FootJoy Premiere Series Packard Golf Shoe Review
The Packard is the flagship spiked shoe in FootJoy's Premiere Series, the range the brand builds specifically for golfers who want a classic, dressy leather shoe rather than something that looks like a running trainer with spikes bolted on.
It’s named after FootJoy founder Frederick Packard, and reviewers are near-unanimous that it’s one of the best-looking golf shoes on the market. Where opinions genuinely split is comfort out of the box, and whether the premium price is worth it if you’re playing several rounds a week rather than the occasional big one.
- FootJoy's flagship classic-leather spiked shoe, sitting at the top of the Premiere Series
- VersaTrax+ outsole delivers genuinely strong traction, confirmed by multiple testers in wet conditions
- Comfort is firm out of the box; several testers needed a handful of rounds for the leather to soften
- Positioned by FootJoy and reviewers alike as a shoe for your best rounds, not necessarily daily grinding
The Short Version
- Looks are close to unanimous praise across every review. This is consistently rated one of the best-looking golf shoes available.
- The VersaTrax+ outsole delivers genuinely strong grip and stability, including in wet weather, according to multiple independent testers.
- Comfort starts firm. Several reviewers specifically flagged the heel padding and needed a handful of rounds before the leather softened up.
- At roughly £190 to 200 RRP, most reviewers frame this as a shoe for special rounds rather than everyday wear, and the cheaper Packard LX exists for a reason.
FootJoy Premiere Series Packard Golf Shoes
FootJoy Premiere Series Packard 54560 Golf Shoes White
How it performs
Start with the obvious: reviewers keep coming back to how good this shoe looks. The hand-selected full-grain leather, pebble-grain detailing on the vamp and quarter, calfskin croc-print accents in the saddle and contrast stitching all get singled out, and more than one tester calls it simply the best-looking golf shoe on the market. That’s not a minor point for a shoe built around FootJoy’s classic Premiere styling. It’s the entire reason this shoe exists rather than something more athletic-looking.
Performance backs up the looks. The VersaTrax+ outsole is designed to give 360-degree traction rather than grip in one direction, and testers who played in genuinely poor weather report no slipping and a stable, locked-in feel through the swing. That stability comes with a trade-off familiar to anyone who’s worn a traditional leather golf shoe before: this is a firm, structured shoe, not a soft, flexible one, and it’s noticeably heavier than the athletic-style shoes that now dominate most golfers’ shoe rotation.
Comfort is where the reviews genuinely diverge, and it’s worth taking seriously rather than assuming it’s just personal preference. Multiple testers specifically flagged the heel padding as firmer than they’d like out of the box, with at least one directly comparing it unfavourably to FootJoy’s own HyperFlex line and to adidas’s Tour360 on comfort alone. The consistent finding across reviews is that the leather softens meaningfully after roughly five rounds, so the out-of-box firmness isn’t a permanent flaw, but it is a real break-in period you should expect rather than be surprised by.
FootJoy Premiere Series Packard Specifications
- Consistently rated one of the best-looking golf shoes on the market
- VersaTrax+ outsole delivers genuinely strong, stable traction, including in wet weather
- Premium full-grain leather and craftsmanship that holds up to close inspection
- 1-year 100% waterproof warranty backs up the premium positioning
- Versatile enough to wear off the course as well as on it
- Firm out of the box, particularly the heel padding, with a genuine break-in period of several rounds
- Heavier and less flexible than modern athletic-style golf shoes
- Premium price that several reviewers frame as a stretch for everyday wear
- Not recommended by reviewers for golfers playing 36 holes or multiple rounds a week, better suited to your best rounds than daily grinding
Which Packard should you buy?
The name covers more than one shoe, and the differences are genuinely worth knowing before you pick a colourway and check out.
- Premiere Series Packard: covered in this review. The flagship spiked version, full-grain leather, top of the range.
- Premiere Packard LX: a lighter, more affordable version of the same silhouette. Reviewers found it still firm out of the box but noted the leather softens with wear, same as the standard Packard.
- Premiere Legends Series Packard: a step above the standard Packard, with additional premium detailing and a higher price to match.
- Premiere Series Field: a related model in the same Premiere line, slightly different styling for golfers who want the classic look in a different silhouette.
If the standard Packard’s price is more than you want to spend but you like everything else about it, the LX is the obvious place to look first. Comparing golf shoe brands more broadly? Our golf shoes guide covers ECCO, adidas, Nike and the rest alongside FootJoy.
Want to Spend Less? The Packard LX Is Worth a Look
If the standard Packard’s price is more than you want to spend, the FootJoy Premiere Packard LX carries the same classic silhouette and VersaTrax+ traction system for meaningfully less. It’s a lighter build than the standard Packard, and testers found it firm out of the box in the same way, softening up after a handful of rounds. You lose some of the standard Packard’s premium leather detailing, but the core look and performance carry over.
FootJoy Premiere Series Packard LX 54533 Golf Shoes White/Grey/Black
How We Compiled This Review
We haven’t worn this shoe ourselves, so rather than fake a hands-on account, we built this review from independent testing published across the golf media, checked against FootJoy’s own published specifications.
-
Multi-round testing
Read reviews from testers who wore the shoe over multiple rounds, including reports on how the leather changed after the initial break-in period, rather than relying only on first-impression coverage.
-
Cross-checked expert reviews
Compared reviews and verdicts from Golf Monthly, Golfalot, Today’s Golfer, National Club Golfer and Plugged In Golf.
-
Checked comfort disagreements directly
Where reviewers disagreed on comfort and break-in time, we included that disagreement rather than picking the more flattering account.
-
Verified against FootJoy specs
Checked every technical detail against FootJoy’s official product documentation.
Comfort out of the box is the area reviewers disagree on most. We’ve represented that honestly rather than smoothing it into a single verdict.
What to Check Before You Buy
Multiple testers found the heel firm out of the box, softening after roughly five rounds. Budget time to break them in before a big event.
Reviewers consistently position this as a shoe for your best rounds rather than daily play. If you play several times a week, weigh that against the price.
At least one tester found the fit ran slightly small initially before stretching to match their usual size. Consider trying before you buy if possible.
If the premium leather detailing isn’t essential to you, the Packard LX offers the same core look and traction for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are FootJoy Premiere Packard golf shoes comfortable?
They’re firm out of the box, particularly around the heel, and several reviewers noted this directly. Most found the leather softened up meaningfully after around five rounds.
Are they good for playing golf every day?
Most reviewers position this as a shoe for special or important rounds rather than daily play, recommending something softer and lighter if you’re playing very frequently.
What's the difference between the Packard and Packard LX?
The LX is a lighter, more affordable version of the same silhouette and traction system, with less of the standard Packard’s premium leather detailing.
Are these shoes waterproof?
Yes, they come with a 1-year 100% waterproof warranty from FootJoy.
Do they run true to size?
Most reviewers found them true to size, though at least one tester noted the fit felt slightly small at first before stretching to match their usual size after a few rounds.
No surprise charges at the door: VAT and import duty are included in the price and prepaid. Delivery is €7, free over €120, in 2–4 working days.
The Packard delivers exactly what it promises: a genuinely classic, premium-looking golf shoe with stable, confident traction. It isn’t the shoe to reach for if you want soft, out-of-box comfort or you’re playing several rounds a week. The firmness and break-in period are real, not overstated in reviews. But for golfers who want to look and feel the part on their best rounds, this remains one of the standout classic golf shoes available.
