If you're anything like me, you love to walk when you play golf. You play better. You get into a better flow of the round. You enjoy the surroundings more.
You also probably feel like your feet are on fire at the end of a round, especially on a hilly course like my home club. Even if you love your golf shoes -- and I do -- you want to let your feet relax after basically going on a 6-mile hike.
Then you're going to want a pair of Oofos.
The name might sound funny, but Oofos are for real. They were born in the running world, where folks put a whole lot more stress on their feet, especially during a race. So, Oofos were developed to do the opposite of what modern running shoes do. Instead of using foam to return energy to the runner, Oofos absorb the energy your feet deliver to the shoe with each step, helping them relax and recovery.
The folks behind Oofos realized the same thing happens in golf, so they've entered the market, making their splash at the PGA Merchandise Show.
The Show is the perfect place to debut such a product. With 1 million square feet of exhibition space, most attendees are walking countless miles around the convention center each day -- many without realizing the toll it's taking on their feet. At the end of the day, it's no wonder taxis make a killing. No one wants to walk. I was one of those people on Thursday when I arrived at the Oofos booth, looking to learn more and hoping to try out a pair. Fortunately, there was one left in my size.
Oofos come in five models and 32 total styles, giving anyone a look that makes sense for them. They have generous EVA foam padding, dubbed OoFoam, for the sole while letting your foot move and breath. If I didn't have to walk around and look professional for the rest of the day, I would've kept them on my feet. I pretty much wore them for the next 3 days, and my feet, still hurting from the Show, were sad with them off. They're quickly becoming a round-the-house shoe.
Once all the snow melts around here, they'll become my 19th hole shoe for the golf months, giving me something to swap immediately into after 18. The only downside is that they don't have traditional shoe looks, which might be an issue at some clubs. But, depending on response, that might be coming along in the future.
Either way, at $45-$65, Oofos are worth a try when they hit stores this spring.
