What does the future of golf footwear look like?
Oakley seems to have a good idea.
Yes, that Oakley. The brand that makes arguably the best golf sunglasses. The reason they’ve been so dominant in the sunglasses space is their willingness to stay on the cutting edge of design and tech.
And if Oakley is willing to do that with eyewear, why can’t they do the same thing with golf footwear?
At least, that’s the thought. It sounds great in theory but not all about the Oakely Edge Elite is a success story.
What I liked
The first thing I noticed (and you noticed) was the futuristic design language of the Edge Elite. It’s a golf shoe that looks like no other golf shoe (well, outside of the Edge Icon that I wrote about a few years ago).
It’s cutting edge. It’s unique. It’s bold. And I dig it.
I love rocking up to the course without the fear of my playing partner having the same shoes as me. In a game that can often place emphasis on uniformity and conformity, I like to stand out with my footwear.
The futuristic design features two key elements that I’m a big fan of: the shroud/closure system and the POD traction system.
Both are fairly self-explanatory but both serve a purpose. The zippered shroud provides waterproofness. The cinch-style lacing closure acts as a quick way to lock your foot into place. This system makes the Edge Icon one of the better-fitting golf shoes I’ve worn in a while.
The POD traction system (or those big, goofy looking bumps on the outsole) are more than just a fashion feature. It’s actually a fairly serviceable spikeless outsole. It works better than it looks (trust me on that one).
It’s not going to be a world beater when it comes to grip but it gets the job done.
The POD traction system also works as an outrigger in a way, providing extra width and stability to the base of the shoe. Consider me impressed.
What I didn’t like
The biggest gripe I have with the Oakley Edge Elite is the weight. It’s a beefy boy, for a lack of better terms. “Clunky” isn’t quite the right way to describe the Edge Elite experience because they’re actually pretty smooth for walking.
But the two things I like the most (the shroud and the POD traction) are probably what make the Edge Elite so darn heavy.
And in a game where fatigue is an enemy, I don’t know that I’d ever walk more than nine holes in the Edge Elite.
Take that for what it’s worth. Not everyone is a walker. Not every shoe is designed for the walk. And this one certainly works better as a casual round or range shoe than a pressure-packed tournament pair.
What do you think?
Have your say. Is the Oakley Edge Elite on your hit list? Or are you skipping this one? Drop a comment and let me know.
