Gear: Adidas Codechaos golf shoes
Price: $130-$180
If you love traditional-looking golf shoes with a classic saddle, akin to something Ben Hogan or Sam Snead might have worn back in the day, the new Adidas Codechaos is not the footwear for you.
The latest offering from the company that makes golf shoes for Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and numerous other pros is a modern, sporty looking piece of equipment designed to provide today’s golfers with a combination of traction, cushioning and comfort.
The standard Codechaos ($150) features a newly designed spikeless sole made from rubber and thermoplastic polyurethane that is covered with traction elements. While some of the traction elements have been positioned in waves, the pattern is broken up by several pieces that appear to be scattered in a random pattern in the forefoot.
After studying the way golfers swing and where they put stress on their feet, Adidas designers developed the chaotic-looking system. Called Twistgrip, it provides forefoot traction in every angle by pointing the edges of the traction elements in every direction.
The upper of the shoe is designed using a light multi-layer mesh that makes the Codechaos more breathable. However, because the shoe is made to be worn by elite golfers and people who want to play in any conditions, it is still waterproof.
To ensure comfort and to provide more cushioning while golfers walk, Adidas added Boost cushioning in the heel and forefoot areas. The Torsion X stability bar that debuted in last season’s shoes also was added to the Codechaos to give players more lateral support throughout the swing.
The Codechaos also is available in a high-top version with a Boa ratcheting system ($180). Like the standard version, it has the Twistgrip sole and a waterproof mesh upper, but instead of laces, golfers twist a small dial on the side of the shoe to tighten or loosen the wire lacing system.
The Codechaos Sport ($130) fits in with the other models but has been made with Bounce foam in the midsole. It has the same Twistgrip sole pattern on the bottom but does not have the Torsion X stability bar the standard and Boa versions feature.