Nike Lunar Bandon Footwear golf shoes for soggy autumn days

After a summer drought that reached catastrophic levels in the Midwest, autumn has brought with it the sort of rain we normally see in late spring. The drought is over too late for the farmers, but in time to save the fairways and greens at Lake of the Woods Golf Course in Mahomet, Ill., my home course, which is in outstanding late-season condition.

Given the relatively little time I actually spend on the fairways and greens, though, the last few weekends have left me with a trunk full of soggy golf shoes and soaked socks. You see, now that the heavens have opened, the rough at our dear muni has thickened so much that it might make sense to replace my lob wedge with a machete.

Walking through the calf-high rough drenches the tops of my socks, and the water wicks down into my otherwise water-proof shoes.

So this morning, after another night-long soaking, I pulled out the serious rain gear: Nike’s new Lunar Bandon Footwear. The Lunar Bandon ($140) features booty-tongue construction that catches any water that could breach the upper. Speed-lacing with an easy-to-utilize toggle simplifies the fastening process, and a notched-out heal maximizes comfort for walking and bending to read putts. Finally, a bright, asymmetrical zipper across the top of the shoe provides a waterproof shield without adding pressure to the foot.

I must admit that Nike’s first all-weather footwear, the Zoom Bandon, left my feet a little sore. Most of all, the stiff high-top ankles made it hard for me to role my left ankle and shift my weight.

Now, I don’t know whether the Nike footwear team reads my reviews, but the Lunar Bandon has addressed all of my problems with the Zoom Bandon. The ankles are supple and flexible, and the heel notches ensured a super-comfy 18-hole walk.

At the end of the round, not only were my feet dry, but they were complete free of hot-spots – no blisters, no pain, no soggy socks. Moreover, the Lunarlon foam insole cradled my feet throughout the round, and the integrated traction spikes kept me from wiping out a couple of times walking down off muddy tee boxes.

It’s not easy to find golf shoes that provide absolute comfort right out of the box when you’re walking 18 holes through lots of standing water, but Nike’s Lunar Bandon delivers just that. I’m going to be golfing until the snow flies…and maybe well after that. The Lunar Bandons will be with me every step of the way.

Nike Lunar Bandon Footwear provides dry comfort.