As golf apparel has become much more relaxed in the last decade or so, there has also been a growth in demand for golf shoes that can be worn both on and off the golf course.
Adidas Golf have been one of the biggest exponents of this demand in recent years thanks to their adicross product line, and we've had the chance to put their latest ZX Primeblue shoe through its paces.
The Tech
The adicross ZX Primeblue features a textile upper made with yarns containing at least 50 percent Parley Ocean Plastic. This plastic waste was removed on islands, beaches, coastal communities, and shorelines, preventing it from polluting our shorelines. It’s part of the Adidas mission to ‘End Plastic Waste’.
It uses less leather waste by reusing cutouts and includes the Boost midsole to ensure all-day comfort. It also features the adiwear and Traxion outsole so that players can get the grip that they need out on the golf course.
The Adidas ZX Primeblue shoe is available in three different colours:
- Cloud White/Core Black/Orbit Indigo
- Core Black/Grey One/Focus Orange
- Focus Olive/Core Black/Orbit Green
There is also a ‘No-Dye’ model which is made from the upper’s natural colourway without the addition of dye, helping to save water and energy.
Adidas ZX Primeblue Shoes Review
First Impressions
At first glance, the ZX Primeblue look something you’d be much more likely to see off course rather than on it.
The textile upper, bold pattern and contrasting colour scheme give the shoe both the look and feel of a casual trainer, and they are the kind of shoe that I can imagine being very popular at the moment.
More and more golfers are looking for something versatile that they won’t have to change at the end of their round straight away and these are perfect for that. If you wanted to have food or drinks after you finish playing these would not look out of place in the golf club bar or even at your local pub.
The shoe has an easy, lightweight feel and this, along with the textured mesh upper, means that they’d be much more suited to golf in the summer months when you’re not relying on lots of traction or protection from wet ground.
Taking a closer look at the sole of the shoe though and you find some pretty sturdy looking lugs which are there to help with stability whilst you’re swinging. They will also probably give you a little bit of extra support compared to just a normal trainer too, which is handy if you’re going to be on your feet for 4+ hours straight.
Performance
As you’d imagine from a shoe like this, the first thing that hits you when you put them on is comfort. They feel lightweight, breathable and cushioned in the same way that a high-end pair of trainers would, giving you the feeling that you could wear them all day.
We’ve all had those rounds of golf where your shoes are rubbing you or don’t fit properly and you just can’t wait to get to the 18th hole to take them off. I can’t see that being a problem with the ZX Primeblue.
Initially I was a little concerned about the build quality of the shoe, being made from recycled materials, because the orange textured parts of the upper seemed to be a little flaky when I first put them on, as if parts were falling out.
This didn’t seem to worsen any further during my testing but I would bear in mind that the shoes may not be the most durable long-term option. I do think that they are a bit more of a fashion statement than being completely performance-oriented.
I was really impressed by the overall feel of the shoe throughout my testing. I knew that they’d be comfortable, but I was surprised at just how sturdy they felt too.
My feet were locked-in and stable whilst walking and on every shot, and the Traxion outsole did a fantastic job of providing plenty of stability in damp conditions. I initially felt like these shoes would only be suitable on warm, dry days in the middle of the summer or on a golf holiday, but I think they may be even more versatile.
The mesh upper keeps things nice and breathable but does come with the slight caveat that they aren’t waterproof, so I wouldn’t risk wearing these shoes if the forecast isn’t great or if your golf course is likely to be wet.
Adidas ZX Primeblue Shoes Verdict
These shoes do exactly what Adidas advertise in my opinion. The contemporary styling looks cool and will appeal to huge numbers of the new wave of golfers, who are taking up the game and are not interested in the traditional ideas of what should and shouldn’t be worn on the course.
Couple that with the fact that you still get the support that you need when swinging on the golf course and you’ve got an excellent option at an attractive price point which will definitely be one of my go-to shoes in the warmer months next year, not to mention the great work the adidas are doing for the planet.
Would I Use Them?
Absolutely. If only I lived somewhere with better weather, I could wear them more often!
Finally, a word of warning here – I’d say that the shoe does seem to be on the small side (as we've found with a lot of previous adidas shoes) so I’d suggest that you consider going up by half a size at least to make sure that they aren’t too tight.
Pros
- Great looking shoes
- Four colour options
- Very comfortable
- Excellent traction
- Good value for money
- More eco-friendly shoe option
Cons
- No waterproof protection
- May not be the most durable over time