Golfkicks Spikes
I’m a blend of two of the most passionate, and arguably insufferable, hobbyists in the world. Sneakerheads and Golfers. I’ve covered my sneaker passion quite a bit over the years on this site and I’ve been just as guilty as anyone of waiting in lines, staying up all night to get the latest drop, and chasing down hype releases that were nowhere near worth the time in retrospect. Oddly, a lot of “golf hobbying and collecting” lines up very well with sneaker culture. Hell, they often collide in the form of rare Jordan, Air Max, and Adidas golf shoe releases. Some similar cross-hobby golf guys set out to find a way to make their favorite and most comfortable sneakers golf-course capable. Thus, Golfkicks spikes were born.
Golfkicks spikes have been repeatedly mentioned to me by other “sneakerheads” knowing I’m a huge golf guy. The concept is pretty simple. Take a couple of handfuls of some soft spikes with Metallicore Traction and screw them into the bottom of your favorite sneaker. Next, go play golf. So that’s what I did with an admitted sense of skepticism.
What’s in the Box?
At the time I purchased my spikes straight from the Golfkicks website, the package included 20 spikes, a HEX hand tool, a HEX bit if you want to use a drill, and two ball markers. Golfkicks recommends that you use a dab of Shoe Goo on each spike which would have been nice to have included. In recently checking their site, it now appears they are including a small tube of Shoe Goo in the box. Guess I was just a little too early.
Golfkicks Installation
Golfkicks provides a pretty useful video on their site explaining how to install the spikes on your shoes. Basically all you need to do is stick your hand in the shoe to create a firm base to push against, and then screw the spike in the sole. It’s recommended to screw them in between cracks if possible, or a flat surface if not. Do not install them on a raised surface like a nub. One thing I will say is that I don’t think installation is as easy and precise as Golfkicks says.
In the picture above, I installed it the same as I did the rest of the spikes. The screw was tearing a hole in between the cracks, but ultimately just ripped the chunk of rubber out and didn’t “grab”. This is one of the elements that left me a little skeptical heading into golf. I also found sometimes that doing this by drill was easier, and other spots in the sole needed to be done by hand. You really just have to get a feel for it. In the interest of doing a thorough review, I installed half the spikes WITH Shoe Goo, and half without.
On-Course Performance
The first thing I want to address is the importance of using Shoe Goo with Golfkicks. To test out their recommendation, I used Shoe Goo on one shoe, no Shoe Goo on the other shoe. In much less than 18 holes, I lost two spikes in the non-Shoe Goo shoe. All eight spikes survived on the Shoe Goo side for the full round. Long story short, Shoe Goo isn’t just a suggestion with Golfkicks, it’s an absolute must. Especially for roughly $40 a box after shipping. Pretty steep if you’re always shedding spikes.
Comfort is going to depend completely on the shoe you pick to install the spikes on. With a thicker and firmer sole, you won’t really notice the spikes too much. I used Nike Dunkestos which are just a basic Nike Dunk sole and I could feel each spike in my foot. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a pulsating pain, but I’d prefer to not feel them if I had the option.
In terms of functional use, I was actually somewhat impressed by the grip of the spikes. I never encountered any real slipping issues and felt like I had a strong foundation. There were also a few moments where I felt like, “it’s kind of nice having the feel of a street shoe” in regards to ground response. I felt like I had much more feedback from the ground beneath my feet. This was especially noticeable in bunkers.
Final Thoughts – Golfkicks Spikes
Ultimately I feel like there are many different variables that will contribute to your satisfaction with Golfkicks spikes. Frankly, unless you’re adding to them a pair of shoes like some Vans or Chucks, I’d rather stick with a purpose-built golf shoe. Between the installation process and cost, it just doesn’t feel that worth it to me. Golfkicks spikes are certainly a fun novelty if you don’t mind the spend and just have to wear a certain shoe on the golf course to complete your look. From that perspective, they’re good. Would I “ruin” an expensive pair of Jordans not intended for golf play with these? No, I’d rather stick with a sneaker-based shoe built for golf straight out of the factory…or a sick custom sole swap.
As a golf enthusiast, when it comes to shoes I have concluded that shows are more than just the spikes on the some. There is much research done regarding lateral forces on the shoe during the swing and the shoes are built accordingly. Slapping some spikes on a shoe doesn’t make it a golf shoe. It is a shoe with spikes; not necessarily built for golf.
Couldn’t agree more.
Thank u very much for the review. I was going to buy but after reading ur review, naaa…Avid golfer also. Thanks again.
This might be a dumb question — but what are the characteristics of a golf shoe vs. a normal athletic shoe? Firm heel cup for lateral stability, a slightly wider base, and traction? (There’s also waterproofing and spikes, but those don’t apply to ALL golf shoes.)
Reason I ask is, I have not just wide but oddly-shaped feet, feel like I’ve tried just about everything on the market, and it’s a never-ending struggle to find golf shoes that remain comfortable after 18 or 36. If I can find something with a wide enough base and a firm heel, I was thinking these might be worth a shot. But what other elements make a shoe purpose-build for golf? Don’t want to waste money on an experiment like this if there’s something obvious that I’m missing — which I very well could be!
That’s tough to answer since there are just so many different options out there that essentially address everything. I personally think a standard of golf shoe tends to be a more rigid sole and mid sole section to withstand the torque put on them and meet traction needs. That said, there are plenty of golf shoes out there that are the exact opposite of that.
I feel like what you’re describing and looking for is something often addressed by FootJoy and ECCO. Golfkicks spikes would not receive a ringing endorsement from me to address your needs, but they aren’t that expensive, so if you’re in a desperate times situation, maybe take a shot?
Here is a problem no one addressed. If you golf a lot as I do, I will easily go through more then one set of spikes on one pair of shoes. Replacement soft spikes run around 10-12 dollars as opposed to 33 dollars for each set of your spikes. Toooo expensive.