Back in the footwear section of my 2009 Golf Gear Guide, I talked about Cleatskins‘ entry into the golf market. Cleatskins, which have been around for a while now for sports like football, soccer, and baseball, are basically slippers for your spiked shoes.  Now it may sound silly to put your feet inside a pair of socks, into a pair of shoes, and then into a pair of rubber slippers, but give me minute and I’ll explain why this all makes sense.  For now, just know that; made of  a durable rubber compound, Cleatskins Golf easily slip on over your golf spikes, creating a barrier between your shoes and the ground.

So Why Cleatskins Golf?

Now you may be wondering, “why the hell would I want something between my golf shoe and the ground”?  I’m glad you asked (if you didn’t, just play along).  There are several reasons why you might want to keep a pair of Cleatskins on your golf shoes whenever you’re not actually on the golf course.   Let’s start with the golf course itself.  As it happens, despite being lush and green, golf courses are actually pretty nasty places.  They’re full of sand, mud, pesticides, and other unmentionables that some disrespectful goose might have left behind.  Golf courses are filthy places, and even if you don’t care; there’s a safe bet there’s someone in your life who doesn’t appreciate it when all that golf gunk gets tracked into your car, or worse yet, into your house.

If cleanliness alone doesn’t sell you on Cleatskins, how about durability?  Cleatskins can help improve the lifespan of your cleats.  Since Cleatskins eliminate direct ground contact with hard surfaces (like the parking lot at the golf course), they can help to extend the life of your spikes.  Although I’ve been lackadaisical about it at times, since I’ve switched to the PUMA Swing Crown GTX shoes (which don’t have replaceable spikes), I’ve been a little more religious about having the Cleatskins on my shoes any time I’m not on grass.  I’ve also found that Cleatskins make the Swing Crown much more comfortable over hard surfaces.

I’ll be perfectly honest with you.  When it comes to playing golf, I’m both lazy and impatient.  I don’t like “wasting time” in the parking lot taking off my regular shoes and putting on my golf shoes.  I want to play golf as quickly as possible.  Even if it’s just getting out to the putting green, or the range, I want to get started the second I pull into the parking lot – hell, I’d like to roll out of my car while it’s still moving if possible.  Admittedly, I may be in the minority here, but I absolutely hate traveling with two pairs of shoes.  With Cleatskins, I can wear my golf shoes to the course, even if I’m the one driving.  And since Cleatskins are slip resistant, I’m not risking anyone’s life by doing it.

Once I’m at the course, I walk right across the parking lot and into the pro shop.  When I’m checked in, settled up, and on grass, the Cleatskins get peeled off and tossed into my golf bag.  It takes all of 5 seconds before I’m ready to go.

Now maybe you don’t care about tracking golf course goop wherever you go.  Maybe you don’t care about getting a little bit more life out of your golf spikes.  And maybe you don’t care about changing your shoes in the parking lot.  Even if that’s all true, there is one more reason why you might want to consider a pair of Cleatskins Golf…

I won’t pretend to know how your brain works.  For all I know your mind is tack sharp.  It’s quite possible you’ve never left the house without everything you need for a round of golf.  You very well may never have forgotten a thing in your life.  Me (and I highly doubt I’m alone here), between grabbing my clubs, water, snacks, rangefinder, GPS, and whatever else I might be bringing to the course on a given day, I have a tendency to forget something.  On more than one occasion, that something has been my golf shoes.  For some, playing in sneakers isn’t a problem (some guys do it all the time).  Me, I think it sucks.  That’s where Cleatskins Golf come in.  If I’m wearing my golf shoes to the course, there really isn’t any chance I’m going to forget them.  I mean…I may have forgotten my golf shoes, but I’ve never showed up to the course barefoot.

My actual golf shoe with the Cleatskin on. Rest assured Cleatskins fit as snuggly as they do in the marketing photos. Maybe I should have got them in white. By the way, how sweet are those PUMAs?

Minor Grips

There are a couple of things you should probably know about Cleatskins Golf before you go out and buy a pair.  First, and of less consequence, they’re not easy to put on when you’re not wearing the shoe.  It’s not a big deal, but just know going in, it’s much, much easier to slip them on your shoes when your shoes are already on your feet.  Like I said, it’s not a big deal.

Second, Cleatskins are made of heavy duty rubber.  The trade off for durability is weight.  While they’re not quite like wearing cement shoes, Cleatskins will definitely add some bulk.  Since they’re designed to come off once you’re at the course, the weight most definitely won’t impact play.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been wearing Cleatskins Golf for most of this golf season.  At a minimum, they’ve saved me a few trips up the stairs with the ShopVac to clean out my trunk.  I’ll admit to not conducting any sort of scientific durability experiments, but it stands to reason that, if you can cut back on the contact between your spikes and abrasive surfaces, those spikes will last a bit longer – but honestly I can’t swear to it.  That said, since my new shoes don’t have replaceable spikes (when they’re done, they’re done), I’m certainly going to make every effort I can to increase their lifespan, which means the Cleatskins will be on them until it’s time to tee off.  It also doesn’t hurt that the rubber makes walking over hard surfaces a bit more comfortable (not to mention less like skating).  I love that I can wear my shoes right to the golf course, and I love that Cleatskins totally eliminate the possibility that I’m going to show up for my round without my golf shoes.

For less than$36, Cleatskins Golf are the best way I know of to prolong the life of golf shoes (and keep your house and car a little cleaner).  They’re available in a variety of colors in both men’s and women’s sizes.  Unless you’re going to be at Doral Resort anytime soon, your best bet it to buy directly through the Cleatskins Store.