When you think about buying a new pair of golf shoes, you'd be forgiven if Duca Del Cosma wasn't the first brand that came to mind. Said to be bringing Italian fashion into golf, the footwear brand is promising an 'Italian Golf Evolution'.
With this evolution comes a number of very eye-catching, fashion conscious golf shoe designs. I got my hands on the sneaker-like Monterosso model ready for the 2020 season.
What's It All About?
First things first here - the Monterosso shoes are clearly designed to be worn both on and off the golf course. Made from soft premium Nappa leather, they are not the kind of golf shoes that scream performance like other modern-day golf shoes we test at Golfalot.com. The idea here is based upon style rather than substance. So if you're considering buying a pair of Duca Del Cosma Monterosso shoes - bear that in mind.
However, the Italian footwear brand has managed to get some technology into these shoes. They are fitted with an ergonomic, comfortable and removable soft Arneflex insole. This is basically memory foam which is then covered in cow leather, offering the golfer a nice level of comfort underneath the foot.
The outsole boasts a lightweight TR function with star-shaped 2-5mm nubs offering optimal grip during the the golf swing. These are a very similar design to a pair of astroturf football trainers. Nothing too complicated here. Simple, and hopefully effective.
The upper is made up of a combination of two panels of suede and smooth, soft leather which combine to give a luxurious look and feel to the overall design of the shoe. There is also a membrane system to ensure your feet stay warm and dry but these shoes are also non-waterproof, but just how 'warm and dry' will be interesting to find out...
The Test
I took the Monterosso shoes out for a spin at Stockport Golf Club on a dry day. There was however enough moisture on the course to put the membrane system to the test. After some recent rainfall at the time of testing the course was damp underfoot.
I also drove to the golf course wearing the shoes, to see how practical they were to wear off the course in normal day to day activities.
Duca Del Cosma Monterosso Golf Shoes Review
The first thing I liked about the Monterosso shoes when putting them on was how lightweight and supple they were. One thing that I think you can lose sometimes in the 'performance' golf shoes that I have reviewed recently is interaction with the ground. I felt this with shoes like: Adidas Tour360 XT and the Under Armour HOVR Drive, where the outsole is very deep so you feel quite far from the ground when standing over the ball.
I have always liked to be low to the ground when playing golf. It may not always mean that you have the ultimate comfort but still I have always felt more balance during the golf swing that way. With the Monterosso, you're definitely low to the ground - the outsole feels thin and very lightweight so there isn't much between your feet and the turf. Almost like a fashionable boat-shoe, but as I've mentioned, in drier conditions - I liked it.
In wetter conditions however - this would be a nightmare, so straight away it was easy to see that you were quite restricted as to when you could play in these shoes. Put it this way - I can't see them coming out of your locker much in the winter months.
With these shoes being made with fashion at the forefront, I wouldn't be reviewing them without talking about the design. Duca Del Cosma golf shoe designs will divide opinion in general. I have to admit, I'm not really a fan of some of the Italian company's designs. Whether they are stylish or not, I think the unusual designs and loud colourways can look quite unattractive. However, I think with the Monterosso, you've got the best looking in the collection.
They have a familiar upper design that can be likened to iconic Converse All-Star sneakers. The toe area, lacing and lining on the sole of the shoe are all similar features, which I liked, the design is fashionable and quirky but not over the top. It doesn't look like it's trying too hard to be different like some of the other shoes in the Duca Del Cosma range.
I liked the look of the contrast between the suede and leather on the upper, this combo shouted Italian style. However, again when it comes to moisture on a golf course the suede is very hard to keep clean as you can see by the picture below.
Even when testing in dry conditions, the suede got wet and marked up as the outsole is so thin. Over time this would annoy a lot of golfers and the suede would no longer look so smart.
Traction-wise I was impressed. As I have already mentioned, I felt low to the ground due to the lightweight design, and I think that always helps to feel stable during the swing. There is no big technology story here with the Monterosso shoes. You just get a lightweight TR function outsole, covered in small nubs to give you simple traction.
At first inspection, I wondered whether they would do enough to give me the grip I needed through 18 holes of golf. But to be honest they did. Ok, I was hardly glued to the turf, and they hardly offered me the level of grip from a shoe like the FootJoy Pro|SL I recently tested. But, having said that - at no point during my test did I slip or lose my balance because of the shoes.
As you can see I tested the shoes in the navy colourway, which I judged to be the nicest looking pair in the range. However the Monterosso does come available in a total of 6 colours, so I'm sure every golfer is bound to find something that suits their eye.
Duca Del Cosma Monterosso Shoes Verdict
All in all, in contrast to a lot of the other shoes in the Duca Del Cosma shoe range, the Monterosso is simple and effective in both design and functionality. They are a comfy, lightweight, eye-catching pair of shoes that on the right day will see the more fashion conscious golfers looking good on the course.
The only drawback I can see that may put people off is the price tag. As you'd expect it is more on the premium side of things, given the premium Italian leather that has gone into the shoe. £129.99 is expensive considering the amount of times you would actually wear these shoes throughout the season. It will all depend on how much golfers like the aesthetics of the shoe when they try them on.
Would I Use It?
Yes, but only on certain occasions. Never would I wear shoes like this in a Saturday medal or any game where I was feeling competitive. But to be honest Duca Del Cosma make no bones about the fact that these shoes are about bringing style to the golf course, and although they may not have been successful at doing that with every shoe in the 2020 collection, they have with the Monterosso.
These shoes are perfect for the holiday round of golf, the evening 9 holes in summer, the half hour putting practice session. The round of golf where you play a few holes then head to the bar for a quick drink afterwards - which turns into 3 or 4 - but it doesn't matter as the shoes you are wearing look just as at home on the 9th hole as they do in the 19th.
Pros
- Look good both on and off the course, styling will go with most outfits and trousers
- Lightweight and supple
- Traction wasn't bad
- Comfy shoe for general golfing use
Cons
- Can only really be worn in warm, dry conditions
- Suede part of the upper will be hard to keep clean as shown in test
- Non-waterproof
- Expensive given the lack of performance elements in the shoe
