TRUE Linkswear made a splash in the golf industry in 2009 with their lightweight, zero-drop, minimalist golf shoes. Their motto is "Enjoy the Walk", and their shoes were designed by, and for, walking golfers. The president of the company is Jason Moore, brother of Ryan Moore (NCAA Individual Champion, US AM Champion, 5-time PGA Tour winner and member of a winning Ryder Cup team), who is a partner in the company. Both avid golfers who grew up in a golf-oriented family, they originally were dissatisfied with the current shoe offerings on the market and set out to design a better, more comfortable golf shoe. The result was the original TRUE Linkswear shoe - a light, flexible shoe with a thin, zero-drop sole and an extra-roomy toe box. Although the appearance was derided by many as looking like a "clown shoe" due to the bulbous toe box, there was no denying the comfort, and TRUE developed into a niche brand which gradually gained a cult following.
As the brand grew, other stakeholders in the company led them to branching out and meeting the demands of big box retailers, and their shoe designs were straying from Jason and Ryan's original intentions, as was quality. In 2016, Jason and Ryan re-acquired full control of the company from the other stakeholders, relocated to their current headquarters in Tacoma, Washington, and completely purged all the old, unsustainable product lines. Their "reboot" began in 2017 with two shoe models based upon their original design concepts from 2009 - The Original (OG) and the Outsider. Both shoes were received very favorably, and a lot of the TRUE loyalists returned as if they had never left.
The TRUE Linkswear OG Feel was introduced in 2020. It is essentially the Original with a knit upper (as opposed to the premium leather upper of the Original). In keeping with the design of the Original, it has a thin, flexible, zero-drop (spikeless) sole, and a roomy "natural width" upper which will accommodate foot widths up to 4E.
In an effort to be more environmentally conscious, TRUE Linkswear now ships their shoes in a sturdy, reusable shoe bag with a drawstring closure rather than a cardboard box. The bag features the "OG_FEEL" label printed at the bottom, the TRUE Linkswear logo in the middle, and "Feel the Course" at the top above the drawstring closure. The print pattern resembles the contour lines of a topographical map, in keeping with their outdoor orientation:
They currently offer three colorways for the OG Feel. The pair I purchased are the "Everyday Gray" colorway, which has a dark gray/black knit upper, a brown leather saddle, and a black leather heel counter, and gray shoelaces with brown aglets to match the leather saddle (also included in the bag are a pair of black shoelaces) Product branding on the shoe is subtle and tastefully done:
The knit upper is a fully breathable, one-piece sock fit which is 90% polyester and 10% spandex. The fabric of the upper is treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent), making the shoes water repellent (but not fully waterproof, as the Originals are). The fit is snug at the heel, with their characteristic "Natural Width" toe box which allows your feet to splay out as if you were barefoot. The knit upper is stretchy enough to conform to your foot, but still offers a bit of structure so your foot doesn't slide around atop the sole. The saddle and heel counter are both leather, similar to the Originals, with a loop at the heel to assist in putting the shoes on, and the inside of the upper around the heel is lightly cushioned. The shoes are very lightweight overall. Their claimed weight for a size 9 shoe is 8.7 ounces - I weighed my size 13 OG Feel at 11.8 ounces, as opposed to my all-leather size 13 Original at 15.2 ounces:
The OG Feel has a white spikeless sole which is virtually identical to the Original model. The sole is thin (5mm tread with a 2.5mm sole/midsole), extremely flexible and offers great feel of the ground beneath your feet while still providing more than adequate protection from foreign objects. Like the Original, the sole is a zero-drop design, meaning that the heel and toe are at the same height:
Speaking from experience, these soles wear extremely well - I have two pair of TRUE Linkswear Originals with the same sole which I've owned for over a year, both of which have 60+ rounds of golf on them (along with being worn to/from the course), and wear is minimal. Grip is excellent for a spikeless shoe - although I play primarily desert courses, I play many rounds in morning dew and on freshly irrigated courses, and have never had a problem with foot slippage, even on wet slopes/irregular surfaces. While I don't have overly active feet in my swing, I've had no problems with "spinning out" or slipping during the swing. I'm very partial to the minimalist, zero drop sole, as it offers great feel of foot positioning/balance and also for feeling bunker composition and green contours. The best way I can describe TRUE Linkswear shoes is that it's the next best thing to playing completely barefoot in terms of comfort and feel.
Gone is the bulbous "clown shoe" look of the TRUE Linkswear shoes of previous eras. While the toe box is wider than most shoes (claiming to fit up to 4E), the design is sleek and aesthetic - you won't draw any more attention than you would in any other athletic-style golf shoe. As mentioned above, the heel is a snug fit, comparable to most other golf shoes, so despite the wide toe box your foot is held well in the shoe and there is no heel slippage while walking. The insole is similar to the Original - a minimalist 4.5mm EVA foam, designed to offer enough cushioning for comfort while still maximizing feel on the course:
My first round in these shoes will be bright and early tomorrow morning. Having played exclusively in the TRUE Linkswear Originals for the past 14 months, I'm a big fan of them and have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the OG Feels already, but I'll offer any additional thoughts after the round and update in the future as I get more rounds on them. The biggest difference I'm looking forward to is the additional ventilation from the knit uppers - summer golf in Arizona is often over 100 degrees and while the all-leather Originals haven't been at all uncomfortable in the heat, I'll take all the cooling I can get!
TRUE Linkswear are not highly structured shoes, and the OG Feel is no exception. They're designed with a minimalist/barefoot ethos, so if you need a lot of support in your golf shoes there are other brands which may be better suited to your needs - but if you enjoy extremely comfortable shoes which allow your feet to spread out and relax and won't have you eagerly awaiting the minute you can take them off after a round, TRUE Linkswear are worth a look. The OG Feel, with its breathable knit upper, may be the perfect shoe for the warm weather golfer who wants to "Enjoy the Walk". Retailing at $139.00, they are very competitively priced. You can learn more about the TRUE Linkswear brand at https://truelinkswear.com/
(Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with TRUE Linkswear or anybody within the company - just a very satisfied, loyal user. I paid full retail price for the shoes on pre-order, and did not receive any compensation/consideration for this review.)
As the brand grew, other stakeholders in the company led them to branching out and meeting the demands of big box retailers, and their shoe designs were straying from Jason and Ryan's original intentions, as was quality. In 2016, Jason and Ryan re-acquired full control of the company from the other stakeholders, relocated to their current headquarters in Tacoma, Washington, and completely purged all the old, unsustainable product lines. Their "reboot" began in 2017 with two shoe models based upon their original design concepts from 2009 - The Original (OG) and the Outsider. Both shoes were received very favorably, and a lot of the TRUE loyalists returned as if they had never left.
The TRUE Linkswear OG Feel was introduced in 2020. It is essentially the Original with a knit upper (as opposed to the premium leather upper of the Original). In keeping with the design of the Original, it has a thin, flexible, zero-drop (spikeless) sole, and a roomy "natural width" upper which will accommodate foot widths up to 4E.
In an effort to be more environmentally conscious, TRUE Linkswear now ships their shoes in a sturdy, reusable shoe bag with a drawstring closure rather than a cardboard box. The bag features the "OG_FEEL" label printed at the bottom, the TRUE Linkswear logo in the middle, and "Feel the Course" at the top above the drawstring closure. The print pattern resembles the contour lines of a topographical map, in keeping with their outdoor orientation:
They currently offer three colorways for the OG Feel. The pair I purchased are the "Everyday Gray" colorway, which has a dark gray/black knit upper, a brown leather saddle, and a black leather heel counter, and gray shoelaces with brown aglets to match the leather saddle (also included in the bag are a pair of black shoelaces) Product branding on the shoe is subtle and tastefully done:
The knit upper is a fully breathable, one-piece sock fit which is 90% polyester and 10% spandex. The fabric of the upper is treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent), making the shoes water repellent (but not fully waterproof, as the Originals are). The fit is snug at the heel, with their characteristic "Natural Width" toe box which allows your feet to splay out as if you were barefoot. The knit upper is stretchy enough to conform to your foot, but still offers a bit of structure so your foot doesn't slide around atop the sole. The saddle and heel counter are both leather, similar to the Originals, with a loop at the heel to assist in putting the shoes on, and the inside of the upper around the heel is lightly cushioned. The shoes are very lightweight overall. Their claimed weight for a size 9 shoe is 8.7 ounces - I weighed my size 13 OG Feel at 11.8 ounces, as opposed to my all-leather size 13 Original at 15.2 ounces:
The OG Feel has a white spikeless sole which is virtually identical to the Original model. The sole is thin (5mm tread with a 2.5mm sole/midsole), extremely flexible and offers great feel of the ground beneath your feet while still providing more than adequate protection from foreign objects. Like the Original, the sole is a zero-drop design, meaning that the heel and toe are at the same height:
Speaking from experience, these soles wear extremely well - I have two pair of TRUE Linkswear Originals with the same sole which I've owned for over a year, both of which have 60+ rounds of golf on them (along with being worn to/from the course), and wear is minimal. Grip is excellent for a spikeless shoe - although I play primarily desert courses, I play many rounds in morning dew and on freshly irrigated courses, and have never had a problem with foot slippage, even on wet slopes/irregular surfaces. While I don't have overly active feet in my swing, I've had no problems with "spinning out" or slipping during the swing. I'm very partial to the minimalist, zero drop sole, as it offers great feel of foot positioning/balance and also for feeling bunker composition and green contours. The best way I can describe TRUE Linkswear shoes is that it's the next best thing to playing completely barefoot in terms of comfort and feel.
Gone is the bulbous "clown shoe" look of the TRUE Linkswear shoes of previous eras. While the toe box is wider than most shoes (claiming to fit up to 4E), the design is sleek and aesthetic - you won't draw any more attention than you would in any other athletic-style golf shoe. As mentioned above, the heel is a snug fit, comparable to most other golf shoes, so despite the wide toe box your foot is held well in the shoe and there is no heel slippage while walking. The insole is similar to the Original - a minimalist 4.5mm EVA foam, designed to offer enough cushioning for comfort while still maximizing feel on the course:
My first round in these shoes will be bright and early tomorrow morning. Having played exclusively in the TRUE Linkswear Originals for the past 14 months, I'm a big fan of them and have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the OG Feels already, but I'll offer any additional thoughts after the round and update in the future as I get more rounds on them. The biggest difference I'm looking forward to is the additional ventilation from the knit uppers - summer golf in Arizona is often over 100 degrees and while the all-leather Originals haven't been at all uncomfortable in the heat, I'll take all the cooling I can get!
TRUE Linkswear are not highly structured shoes, and the OG Feel is no exception. They're designed with a minimalist/barefoot ethos, so if you need a lot of support in your golf shoes there are other brands which may be better suited to your needs - but if you enjoy extremely comfortable shoes which allow your feet to spread out and relax and won't have you eagerly awaiting the minute you can take them off after a round, TRUE Linkswear are worth a look. The OG Feel, with its breathable knit upper, may be the perfect shoe for the warm weather golfer who wants to "Enjoy the Walk". Retailing at $139.00, they are very competitively priced. You can learn more about the TRUE Linkswear brand at https://truelinkswear.com/
(Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with TRUE Linkswear or anybody within the company - just a very satisfied, loyal user. I paid full retail price for the shoes on pre-order, and did not receive any compensation/consideration for this review.)
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They go very well with shorts (which I wear about 9 months out of the year for golf), and if worn with long pants they wouldn't look at all out of place even in a casual office environment. If I had that kind of job, they would probably double as my work shoes because of both the looks and comfort.
