In this review, I’ll be sharing my honest thoughts after using the Retrocross 25 shoes for 10 or so rounds of golf. I’ll be going over the pros, the cons, and whether or not I think you should buy them.
I’ve owned a lot of adidas shoes over the years (not just golf), and they’ve always been some of my favorites. They seem to last a long time and they fit my narrow foot well, especially in the toes.
I’m a big fan of the way the Retrocross shoes look so my hopes were that they’d fit and perform well. I bought these shoes with my own money and am not paid to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Note: These pics are after 10 rounds of golf. Some rounds were a bit wet and some were dusty. This gives you an idea on how they’ll look.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Retrocross 25 golf shoes are very good-looking and comfortable to wear out of the box. They’re not waterproof and they’re not the most breathable, but for rounds that aren’t overly hot or wet, they perform very well. The main thing I’d say is that if your course gets wet, muddy, or dusty, do not get the color white.
The Pros
- The price is very reasonable
- Looks great on and off the course
- Comfortable out of the box
The Cons
- Not waterproof
- Not the most breathable
- White is very hard to keep clean
adidas Retrocross 25
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The First Impressions
I have fairly narrow feet and have always had a tough time finding shoes that fit well. I’m a certain size with some brands and then I’m a full size and a half bigger with others.
One of the brands that seem to fit me well is adidas.
I’ve had golf shoes in the past from them that lasted 3-4 years. I’ve also owned some of their running and casual shoes.
I was looking for a shoe I could wear on the course that I could also wear out, which is exactly what the Retrocross is for.
They come in a few different colors but I’m always a fan of plain white, especially with this style of shoe. I think they’re an awesome-looking shoe.
Out of the box, the grip on the bottom seems decent, but it’s not going to be super stable in wet conditions. It uses soft rubber spikes that are designed for fair-weather golf. Plus, they aren’t waterproof so you probably wouldn’t use them if it’s wet out.
On each side of the shoe you’ll have some ventilation. The same goes for the top of the toes. Again, this means water can get in but it also means air can get out.
My feet run pretty warm so I was curious to see how I’d feel.
As for size, I went with size 10, which is what I usually am. With Footjoy, I usually have to size down to 9.5. With True, I usually have to size up to 11.
So for the Retrocross, I’d say go with your normal size.
Overall, they look good and feel good out of the box. The first time I’ll be using them is in some pretty hot weather, so ventilation will be tested.
The Performance
When it comes to golf shoes, we’re mainly looking for something that’s comfortable to wear for 4+ hours and will give us good grip. Another thing is how breathable or waterproof the shoe is, depending on the season you’ll be wearing them.
Comfort
I’m sure you’ve had the shoe that was super stiff out of the box. I’m sure you’ve also had shoes that gave blisters the first few times using them.
For me, the Retrocross were extremely comfortable out of the box and didn’t require a break-in period.
They’re more of a casual shoe so they’re not that stiff. This means they won’t be as stable/supportive as a dedicated golf shoe, but if you want comfort, these are solid.
Breathability & Waterproof
The type of conditions you’ll be golfing in are important, probably the most important thing to think about. Is it going to be super hot when you’re playing or will it be wet and muddy?
What I’ll say about the Retrocross is that they don’t do anything well. They’re more of a jack-of-all-trades shoe, meaning the breathability and water-resistance is just okay.
The first time I used them was in the middle of summer. The temperature was around 90 degrees (32 celsius), so it was pretty warm.
The shoes have ventilation in the toes and on the sides. My feet were warm but were still comfortable. It was much better than I was expecting.
I’ve also used them in the fall when the ground was moist. I never had any issues with my feet getting wet. However, I wouldn’t use them for winter golf since the courses here get very wet (puddles and mud).
In terms of when I’d wear them, spring and fall are perfect. I’d even be fine wearing them in the summer, but a mesh shoe would be better, especially if I were walking. In the winter, I’d want a waterproof shoe (these could be perfect if your course doesn’t get wet in the winter and you want a mix of warmth/breathability).
Grip
A good golf shoe is one that keeps you stable and balanced. Slipping around the course is never fun, it’s embarrassing when you fall and it’s embarassing when you slip mid-swing and shank the ball towards the other fairway.
The Retrocross uses small soft rubber spikes that do a pretty good job overall. In dry conditions, I’ve never once slipped. The same goes for when the ground is a little damp.
I haven’t been able to test them when it’s super wet out but they definitely won’t be as good as a shoe with actual spikes.
Should You Buy?
Having used the Retrocross for 2 seasons (summer and fall), I think they’re an awesome choice and would recommend them for certain conditions.
If you’ll be walking in the summer heat, I might recommend getting a more breathable shoe. If you’ll be playing in wet conditions, you’ll want something waterproof.
For all other conditions, I think you’ll enjoy wearing them.
Even off the course, I’ve put them on to go out. You will wear the spikes down faster by walking on concrete, but if you want a shoe that does it all, it’s one of the best options.
The one thing I would say is that I’d only buy the white version if you play in dry weather. If you add moisture or dust, the things will get super dirty and it’ll be tough to get the stains out.
The majority of the shoe is easy to clean, but once the laces, fabric, and stitching get dirty, you’ll never be able to get it out.
adidas Retrocross 25
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