Tiger Woods’ Solar Day Crimson launches its most comfy golf shoe but

TIger Woods’ attire model, Solar Day Crimson, launched its first retail shoe in December with a traditional design made particularly for Woods to compete in.

The footwear, the Pioneer Cypress and, later, Pioneer Magnolia, had all of the traditional styling Woods most popular, together with not solely spikes but in addition locations to insert metallic spikes. (Woods is without doubt one of the final PGA Tour gamers to put on nails.)

However now the corporate is venturing into a mode of golf footwear Woods wears in additional causal settings: the spikeless variety.

The newest launch from Solar Day Crimson is the Osprey spikeless golf shoe, which had as a lot of a meticulous growth course of because the Pioneer line.

“It’s actually turn into my on a regular basis shoe,” Woods stated in a press launch. “It’s comfy however nonetheless seems polished, and I like that I can put on it straight from the golf course to a gathering or a dinner.”

Listed here are three issues to know concerning the new Solar Day Crimson Osprey, in addition to my ideas on the brand new shoe.

Why does Tiger Woods want a spikeless shoe?

It piqued my consideration when Solar Day Crimson introduced the addition of a spikeless shoe to its lineup. Whereas it makes plenty of sense to cowl that a part of the market, as spikeless footwear are uber-popular, it additionally can be stunning to see Woods carrying them.

Woods famously nonetheless wears metallic cleats when he competes on Tour. However seems he’d put on spikeless nearly another time.

Charley Hudak, Solar Day Crimson’s head of footwear, stated the unique objective with the Pioneer Cypress was to get a shoe that Woods may compete in and prepared for launch, however then Woods additionally wanted one thing he may put on to the launch itself.

“He couldn’t put on metallic spikes or nails there,” Hudak advised GOLF. “So, we simply reacted shortly and obtained him into what we known as like an on-course, off-course mannequin. And he referred to it because the coach’s shoe.”

Woods stated he prefers to put on sneakers, versus extra dressy footwear, to social features, so Hudak and his group set to work turning that “coach’s shoe” into one thing Woods may put on each to observe and off the course.

A golf shoe you possibly can reside in

Hudak, a virtually 20-year shoe business veteran, says the Osprey is without doubt one of the most comfy footwear he’s ever worn and that he himself makes use of it as his day-to-day journey sneaker.

There are two major sorts of spikeless footwear in the marketplace: a golf shoe that you may put on off the course, or a sneaker that you may put on on the course. The Osprey, Hudak says, is the previous.

“We wished to land golf efficiency, before everything,” he stated. “After which the flexibility to be off the golf course as properly.”

To make the shoe extra sturdy, Hudak stated they went with a cupsole of rubber, which will increase stability. Woods’ enter instantly resulted within the variable top lugs on the underside to offer traction in the best way that conventional spikes do. A 6 mm drop within the EVA midsole from heel to toe additionally additional helps a participant make the most of floor forces through the swing.

To assist consolation, Hudak stated, the designers went with a 3/4 bootie building and further foam across the heel.

Woods even wears the shoe within the fitness center, which isn’t one thing Hudak anticipated, however underscores the shoe’s consolation.

Basic aesthetics and styling

As in earlier SDR shoe releases, the shoe has a clear look with easy branding, although Hudak and Woods plan so as to add extra distinguished branding in future fashions.

“There shall be different alternatives type of have extra aggressive branding,” Hudak stated. “And that’s one of many inputs that I had with Tiger final time I used to be down within the Bahamas. [The current clean styling] will permit for some cool issues.”

However for now, the absence of branding invitations folks to ask a wearer concerning the footwear, which is Hudak’s objective.

“Whenever you’re ever on the subway or in case you’re touring within the airport and folks lean in [and ask],” he stated. “So our concept was the aesthetic, the general design language attracts folks in.”

My ideas

That is the Solar Day Crimson shoe I’ve been ready for. I haven’t worn spiked footwear a lot since earlier than highschool and actually would by no means contemplate the extra conventional model of SDR’s first releases.

However now that the corporate is providing a spikeless choice, I dig the flexibility.

In carrying the shoe round my home and city, I discovered the consolation (with a half dimension bigger than what I usually put on) ranks up there with any spikeless shoe I’ve worn.

I’m intrigued by the variable top lugs on the outsole for traction, as they’re much smaller than the spikeless footwear I usually put on. Whereas I’ve but to do important testing on the golf course, I’d discover it exhausting to imagine a shoe designed for Tiger Woods doesn’t present wonderful traction.

However maybe most essential, I believe the value level right here ($160) is de facto going to open up SDR to extra individuals who didn’t need to spend the $250 for the unique spiked fashions.

Value and availability

Solar Day Crimson Osprey Golf Footwear

A flexible golf shoe that seamlessly transitions from workplace to course, combining efficiency supplies with minimalist design for the fashionable golfer’s way of life. Out there in 4 core colourways. The place efficiency meets versatility, throughout the varied terrains of an lively life. The Solar Day Crimson Osprey stands as the proper companion for many who transfer seamlessly between worlds—from workplace conferences to afternoon tee instances, from informal dinners to weekend adventures. Crafted with premium supplies and delicate sophistication, this shoe delivers the consolation wanted for all-day put on and the efficiency required for assured strides on any floor. Tiger has made the Osprey his go-to shoe for all times’s off-course moments—from informal outings to creating assertion entrances at TGL occasions—reflecting his understanding that in the present day’s golfer wants footwear that performs throughout all points of a dynamic life.