Athalonz EnVe Golf Shoe
The Athalonz EnVe golf shoe has a bold design and even bolder claims on the benefits of technology packed inside. But seriously, how much can a golf shoe really improve your game? The golf gear market is saturated with gimmicks and outlandish promises of products that will take strokes off your score card. Some are true, but many more are a ploy. As soon as I slipped on the Athalonz, I knew which category they’d fall into and over several rounds, both walking and riding, my initial thoughts were confirmed.
The Looks
As previously mentioned, Athalonz’s bold design incorporates several different materials into one silhouette. Personally, I found the variety of materials to be a bit overpowering. I decided to go with the white/anthracite colorway (white/tan and black/steel grey also available) and noticed a few things after several rounds. The large black stripe across the toe box of each shoe is a bit of a distraction, but breaks up the all-white body of the shoe. The gray inner liner and black heel cap contrast nicely. Looking down over the top of the shoe, the toe box is a bit wide for my liking but the wide base has functionality that Athalonz claims will help your game. More on that later.
It is also important to note that after several wet late-season rounds these white shoes cleaned up nicely – a factor I rarely seen talked about in shoe reviews. Overall, I think these are a good looking golf shoe, a bit over-architected with leather and a variety of other materials, but the real claim to fame of the EnVe is the technology rather than the aesthetics.
Comfort Level
The first thing I noticed when I slipped on the Athalonz EnVe on was the great arch support, and let me tell you, it made a big difference. Also, the EnVe has a tongueless design that is super comfortable and feels very secure. An easily overlooked feature, the antimicrobial Merino Wool insole was a big plus for a cold morning round.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. I am a huge advocate and fan of walking when playing golf. I find I play better and just enjoy my rounds more. To put the EnVe to the test, I played 36 holes my first time wearing them. After walking the first 18, my feet were warm, dry and surprisingly still feeling good compared to my usual rotation of shoes. My next round I hopped in a cart, but my feet still felt great after 36.
It is important to note, the EnVe runs ½ a size small. Athalonz offers free exchanges to ensure you get the right fit.
On-Course Performance
Athalonz says the EnVe will “guide you to a more optimal athletic position, to reduce sway and give you the power to reach your genetic potential”. The EnVe achieves this through their midsole which keeps your weight on the inside of your foot to promote a balanced and powerful base. But how well does all this actually work?
After several rounds, the stability of the EnVe was certainly noticeable. On full shots and ones where you need a little extra “mmph”, the shoe gave me that confidence. Athalonz is definitely onto something here. The tilt inward is noticeable but not overpowering and the confidence it instills is something I’d argue not many shoes can do. I felt extremely grounded and that I could rotate onto my back heel without getting my weight outside my knee. On the flip side though, I found I needed slightly more effort to finish on my left side and let my hips clear.
Outside of the midsole tilt technology and benefits, I was initially nervous about the traction of the EnVe. For all the balance and stability claims I would have expected a more robust and protruding spike structure. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the traction quality. I experienced no slippage ever on morning dew covered turf. Overall I was impressed by the performance of the EnVe and it will be a staple in my shoe rotation.
Final Thoughts – Athalonz EnVe Golf Shoe
Overall, the Athalonz EnVe is a high performance premium golf shoe. With benefits you can actually feel in your game, the EnVe can provide stability and confidence when standing over the ball. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing to my eye, but with these benefits I can easily overlook a few design aspects. While it may not suit all golfers, I think there is a large group of golfers who could see immediate and sustained benefits from the perks of the EnVe.
These shoes look like crap after 1 round in wet conditions. The woven part of the shoes traps dirst that you cannot get clean.
I would never buy another pair