PUMA GS-Fast Golf Shoes Review: "Off-course styling meets on-course comfort"

PUMA GS-Fast Golf Shoes Key Features:

• Seam-sealed waterproof upper: welded-on TPU layers completely seam-seal the upper, providing ultimate protection from the elements
• Softfoam Sockliner: Dual-density insole provides two unique layers of cushioning for excellent comfort, fit and long-lasting durability
• Fusion Foam: Mix of super soft EVA foam and ultra-responsive rubber combine to provide energy return and cushioning to keep you comfortable throughout your round
• Carbon Rubber: high abrasion-resistant rubber that provides excellent grip and long-lasting durability

Golf shoes have changed a great deal in the last 40 years, and you need to look no further than the PUMA GS-Fast for a perfect example of just how far they've come. 

PUMA has for a long time been one of the leading lights when it comes to modernising on-course styling, and the GS-Fast golf shoes encapsulate everything revolutionary and exciting about what the brand is trying to achieve. These shoes were so popular with the GolfMagic team that they've gone straight into our best golf shoes guide.

Inspired by the brand's popular range of RS running shoes, the brand has adopted many of its performance-enhancing features and remodelled them to produce a shoe that's fit for the course.

First released in the 80s, the RS sneaker range was revolutionary for its time, and the company has adapted that same winning formula to produce a modern golf shoe that provides versatility, style and performance in equal measure. 

To find out how well the shoes performed, we took them out for 18 holes at Chart Hills Golf Course for a test drive.

Let's get into it...

GS-Fast: Looks

Featuring an almost wave-like design thanks to different shades of blue and white that work their way through the entire shoe, they have a distinctly modern trainer-like aesthetic. 

In terms of branding, they've gone for a 'less is more' approach, with only a small leaping PUMA adorning the side of the upper. The typically large form line, which usually spans the length of most of their shoes, has almost been hidden away in the midsole to make way for a tribal-like pattern that provides the main feature on either side of the upper.

The design itself is sleek and fluid, but the construction of the shoe is certainly on the chunky side. Much like a lot of the trainers you will see on most trendy high streets around the world, the slightly oversized silhouette is very much in fashion at the moment.

Having typically worn more traditional shoes, we were curious to see what these shoes looked like on foot, and staring down at them for the first time, we immediately felt like we could have just as easily worn them to Glastonbury as we could St Andrews, which we absolutely loved. 

These shoes were certainly aimed at the on/off course market, and the company has absolutely delivered on the brief. They would look just as home down your local pub as they would on the wall of a pro shop, which is one of the beauties of the design.

Golf shoes have adapted over the years, and consumers can now get so much more out of their golf shoes than they could before. PUMA has long been one of the best brands for creating shoes that can cross over from the fairway to the pavement, and these shoes are some of the best multi-use shoes we've tested.

We tried the shoes in the Navy-Regal Blue-White colourway, but there are an additional five other colour options to choose from, so matching them up with your outfit should be no problem at all. 

A fantastic additional detail that the brand has added, which will only become visible on your follow-through, is the large "GOLF" print on the soles of the shoes. A creative addition that adds a charming touch of fun to the design

GS-Fast: Comfort and Performance

The out-of-the-box comfort of these shoes is second to none. Keen to get them out on the course, we didn't bother to try them on before we got to Chart Hills, and as soon as we slipped them on, we knew they weren't going to present us with any issue mid-way through our round.

The heel section hugs your ankle nicely without ever rubbing, and the insole, with an added heel cushion, provides a lovely springy feel, which gives you the sensation that energy is being returned to your feet with every stride. 

The chunky sole, which slopes from back to front, gives you fantastic cushioning and stability, and throughout the swing, you really feel fully locked into the shoes.

We have quite wide feet, but there was ample space in the toe region, so there was no level of discomfort or rubbing experienced at any point during our round.   

The full seam sealed upper provides total waterproof protection, but the one slight trade-off is that these shoes aren't the most breathable we have tested. While we didn't feel our feet overheating, the thick TPU upper certainly wasn't letting anything in or out.

One other big advantage of the use of TPU in the upper is that the shoes are incredibly durable and easy to wipe down. The robust material is incredibly strong, so these shoes, although probably best suited to summer golf because of the lack of spikes, could just as easily be worn in winter and wet conditions.  

The soles of the shoes feature a large number of small carbon rubber nubs to provide traction, and while we were only able to test them in dry conditions, they gripped the turf really well, allowing us to swing freely without fear of losing our footing. 

All in all, these shoes performed really well. Providing excellent comfort, grip and stability, they won't let you down on the course, come wind or rain. 

Should you buy the GS-Fast Golf Shoes?

If you're looking for a modern trainer-like golf shoe that provides on-course performance and off-course appeal, then these shoes are certainly worth trying on the next time you enter a pro shop. 

The stylish design, coupled with excellent stability and comfort, make these some of the best all-around golf shoes we have tested, and coming in at only £99, they're incredibly good value, too.

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