Footwear is probably not the first thing most players think about when picking up disc golf. Immediate attention always goes to discs, bags, or even practice baskets. But a shoe is the only thing connecting a player to the ground, providing leverage and the basis for a good shot.
The Best Disc Golf Shoes for You: Navigation
Brands popular among pro disc golfers
What to look for in a disc golf shoe
| Popular disc golf shoes with prices
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Along with constant torque and friction on the tee pad, disc golfers' shoes have to stand up to abuse in mud, snow, rain, and sometimes treacherous terrains. When you first start out, it can be difficult to identify what qualities to look for in the ideal disc golf shoe. This post should help you do that and become familiar with brands and models popular among disc golfers.
Note that this post contains affiliate links, which means if you buy a product you find through this post, UDisc could earn a little money for helping you discover it. This would happen at no cost to you. You would pay the same price you would otherwise but at the same time support the UDisc team's efforts to continue to improve the app, publish (hopefully!) helpful articles like this one, and bring new innovations to the sport of disc golf.
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Is There a True Disc Golf Shoe?
In the latter half of 2021, startup company Idio Sports ran a successful Kickstarter to fund the production of their shoe the Syncrasy. Unlike any other shoe we'll talk about, this one was designed specifically for disc golf. It has gained the support of top pros like Nate Sexton,Corey Ellis, and Paige Pierce and is also worn by other top players at top events.
The first Syncrasies reached the waiting feet of the public in the latter half of 2022, and an updated model released in 2023 has received generally solid reviews for its performance. These kicks have special features like a toe guard that stops the shoe from being destroyed by toe-dragging (common in disc golf), multi-directional treads that allow for the sort of rotation used in disc golf throws, and flexibility in the places disc golfers need it most. They're also made of water-resistant materials.
We reached out to Ellis, a power-thrower, a 2023 PDGA Major winner, and one of the best putters on the planet, to learn why he has opted to wear Syncrasies on tour. He said that while he'd always dreamed of having a shoe sponsor, he didn't bite on partnering with Idio until he'd tried out the product for months while playing and practicing for some of the world's highest profile disc golf events.
He found that Syncrasies delivered on their creator's promise to be better for disc golf than other athletic shoes not made specifically for the sport.
"Throughout the years, I’ve tried New Balance, Keen, Vans, Adidas, and several other major shoe brands," Ellis told us. "I had mostly used the Adidas Terrex but frequently experienced sore feet post-round. The Adidas were very stiff as they are made for trail running. The Syncrasy forms to and moves with your foot while providing support and protection."
Ellis has also been very impressed with the grip the shoes' treads provide. "My favorite thing about the Syncrasies is I don’t have to worry about slipping in a vast majority of conditions," Ellis said.
If you like supporting small businesses rather than big corporations, Idio might also be a good fit for you. Syncrasies are the brainchild of a disc golfer and all-around sports enthusiast who got inspired to create a disc golf shoe...and did it. You can learn more about the inventor of the Idio Syncrasy and the shoe's creation in "Shoe Of Our Own: Behind Idio's Syncrasy Disc Golf Shoe."
You can check out Syncrasies more closely on Idio's site.
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If you were paying attention to the feet of well-known U.S. pro disc golfers in 2023, you would've seen quite a few of them shod in models from British shoe brand Vivobarefoot. The shoes have been popular among European disc golfers for a few years, but last season's uptick in pros wearing them stateside was hard to miss.
Previously, Eagle McMahon (2023's end-of-season #1 in disc golf world ranking) was the only big-name U.S. disc golfer wearing Vivobarefoots. He praised them for a plethora of benefits in a 2022 Instagram post:
"My feet have become stronger [which has] alleviated any foot pain I once had," McMahon wrote. "I also believe that they [the shoes] have benefited my disc golf game because of their low profile and great grip. They allow me to be more in touch with my environment and the ability to have greater control and grip when on the course."
The shoes – particularly the Primus Trail and Magna models – seemed to explode on the U.S. pro scene in 2023, though, and Vivos could be seen on the feet of various winners at top events from last year. Here are a few:
- Ricky Wysocki - Wore Vivobarefoots during win at Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship
- Kyle Klein - Wore Vivobarefoots during win at U.S. Disc Golf Championship
- Cole Redalen - Wore Vivobarefoots during win at Ledgestone Open (also one of the year's best tournament performances by any player)
- Kat Mertsch - Wore Vivobarefoots during win at Jonesboro Open
As the brand name suggests, Vivobarefoot shoes are meant to be as minimal as possible. They do have puncture-resistant soles and their trail running models have three-pronged treads similar to Idio Syncrasies'. However, there is little cushioning, and the shoes are zero-drop, meaning the heel isn't elevated above the level of the toes. Typical running shoes elevate the heel around 10mm from toe-level.
For disc golfers used to typical outdoor or tennis shoes, Vivobarefoots (or any barefoot shoe) will definitely intensify what your feet sense as you play, and it'll be up to the individual to decide whether that stronger connection to the ground is for them or not. Additionally, barefoot shoes can take time to get used to, and it's a good idea to transition into them slowly – especially for athletic use.
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Other Popular Disc Golf Shoe Brands
While other brands are on the rise, more well-known ones still dominate disc golf footwear. Shoes made for trail running, hiking, and other outdoor endeavors from companies like Merrell, Keen, and Salomon are extremely common out on the course.
But the two most popular shoe makers in the world are also among the most popular in disc golf: Nike and Adidas.
Shoes from Adidas' outdoor Terrex line became a staple when the brand sponsored now six-time World ChampionPaul McBeth as well as FPO competitor Kona Panis for a short stint. Though a management change ended Adidas' sponsorship of disc golfers, the few years were enough to cement Adidas' outdoor shoes as a part of disc golf culture. McBeth still often competes in shoes from the Terrex line.
Though Terrex likely has the biggest name recognition in disc golf, Nike has made significant in-roads. Shoes from its trail running lineup are worn by a number of pros, including the FPO player who ended 2023 ranked #1, Kristin Tattar. She has worn Nike Pegasus Trail shoes throughout the last two seasons, winning back-to-back Disc Golf World Championships in FPO in them.
To find specific models of shoes from any of the brands mentioned in this section, check out the tables of popular disc golf shoes at the end of this post.
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What Makes a Good Disc Golf Shoe?
No matter what your budget is or which shoe brand seems to suit your feet best, there are some qualities almost all disc golf shoes have. Here's a checklist of things to look for in a good disc golf shoe:
- Good traction: Make sure to try out a shoe on multiple surfaces before buying so that you know you can trust its grip both on the tee and off of it.
- Lightweight: Long days of disc golf mean lots of walking, so save your legs a little effort. Lighter shoes can also help your footwork by keeping you a bit more agile.
- Durable: Though no disc golf shoe will last forever, make sure to look for a brand and model with a reputation for holding up well to the demands of outdoor sports. Shoes not made for outdoor use don't last long and can fail at important moments.
- Waterproof: Though not technically necessary, lots of disc golfers prefer waterproof shoes. Whether it's dew during early-morning rounds, rain, snow, or puddles, protecting your feet from moisture is a huge step toward a comfortable day at the course. Look for 'GORE-TEX' (a waterproof material often shortened to 'GTX' on labels) or other guarantees a shoe is waterproof.
Finally, don't forget that you need to be comfortable in whatever shoe you buy. Just because a pro or experienced player says one brand is their favorite doesn't mean it's the type that will fit your body.
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Popular Disc Golf Shoes with Prices
To further help you in your decision-making, we've created an overview of shoe brands and models that have been used by elite disc golfers and/or are popular among amateurs. You'll find four tables below:
- Disc golf shoes under $100
- Disc golf shoes from $100 -$124
- Disc golf shoes from $125-$149
- Disc golf shoes $150 and up
Keep in mind that we put shoes in categories based on their non-waterproof cost, but waterproof versions of shoes, when available, tend to cost $20-$40 more. Below you'll find the costs of both from the manufacturer at time of publicaton. You may be able to find sale prices from retailers that are lower than what's listed below. Additionally, we list the cost of the latest version of each shoe as older models may not be available in all sizes.
All tables are alphabetical by brand and within brands are organized by cost from highest to lowest.
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Disc Golf Shoes Under $100
| Brand | Model | Price: Non-Waterproof | Price: Waterproof | What Pros Have Worn Them? | Notes |
| Adidas | Terrex AX | $80 | $96 | Ezra Aderhold, Juliana Korver | Prices of some runs of AX4s |
| KEEN | Terradora | N/A | $93 (W only) | Paige Pierce | |
| Merrell | Moab | $90 | $160 | Price of Moab 3. There are many Moab variations and all are likely to get the job done on the course. | |
| New Balance | Nitrel | $75 | N/A | Price of v5s | |
| Nike | Wildhorse | $91 (M), $79 (W) | N/A | Kyle Klein, Ricky Wysocki | Price of Wildhorse 8s. If you're not picky about color, you can get a great deal. The prices here reflect the lowest prices from Nike's website that we saw. Some colors, though, are around $140. |
| Vans | Ultrarange Exo | $90 | N/A | Drew Gibson, Gannon Buhr, Hailey King |
On mobile, swipe left/right on the table above to see all columns.
Post Navigation |Disc Golf Shoes $100-$124| Disc Golf Shoes $125-149 | Disc Golf Shoes $150+
Disc Golf Shoes From $100-$124
| Brand | Model | Price: Non-Waterproof | Price: Waterproof | What Pros Have Worn Them? | Notes |
| Adidas | Terrex Swift R | $112 | $112 | Paul McBeth, Kevin Jones, many more | We typically use prices from shoe brands' websites, but in this odd case, the non-GTX shoes were more expensive than the least expensive GTX models there. Here we found a $112 version of non-GTX Swift Rs on Zappos that matched the price of GTX on Adidas' site. |
| Adidas | Ultraboost | $114 | $187 | Anthony Barela | |
| KEEN | Targhee | $109 | $116 | There are many Targhee variations, these prices are for Targhee Vents and Targhee III Waterproofs | |
| Nike | Kiger | $105 (M), $99 (W) | N/A | Catrina Allen | Some pros have specifically sported the Air Zoom Terra Kigers, but those weren't easy to find at the time of publication. |
| Nike | Pegasus Trail | $110 | $112 | Kristin Tattar, Bradley Williams | Prices reflect Pegasus Trail 3 non-GTX and the least expensive colors of 4s for GTX based on prices from Nike's site |
| Salomon | Speedcross | $109 | $124 | Price for Speedcross 6s | |
| Salomon | XA Pro 3D | $105 | $120 | Sarah Hokom | Price for XA Pro 3D V9s |
| Salomon | X Ultra 4 | $105 | $120 | Matt Orum |
On mobile, swipe left/right on the table above to see all columns.
Post Navigation | Disc Golf Shoes Under $100 | Disc Golf Shoes $125-149 | Disc Golf Shoes $150+
Disc Golf Shoes From $125-$149
| Brand | Model | Price: Non-Waterproof | Price: Waterproof | What Pros Have Worn Them? | Notes |
| Adidas | Terrex Free Hiker | $126 | $126 | Cale Leiviska | |
| Idio | Syncrasy | N/A | $129 | Nate Sexton, Corey Ellis, Aaron Gossage, Paige Pierce | The only shoe made specifically for disc golf |
On mobile, swipe left/right on the table above to see all columns.
Post Navigation | Disc Golf Shoes Under $100 | Disc Golf Shoes $100-$124|Disc Golf Shoes $150+
Disc Golf Shoes $150 and Above
| Brand | Model | Price: Non-Waterproof | Price: Waterproof | What Pros Have Worn Them? | Notes |
| Altra | Lone Peak | $150 | $160 | Sarah Gilpin | Price for Lone Peak 7s |
| Altra | Olympus | $170 | $200 | Isaac Robinson | Price for Olympus 5s |
| Vivobarefoot | Primus Trail | $175 | $185 | Kyle Klein, Eagle McMahon | |
| Vivobarefoot | Magna Trail | N/A | $210 | Eagle McMahon, Ricky Wysocki | Price for Magna Trail II FG. Magna FG is essentially the same shoe at the same price but made with sustainably-tanned leather. |
On mobile, swipe left/right on the table above to see all columns.
Post Navigation|Disc Golf Shoes Under $100 | Disc Golf Shoes $100-$124 | Disc Golf Shoes $125-149
Note: This post was originally published in April 2020 but updated in November 2023.
