The Adidas MC80 is the latest golf shoe offering from the iconic brand with three stripes, and when we first saw it on the sun soaked (rain soaked come the weekend) links of Royal Liverpool this summer, we had to get ourselves a pair. They looked killer.
The tagline at launch for the MC80 was 'Adidas revisits classic retro style', and with MC standing for modern classic, this is exactly what you get.
This idea of revisiting classic styles is becoming a familiar trend from golf shoe manufactures; since the industry leading Premiere Series from FootJoy, a number of brands have followed in their footsteps trading in modern upper aesthetics for a more classic approach, whilst still claiming to offer the same amount of tech and performance you'd expect from those modern shoes.
Who Are They Aimed At?
Their introduction as part of the adidas x Bogey Boys collection tells you all you need to know here: the younger, style conscious, bolder golfer willing to invest in their golf footwear.
Having said that, given their timeless design and classic features these shoes wouldn't look out of place in your dad's (or even grandad's) boot bag.
The Tech
The MC80 has a lightweight and flexible full-grain leather upper with brogue stitch detailing and croc texture throughout.
Adidas has blended the lightstrike in the midsole with boost cushioning in the heel, said to produce unexpected comfort and stability.
For even more stability during the swing, the MC80 includes Adidas’s torsion bar in the outsole, aimed to give players greater torsion control.
There is also an integrated spikeless TPU outsole for extra traction, completing the style with a rubber welt in the midsole.
As we've come to expect from Adi in recent years, the MC80 is also made in part with recycled materials, which ticks a huge box with us at Golfalot HQ, and should do with you too.
Adidas MC80 Golf Shoes Review
Looks
With golf shoes, first impressions can be everything and as I mentioned earlier, I first laid eyes on the MC80 at this years Open Championship. They were first introduced as part of the eye-catching adidas x Bogey Boys collaboration which saw Colin Morikawa and musician Macklemore donning 'vintage apparel for the modern golfer'.
Although I'm a huge fan of traditional Adidas styling both on and off the golf course, Adidas have lost me a little with recent releases like the futuristic Code Chaos, ZX Primeblue and the nothing-to-write-home-about ZG21 shoes.
With MC80 I like how they depart from this trend, offering a look we've not seen in years from Adidas - the first thing to notice is that there isn't even three stripes down the sides!
Like some of the aforementioned styles, the MC80 is anything but polarising - they're just a straight up cool looking pair of spikeless golf shoes. They've got a brilliant balance of everything you'd want in the looks department to me, they're timeles.
I reviewed the shoe in the white colourway and found the thing that may put some golfers off is the lime green TPU outsole. Personally I think a grey, navy, black or even gum coloured outsole would have been a safer bet. Then again, who wants to be safe? Certainly not Adidas.
Comfort
Along with Ecco, Adidas produce what we think to be the comfiest shoes in the market - thankfully the MC80 is no different.
Starting with the leather upper, from the first tee shot I found it to be supple and soft when walking, it seemed to crease in the right areas too without feeling uncomfortable on top of your toes.
Then as we've come to expect from Adi there's the super-comfy boost midsole that sits underneath the foot. If you've never experienced boost in golf shoes, just take our word for it, it's a game-changer. This combined with the insite sockliner meant that post-testing my feet didn't feel fatigued, and during the round the energy return only proves to be your friend.
As ever when it comes to the sizing of Adidas golf shoes, they run small compared to FootJoy so I advise going at least half a size up to make sure you're not squeezing your feet in. This could have be the cause of the leather on the inside of the heel rubbing slightly towards the end of my testing, something to consider.
Performance
On first impressions, the MC80s spikeless outsole doesn't look like much, especially from Adidas who have brought us outsoles like the Tour360 XT PrimeKnit, in the past. Oh how I was wrong...
I tested it in damp, autumnal conditions - the sort where slippages are common ground and I have to say the MC80s passed the test with flying colours. Over 18 holes I didn't experience any slippage - the TPU outsole locked me into the ground allowing me swing with confidence even on the wet turf.
Adidas MC80 Golf Shoes Verdict
I enjoyed testing the MC80s and I'm really pleased to see that in both comfort and performance the shoes that originally caught my eye for all the right reasons, have lived up to their billing.
At £140 RRP they boast a really competitive price tag, coming in cheaper than the likes of Ecco and FootJoy in the premium spikeless shoe category.
It's been a while since Adidas have created a shoe with this kind of classic aesthetic and in my opinion, the gamble has paid off. Instead of missing the cut like some other recent styles, I think as the name suggests, the MC80 will go on to become a true modern classic.
Would I Wear Them?
Yes, the MC80 has strolled in and stolen one of the top spots in my golf shoe rotation for the foreseeable.
Adidas MC80 Golf Shoes Pros & Cons
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