FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoe review
FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoe review
The original HyperFlex golf shoe was a hugely popular model and one of the sportiest styles FootJoy has offered in its long history. The new HyperFlex range has been updated for 2023 and is available in three men’s models – HyperFlex, HyperFlex BOA and HyperFlex Carbon. The HyperFlex Carbon features – you guessed it – carbon fiber in the construction plus a few other bells and whistles to fight for the crown of best golf shoe of the year.
From a performance perspective, the absolute highlight of this shoe is the Ortholite Impression Footbed. This technology has transformed the HyperFlex Carbon from a good golf shoe into a great golf shoe. Almost as soon as I slipped my foot into the shoe, I could feel the technology at work. Exclusive to the HyperFlex Carbon, this footbed is one of the most comfortable I’ve tested. It feels like memory foam and molds to the shape of your foot over a series of laps, making you feel like you’re putting on an old pair of slippers. The speed at which the footbed molds to your foot and becomes familiar is also impressive and after just a handful of laps it had started to mold to the shape of my feet. When I compare it to the Lightstrike midsole in the adidas ZG23, the Ignite Foam midsole in the Puma Ignite Articulate and the midsole in the Ecco Biom G5, the FootJoy nailed them all in terms of comfort.
Visually, the HyperFlex Carbon has stuck to the proven silhouette of its older brother, but with some new pops of color that add to the Regal’s overall appeal. It’s part of a clear effort by FootJoy to go a little bolder and brighter with some of its color options. Yes, the traditionalists have a choice of some classic FootJoy shoes in the Premiere Series range, but with the sportier shoes like the FootJoy Fuel and this new Hyperflex range, the design team has a little more freedom to experiment with colors. Completing the look for me is the sock area on top which really gives the shoe its athletic look and feel and offers a contrasting texture to the TPU used primarily on the upper. While this material looks good, it’s also very breathable – as is the TPU upper – something not all golf shoes have gotten right in the past. It’s worth noting that while the upper is easy to clean, the cloth sock area can be a bit more difficult if mud gets on it.
As much as I really enjoyed wearing last year’s FootJoy Tour Alpha, I found them a bit too bulky compared to some of the lower profile athletic golf shoes I usually wear. The HyperFlex Carbon still feels like a bigger shoe than the adidas ZG23 and Puma Ignite Articulate and is also a bit heavier compared to the other best spike shoes of the year, so bear that in mind if you want more lightweight spike- Golf shoe in your rotation.
With the comfort of this shoe, you might forget that this is also an absolute performance golf shoe. Another unique feature of Hyperflex Carbon is the carbon fiber used in the outsole to increase the stability of the shoe. The TPU outsole features a carbon fiber shank that wraps around the shoe for increased stability compared to HyperFlex. While HyperFlex is still perfectly stable, there’s no denying that adding material like carbon fiber to the HyperFlex Carbon has upped the stability by a notch. Grip is excellent too, and I prefer the more minimalist approach FootJoy has taken with their Spikes outsole on HyperFlex Carbon. The lower profile outsole makes this shoe much more usable in the dry summer months when you just want to use one shoe all year round.
Overall, the HyperFlex Carbon is as well-rounded a spiked golf shoe as I’ve had the privilege of testing. Highlighted by the Ortholite Impressions footbed, the brand has found the balance between comfort and high performance and packed it all into a sporty, colorful silhouette. With an RRP of £189.99 there’s no denying that this is an expensive golf shoe, a shoe that costs £30 more than the Hyperflex. Is the additional investment worth it? For this Ortholite Impressions footbed alone, I would say it is.
Does the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon fit true to size?
The HyperFlex Carbon fits true to size, but if you prefer a tighter fit there’s definitely room to go half a size down.
