What are winter golf boots?
Winter golf boots are specialised footwear, designed to help keep your feet warm and dry, whilst also providing comfort during the cold and wet months on the golf course. They are built to withstand harsh winter conditions, including snow, rain, mud, and ice, which often deter many golfers from playing during the off-season.
Benefits
Although standard waterproof golf shoes can provide some degree of protection from the elements during the winter months, the many benefits of winter golf boots make them a much better option.
Enhanced waterproofing
Winter golf boots are designed with higher collars that extend above the ankle compared to standard golf shoes, providing superior waterproofing and protection against puddles and mud. With course drainage more of an issue during the winter months, it’s not uncommon to find your foot almost fully submerged in water and your ankles wet – but not with winter boots.
Increased insulation
During winter rounds with standard golf shoes, I usually opt for two pairs of socks to try and keep my feet warm but this causes two issues. Firstly, wearing two pairs of socks can stretch the leather, leading to the golf shoes becoming baggy. Secondly, the minute your shoes take water on board (inevitable during particularly wet rounds), both pairs of socks will become wet and very uncomfortable.
Golf boots, however, generally benefit from a thicker lining and increased insulation, helping to do a great job of keeping those feet snug during those low and frosty temperatures.
Better traction
Given they’re designed specifically for use in wet and slippery conditions, winter boots usually benefit from increased traction compared to standard golf shoes. For example, the FootJoy Stormwalker winter golf boots are equipped with Softspikes Pulsar Golf Spikes, widely considered to be one of the best golf shoe spikes on the market. In addition to spikes, most winter golf boots also benefit from tread patterns carefully designed to provide as much traction as possible.
Durability
Winter golf boots are often built using thicker and more robust materials, designed to withstand the harsher winter elements such as snow, ice and mud.reinforced in high-wear areas like the toe and heel to prevent wear and tear, also utilising durable outsole materials that can withstand the effects of icy or muddy surfaces.igh-quality waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex or eVent, which not only keep your feet dry but also protect the inside of the boot from moisture damage.
Important considerations when buying boots
In the previous section, we looked at some of the main benefits winter golf boots have over standard waterproof golf shoes. Now, let’s discuss some of the important things to consider when buying winter golf boots.
Waterproofing
Most, if not all winter golf boots will claim to be ‘waterproof’ but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be up to the job. Where possible, opt for boots made from well-known waterproof materials including Gore-Tex, eVent or similar technologies. Look for boots with higher uppers and seam-sealed construction (particularly around the tongue) to prevent unwanted water ingress.
Insulation
To help ensure your feet will be kept warm and cosy for the entire round, look for boots made from insulation materials like Thinsulate and with comfortable fleece or faux fur linings.
Traction
Personally, I’d always go for spiked boots when buying winter golf footwear, however, if you’re looking for a boot that you can wear both on and off the golf course, you might prefer to go for spikeless. If you do, though, be sure to go for a boot with an aggressive tread pattern to provide that extra traction.
Fit
As you’ll be wearing these boots during the winter months, you’ll probably be more likely to wear thick socks with them, so always take this into account. Choose a boot size that will allow you to wear a thicker sock without being too tight. You’re looking for something that fits snugly but is still comfortable with enough room to wiggle your toes. After all, you’ll be walking 18 holes, so comfort is key. Ensure the boots fit snugly but allow for wiggle room and feel comfortable on your feet.
Durability
Finally, opt for durable materials like leather or synthetic leather with reinforced high-wear zones, likely to withstand harsh conditions.
Price
Generally speaking, golf shoes can be quite expensive and golf boots are no different. However, in my experience, when it comes to golf footwear, you really do get what you pay for. During winter rounds of golf, keeping your feet warm and dry is probably one of the most important things to think about, so in my opinion, paying a bit more money for a premium golf boot that will do just that and last a long time is well worth it. As the old saying goes ‘buy cheap, buy twice’.
With that in mind, scroll down to check out some of my top recommendations for winter golf boots.
The best winter golf boots for men - my top recommendations
Now that we’ve delved deeper into the benefits of winter golf boots and looked at the main considerations to take into account when buying them, let’s look at some of the best options available to buy right now. All prices below are accurate as of time of writing this article.
FootJoy winter golf boots - £94.99
- Designed for Challenging Conditions: Ideal for autumn and winter golfing when weather is inclement and the course is soft.
- Premium Features: Constructed with soft, full-grain leather and a thermal lining for warmth and comfort, and equipped with Pulsar LP cleats by Softspikes® for excellent grip and stability.
- Waterproof and Durable: Offers 1-year waterproof warranty and built to withstand the demands of off-season golfing.
Puma GS-X Efekt winter golf boots - £109
- Inspired by RS-X: Designed with a street-style aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the popular RS-X sneaker.
- Winterized Performance: Provides warmth and comfort on the course during cold weather with features like a textile lining and extended boot collar.
- Spikeless Design: Offers enhanced traction and stability on the course while maintaining a sleek, low-profile look.
Adidas S2G RAIN.RDY winter golf boots - £89
- Superior Performance: Features Lightstrike technology midsole for cushioning and an Adiwear rubber outsole for excellent traction.
- Waterproof Protection: Crafted with full-grain leather for water resistance to keep your feet dry in any weather.
- Enhanced Stability: Includes a TPU heel clip for added stability during your swing.
Puma DryLBL winter golf boots - £99
- Superior Performance: Features Lightstrike technology midsole for cushioning and an Adiwear rubber outsole for excellent traction.
- Waterproof Protection: Crafted with full-grain leather for water resistance to keep your feet dry in any weather.
- Enhanced Stability: Includes a TPU heel clip for added stability during your swing.
FootJoy Stormwalker winter golf boots - £118
- Extreme Weather Protection: Designed to withstand harsh conditions with features like soft, full-grain leather and thermal linings.
- Enhanced Comfort: Features a molded High-Density EVA FitBed for comfort and control, and a lightweight, responsive cushioned midsole.
- Durable Construction: Built with a Dura-max rubber outsole compound for durability and traction
Stuburt Evolve Sport 2 winter golf boots - £63
- Extreme Weather Protection: Designed to withstand harsh conditions with features like soft, full-grain leather and thermal linings.
- Enhanced Comfort: Features a molded High-Density EVA FitBed for comfort and control, and a lightweight, responsive cushioned midsole.
- Durable Construction: Built with a Dura-max rubber outsole compound for durability and traction
So there you have it, some options to help keep your feet warm and dry and help you play your best golf this winter. If you’re still looking to finalise your winter golf set-up, then check out some of my other winter golf-related blog posts including the best winter golf fairway mats on Amazon, 15 winter golf essentials to play better golf, and how to choose the right golf ball for winter conditions.
Thanks again for reading and if you have any comments or recommendations, drop them in the comments area below.
