FootJoy Traditions waterproof warranty lasts for a full year. Thanks to testing these shoes in the UK, we’ve had sunny days, sideways rain with puddles all over the golf course and days in between.
The Traditions are superb in all conditions.
Breathability
There is always a trade-off between being fully waterproof and still breathable. Even though these are very comfortable shoes, they don’t have the same mesh upper that we see in most of the breathable designs.
For full leather, waterproof shoes these perform very well. The shoe stays surprisingly comfortable from a temperature perspective, even without the mesh features that other shoes have.
Please bear in mind these won’t keep up with a full mesh shoe when it comes to breathability, but they perform well enough for us to consider this a great all-year golf shoe.
Golf Insider Verdict
Golf Insider verdict: 90
After growing up and turning pro wearing the FootJoy DryJoys, I’m delighted to see FootJoy bring out the Traditions. They offer the looks of their classical shoes with a more comfortable, more flexible sole.
These are a great all-around golf shoe that you can wear every day and trust to perform when playing major events. Yes, there are cheaper golf shoes on the market, but if you play golf regularly these are a great investment (and one I’ll be wearing every time I play golf).
Alternatives
If the FootJoy Traditions shoe is not for you, here are a few alternatives that you may want to consider.
- FootJoy Traditions Spikeless: a newer version of the FootJoy Traditions golf shoe was recently released, and it has spikeless traction. Expect this to add even more comfort but lose a little in terms of grip and performance.
- FootJoy Premier Series Field: the most premium shoe from FootJoy and worn by tour professionals, expect a premium leather construction, slightly heavier golf shoe, and a bit more traction from the Premier Series.
- FootJoy HyperFlex: the HyperFlex is a sportier-looking shoe with a lot of comfort and stability; this is a great option if you are in your golf shoes all day and need that extra support and premium comfort technology
Frequently asked questions
Are FootJoy Traditions golf shoes waterproof?
FootJoy Traditions golf shoes are waterproof and come with a one-year waterproof warranty from FootJoy.
Are FootJoy Traditions golf shoes Spikeless?
The FootJoy Traditions golf shoes are offered in both a spikeless and a spiked design. The spiked shoe will provide more traction and stability for the faster swing-speed player. Tour-level traction can be found in the FootJoy Premier Series golf shoes.
Are FootJoy traditions comfy?
FootJoy Traditions golf shoes are incredibly comfortable shoes that are more like spikeless walking shoes than they are traditional saddle leather golf shoes. The moulded bed cushioning is designed to hold up for more than just your first few rounds, making this a great all-around golf shoe for comfort.
Happy golfing.