The shoe to reach for once the courses turn wet and heavy. A fully waterproof leather upper, Boost and Lightstrike cushioning, and seven-spike traction kept feet dry and stable through damp early mornings and soft winter ground without a hint of slipping. It’s also available in an all-black colourway, which not only suits the darker months but hides winter mud and staining far better than the whites – another reason it’s such a strong pick for the season. Straight out of the box comfort too, with no breaking-in period needed.

A trainer-like look and feel with enough traction and stability to actually trust your swing on. New Axislock heel tech and a redesigned Twistgrip outsole with 120% more coverage than the previous model made these comfortable straight out of the box, and at £120 they represent some of the best value in the whole spikeless category this year.

The one to own if you only want one pair. A genuinely new auxetic upper material moulds around the foot in both spiked and spikeless guises, meaning it copes just as well with a competitive medal round as a relaxed nine holes. Already has Tour pedigree too – Patrick Reed wore them to a win at the Dubai Desert Classic.

The shoe for looking the part – classic saddle styling and hand-selected full-grain leather give it a premium feel straight out of the box that no trainer-style shoe can match. A new stability frame through the midfoot and heel means it performs as well as it looks, even if it’s heavier and pricier than the trainer-style alternatives.

A retro, tennis-shoe-inspired look with a wide, breathable fit that makes it the one to grab on the hottest days of the year. The gum-soled Adiwear outsole kept its grip even in damp spring testing, and at under £100 it remains one of the smartest budget buys in golf, even if it lacks the premium cushioning of Adidas’ pricier models.

Inspired by Adidas shoes from the 1970s, the MC70 blends genuine waterproof leather with Boost and Lightstrike cushioning at a price that undercuts most classic-styled rivals. It’s not quite on the same level as the Premiere Series for outright quality, but it’s a smart, stylish entry point into the classic golf shoe category.

Built off Under Armour’s Halo running shoe line, this leans more into lifestyle than pure performance, with a chunky, cushioned sole that works just as well for a trip to the range or the clubhouse as it does for 18 holes. Comfort was hard to fault, even if the bulky footprint won’t be for everyone.

A 10th-anniversary reinvention that’s 29% lighter than the previous model, with a new ARCTrax/SL outsole using football-boot-style blades rather than nubs for grip. Traction on wet, greasy links turf was outstanding, though the switch from leather to a synthetic Z-TEC upper won’t win over every FootJoy loyalist.

Adidas revive the Adipower name for the first time since 2019 with a wider, more substantial footprint that suits golfers with wider feet particularly well. A new Infinity Traxion outsole and Repetitor midsole delivered strong stability and grip in damp conditions, even if the chunkier styling proved divisive.