TRUE Linkswear Tour Golf Shoes – 2013 Update/Review
TRUE linkswear is in the process of releasing new styles for 2014, but I wanted to share some thoughts on last year’s update to the TRUE shoe that started it all. The original tour was TRUE’s debut entry into the minimal golf shoe world, and while it w…
TRUE linkswear is releasing new styles for 2014, but I wanted to share some thoughts on last year’s update to the TRUE shoe that started it all. In 2011, the original tour was TRUE’s debut entry into the minimal golf shoe world, and while it was extremely comfortable it had the quirks of being a first generation shoe design. In 2013, they released an updated version of the TRUE tour, which was a great improvement in the look and quality of the shoe while maintaining the barefoot feel and comfort. New designs continue to come along, but the tour model is still in the core lineup, and now at a lower price, it is definitely worth considering if you spend any time swinging a golf club. You can read the original tour review here and read on for my thoughts on the updated TRUE tour.
Overview
I went back and looked at my overview of the original tours and much of it holds true today. The updated tour has simply improved every aspect of the shoe I had an issue with.
The TRUE tour is a zero drop golf shoe with a very thin 2.5 mm sole and good ground feel even with 4 mm lugs. The foam insert, some toe spring, and a stiff leather toe cap detract a little from a “barefoot” experience, but the wide toe box, sole flexibility, and lack of arch support really do create a very comfortable minimal shoe. Other minimal options may provide better barefoot feel, but lack some of the features that make the TRUEs a great golf shoe. Overall they have a great balance of traction, flexibility, and barefoot feel, combined with complete waterproofing in a minimal design specifically built to hold up to round after round of golf. As far as golf shoes go, the TRUE linkswear shoes are the closest “barefoot experience” you can get from a golf shoe.
The last line doesn’t quite hold true anymore simply because they aren’t the only barefoot golf option anymore. However, they are still a great “barefoot” experience, and aren’t so extremely minimal that they’d be too hard for the average golfer to wear them. I would even argue these are the perfect transition shoe for golfers looking to make the switch to the comfort of minimal shoes both on and off the course.
Design
One of the best features of the new tour is the improved aesthetics. The new TRUE tour keeps the overall saddle style of the original, but several other small tweaks add up to much better presentation. The premium leather upgrade for the upper feels a bit sturdier, more comfortable, and definitely gives the shoe a more polished look while maintaining the waterproof qualities necessary in a golf shoe. This is the same leather that originally came with the much more expensive TRUE stealth model.
Another small change is the lacing setup. The original tour laced through large folded leather loops, but these have been replaced with smaller and cleaner looking nylon loops. Overall the tongue area of the shoe just looks much nicer. The tongue itself is improved and is thicker and slightly padded. And on the inside of the tongue the shoe keeps the elastic “sock-fit liner” which wraps your snugly around your midfoot. I remember liking this feature in the original and the approach has been improved slightly and it still maintains the comfortable slipper like feel around my foot.
Ninja outsole
The biggest change to the TRUE tour is the updated sole, which has a new shape as well as lug design (called the TRUE ninja outsole). The original tour was described by some as looking like “clown shoes” given the wide oblong shape of the sole and upper. The intent was perfect in that they were wide to accommodate many foot sizes. The updated sole clearly cuts in more sharply to create more of a “point”, but not at the expense of width. Its new shape has the perfect balance of maintaining a wide toebox but looking like a “normal” shoe.
The other major change to the sole was the layout of the lug design. Supposedly the new layout enhances traction performance for golf, but I honestly haven’t noticed a difference and have never had problems in either sole design. The thing I did notice about the sole was the look. While they eluded to the idea that their shoes could be worn on or off the golf course, the original tour sole was clearly a cleated look and could not work well in a casual off the golf course setting. The new updated sole removed all signs of cleats from the profile view, and they can actually pass pretty well in a casual setting (although there are still lugs on the bottom, they’re more hidden). Given that I don’t really have any waterproof barefoot options, I’ve definitely worn my new tours to work whenever it rains. I wouldn’t get them just for this purpose, but if you’re a golfer, it’s a really nice bonus to be able to use your golf shoes off the course.
Function
One of my complaints with the original tour was the narrow depth of the toe box. The updated tour has fixed that issue with a reshaping of the sole and last giving plenty of wiggle room for my toes. The barefoot feel of the shoe is the same or even potentially enhanced with the flexibility of the ninja sole. These certainly aren’t the most barefoot feeling shoe I own (or the most barefoot golf shoe for that matter), but I actually prefer the thicker foam insole for long walks on the golf course. And that said, at about 6 mm, they certainly aren’t very thick and blow away traditional golf shoes in flexibility and comfort. The function of the tour hasn’t changed, so you still get a great golf shoe with plenty of traction and waterproofing.
My eager assistant helping test out the updated TRUE tour
Conclusion
I ended my review of the original tour by saying they were the most comfortable and most barefoot feeling golf shoe. Now a few years later, the updated tour still remains one of my most comfortable shoes, but it isn’t the most barefoot golf shoe I own. However, I still go to my TRUEs because I don’t need extreme barefoot feel when I’m golfing and these provide the best of flexibility and feel with the perfect amount of cushion. I definitely prefer the tours over the newer TRUE models sensei and proto, because that sole structure hurts my semi-wide foot (we’ll save that discussion for a different day). I have yet to try any of the upcoming 2014 releases, but I can definitely recommend the new TRUE tour for anyone looking for a comfortable, good looking, and waterproof golf shoe that you can use on and off the golf course.
In 2009, I switched to "barefoot" shoes after years of bunion and arch pain from my "normal" shoes. I wanted shoes that let my feet feel and move as they do barefoot. I have a master's degree in exercise physiology and love discussing the benefits of minimal footwear. I have also run tech clinics teaching retail associates and customers about Vibram FiveFingers shoes and transitioning to minimal footwear.
18 replies on “TRUE Linkswear Tour Golf Shoes – 2013 Update/Review”
Great review, Philip! I’m wondering now how these would work in an office environment. I use the Vivobarefoot RA at the office, but these look like they might work as well.
What do you think of buying these TRUE Tour golf shoes(in black) to wear to work?
(I work at Portland State University,and I’m looking for a more durable alternative to my Soft Star Runamoc Dashes.)
I wear a size 9 with my Soft Star RunAmoc Dashes.(They fit perfectly)
Would a size 9 Tour fit the same?
Jay and Mike – Thanks for your comments.
I have definitely worn these to work (academic teaching/lab/office settings), and they certainly work just fine. They do have a “cleated” sole, so if you cross your leg in a meeting people may notice the unique sole not typically seen in an office environment 🙂 The padded style laces and the eyelet loop holes aren’t super professional looking, but that said, they could certainly pass just fine in most work environments.
The upper of these is much more structured than the Ra or Runamoc Dash. It just feels like more of a shoe if that makes any sense. Combine that with it’s waterproof nature, and I’d say it’s much more durable than either of those. I still think my pair of Vivobarefoot Ra look better suited for a “work” environment, but I’m glad these can pull double duty when it’s raining and wet outside (hello Portland State…).
TRUE is actually releasing a new 2014 model that looks more dressy (gent wingtip), which I should be reviewing soon. Stay tuned!
Mike – I’m not sure about the size comparison to the dash. I like to wear my shoes a tiny bit long, and the tour 10.5 fits me with almost a thumbs width extra in the toes. I generally wear Vibram 43 and Vivobarefoot 44 if that helps.
Lastly, I think TRUE offers a one time free return and exchange shipping if you don’t like them or want to exchange them for a different size. (http://www.truelinkswear.com/returns/)
Just received my brand-new TRUE Linkswear Tours.
They fit perfectly,are insanely comfortable..and they look perfectly normal.
(Took a 5-minute walk outside to try them out..wonderful-feeling.)
Thanks for the update Mike. Glad they fit perfectly. Which size tour did you end up getting, and does it fit the same as your size 9 RunAmoc Dash?
I ended up getting the size 9 Tours.
They fit exactly the same as my RunAmoc Dashes.
Tried them out at work yesterday,and they worked wonderfully.
I am looking for a pair of office/street shoes with zero heel-to-toe drop. I don’t golf (at all). I spend a good portion of the day at a standing desk. Besides being comfortable, my main goal is that the shoes don’t stand out too much.
I’ve been wearing Merrell Tough Gloves for a while now but they scuff very easily and as comfortable as they are, it’s time to replace them.
A few of you have mentioned these True Linkswear Tour shoes are good at work. Would they be comfortable if you were standing more or less in place for a long time?
What about compared to
a) merrell tough glove
b) truly barefoot (no shoes or socks)
c) vivobarefoot ra
d) merrell barefoot edge
Many thanks!
Hi Dylan, I think many of the True shoes would be really comfortable just standing in one place, because they’re really comfortable after 4-5 hours of standing and walking on a golf course. They have a foam insert which squishes down and is really comfortable. Once your weight squishes the foam, it should be about the same thickness of sole as the tough gloves, maybe even thinner. But the overall structure of the upper makes it feel like more of a shoe (thicker walled uppers and heel).
As compared to the Merrells and Vivobarefoot: If you are comfortable standing around in place barefoot or in those (which are pretty thin and firm soled), then you should have no problem with the True’s. You mentioned not wanting them to stand out too much, and I think the tours look perfectly normal (other than the lugs on the bottom). Personally though, for a strictly work/office shoe, my favorite is the Vivobarefoot Gobi or Ra. If you are comfortable standing in the tough gloves, you could probably be good in the Vivos. And, if you don’t need the waterproofing and will never golf in them, you may want to go with one of those instead of the True.
Hi Philip, Another great review! Do you think you could do a full review of the VFF V-Classic LR? Thanks!
Thanks Mike, I actually recently received a pair from Vibram and will try to test them out soon.
hi all! if you have purchased this shoe please tell me:
1. what size it is
2. length of your foot in inches
3. how well the shoe fits. eg: tight, loose, half inch spare room, perfect.
i am going to buy it from canada and i can’t get the size wrong, they do not pay for international shipping when doing size exchanges.
thank you so much!
every brand is a bit different. i find that if i measure my foot and read a chart, it tells me im a size 7. but i find that most shoes i wear fit snug and are size 9 or 9.5. so i want to get an idea of how the sizing really works on his shoe. thanks so much.
Thanks for the review — I am just wading into barefoot golf shoes. I have been wearing Vivo Porto’s and PrimalPro to office for ~year.
Several times in the review you say they are no longer the best barefoot experience for a golf shoe — who would you say is better? And given my reference point with Vivo how would you say the best and TrueLinks compare to my Vivo experience (not their golf shoe). Thank you
Drew – My feet are exactly 27cm to the longest toes and my TRUE tours are a US 10.5. I have about 2 cm of spare room beyond my toes, which is exactly what I want. Gives me a deeper toe pocket and more toe freedom.
Danny – TRUE linkswear shoes are definitely thin and comfortable and certainly qualify as “barefoot” shoes for me. What makes them a bit less “barefoot” than others is that they are maybe a bit thicker and have a little more cushion with the foam insoles. They also feel more structured in the upper.
The others I’m thinking of are any of the Vibrams (I’ll be posting about the V-Classic LR soon) and the Vivobarefoot golf shoe which has a very thin sole. There are some tradeoffs for the better barefoot feel of the shoe (like looks, water resistance, etc.) I haven’t tried the PrimalPro, but I’ve had my hands on the Portos. Compared to the thin firm sole on those, you’ll likely notice the TRUEs having a bit of squishiness to them with the insoles and there’s also noticeable padding around the shoe collar. Again, these aren’t necessarily bad things. Some of the newer TRUE models have a mixed rubber/EVA outsole so they aren’t as flexible than these tours I reviewed here.
If you’re wanting a really comfortable minimal/barefoot shoe that looks great, the TRUEs will be a good place to start (I believe they still offer a one-time free return shipping to make sure they fit and you like them). If you are familiar with the feel of Vibrams and truly want the thinnest most barefoot feel possible, you might want to look at the Vibram V-Classic LR. The primary downside of those depends on the types of groups you golf with and whether you can/want to wear toe shoes on the course.
Hope that helps!
Is it normal for my Tours to be wearing down on the lugs(noticeably),after only 3 months?
(I mostly wear them on pavement..)
Mike H – I guess the wear will depend on usage, but 3 months is pretty quick. I do wear mine to work and on pavement occasionally, but certainly not enough to see any significant wear in the sole since I’ve had them. You might want to contact them to see what they say.
18 replies on “TRUE Linkswear Tour Golf Shoes – 2013 Update/Review”
Great review, Philip! I’m wondering now how these would work in an office environment. I use the Vivobarefoot RA at the office, but these look like they might work as well.
What do you think of buying these TRUE Tour golf shoes(in black) to wear to work?
(I work at Portland State University,and I’m looking for a more durable alternative to my Soft Star Runamoc Dashes.)
I wear a size 9 with my Soft Star RunAmoc Dashes.(They fit perfectly)
Would a size 9 Tour fit the same?
Jay and Mike – Thanks for your comments.
I have definitely worn these to work (academic teaching/lab/office settings), and they certainly work just fine. They do have a “cleated” sole, so if you cross your leg in a meeting people may notice the unique sole not typically seen in an office environment 🙂 The padded style laces and the eyelet loop holes aren’t super professional looking, but that said, they could certainly pass just fine in most work environments.
The upper of these is much more structured than the Ra or Runamoc Dash. It just feels like more of a shoe if that makes any sense. Combine that with it’s waterproof nature, and I’d say it’s much more durable than either of those. I still think my pair of Vivobarefoot Ra look better suited for a “work” environment, but I’m glad these can pull double duty when it’s raining and wet outside (hello Portland State…).
TRUE is actually releasing a new 2014 model that looks more dressy (gent wingtip), which I should be reviewing soon. Stay tuned!
Mike – I’m not sure about the size comparison to the dash. I like to wear my shoes a tiny bit long, and the tour 10.5 fits me with almost a thumbs width extra in the toes. I generally wear Vibram 43 and Vivobarefoot 44 if that helps.
Lastly, I think TRUE offers a one time free return and exchange shipping if you don’t like them or want to exchange them for a different size. (http://www.truelinkswear.com/returns/)
Just received my brand-new TRUE Linkswear Tours.
They fit perfectly,are insanely comfortable..and they look perfectly normal.
(Took a 5-minute walk outside to try them out..wonderful-feeling.)
Thanks for the update Mike. Glad they fit perfectly. Which size tour did you end up getting, and does it fit the same as your size 9 RunAmoc Dash?
I ended up getting the size 9 Tours.
They fit exactly the same as my RunAmoc Dashes.
Tried them out at work yesterday,and they worked wonderfully.
I am looking for a pair of office/street shoes with zero heel-to-toe drop. I don’t golf (at all). I spend a good portion of the day at a standing desk. Besides being comfortable, my main goal is that the shoes don’t stand out too much.
I’ve been wearing Merrell Tough Gloves for a while now but they scuff very easily and as comfortable as they are, it’s time to replace them.
A few of you have mentioned these True Linkswear Tour shoes are good at work. Would they be comfortable if you were standing more or less in place for a long time?
What about compared to
a) merrell tough glove
b) truly barefoot (no shoes or socks)
c) vivobarefoot ra
d) merrell barefoot edge
Many thanks!
Hi Dylan, I think many of the True shoes would be really comfortable just standing in one place, because they’re really comfortable after 4-5 hours of standing and walking on a golf course. They have a foam insert which squishes down and is really comfortable. Once your weight squishes the foam, it should be about the same thickness of sole as the tough gloves, maybe even thinner. But the overall structure of the upper makes it feel like more of a shoe (thicker walled uppers and heel).
As compared to the Merrells and Vivobarefoot: If you are comfortable standing around in place barefoot or in those (which are pretty thin and firm soled), then you should have no problem with the True’s. You mentioned not wanting them to stand out too much, and I think the tours look perfectly normal (other than the lugs on the bottom). Personally though, for a strictly work/office shoe, my favorite is the Vivobarefoot Gobi or Ra. If you are comfortable standing in the tough gloves, you could probably be good in the Vivos. And, if you don’t need the waterproofing and will never golf in them, you may want to go with one of those instead of the True.
Hi Philip, Another great review! Do you think you could do a full review of the VFF V-Classic LR? Thanks!
Thanks Mike, I actually recently received a pair from Vibram and will try to test them out soon.
hi all! if you have purchased this shoe please tell me:
1. what size it is
2. length of your foot in inches
3. how well the shoe fits. eg: tight, loose, half inch spare room, perfect.
i am going to buy it from canada and i can’t get the size wrong, they do not pay for international shipping when doing size exchanges.
thank you so much!
every brand is a bit different. i find that if i measure my foot and read a chart, it tells me im a size 7. but i find that most shoes i wear fit snug and are size 9 or 9.5. so i want to get an idea of how the sizing really works on his shoe. thanks so much.
Thanks for the review — I am just wading into barefoot golf shoes. I have been wearing Vivo Porto’s and PrimalPro to office for ~year.
Several times in the review you say they are no longer the best barefoot experience for a golf shoe — who would you say is better? And given my reference point with Vivo how would you say the best and TrueLinks compare to my Vivo experience (not their golf shoe). Thank you
Drew – My feet are exactly 27cm to the longest toes and my TRUE tours are a US 10.5. I have about 2 cm of spare room beyond my toes, which is exactly what I want. Gives me a deeper toe pocket and more toe freedom.
Danny – TRUE linkswear shoes are definitely thin and comfortable and certainly qualify as “barefoot” shoes for me. What makes them a bit less “barefoot” than others is that they are maybe a bit thicker and have a little more cushion with the foam insoles. They also feel more structured in the upper.
The others I’m thinking of are any of the Vibrams (I’ll be posting about the V-Classic LR soon) and the Vivobarefoot golf shoe which has a very thin sole. There are some tradeoffs for the better barefoot feel of the shoe (like looks, water resistance, etc.) I haven’t tried the PrimalPro, but I’ve had my hands on the Portos. Compared to the thin firm sole on those, you’ll likely notice the TRUEs having a bit of squishiness to them with the insoles and there’s also noticeable padding around the shoe collar. Again, these aren’t necessarily bad things. Some of the newer TRUE models have a mixed rubber/EVA outsole so they aren’t as flexible than these tours I reviewed here.
If you’re wanting a really comfortable minimal/barefoot shoe that looks great, the TRUEs will be a good place to start (I believe they still offer a one-time free return shipping to make sure they fit and you like them). If you are familiar with the feel of Vibrams and truly want the thinnest most barefoot feel possible, you might want to look at the Vibram V-Classic LR. The primary downside of those depends on the types of groups you golf with and whether you can/want to wear toe shoes on the course.
Hope that helps!
Is it normal for my Tours to be wearing down on the lugs(noticeably),after only 3 months?
(I mostly wear them on pavement..)
Mike H – I guess the wear will depend on usage, but 3 months is pretty quick. I do wear mine to work and on pavement occasionally, but certainly not enough to see any significant wear in the sole since I’ve had them. You might want to contact them to see what they say.