Is This the Best Shoe In Golf?

Written By: Tony Covey

Yesterday morning we received a media kit, scratch that (I literally did), Comfort Kit promoting PUMA Golf’s new TITANTOUR IGNITE golf shoe. Yes, apparently TTITANTOUR is one word, and you should scream it. At the very least you should #IGNITEit, because like all notable releases TITANTOUR IGNITE comes with its own hashtag.

#yourdamnright

The kit itself features a pair of the new shoes, travel pillow, and a travel blanket. The clear message is that PUMA’s latest golf shoe (PUMA probably would like me to call it PUMA’s latest innovation) provides all day comfort, that comfort never quits, or possibly that air travel sucks.

Whatever…blankets go over big in this house, so I’m good with it.

The Obligatory Tech Story

As with basically everything in the golf industry the TITANTOUR IGNITE is packed full of coded brand-specific technology that may or may not be actual technology. Let me run down the list for you:

• IGNITE Foam – Revolutionary (and proprietary) foam that’s ultra-responsive and comfortable. Not unlike adidas’s BOOST (also proprietary), IGNITE foam provides energy return, stability, and of course, comfort.
• PWRCOOL powered by Outlast® – This is the temperature regulating material in the sock liner. Apparently it uses phase change materials to absorb, store, and release heat. Frankly, I have no idea what phase changing materials are, but if it keeps my feet cool for another season, then it’s great.
• Premium Materials – It’s a leather shoe, and PUMA says it’s durable.
• Epic Performance Last – That’s right, not just performance, but EPIC performance is not only built into the shoe’s last, it makes for a sleeker shape that provides good looks and a great fit.
• DUOFLEX SOLE – The sole is cut up into individual segments which help maximize power in the golf swing.

What I Really Think

It’s easy to poke a little fun at all the clever names golf companies come up with for their technologies, but lets look past that for a moment while I give you some stuff to think on.

When PUMA purchased Cobra…actually even before PUMA purchased Cobra, the company was making some of the worst shoes in golf. Don’t get me wrong, they looked cool, and they had some unique tech bundled in, but I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that unless you have those skinny little euro feet, ride around in a cart all day, and never dare challenge an incline of more than 3°, the damn things were practically unwearable.

Putting this as eloquently as I possibly can, they totally sucked.

A few seasons ago, however, PUMA brought in Grant Kundson from adidas Golf to help design their golf shoes. Since Knudson joined PUMA there have been systematic year-over-year improvement to the shoe line.

Over the last 3 seasons or so, PUMA’s golf shoes have come a long (long, long, long – and yes, I know that’s lazy writing) way.

They no longer suck.

We can talk about tech, and foam, and maybe even epic foam, but for the most part I want two things from my golf shoes; stability and comfort. And of course, if the latter isn’t there, then the former doesn’t matter, and neither does waterproof-ness or durability.

The last thing I want is a miserably uncomfortable shoe that keeps my feet dry and lasts forever.

So anyway, Knudson and his team have been steadily improving the PUMA golf shoe line to the point where, in my personal opinion, the 2015 TITANTOUR was the best golf shoe on the market.

The basis for that assertion is four-fold. It’s stable. It’s the most comfortable spiked golf shoe I’ve ever worn (and it’s like that from the moment you first slip it on your feet). It’s held up flawlessly as my go-to shoe of the season (it’s durable), and, as well as any regular shoe can, it’s kept my feet dry.

What more can you ask for? It’s the shoe I’ve recommended most often this season.

So while I may not feel the need to scream #IGNITEit every time someone brings up the subject of golf shoes, and I’m not sure I have anything that matches the Surf the Web/Green Gecko Colorway (frankly, I didn’t realize web surfing and lizard were actually colors…I feel old), I have high hopes that the IGNITE and IGNITE Premium will be even better than the original TITANTOUR, and that would actually be a reasonably Epic Performance…or should I say EPIC PERFORMANCE!

A high bar has been set, but after stomping around the house for 20 minutes, I think PUMA may have cleared it. I’ll take them for an 18-hole walk a little later this week to find out if that’s real.

Oh, Hey, That Fowler Kid Made a Video

Technically, I haven’t been told that a spikeless version will be in the offering, but check out the caddie’s feet for a preview of what else might be part of the TITANTOUR IGNITE line-up.

Availability, Colorways, and Pricing

The TITANTOUR IGNITE will be available in White/Surf The Web/Green Gecko, White/Black/Drizzle (yes – drizzle is fo shizzle also a color), Black/Steel Gray beginning available December 1, 2015.

Two additional colorways, White/Orange/Drizzle and White/High Risk Red/Black will be available beginning February 15, 2016. Retail Price is $180

The TITANTOUR IGNITE Premium will fo shizzle be available in Drizzle/Green Geck, Monk’s Robe (brown)/Team Gold, and White/Glacier/Gray/Black beginning February 1, 2016. Retail Price is $220.