George Stead
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Adidas bring out so many new golf shoes year on year, it is sometimes hard to keep up. However, some designs stand out more than others. Released in September of last year, the Tour360 XT Primeknit falls well and truly into that category.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

What's It All About?

Last year Golfalot reviewed both spiked and spikeless versions of the Tour360 XT shoes, and we loved them. They were high-performing golf shoes in all areas which consolidated the hard work and growth that Adidas has enjoyed in recent years through constant innovation.

Having said that, I think the thing we liked so much about the Tour 360 XT was how simple it was, both aesthetically and technically. It seemed to have everything you need in a clean and no-nonsense design.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

So why the new addition? With the Primeknit, although it has the same Tour360 outsole, the upper is a whole lot different to provide a shoe that is essentially that little bit more comfortable. Adidas also say that due to the eye-catching knit upper, golfers' feet will be feel as fresh when they walk off the 18th green as they did when they stepped onto the first tee.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

The premium knit upper used is said to give an extremely soft feel around the foot, whilst the yarns repel water (with a one-year waterproof guarantee) to keep your feet dry and fresh over 18 holes.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

You can see the full details of the Tour360 XT Primeknit as covered around it’s launch here.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

Adidas Says

”We're always working on creative ways to infuse both comfort and performance into a golf shoe. With the Tour360 XT Primeknit, it checks all the boxes, giving players an extremely comfortable - and dry - wear throughout their round, whilst also giving them the support, traction and stability they need as they play. It also offers a unique look to help them stand out on the course.”

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

The Test

The test here was as simple as they come. I played 18 holes of golf at Prestbury Golf Club in late Autumn. The shoes were straight out of the box and straight onto my feet.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

Conditions wise, it was cold enough that a woolly hat was necessary but the mitts stayed in the bag. The course was damp but in good condition, it was wet underfoot due to the cold conditions so when I stepped into the rough, the shoes got wet. For extra measure, during my round I also put the Primeknits through a water test by pouring water directly onto the shoes.

More on that later…

Adidas Tour360 XT Primeknit Shoe Review

I’ll kick things off with the look of these shoes. Let’s be honest – they’re not what you would call ‘traditional’. But on this occasion, I like that. I think the knitted upper looks brilliant. Adidas played it safe with the Tour360 XT design wise, as I mentioned earlier, and there really is nothing not to like. So it’s no surprise that it has taken a more bold approach with Primeknit. They are the sort of shoes that your playing partners will ask about on the first tee.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

I tested the shoes in the silver, white and black colourway. Again, I was a fan. They weren’t too loud and they were easy to match with an outfit. The darker colour meant that even when playing in muddy conditions, they weren’t going to mark up too much. The same could not be said however for the grey, white and silver colourway – leave those for your summer holidays to Portugal…

The knitted upper felt premium and soft to touch, which therefore meant it was easy to manipulate. When unboxing the shoes, they felt as if they were going to give my feet plenty of freedom of movement and flexibility when walking. The upper was slightly stretchy, yet at the same time had a relatively taut feel to it, which really does lock your foot into place during the golf swing.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

This was a relief as in the past I have found that shoes with knitted or mesh style uppers can lack support to the foot. I found this particularly with the FootJoy Flex shoes. Yes, they were extremely comfy, but in a golf shoe you need more than just comfort. I felt like the Primeknit shoes gave me this, and the stability, both in good measure.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

To increase the stability of the upper (which you would think would be a weak area for this shoe), Adidas has incorporated forging technology into the Primeknit. This is a process in which the upper section is heated during construction so that it forms a sturdier frame to support the midfoot without adding weight. It’s pretty impressive stuff really, how Adidas has managed to make such a soft feeling shoe very supportive and sturdy at the same time.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

In addition to this, under the foot – the only part of the shoe where you can see the famous three stripes – the Primeknit has the 360 wrap which is there to give the golfer that ‘locked-in’ feel. Again it does this, no doubt.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

This all sounds great, however it comes with a few problems. I actually felt like the upper of the Primeknit was too tight at times. You could almost compare it to a sock, which sits skin-tight to your foot. I felt this was a little restricting at times on the course – especially on the back nine of my test.

On top of this, the Primeknit shoes are not for golfers with wide feet, in fact I found them to have an extremely narrow fit. This made the shoes look great as the design was sleek and slim but actually, they just felt a little too tight which some golfers will find uncomfortable.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

This was highlighted especially on the bridge of the foot. Because there is no actual tongue to the golf shoe,and I had the laces tied nice and tight, after a few holes I could feel the laces starting to rub on the bridge of my foot which again became uncomfortable. I like a nice amount of cushioning and padding around the tongue.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

The waterproof department is where I found another slight issue with this shoe. Over 18 holes on a wet golf course – they performed absolutely fine. No water in sight. However when I put the knit upper under more pressure, I found a slight problem.

The majority of the shoe is as Adidas suggests – 100% waterproof. Watching the water wick away from the knit as soon as it hits it is actually really impressive. It’s almost comparable to a Galvin Green Jacket, in the way that water literally bounces off the shoes.

However, when I poured water directly onto the laces of the shoes, the knit material genuinely let the water straight in. Not ideal if you’re playing in the rain, especially when you consider that the laces are probably going to be the part of the shoe that are hit most by the water. Slightly worrying…

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

The sole of this shoe is probably its most impressive asset. The full length boost midsole combined with the eight-cleat X-traxion outsole really is a combination to be reckoned with. Traction and comfort of the highest order. I speak about it in much more detail in my review of the Tour 360XT shoes.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

Adidas Tour360 XT Primeknit Shoe Verdict

Despite the slight drawbacks I found with the Primeknit shoes – I’m still a fan. I love the boost midsole and I surprised myself by really liking the contemporary looks of the Primeknit.

They are comfy, breathable, flexible and overall performed well on the course. However, if you play in the rain a lot and have wide feet, don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Would I Use It?

In the summer and on the drier days, due to the design – yes I would.

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

Tour360 XT Primeknit Pros

  • Great modern looks, younger generations will like
  • X-traxion outsole performs very well
  • Comfortable under foot and around the heel
  • Feet feel locked-in for 18 holes
  • Very breathable

Tour360 XT Primeknit Cons

  • 100% waterproof claim is questionable - laces let water in
  • Lace area doesn't offer much support
  • Very narrow and tight fitting

Adidas Tour 360 XT Primeknit

Golfalot Rating: 4 stars
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Adidas Tour360 XT Primeknit Golf Shoe

Adidas Tour360 XT Primeknit Golf Shoe - Product Details

UK Launch02 September 2019
UK Launch RRP£159.95
USA Launch02 September 2019
USA Launch RRP$180
European Launch02 September 2019
European Launch RRP€219.95
GolferMens
Sizes6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12
WidthsMedium
Colour OptionsGrey/White/Silver, Blue/Black, Silver/White/Black
SpikedYes
WaterproofYes
Manufacturer's WebsiteAdidas Website

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