Puma IGNITE NXT Solelace Golf Shoe
While IGNITE foam is nothing new in the Puma Golf shoe world, Puma’s still found a way to take their shoes to the NXT level. I can’t claim credit for that statement. That’s actually Puma’s tagline for the new NXT lineup. “The iconic IGNITE spikeless franchise has been taken to the NXT level!” There are three versions in the IGNITE NXT lineup, but the most innovative is the new Solelace model. The Puma IGNITE NXT Solelace utilizes a new lacing system to give you the ultimate in comfort, support, and feel.
The Looks
There is nothing traditional whatsover with the looks of the Puma IGNITE NXT Solelace shoes. That said, the look is totally Puma Golf. It’s not hard to picture these being worn on the feet of Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau. (I think they match Lexi’s style, but I don’t think she wears spikeless or soft shoes often.) The shoe is made of a non-stretch, waterproof mesh vamp (the front/toe part of the shoe) and a neoprene-like rear of the shoe. The focal point is the TPU system attached to the midsole. It’s pretty wild how the shoe looks like it laces up the side more than the middle. While it looks this way, the laces go across the whole foot.
The IGNITE NXT Solelace is offered in four different colors. There are three pretty basic colors which are black, grey (pictured here), and navy. My favorite of the group, however, is the fourth option – Olive/Silver/Black with the orange sole. Make sure to check those ones out!
Comfort Level
Puma has made some of the most comfortable spikeless golf shoes in the game for awhile. At least that’s my opinion. The upper is extremely comfortable and breathable, and so far I haven’t had any water issues. Admittedly, I haven’t played in pouring rain or hit shots out of a water hazard penalty area yet. The IGNITE foam midsole is just as amazingly comfortable as previous executions. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The one area to pay attention to is sizing. I find Puma’s sizing to normally be pretty consistent, but the spikeless shoes can fluctuate. My opinion is that the NXT Solelace runs a touch big. If you get the sizing wrong, you could have some extra toe dragging behind you. It’s not a negative, but it’s important to make sure you try them on in my opinion. Get your sizing right!
Let’s talk about this “Solelace” concept. I will be the first person to admit that I thought it was a gimmick at first. If anything, I thought it would just feel like a bunch of strings pulled tightly across the top of my feet. Well, I’m all in on Solelace. Not only is the support great, but the feel is that the top of the shoe is molded to give you a custom fit. That feel is very comfortable and makes for a very pleasant wear for extended periods of time.
On-Course Performance
First, let’s discuss how well the Solelace system performs. The Puma IGNITE NXT Solelace system connects the top of the shoe directly to the midsole. In traditional lacing, the sides of the shoe are just pulled together at the top of the foot with little regard to fitting the full foot perfectly. There is great support as a result of the Solelace concept and zero “float” or movement in the shoe during the swing. The end result is a shoe that provides great ground feedback and makes you feel more in control of your footwork. I think the best way I can describe it is that you feel very locked in wearing the IGNITE NXT Solelace.
I’ve stood corrected already in this review so I’ll do it again in the performance section. I saw pictures of the IGNITE NXT spikeless lineup when they were announced and couldn’t imagine these having great grip. Well, turns out, the new traction system in the IGNITE NXT Solelace grips extremely well. Puma used “more than 100 strategically placed directional hexagon lugs in proper zones for increased traction throughout the swing delivering even more grip and power.” At no point did I feel like I was going to slip or have balance issues. Throughout the swing, I felt very connected to the ground and stable. Walking the course was easy and at no point did I experience any slip issues. The traction is very solid.
Final Thoughts
Simply put, I genuinely love the Puma IGNITE NXT Solelace golf shoes. In my opinion, the NXT Solelace is the perfect summer golf shoe. The combination of lightweight comfort, breathability, great ground response, and stability make for a great wear over 18 holes and the car ride home. When you hold the shoe in your hand, there’s no way you expect to have the support you get on the course. I’m certain that the Solelace concept is just getting started and we will see it again in many future Puma golf shoes.
I have been curious about this Puma IGNITE NXT Solelace. This review as given me great substense on whether or not I should purchase it.. Awesome review .
Thank you!