8 Best FootJoy Golf Shoes for Men: Compare & Save (2019)

8 Best FootJoy Golf Shoes for Men: Compare & Save (2019) - Heavy.com

8 Best FootJoy Golf Shoes for Men: Compare & Save (2019) - Heavy.com
Review: Northwave Clan Flat Pedal Shoes - Pinkbike.com
Zion Williamson could sign with a Chinese shoe company - Yahoo Finance
Trail Running in the Custom Tecnica Origin Shoes - Outside

8 Best FootJoy Golf Shoes for Men: Compare & Save (2019) - Heavy.com

Posted: 20 Jun 2019 07:02 PM PDT

(FootJoy/Amazon)

When it comes to the most important golf accessories, shoes have to be near the top of the list. If your feet aren't comfortable, it's going to be a long day on the course. And FootJoy golf shoes are widely considered to be some of the top ones on the market today.

So we've come up with a list below of some of FJ's most popular models to help you narrow down your choice. You'll find all sorts of shoes, including those that are waterproof, classic styles, and both spiked and spikeless pairs. Keep reading to see which FootJoy golf shoes are the right ones for you.

Review: Northwave Clan Flat Pedal Shoes - Pinkbike.com

Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:05 AM PDT

When Italian company Northwave set out to develop a new flat pedal shoe, they knew they had to bring something really good to the table in order to get riders to consider stepping away from the more well-known options on the market.

By partnering with Michelin, Northwave believes they have the rubber compound - one of the most important parts of a flat pedal shoe - figured out. The Clan shoe is designed to be stiff but not overly clunky or difficult to move in, with ample padding and protection throughout.

The Clan is part of Northwave's "Pro" line of shoes. It comes in black, blue, and orange colors and sells for $149.99 USD.

Northwave Clan Details
• Michelin rubber sole
• Internal adapted TPU shank
• Reinforced toe and heel
• Rubber sidewall arch support
• Tread on toe for walking traction
• Colors: black, blue, orange
• Weight: 484 grams per shoe, size 43
• $149.99 USD
• www.northwave.com

Construction

The Clan is Northwave's top of the line gravity flat pedal shoe. Northwave developed two different soles with Michelin, the "Gravity Top" used in the Clan and then the "Gravity" which is used for the more sport-level shoe, the Tribe. The Gravity Top sole has a few things that separate it from the lower-end Gravity sole, including its tread pattern, increased arch support, and EVA cushioning.

The tread compound on the shoe is inspired by Michelin's Jet XCR tire. It's made to offer a lot of traction on wet and slippery surfaces while still being durable enough to hold up to being repeatedly poked by pedal pins. The tread pattern on the toe and heel is designed to provide traction during hike-a-bike sections of a ride. In the middle of the shoe, where the shoes will sit on the pedals, there's a smoother flat area with cuts and sipes for locking into the pins and keeping your feet securely in place.

There's an internal shank that's designed to keep the shoe stiff and firmly secured around the shape of the rider's foot. Last but not least, an elastic lace trap is used to keep the shoelaces from becoming ensnared in your chain, or wrapped around a crankarm.

Performance

Right out of the box, the Clan was noticeably well supported yet comfortable. My foot is a tad on the narrow side, and I found that I did have some extra room in the toe box, but I wasn't slipping or sliding around in the shoe. The heel cup is stout and does an excellent job of keeping the foot supported, and there is ample arch support as well. The Clan laces up nicely and the laces stow out of the way with the elastic band. It also does a nice job of helping the shoes stay tied, something that can be a bit of an issue with lace-up shoes, especially if you're riding jungly trails where branches tend to magically untie them.

On the pedals, the Clan is extremely grippy and offers all of the traction I could ask for, as much as any of the other leading shoes. Even with all that grip, I still found it especially easy to reposition it if my stance wasn't exactly how I wanted. The middle of the sole being flatter and having more siping than raised tread helps with this. I had no trouble keeping my feet on the pedals when the terrain became rough, and the shoe doesn't mute the feel of the pedals, something that's crucial when riding on flats.

As far as walking around and traction off the bike is concerned, the Clan scores top marks for wet rocks and sketchy terrain. The shoe has traction enough for plenty of confidence in hike-a-bikes and isn't so stiff that it's not comfortable enough to hang out in post-ride.

If we were to compare it to the popular Five Ten Impact Pro, it's very similar in many ways. The tread pattern is, of course, quite different and I find the Clan to be easier to reposition the foot on the pedal than the Impact Pro. It's also an ever so slightly lighter duty construction in the toe and upper. If choosing between the two it's going to come down to personal preference more than a massive difference in performance.

Pros

+ Plenty of support for long rides
+ Comfortable & well constructed
+ Good traction on and off the bike

Cons

- May be a little roomy for riders with narrower feet.

Pinkbike's Take

There are a number of good options for a flat pedal shoe out there and the Clan is undoubtedly one of them. It offers plenty of traction on and off of the pedals, it has a supportive fit, and it has proven durable with use in some pretty poor conditions. For someone that's looking for a well-engineered flat pedal shoe, the Clan is worth checking out.—Daniel Sapp

Zion Williamson could sign with a Chinese shoe company - Yahoo Finance

Posted: 20 Jun 2019 03:25 PM PDT

Zion Williamson speaks to the media ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Few would question that Zion Williamson is by far the top play entering the NBA, and so where he'll play is not up for debate. But what will be on his feet when he debuts as a professional basketball player? Could a Chinese brand like of Li-Ning, Peak or Anta steal the hottest NBA rookie from the likes of Nike (NKE) and Adidas (ADDYY)? Some experts believe it's possible.

"I'm betting that a Chinese brand steps up here," said Matt Powell, NPD Group vice president, and senior industry advisor. "I have no idea what the contract will be ... I see the Chinese brands trying to take back market share they lost to western brands."

That time Zion's Nikes exploded

On a chilly evening in late February, millions watched as then Duke star Zion Williamson's left Nike PG 2.5 sneaker exploded at the start Duke vs. University of North Carolina (UNC) game. The incident was a scary one for Duke, but an embarrassing one for Nike. The swoosh brand immediately sprung into action — sending a team to make a mold of Williamson's foot and creating a modified version of Kyrie 4's for the 6′ 7″ 285 lb star.

Nike and its stock would recover from the temporary embarrassment. But from that incident sparked a debate that would play out until draft day: To which shoe company Zion would sign?

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 14: Duke Blue Devils forward Zion Williamson (1) wears a new style Nike shoe during the ACC basketball tournament between the Syracuse Orange and the Duke Blue Devils on March 14, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) — Duke Blue Devils forward Zion Williamson (1) wears a new style Nike shoe during the ACC basketball tournament between the Syracuse Orange and the Duke Blue Devils on March 14, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Before shoegate it was seen as a foregone conclusion that the 2019 first overall draft pick would sign with Nike. That's the brand he played in during his time at Duke and Nike is the choice of most NBA players. According to data compiled by Ballershoesdb.com 72% of NBA players hoop in Nike owned sneakers, which includes Jordan brand.

Chinese brands are already here

Nike might be the biggest name on the block, but it's not the only name out there.

Chinese brand Li-Ning, founded in 1989, made a splash in 2012 when the company signed away three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade away from Nike's Jordan brand in a deal worth around $8 million. Chinese sneaker companies such as Li-Ning, Peak, or Anta have made their way into the NBA sneaker landscape. Combined, the three companies claim the feet of 3.9% of NBA players.

Powell told Yahoo Finance that it's not so far fetched that one of the Chinese brands makes a late play at Zion. he believes that in Zion Li-Ning, Peak, or Anta could have a chance to take back the market share they have lost to western brands. And what better way than snagging the most coveted rookie in the NBA?

The NPD vice president reminds Yahoo Finance that Q1 performance basketball shoes sales are down 20% in the U.S. however, in China, the basketball sneaker market is growing.

Still, the idea of a Chinese brand snagging the No. 1 pick is a bit of a longshot.

UBS analyst Jay Sole does not know where Williamson will sign, but believes the safe money is on Nike. He reminds Yahoo Finance that despite the shoe exploding incident, Zion has a familiarity with the Nike brand, which gives a leg up on the competition.

Sole also says that for a non-traditional brand like Li-Ning, Peak, or Anta to sign Zion, they would have to offer him a deal worth significantly more than more well-known brands.

Reggie Wade is a writer for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @ReggieWade.

Read more:

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and reddit.

Trail Running in the Custom Tecnica Origin Shoes - Outside

Posted: 20 Jun 2019 01:25 PM PDT

I'm sitting on a padded bench at a hotel in the town of Agerola, 2,000 feet above the Mediterranean Sea on Italy's Amalfi Coast. My feet and lower legs are in an air-compressing, boot-like contraption that's making me feel as if I'm about to step out from Apollo 11 and onto the surface of the moon.

The setup is Tecnica's Custom Adaptive Shape machine, which is thermomolding a footbed and a plastic support piece around my narrow size-ten feet with weak arch muscles. It's early June, and I'm here with a group of other journalists, and the fitting is part of Tecnica's launch of a running shoe called the Origin, which will be the first customized trail-running shoe on U.S. soil when it hits some stores this summer and becomes more widely available next spring. The fitting process happens in-store and takes about 20 minutes. (Tecnica, a company known for its ski boots, launched a customized hiking boot, the Forge, in 2018, and hiking shoe, the Plasma, this spring.)

Tecnica isn't alone in debuting a custom running shoe in the U.S., though it will be the first. In spring 2020, Salomon plans to bring its Mesh technology across the pond with the Cross/Pro model, which is currently available at eight European retailers. And Brooks has a customization project in the works, though the launch date is still TBD. The Origin, uniquely, will allow consumers to walk out of a shop with their custom shoes after going through the 20-minute process, whereas the others build their custom shoes off-site after gathering your data in-store.

The promise of a truly individualized trail-running shoe is potentially game-changing, and as the air deflates out of the foot-hugging device and my Origins are assembled specifically for me and me alone, I'm anxious to test how they'll feel on the rugged nine-mile trail I'm about to run.

The Process

The first step in getting my custom kicks is a question: Male or female? Consumers will answer this and others, detailing things like their weight, stride type, and distances run, on a store computer before fitting. The answer puts me into the line of Origin models that have women-specific lasts (not all that unique among shoe companies), plus softer midsoles and thinner TPU supports than the men's version.

Next, my weight and answers to five survey questions, including stride type and monthly running distance, mean I get an XT model, built for women over 123 pounds (the LT model is for runners weighing less). Men will get one version or the other depending on what side of 165 pounds they fall. If a customer is right on the edge of those weight limits, how they answer the other survey questions will determine the model they get.

The XT is built with more structure than the LT. While the LT has two nylon webbing strips supporting the midfoot, the XT has three, plus a plastic strip around the heel collar that anchors the third nylon strip and adds support around the back of the foot. Both versions have plastic wrapping around the forefoot for support, but the LT's don't cover as much as the XT's. (Interestingly, Tecnica says the added materials still only make the XT less than an ounce heavier than the LT.)

Underfoot, the midsole of the XT is three millimeters thicker and 5 percent denser, with the thought that larger runners need more protection from the ground. "It's physics," says Tecnica's business-unit manager, Federico Sbrissa. "In today's market, if you weigh 99 pounds or 209 pounds, you're forced into the same shoe. Clearly, it will be too stiff and supportive for one or too soft and flexible for the other," he says.

Then comes the thermomolding. I sit on the orange bench, with my feet resting on a machine-warmed footbed in what looks like a no-show sock for three minutes. I then slip my feet—footbeds in socks still on—into the compression boots containing a perforated plastic shell (that will go in the upper and wrap from the outer heel to just before the forefoot on the medial side) for a three-minute squeeze of pressurized air. This process molds both the footbed and the shell for the individualized heel hold and fit.

I sit sipping espresso for a couple of minutes (I'm in Italy, after all) while the Tecnica rep adds the finished footbeds and shells to my shoes. Upon first stepping in, they feel good, if not quite glove-like as I was anticipating.

The Test Run

As I take my first strides down the hard cobblestone path of Sentiero delgi Dei, or "Path of the Gods," before it turns to dirt, I don't feel a ton of cushioning like I've gotten with some other trail-running models. But the landing is soft enough—my spine isn't jarring, perhaps because the shoe has a nine-millimeter drop and I'm heel-striking on 22 millimeters of foam. And the shoes still feel agile and nimble.

When I transition to a flat portion of the path that cuts across the Monti Lattari range, I notice a smooth turnover that I chalk up to the rock plate being only under the forefoot and not the full length of the shoe, allowing for flexibility. And the five-millimeter lugs, though aggressive and keeping me mostly sure-footed both uphill and down, have flat tops that seem to minimize clunk—I don't notice them on hardpack. I do slip on a slick, flat rock while climbing but catch myself before cracking open a knee.

Once I hit a steep ascent toward a massive limestone face, I appreciate the shoe's lightness (mine weigh roughly 9.4 ounces each) and, again, its flexibility. And after starting the run with a cranky IT band, I'm thrilled that my body is cooperating with the pace. But it's too soon to tell if that's due to the customized fit offering a secure heel hold and support in the arch, just the midsole density tuned for my weight and running style, or any other number of reasons. I notice, in comparing my pair to another's, that the heel cup on mine is visibly more tapered around my narrow heel, though I do feel it could wrap more securely around my arch and buckle less across the top of my foot. I also wish the length of the shoes were customizable, as my left foot is shorter than my right.

At one point, I realize the shoes have become loose, so I have to stop and retie the laces. Even then it seems like the initial snugness of the customization might have given way a bit. But as I quickly negotiate hundreds of downhill stairs, the shoes keep my toes from jamming into the inside of the toe box, and I finish without a blister or hot spot.

The Takeaway

This was only one run. But I'll be logging more miles in the Origin over the next several months for a more comprehensive test. It uniquely addresses a runner's weight, with different options of cushioning and support in the upper, and combined with the customized fit, it eliminates excess ounces. All this customization could maximize comfort and, ultimately, performance, at a cost of $170—more affordable than some top trail runners albeit pricier than a good percentage of others. If that proves to be the case, and you're the kind of runner who likes the idea of just enough shoe specifically tailored for you (and nothing more), springing for the Origin could be worth it.