adidas Codechaos 25 Golf Shoes Review
GolfMagic tests out the new adidas Codechaos 25 golf shoes.
adidas Codechaos 25 Golf Shoes Key Features:
- Lightstrike + BOOST midsole: delivers a combination of comfort and stability
- Twist Grip outsole: provides spikeless traction
- Multi-layered waterproof knit upper: looks great and keeps your feet protected from the elements
Adidas is back with the latest iteration of their wildly popular Codechaos range. Codechaos 25 has seen the German brand opt for a slightly more refined design; however, the bright and bold colour palette is back with a bang.
Codechoas has been a very popular spikeless range since it burst onto the scene in 2020, and the newest iteration has stuck with a proven formula, while making small changes that make a big difference.
Featuring a whole host of adidas' tried and tested tech, such as Boost and Lightstrike, the Codechaos 25 golf shoes are designed to deliver performance, style and comfort in a modern spikeless silhouette.
To see if the shoes were some of the best spikeless golf shoes of 2024, we took the shoes out for a number of rounds at Huntercombe Golf Club in Oxfordshire.
Let's get into it.
adidas Codechaos 25 Looks
The Codechaos range has always been unconventional in terms of aesthetics, with bright colours, eye catching sole designs, and textured uppers all being ever present since inception.
Fans of those particular design choices will be delighted to see that many of those key features have returned for 25.
Straight out of the box, we have to admit we weren't quite sure whether we loved or hated the design of the 25. The slightly translucent waterproof upper allows you to see what we can best be describe as a topographical map of the shoe, while splashes of pink and lime green provide some welcome contrast to the predominantly white and black upper.
The finish on these shoes is extremely unique, and we can't think of a time we've seen it on any shoe let alone a golf shoe.
The strands of white that cover the upper may take some getting used to. Personally we have come around to the design, however we can see how it might be a bit Marmite.
In terms of shaping, the 25s are slightly more compact than the Codechaos 22s which featured a slightly chunkier footprint.
This is partly down to the fact that the outsole no longer creeps up the side of the foot, which was a big feature on the Codechaos 22 range.
Personally we're big fans of this decision. Although having the traction elements creep up the outside of the shoe was a cool and innovative way of separating the shoes from competition on the market, it did look a bit garish at times, with the new outsole providing a more refined silhouette, that's easier to style.
The addition of coloured stitching on the heel and cracked zebra print three stripes only add to the shoe, and overall we have to say, they might not be everyone's cup of tea, but the Codechoas 25s get a big thumbs up from us in the looks department.
adidas Codechaos Performance and Comfort
One of adidas's greatest footwear innovations is Boost, and the light cushiony material has been an ever present in the brands, performance footwear for as long as we can remember.
The bouncy foam is featured in both the front of the sole and the heel of the 25s, with Lightstrike, a more rigid material designed to provide stability, sandwiched between the two boost cushions in the midfoot.
The combination of these two materials delivers both stability and comfort, with the shoes benefitting from slightly more rigidity thanks to Lightstrike, while still delivering energy return and bounce thanks to the Boost.
Typically Boost midsoles deliver bags of bounce and energy return, however the 25s are decidedly more rigid and stiff than previous iterations of Codechaos or indeed other models from the adidas range.
While this added rigidity certainly delivers stability in the swing, we did find the underfoot feel was harder than expected and did lead to slight foot fatigue after the rounds we played.
In terms of traction, we can't fault the TwistGrip outsole. Thanks to the abundance of traction elements and their depth, we didn't experience any loss of traction during our swing, and although we tested these shoes in the summer, thanks to the waterproof upper, we would also say they are suitable for winter golf too.
While we can't pick holes in the level of traction or stability provided by these shoes, the level of comfort did leave something to be desired.
There is plenty of room in the toe box, and we experienced no discomfort in the forefoot, however we've not been entirely convinced by the level of cushioning in the heel.
We found that both the height of the heel and the stiffness of the material lead to some awkward rubbing that is still yet to subside.
In the past we've had issues with the heel section of adidas shoes, however recently we were really impressed by the comfort and padding provided by the Tour 360 24s. The Codechaos 25s unfortunately don't offer that same level of cushioning.
While we were left slightly disappointed by the comfort of the Codechoas 25s, it's worth noting, that this was just our personal experience, and everyone's feet are different, so it's definitely worth trying a pair on before you purchase them.
Should you buy a pair of adidas Codechaos golf shoes?
If you're looking to purchase a pair of golf shoes that deliver unique modern styling, exceptional stability and all year round protection, then the Codechoas 25s are well worth your attention.
The use of Boost and Lightstrike delivers excellent stability and structure, and while we weren't blown away by the comfort on offer, everyone's feet are different and that was merely our personal experience.
