The 9 Best Waterproof Golf Shoes

It takes a lot of water to keep golf courses green, and between rain, dew, sprinklers, and runoff, you’re bound to encounter some wet conditions on the course no matter how beautiful the weather might be. Considering that you rely on your feet for a 4-plus hour round of golf, it’s obvious that a great pair of waterproof golf shoes is essential.

I’ve not only personally tested a dozen or more different pairs of golf shoes over the last couple of golf seasons, but I’ve played in just about every weather condition New England has to offer, almost exclusively on foot. When it comes to which golf shoes offer the best protection, comfort, and performance, I know my stuff. That’s why I’m compiling a list of the nine best waterproof golf shoes for both men and women.

I’ve raved about the ECCO Biom H4 all year, and for good reason. These golf shoes are the complete package. From a waterproof standpoint, I’ve yet to see a golf shoe rival the 3-year waterproof warranty that ECCO puts on the BIOM H4, and many of its other golf shoes.

From personal experience, these are flawless when it comes to keeping any form of moisture away from your feet thanks to ECCO’s use of GORE-TEX. In dozens of rounds wearing BIOM H4s, I’ve never had a drop sneak through.

What really separates the BIOM H4s from the pack – besides that 3-year waterproof warranty – is that they don’t compromise anywhere else to gain that waterproofing advantage. In fact, they excel in pretty much every category. They are as comfortable as any other golf shoe I’ve tested, they’re extremely breathable and offer top-of-class stability and turf interaction among spikeless golf shoes.

The biggest downfall of the  BIOM H4s is simply the price. It’s certainly not hard to find a better-priced pair of waterproof golf shoes, if that’s all you’re looking for. However, the relatively steeper price of the BIOM H4 is offset by the fact that you can realistically expect to use them for 5-7 golf seasons.

The other knock on these shoes is the style. Yes, you can add some flair with the Eric van Rooyen edition, but this is mostly a neutral, functional golf shoe, and you shouldn’t expect them to draw a showering of fashion compliments.

The bottom line is, if my best friend came to me asking for a waterproof golf shoe recommendation, and was willing to spend a little more for shoes worth the investment, I’d recommend the ECCO BIOM H4.

Pros:

• Unmatched waterproof guarantee
• Superior comfort
• Excellent turf interaction
• Men’s and women’s models available
• Durability to last several golf seasons with proper care

Cons:

• Pricey
• Neutral styling

TRUE Linkswear has gained some serious traction in the golf shoe market in recent years, and is even getting some action on the PGA Tour. You can’t do that without putting out a comfortable, waterproof golf shoe that delivers a secure connection to the ground. That’s why the TRUE LUX TOUR is on our list of the best waterproof golf shoes. 

The LUX TOUR is made of full-grain leather and boasts a minimal look with some appealing styling elements. TRUE is known for its superior comfort, and the spikeless outsole makes the shoes easy on walkers while providing plenty of stability.

The LUX TOUR has a 2-year waterproof warranty, which, to borrow a classic golf saying, is better than most. Choose from five attractive styles, each featuring TRUE’s achilles heal pad.

Pros:

• Satisfying comfort
• Minimal yet appealing style
• 2-year waterproof warranty
• Good for walking

Cons:

• Top end of the price spectrum

The Nike Infinity G is the go-to waterproof golf shoe from Nike, and the best part is they’re significantly more budget-friendly than many of the premium waterproof golf shoes out there today.

The Infinity G is a spiked golf shoe, so it’s a great option for those wet, muddy, slippery days on the golf course, but it’s still light and comfortable enough for your average 75-and-sunny mid-summer round, thanks to the soft foam midsole and the sockliner. These shoes may run small, so if you’re between sizes, consider sizing up.

The black-on-white, or white-on-black options along with the classic Nike swoosh ensure these shoes pair with any golf outfit.

Pros:

• 2-year waterproof warranty
• More affordable than many options on this list

Cons:

• Sizing runs small

If you want the best waterproof warranty in a golf shoe that’s built for all the elements, you want the ECCO BIOM Tour. Unlike the aforementioned BIOM H4, the BIOM Tour is spiked and it’s a little heavier-duty, which makes it a great option in tough, wet conditions. 

While today’s advanced spikeless golf shoes offer ample stability in all conditions, these spiked shoes take your connection to the ground to a whole new level. 

The first time I walked a loop in the BIOM Tour, it was my first round in a spiked shoe in months. Compared to spikeless golf shoes, I felt like once I took my stance in the BIOM Tour, my feet were cemented to the ground. I can’t imagine losing my footing in these shoes.

The BIOM Tour is just as comfortable on your foot as the BIOM H4, however, it feels a little heavier, and by the 18th hole, my feet could feel the difference. The BIOM Tour is perfectly fine for walking, but compared to some of the best golf shoes out there today – which as I whole I feel is quite an impressive group – I wouldn’t choose to walk in these if the conditions allowed for something lighter. That said, if you’re looking for a great waterproof golf shoe that stands up to all conditions, or a go-to shoe for the wettest conditions, this is it.

Pros:

• Best stability of any golf shoe I’ve tested
• 3-year waterproof warranty
• Comfortable enough for walking

Cons:

• Not the ideal shoe for walking when conditions allow for a lighter alternative

You won’t find a more quintessential modern-classic golf shoe than the FootJoy Traditions. FootJoy executes the timeless look with the white shoe and leather saddle to perfection. But slip the new Traditions onto your feet and you’ll instantly understand this shoe is all modern.

The shoe is lightweight and features super-cushioned foam for top-tier comfort in a flexible build. With a spiked outsole, the Traditions provide stability for all conditions, and come with a one-year waterproof warranty.

Pros:

• Classic look with modern components
• Spiked outsole for superior stability
• Lightweight build 

Cons:

• No waterproof warranty beyond the first year

PUMA’s Ignite PWRADAPT Caged Crafted shoe is another modern shoe wrapped in a leather saddle to give it a distinctly classic look.

Under the brown leather saddle is a running-shoe-like spiked golf shoe with all the comfort and flexibility you’d expect from a modern shoe. These are the most comfortable spiked golf shoe I’ve tested, thanks to the lightweight and flexible build.

The outsole features seven Tornado spikes that, in several rounds of testing, kept me securely in place, even on wet and soggy turf. Despite wearing the Ignite PWRADAPT in some of the wettest conditions I played golf in all year, they never let any moisture seep through to my feet.

Pros:

• PUMA pulls off the saddle over the modern shoe as well as any brand
• Excellent value compared to many competitors
• Tornado spikes provide ample stability

Cons:

• I’d like to see more than one year of waterproof warranty
• I experienced a small tear in the stitching on the tongue

You’ve certainly noticed the trend of golf shoes looking more and more like running shoes in recent years, and the Fresh Foam Contend from New Balance is a strong continuation of that trend. You need close inspection to differentiate these as golf shoes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Even after you conclude the Fresh Foam Contend is in fact made for golf, you may still need convincing that it’s waterproof. The mesh upper doesn’t exactly scream dry feet, but the 2-year waterproof warranty that New Balance puts behind these shoes does. 

Like all New Balance shoes, these are made for walking. Weighing in at just 12.2 OZ, the spikeless shoe features New Balance’s molded CUSH+ insole and Fresh Foam midsole to provide maximum comfort. 

At around $100, if you’re a golfer who likes to walk the course and needs great shoes for all conditions, you can’t go wrong with New Balance’s Fresh Foam Contend.

Pros:

• Waterproof performance mesh for breathable yet waterproof shoe
• Designed for golfers who walk
• Great value
• Four color/style options

Cons:

• Some golfers won’t be sold on waterproof mesh build

The FootJoy Flex is one of our picks of the best golf shoes for walking, and its waterproof sibling, the Flex XP, is equally deserving of a spot on this list of the best waterproof golf shoes. If you like to walk the golf course, you want your golf shoes to deliver all-day comfort, and you need your feet to stay dry, check out FootJoy’s Flex XP.

FootJoy’s performance mesh provides a lightweight and flexible golf shoe, while the VersaTrax spikeless outsole keeps you grounded. FootJoy backs the Flex XP with a one-year waterproof warranty, so you can take on the course in any conditions with confidence.

Pros:

• All the comfort and quality that FootJoy is known for
• Excellent option for golfers who prefer to walk
• Several color and style options
• Several width options available

Cons:

• Looks more like a running shoe than a golf shoe