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On the Right Foot:
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Disc Golf Shoes

Choosing the best disc golf shoes isn’t as simple as checking the top-selling list at your favorite online disc golf retailer.

Unlike other sports, disc golf isn’t one that has a large selection of sport-specific footwear on offer to its players.

Currently, there is one shoe made specifically for disc golf (more on that later), but for the most part, beginners and professionals alike choose disc golf shoes from a wide variety of brands and shoe types.

In this article, we’ll talk about what to look for in a disc golf shoe, some popular options, and how to choose ones that are right for you.

Weight

Disc golf is a sport that requires you to be nimble on your feet.  Just think about the x-step—a player must carefully move forward with their feet facing perpendicular to the target, while maintaining speed and control. 

This requires precision movements and having a big, clunky set of shoes is not going to help anyone. 

Furthermore, disc golf isn’t a sport of motorized carts like ball golf, so most players are putting miles on their disc golf shoes every season. 

For these reasons, the majority of players are going to look for shoes that are light weight.

That being said, I know some players who play on more rugged terrain who swear by have a solid, heavier hiking boot to give traction when throwing, or to prevent slips and ankle sprains when traversing the course.

Durability

Shoppers look for durability in just about any footwear they buy, and disc golf shoes are no exception. In fact, you may even need shoes that are extra durable. 

Many disc golf courses are built in the woods and have rugged terrain like rocks and stumps. 

On top of that, the disc golf swing involves repetitive movements - in the form of the toe drag, for example. The inner big toe can drag slightly on the leading foot of a shot when planting as well. This disc golf-specific movement puts extra wear and tear on the inside of the toe.

If you’re not buying a disc golf-specific shoe (which usually has extra reinforcement in this area), it’s smart to opt for shoes with added material on the inside of the big toe area.

Support

As we mentioned before, your feet are generally moving forward laterally in a disc golf shot. This is unlike some other sports where the primary movement is forward with your toes facing forward. 

Having some support along the sides of the foot can help with the extra pressure applied there during the x-step and plant.

The heel is also heavily used during the plant and the subsequent rotation involved in the disc golf swing. It’s important to have some support here, even if you prefer barefoot-style shoes.

On top of all this, like we mentioned before, you will put a lot of miles on your shoes playing disc golf. Choose the shoe with the right amount of support for you.

Grip

The amount of grip required in disc golf walks a fine line.

You want enough grip to ensure you aren’t slipping on wet or sandy tee pads, but you also don’t want so much grip that it puts too much pressure on the knee and hip when rotating out of the shot on your heel. 

Opting for omni-directional treads is great here as they provide grip when walking forward, or moving laterally through the x-step.

Water Resistance

The amount of water resistance you need in a disc golf shoe depends on your local playing conditions. 

Do you play in all weather? Does it tend to get a little swampy/muddy at your local course? Do you care if your feet get a little wet? The answers to these questions will help you choose whether or not you want something waterproof, water resistant, or something without waterproofing. Waterproof or water-resistant shoes are a popular choice among most disc golfers. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum from waterproof shoes are highly breathable shoes, perhaps made of mesh.  If most of your rounds are played in very hot and dry weather, you might prefer something with a mesh outer layer..

After you’ve identified disc golf shoes that are are the right weight for you, are durable, have good support, have the right grip, and have the correct level of water resistance, you’ll likely still be left with a number of options.

Some additional things to consider when making your final choice are:

Your course(s)

Is your main course located in a nicely manicured local park or ball golf course?  Or are you someone who treks through the mountains on an elevated, rugged, wooded course? 

Depending on which camp you fall in, you might need very different disc golf shoes. 

The conditions you play in

Similar to the terrain at your course, your local weather conditions are an important consideration.  Are you a fair weather disc golfer? Or are you someone who plays in all kinds of conditions?

If you live in a climate that rains a lot, or your course is prone to flooding, you might want to narrow it down to waterproof options.

Are poisonous plants, thorns, or insects a consideration? If so, you might need something with a higher cut that covers your ankles.

And like I said before, those in really hot, dry climates might prefer something more breathable.

If you often play in snow in the winter, you might need a second pair of disc golf shoes suitable for those conditions.

Your style

Let’s be honest - everyone wants to look good when they are hucking discs.  You gotta consider how your kicks look! Anyone who says that this isn’t at least somewhat of a consideration is probably lying.

Many people are completely turned off by the look of barefoot shoes and others love them. Some want to keep a bit of street style in their game and opt for skate shoes. Others prefer the “outdoor” look and go with hikers or trail runners.

Price

You have to think about how much money you want to spend on a shoe specifically for disc golf.

If you are a serious player, perhaps money is not an option. You need the best of the best to ensure top-level performance.

But if you’re just a casual weekend warrior, it doesn’t make much sense to blow a lot of money on a pair of disc golf shoes you only wear once a week. If this sounds like you, you might want to consider something that is dual purpose—shoes that can be used for both walking/hiking and for playing disc golf.

Your comfort

All of these technical considerations pale in comparison to how the shoes feel on your feet.  If you can, try them out, walk around in them. Practice your x-step. See how it feels to rotate on the heel. 

At the end of a long day of 18, 27, or even 36 holes, you’ll mostly be concerned with picking disc golf shoes that you feel are comfortable.

Now that we’ve talked about what to look for when choosing the best shoes for disc golf, let’s look at some popular brands and models. 

All of the brands and models featured here are used by professionals and amateurs alike. 

As with just about anything in disc golf, you’ll see a big variety in the types of disc golf shoes people like to use. 

Some people like very rugged hiking shoes with extra tread and support, while others opt for minimalist, barefoot-inspired, zero-drop shoes.

Here are some popular choices:

Adidas

Adidas Terrex model shoes have gained popularity with a large number of disc golfers.  Paul McBeth was once officially sponsored by Adidas, however the company is currently not sponsoring anybody in the sport.

Adidas offers a wide variety of options in the Terrex line.  The most popular ones amongst disc golfers are the AX and Swift lines.

Here are a few models to check out:

Vivobarefoot

Vivobarefoot is a company out of the UK that specializes in barefoot-inspired footwear. 

Barefoot shoes generally are very lightweight, have wide toe boxes to allow toes to splay, have thin soles and minimal treading so that the user can feel the ground as they walk, and have “zero-drop” heels. 

Zero-drop just means that there is no drop from the height of the heel to the height of the balls of the feet.  You’ll notice most running shoes have large, padded heels that make you feel like you’re on your tippy-toes, learning forward.  These are shoes with “drop”.  Running shoes typically have approximately 8 to 10+ mm of drop between the heel and the balls of the feet.

Barefoot shoes are zero drop.  Wearing barefoot shoes is something that does take some getting used to, so I don’t recommend running out and buying these shoes unless you are familiar with how barefoot shoes feel.

Vivobarefoots are worn by notable players such as Eagle McMahon, Ricky Wysocki, Kyle Klein, Cole Redalen, Thomas Gilbert, and Kat Mertsch.

The two most popular models from this company amongst disc golfers are the Primus and the Magna.  The Lite models have less grip and are typically used for everyday activities, however Eagle McMahon says he does like them in certain conditions on certain courses. 

The Trail models have more grip and are typically closer to what you’d see on a conventional shoe. The Primus is low cut, while the Magna runs about ankle height.

Men’s:

Women’s

Idio Sports

In our introduction we briefly mentioned the one disc golf-specific shoe that is currently on the market. 

There have been a few other manufacturers in the history of disc golf, however to our knowledge the only company currently on the market is a company called Idio Sports.

They make a disc golf shoe called the Syncrasy.

The Idio Syncrasys have a lot of features specifically tailored to disc golfers. 

They include:

• The “Power Plant” heel

  • The shoes feature tough heel construction with an angled outsole designed for heel planting.

•  The “X-flex” outsole

  • An outsole refers to the bottom part of the shoe, usually rubber, that can also wrap up around the outside edges of your feet.  The Syncrasy has a specially designed outsole that gives support while allowing flexibility during the x-step.

• Reinforced toe box

  • The outsole and outer materials on the inner big toe area wrap higher than your typical shoe and are reinforced to withstand repetitive wear during the toe drag. 

They also have a number other features, which are not unique to disc golf-specific shoes that include:

• a waterproof lining,

• a minimalist drop, (6mm)

• breathable uppers,

• and a lightweight design. 

Idio Syncrasys are used by notable players such as Nate Sexton, Paige Pierce, Corey Ellis, and Ohn Scoggins.

Nike

Here’s another model of disc golf shoes that you might have seen on professional disc golf coverage lately.

They don’t appear on the feet of a large quantity of players, but perhaps on the feet of one of the current best players in the world. 

That player is back-to-back world champion Kristin Tattar from Estonia. 

Kristin wears the Nike Pegasus Trails. These are from Nike’s trail running line of sneakers and come in waterproof Gor-Tex options. 

Hiking & Trail Shoes

Hiking shoes, trail runners, and light hiking boots tend to be a popular choice amongst disc golfers.  Some of the more popular brands include Merrell, Keen, and Altra.

I’m not aware of any professionals using these brands currently, but I do know a large number of people in my own circle of friends who enjoy them. They are also mentioned frequently in online forums.

Merrell lists a disc golf category on their website. These shoes aren’t ones they have made specifcally for the sport, but models that are suitable for the sport and popular among players.

Additional, Keen used to make a disc golf shoe that was endorsed and branded by Avery Jenkins, called the MILO II.

Merrell

Both the Nova and the Antora feature a breathable mesh and TPU upper for enhanced ventilation. It includes a Merrell Air Cushion in the heel, which absorbs shock and adds stability. Additionally, the shoes are eco-friendly, with 100% recycled laces and webbing. They also have a molded nylon arch shank for support and a padded collar for extra comfort.

Keen

The Targhee 2 features a KEEN.DRY breathable membrane that keeps feet dry by allowing vapor out while preventing water from entering. It includes a bruise plate for protection on uneven surfaces and a high-abrasion rubber toe guard for durability. Made from durable premium leather and breathable performance mesh, it has a quick-dry lining for active use. The shoe’s KEEN ALL-TERRAIN rubber provides high traction in muddy and rocky environments, with 4mm multi-directional lugs for optimal grip. It includes an external support shank, a contoured heel for stability, and a removable footbed with arch support. The KEEN Original Fit offers ample space for toes.

Altra

The Altra Lone Peak features FootShape comfort, providing more space for feet to sit naturally and addressing biological differences between men's and women's feet. It includes Altra EGO foam, designed to balance responsiveness and comfort. The Balanced Cushioning platform positions the heel and forefoot at an equal distance from the ground, promoting better alignment and form. The MaxTrac outsole offers a combination of grip, traction, and durability on various terrains.

Other popular options

While doing some research for this article and browsing some online forums, I came across a few other brands and models that seemed to be popular with netizens. 

Xero Shoes

One of those brands is the barefoot-inspired shoe company Xero. I personally use a few different models of these shoes when playing disc golf. 

Where I live in northeast Canada, we play disc golf all year in a wide variety of weather conditions. We have three courses in our area and each of those courses has a very different terrain.

I use Xero Prios when I play my local park course, where the terrain is a manicured grassy field. These shoes don’t have a large amount of grip, but are the perfect choice in this setting as they don’t get caught up in the grass and allow me to rotate out of my swing.

When I am playing our second course, which is a mix of manicured, open, grassy holes, and lightly wooded holes, I opt for the Mesa Trail IIs.  These are low-cut, lightweight hikers with some amount of grip. 

On our more rugged, wooded course, I’ll opt for the Mesa Trail IIs, or my Xcursion Fusions.  The Xcursions are an ankle-high hiker, but still super light weight and have less of an obtrusive tread than a typical hiker. 

And finally, when there’s snow on the ground, I opt for the Xero Alpine winter hiking boots.  These are still super lightweight, have zero drop, and their tread doesn’t inhibit the disc golf swing. 

The Trail II, Xcursion Fusion, and Alpines are advertised as waterproof, but I would categorize them more as water-resistant. 

The Prios are not recommended for wet conditions.

Vans

Another popular brand amongst netizens was Vans.  I have noticed some pro players wearing Vans on coverage before, notably Gannon Buhr and Luke Humphries. 

I did notice, though, that Gannon is wearing something different in the 2024 season. 

The most-mentioned model I could find online was the Vans Ultrarange. 

The Best Disc Golf Shoes for You

There’s no denying that being comfortable on the course goes a long way in improving your performance and enjoyment while playing disc golf. 

Selecting the best disc golf shoes mostly boils down to what feels right on your foot. Everybody’s foot shape and walking pattern is different, so what might feel perfect for one player, could feel terribly uncomfortable for another.  

You’ll also want to consider the features we mentioned, like waterproofing, whether or not you like zero-drop shoes, how durable the shoes are, and the type of tread they have.

All of the disc golf shoes I talked about here today are worn by pros or well-loved by amateurs.

Whatever you decide when choosing the best disc golf shoes for you, these models will likely be a great place to start.  

Do you have any experience with these shoes? Do you have any insight that you would like to share? Do you have other suggestions for fantastic disc golf shoes? Please let us know in the comments!

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