In this industry, objectivity is the goal. Any time you set out to review a product, skepticism is key. Your job is to offer a fair and balanced review of the product regardless of your tastes.
With that said, to say I was skeptic of the TRUE Linkswear's tour golf shoes before wearing them last week would be the understatement of the golf season.
The innovative shoes had received flawless reviews by major publications, independent websites, blogs and the company's brand ambassador, Ryan Moore. The funky shoes without spikes had my curiosity peaked but could they live up to the hype?
Fairly, balanced and wholeheartedly, I say yes.
In what was coincidentally my first round of the season, the TRUE white and black tour shoes lived up to the hype and my lofty expectations for a golf-market newbie going for $159. The innovative features --- which we'll get into below --- had me scratching my head at first but blew me away by executing their tasks perfectly.
LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN
It all starts with the weight of the shoes themselves. Checking in at at nearly half the weight of FootJoy's ReelFit shoes, the TRUE tour shoes are hardly noticeable aside from their unique appearance.
The company boasts that the shoe is the lightest worn on the PGA Tour. But how does the shoe remain so light?
SPIKELESS SOLE
The 'Ergo-Traction' sole features no spikes but rather a grooved tread pattern that maximizes your foot's contact with the ground and it's traction. Think of the TRUE tour's soles as the tread on a high-speed yet durable and effective tire.
I was able to wear the shoes on a foggy day following --- without exaggeration --- four straight days of rain. The morning dew that sat on top of drenched conditions wasn't ideal. The TRUE shoes handled the task brilliantly, allowing me the confidence to trust my legs --- in my first round of the year, nonetheless.
COMFORT
The TRUE tour shoes also feature the TRUE Barefoot Platform, which set them apart from the competition. Similar to the toed running shoes, TRUE's tour shoes feature a wide and ultra-natural area for your feet to work during your swing and while walking the course. The benefit of allowing your toes to sit and act naturally while walking and swinging does not go unnoticed.
The shoe's fitted sock liner and heel memory foam only add to the comfort and out-of-the-box reliable feel.
APPEARANCE
Perhaps the TRUE tour shoes' one flaw, depending on your fashion sense and style, is its appearance. Given the unique features like the wide toe platform and the spikeless sole, you're bound to get a few looks from within your foursome.
That said, the TRUE tour's standard golf-shoe leather pattern and design should allow you to blend in with your group.
Just be sure to gloat at the 19th hole when your partners are nursing their sore ankles and feet and you're ready to go play another 18.
