adidas #CodeChaos Boa Golf Shoe Review

Review by Kevin Heggie

In recent years, Adidas have made some outstanding golf shoes which regularly feature in the top buy rankings across the golfing community. This year sees them launch the #CodeChaos range which, in their words, bring “a new line meant to challenge the definition of what a golf shoe can be”. As an owner of some spikeless Boost shoes which I love (and also just about cope with British winter golf), I was interested to compare this new range, especially in wintery conditions, to see if they can perform as an all year round shoe.

Looks & Features

In terms of first impressions, I’m not sure there’ll be a shoe launched this year which will provoke a reaction as strong as these, and I can see these being a true “Marmite” shoe, especially in this colourway. Some people will love the fact that they are so different and bold, with styling cues from other sports such as football and basketball enabling them to stand apart on the course. However, for many, it may be too much, but the good news is that across the #CodeChaos range there are other more traditionally styled shoes which will have broader appeal, and even in the Boa range there’s more conservative options in Tech Indigo and Cloud White.

In terms of the key features which standout, first up is the Boa fastening and hydrophobic stretch-knit sockliner. This is the first time I’ve tried a Boa shoe, and the initial impressions are very positive - easy to secure and undo, they ensured a snug fit was easily achieved keeping the shoe in place throughout use, with no blisters to report! The Boa fastening plus the sockliner also enabled the shoes to come on and off relatively easily which was positive to report given their boot styling.

Next up is the spikeless outsole, developed using grip-predictive analytics, which really stands out (helped by the contrasting colours across the range). Devised based on the way golfers distribute and shift their weight throughout the swing, Adidas were able to determine exactly where traction was needed most and what lug shapes would provide the best grip, regardless of conditions. As such, this spikeless pattern really gives you confidence that there’s going to be no issues on the course, with some of the most pronounced grips I’ve seen on a spikeless golf shoe. 

Finally, whilst these shoes look relatively bulky, the lightness of the shoe is really pleasing to see (and feel). The newly developed multi-mesh waterproof upper has a foam-like texture, and with the full-length BOOST cushioning providing all-around comfort they certainly feel like a shoe you could easily play 36 holes in a day without issue.

On Course Performance

At the time of review, the UK was experiencing one of the wettest periods in recent history, so conditions were perfect to determine if these could perform on saturated and boggy courses. Literally from the first step onto the course water and mud were making their presence felt, but also not staying around too long on either the surface of the shoe or within the sole, and my feet remained dry throughout (unlike the bottom of my trousers!). 

In terms of grip, I was really impressed with how stable and secure the shoe was when walking around the course, and during golf swings I felt the shoe was very stable underfoot, with no slipping experienced, and the Boa fitting also kept the shoe securely in place. 

Finally, at the end of the round I was pleased to see how easily they cleaned up - as you can see below, after a quick wipe down the shoes were returned to close to pristine condition.

Verdict

Pros

A great spikeless shoe which also performs in the wettest of conditions, with exceptional grip, comfort, and bold styling.

Cons

The styling won’t be for everyone, and the price point puts them towards the top end within the market.

The Bottom Line

The #CodeChaos boa shoe certainly stands out from the crowd and backs it up with great on course performance.

Rating: 9/10