Puma Alphacat Nitro Golf Shoe
The Puma Alphacat is named based on the claim of being the “alpha of all spikeless shoes”. While a bold claim, this lightweight golf shoe is regarded for its blend of comfort and performance. Through the infusion of nitrogen into the midsole, the Puma Alphacat Nitro is designed to be one of the most comfortable shoes you’ll wear on the golf course.
The Looks
Puma offers the Alpha Nitro in four different colorways. There’s the black-quiet shade-red pictured and three variations of white. Those are white-black-gum, white-red-navy, and a modest white-feather gray. The Puma Alphacat Nitro has a somewhat moderate profile and a smooth sneaker silhouette. They definitely have more of a “golf course” look and feel rather than a “casual street” look. That said, they can be worn appropriately around the clubhouse after your round.
If you take a closer look, the “EXOshell” upper has a mesh texture to it. This material has a TPU film covering it to make the shoe waterproof so your feet will stay dry in all conditions. In addition to keeping your feet dry, the shoe’s upper will also help provide support and a comfortable fit around your foot.
Comfort Level
Often times when a golf shoe is too lightweight, it feels flimsy and uncomfortable which leads to a long day on the course. By infusing nitrogen into the midsole, Puma was able to keep the Alphacat Nitro responsive while staying ultra lightweight. While I’m not a scientist and can’t speak to the impact from the midsole’s molecular makeup, I can say that the Alphacat Nitro is extremely lightweight, but the shoe’s support and structure maintain their integrity. The footbed is soft enough to be pleasant, but not so soft it’s spongy and hard on your feet. Trust me, in golf, you don’t want a soft and squishy shoe.
The EXOshell upper is softer than a traditional leather upper, but firmer than your typical soft shell. I would argue this takes a little breaking in, but it’s still plenty wearable right out of the box. It also provides a nice level of support without squeezing the life out of your foot. The Alphacat Nitro is plenty comfortable around the whole top of your foot, especially around the ankle area. There’s lightweight, breathable padding around the cuff of the shoe so you’ll stay nice and blister free.
On-Course Performance
The real primary component of a golf shoe’s performance is your “connection to the ground”. In my opinion, this ultimately comes down to traction, balance, and ground feedback. Though a spikeless shoe, the Puma Alphacat Nitro’s Alphacat outsole has a high level of grip. So much so that I’d argue it’s not the greatest in the parking lot when you get to the course. Especially when wet. However, you’ll be fine strolling around the clubhouse or bar, and obviously on course. The outsole is made up of multiple materials with the perimeter material being a “high-durometer” TPU that’s durable and grips well. The other material toward the center of the foot is a bit softer for more flexibility, but its diverse shapes of lugs also play a key role in the shoe’s grip. Overall, I would say the Alphacat Nitro has more grip than your typical spikeless shoe, but it also has a much more aggressive tread.
That Alphacat outsole also helps maintain a stable foundation so you stay balanced and connected during your swing. With a stable platform, the combination of outsole and Nitro Elite foam midsole also gives you strong ground response. The feedback through the bottom of the shoe allows you to keep a good feel for your lie so you can make the required golf swing for any shot. Being able to feel the ground beneath your feet is key all over the golf course and the Puma Alphacat Nitro does that well.
Final Thoughts – Puma Alphacat Nitro Golf Shoe
In my opinion, the Puma Alphacat Nitro golf shoes fall in a middle ground between traditional and spikeless golf shoes. They’re lightweight with a soft and flexible body, but they have traction and stability that exceeds your typical spikeless shoe. The nitrogen-infused midsole is very comfortable and there’s certainly no question that the Alphacat Nitro is about as lightweight as a fully functional golf shoe with this level of traction can get. So if you’re looking to live with a foot in the best of both worlds (or both feet I guess…), the Puma Alphacat Nitro golf shoes are definitely worth trying on the next time you visit your golf store of choice.
