50 Words or Less
The HOKA Transport GTX hiking shoes are comfortable and weather-friendly. Not a reasonable spikeless golf shoe alternative due to limited traction.
Introduction
We write fairly frequently about spikeless golf shoes that are at ease off course – but what about the opposite? Can an athletic shoe make the transition to the golf course? I know from experience that a running shoe just doesn’t provide enough stability for a golf swing, and a court shoe doesn’t provide enough traction. Thinking a hiking shoe might do the trick, I put the HOKA Transport GTX to the test.
Looks
Having logged many trail miles, I easily identified the Transport GTX as a modern trail shoe. The combination of thick midsole, cord lacing, and color was a dead giveaway. Overall, it’s a great looking shoe. I like that the monotone HOKA branding blends into the shoe – distinctive yet subtle.
The color (Slate/Oat Milk) is a tough match for my typical golf apparel ensembles. And I should point out that the shoes came with a standard, also cord, pair of laces. The Transport GTX are also available in Eggnog, Black, Grey, and Teal colorways.
Comfort
The HOKA Transport GTX felt great right out of the box. The shoes were a bit snug across the forefoot, but there was still wiggle room in the toe box. Overall sizing was true to my normal, but thinner socks were key to overall comfort.
I really enjoyed the comfort around my ankle. The cut was low and the collar padding compact, great for allowing a full range of motion while keeping sand and divot debris out of the shoes. The quick-toggle lacing system functioned great, but the length of the laces required an awkward tuck back under the “HOKA” webbing.
Performance
Before I arrived at the golf course, I sensed a potential issue with the Hoka Transport GTX – the shape of the shoe towards the toe. There was a curvature up from the ball of my foot through the end of the shoe that was noticeable while walking. As it turned out, having my toes a bit elevated in the address position helped me keep from shooting my hips forward.
Laterally, the Transport GTX had good stability. Transitions through my golf swing felt well supported, with nice flow. Traction, however, was marginal. And with a little moisture in the grass, I found myself performing a little Scheffler shuffle with my trail foot.
The HOKA Transport GTX does feature GORE-TEX, which kept that moisture from reaching my socks. Another positive element of the GORE-TEX is its breathability – something my feet appreciated now that summer swelter temperatures have arrived.
Conclusion
The HOKA Transport GTX didn’t pass my golf shoe test, but they’re sure to get plenty of action on my next hiking trip. To be fair, HOKA doesn’t list golf as an activity choice on their website, and that’s probably for the best. I’m certain there are readers who will attest that they wear hiking shoes all the time for golf, but the Transport GTX just didn’t have enough traction to make them viable for my game. I do want to give HOKA a shout out for their utilization of enviro-friendly and recycled materials – much appreciated.
Visit HOKA HERE
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One Comment
i wear a similar trail running shoe (made by Arcteryx) that provides a high degree of cushioning. maybe not quite as much as a Hoka, but close. i have sensitive (read ‘bad’) feet and am prone to plantar facistis. with just enough traction knobs on the outsode they work well as golf shoes and i can’t attribute any negative swing faults to the squishy-ness of the soles. the upper fits snuggly throughout, they breath well and are otherwise solid for golf. i’ve noticed that a few others at my club also wear trail runners for golf.