New Balance Minimus Spikeless Golf Shoe
New Balance – a brand synonymous with running shoes and dads has entered the golf shoe scene with the fantastic Minimus spikeless golf shoe. These should jump to the top of the list of every golfer that look for a lightweight, high performance, super comfortable golf shoe.
The Looks
Not gonna lie, these look pretty fresh. You’re not going to find anything fancy or flashy here. The 1005 model is simple, classy, and features the necessary prime color choices of white or black, with a subtle gray heel and an accent choice of blue or neon green. It’s a sharp, modern look that’ll pair well with a nice pair of pants, or a nicer pair of cargo shorts.
The New Balance folks have combined technologies and materials like the NDurance rubber outsole, the shock supporting REVlite midsole, and the comfortable FantomFit upper to round out one stylish golf shoe.
Comfort Level
I’m a notorious shoe snob. Love em. However, I’m a guy with some really, really picky feet. My left foot is no fuss, while my right foot has never seen a shoe it got along with – ever. I’ve got some weird arches and an achy big toe, so pretty much every shoe needs some expensive insole or another other tweak. These New Balnace Minimus shoes were PERFECT straight out of the box. They had the perfect fit, with no gaps. Al Bundy himself could not have fit me any better.
The Minimus may be one of the lightest and most balanced shoes I’ve ever taken to the golf course. I’m not sure what the actual weight is, but it’s noticeable from your first hole, to your 36th. I’ll say there’s a time and place for the more heavy duty shoe (like the super severe weather days), but I tend to like not wearing cement blocks on my feet!
The biggest highlight of the Minimus for me is the low profile. It’s a spikeless shoe, so that’s part of the deal, but you’ll feel more connected to the ground compared to a standard shoe. That added comfort guarantees to save me many strokes on the golf course. Surely.
On-Course Performance
The spikeless golf shoe has gained a lot of traction (pun intended) in the last decade or so, and the usual trade-off is that you’re going to sacrifice a bit of grip and a bit of control for the added comfort. Things have changed. New Balance has created a golf shoe that gives you the comfort you want, with a sole design that minimizes slip outs from both the fairway and the rough. Another thing I like about the shoe is that it offers the right amount of support. It’s not the flexible tennis shoe feel, it’s not the rigid “takes a season to break in” leather shoe – it’s just right…
I’m about two months in with the New Balance Minimus. I’m finding it to be a great performer and an every-round shoe. It’s one of those things where if you notice issues with your shoes while you’re out there, it’s usually a problem. Zero issues here – you’re floating on air with these. It’s also been a good performer in wet weather. We’ve had some pretty soupy course conditions so far in the Midwest… so I’d know. New Balance offers a two year warranty, so we’re covered.
After about ten times out, they’ve held up well, but I’m not sure what things will look like after a year or so. You can already notice a small crease in the most high-wear area (the toes of my trailing foot) that does not completely “heal”. We’ll see how that turns out – I plan to wear these until they fall apart!
Final Thoughts
The New Balance Minimus gives golfers a great option for a lightweight, low profile golf shoe. They look great, and keep you firmly planted and in control of your golf swing. They’re reliably waterproof and well constructed, and my favorite part – great value. I’ve seen them online from $120 to $60, so low risk impulse buys are encouraged. This is my first NB golf shoe, but I’m sure I’ll be adding a few to the closet before too long.
