PUMA IGNITE PWRADAPT Caged Crafted Golf Shoe Review

I had the advantage of testing the IGNITE PWRADAPT Caged Crafted during the cold, wet, muddy, New England March. In other words, perfect conditions for putting the performance of a waterproof golf shoe under the microscope. 

The Cliffs Notes version of my experience is, they were awesome. First of all, they passed the sock test, meaning despite trekking through 18 holes of wet and soggy conditions, on two occasions, my socks survived without a drop of moisture, meaning my feet stayed warm and dry.

All-around comfort was another home run. The cushioning felt great for walking the golf course, and the midsole inside the leather upper made the all-around comfort better than any other golf shoe I’ve tested.

Finally, the tornado cleats kept me glued to the ground. When conditions allow, I’m all for a spineless golf shoe, but during those soggy spring and fall rounds, turf interaction is paramount, and these proved to be go-to shoes for shoulder-season conditions.

While my experience with the IGNITE PWRADAPT Caged golf shoes was mostly positive, I did note a few complaints. I’ll dive into these in more detail later, but I wasn’t a fan of the dainty laces, and the shoes themselves were so hard to slip on that I even split a seam the very first time I pulled it onto my foot. Despite the struggle getting them on, the fit was perfect once they made it on my feet.

I tested the white with brown leather style, and they exude the classic golf shoe look, from the traditional leather saddle to the leather accents and clean, white body. If you like a traditional-looking golf shoe, these have got to be near the top of your list.

After walking 36 holes in these shoes, over two separate days, here’s my review of how they perform, from looks and traction, to waterproofing and comfort.

For my money, these are probably the best-looking golf shoes available today. Sure, that’s just my opinion, but I love the way the leather saddle looks on this shoe.

It’s all too common to see splashes of bright colors or high-tech-looking accents on anything new that’s designed to resemble a traditional style. It’s like brands don’t trust you to recognize a new product if there isn’t a streak of highlighter green on it somewhere. Yes, the brown leather saddle is a classic look, but nobody is mistaking this for a 1960s golf shoe.

My last point on the look is that PUMA made this design about the shoe, not about PUMA. Some brands get carried away with the size and color of their logos on their shoes, but PUMA lets the shoe do all the talking. The PUMA logo on the side is not only modestly-sized, but the gold logo on the brown leather ensures the branding rests squarely in the background, while the design elements take center stage. Bravo.

I’ll preface this score by saying that throughout 36 holes of testing, I never got as much as a drop of moisture inside the shoe, or had wet socks or feet. However, there are a couple concerns I have with the overall waterproofing of these shoes.

First, PUMA offers just a 1-year waterproof warranty with these shoes. That doesn’t exactly inspire a ton of confidence when I compare them to competitors like Skechers, which offers two years, and ECCO, which offers three years on its GORE-TEX shoes.

My second issue is the tear I mentioned earlier. While it hasn’t caused any moisture to seep in yet, it’s still a compromise in the shoe, and I’m sure if I play during active rain or walk through saturated enough grass, that would be the first entry point for water.

While struggling to pull these shoes onto my feet, I was worried they wouldn’t fit as expected. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that once they were on, they fit like a glove. Because I broke them in while walking the golf course, I expected some discomfort early on, but instead they were comfortable from the get-go. Sure, the upper was stiff at first, but – probably because of the IGNITE midsole – that stiffness never caused any discomfort as I broke it in.

PUMA warns its shoes run a little long, and even say going down a half-size may be appropriate, but in my experience, these ran true to size. I’ve worn nothing but size 10.5 shoes for 20 years, and these fit me perfectly. 

Of course, if PUMA suggests its shoes run long, I’ll concede their sample size is larger than mine, and that is information you should consider when making your purchase. If you have a chance to try these on before buying, that’s the best way to know how they’ll fit you for sure. I bought mine online without trying them on, and would not change my size selection if I bought another pair.

Another added bonus is that PUMA offers these in Wide sizes, so if you have wide feet and have a hard time finding golf shoes you like, you can give these a try.

It’s clear the PUMA PWRADAPT IGNITE have secured some pretty high marks. Here’s a quick rundown of the overall pros and cons.

We’ll start with what I like most about these shoes.

• Perfect execution of classic style in a modern shoe
• IGNITE midsole adds some really nice comfort and breathability
• Waterproofing was perfect during 36 holes of testing in wet conditions
• Fit was true
• Wide sizes available
• Great value at $120

Nothing is perfect, and as much as I like these shoes, there are some drawbacks any buyer should consider.

• Seemed tight pulling the shoe on, leading to a split under the pull on the tongue
• 1 year waterproof warranty is less than elite competitors
• Laces are a little short and thin
• No direct women’s equivalent available

When the conditions give me the choice, my preference is to wear spineless golf shoes. However, I prioritize traction and connection to the ground, and I like to play golf during as much of the years as possible, so I need to keep one or two pairs of spiked shoes in the rotation as well. If you prefer spiked golf shoes, or like to keep a pair or two around for those wet days, the PUMA PWRADAPT IGNITE Caged Crafted golf shoes are a great option.

Additionally, if any of the following profiles fits you, we recommend checking out these shoes.

• Golfers who sometimes or often walk the golf course when they play, even in dicey conditions
• Golfers who gravitate towards a traditional saddle golf shoe style
• Players who need waterproof shoes
• Players who want to get a great performing shoe for a great price

If you’re like me and you’re drawn to the elegant styling of these shoes, I can verify that you’ll be just as impressed with the performance.