Ready to ditch your old vans for some fresh disc golf kicks? Keep reading for the best options for you!
Do You Actually Need Disc Golf Shoes?
The short answer is no (gasp). A lot of blogs will hype up the benefits of specific shoes and claim you need them for superior traction and torque for your throws, but not us. The reality is, any shoe with good comfort, traction, and support will work great for the vast majority of casual disc golfers. Disc golf is also (thankfully) not like traditional golf which has dress codes and mandatory footwear.
That being said, if you’re an ultra-competitive player looking for the very best in your equipment or just need a new pair of hiking/disc golf shoes, we’ve got a list of the best options here to help you out.
Benefits of Disc Golf Shoes
We’ll keep these brief. A good pair of hiking or disc golf shoes offer the player much more traction and support than casual shoes. This is important not only for throwing off slippery tee pads, but also hiking between holes.
The Best Disc Golf Shoes
These are the best disc golf shoes on the market in 2023 for any budget. Starting with…
Asics Gel-Venture 8
Disc golf and trail running shoes are often not cheap, but the Asics Gel-Venture 8 really stands out in the budget category. Stiff but comfortable with good color variety, these are a great options if you’re looking for sub $70 shoes.
Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes
I’ve been a big fan of Adidas trail running shoes for a while and this particular version is a favorite of 6x disc golf world champion Paul McBeth. The Terrex Swift R3’s traction is the best on this list as it features as super grippy rubber sole.
Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 8
If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish as you hit the course, check out the Nike Terra Kiger series! These look and feel great, but do carry a premium price tag. You can find both the men’s and women’s versions available in several color options.
WHITIN Minimalist Trail Runner
I’ve been getting into barefoot shoes recently and had to include one on the list as they are popular in the disc golf community as well. This WHITIN Trail Running shoe offers a great mixture of traction, fashion, and function. While barefoot shoes are not for everyone, they do offer a lot of benefits like a wider toe box and improved ankle mobility.
Idio Sports Syncrasy
2022 gave us the first ever shoe designed specifically for disc golf, the Idio Sport Syncrasy. Because they are 100% made for disc golf, these shoes have a lot of unique features that other shoes on this list don’t.
First they have a toe guard that protects the shoe from damage from toe dragging as well as a unique thread pattern that allows rotation for throwing while still being grippy. A few pros have also given high praise to the Syncrasy including Nate Sexton and Corey Ellis.
While we mentioned at the beginning of the article that you don’t HAVE to get dedicated disc golf shoes, these are a great option if you’re looking to take things a bit more seriously.
Merrell Nova 3
The Merrell Nova 3 is definitely the most expensive on the list, but is one of the most feature packed. They’re super comfortable, breathable, and have a good grip pattern for disc golf, plus are waterproof if you’re willing to spend $40 more. This is a great high-quality hybrid option for both hiking and disc golf.
Which One is Best for You?
A lot depends on your budget and preferences. If you’re looking for the best bang-for-your buck shoe, we recommend the Asics Gel-Venture 8 (these were also a favorite at a sporting goods store I used to work at). If you’re willing to pay a bit more, why not try the Idio Sports Syncrasy which is the first and currently only dedicated disc golf shoe? Finally, for those looking for more ankle mobility and some of the other benefits that barefoot shoes provide, we recommend the WHITIN trail running barefoot shoes.
Did we miss your favorite disc golf shoe? If so leave a comment! Check out our other guides like the best discs for beginners and best disc golf bags.
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