Can You Wear Elevator Shoes for Golf? | Japan-Made Cowhide Golf Sneakers no28 and no31

“I want to wear elevator shoes for golf too, but can I really walk all 18 holes, and will I be able to plant my feet on a slope?” If that sounds like you, this article sorts out which models work for golf and what to watch out for when using them.

To get straight to the point: the only LEVANO models rated “◎” for golf are the 5.0cm UP Cowhide Leather Golf Sneakers no28 and the 5.0cm UP Cowhide Leather Golf Sneakers no31 (LEVANO rates each product’s suitability for each occasion on a 4-level scale: ◎ ideal / ○ suitable / △ usable but another model is recommended / × not suitable). Both are Japan-made with a cowhide upper and a 5cm lift; the differences are weight (460g versus 340g), size range and price, plus how well they suit everyday wear and business. Many sneakers (such as no05 / no13 / no37) are “△” for golf (no01 and no08 are “×”), and dress shoes, loafers, sandals and boots are all “×”. Below we explain why it is only these 2 models, how to choose between the 2 pairs, and then walk through dress codes and the steps for picking your size.

Golf puts a completely different load on your feet than walking on paved city streets. Keep the following 3 points in mind and you will not choose wrong.

Of LEVANO’s entire lineup, no28 and no31 are the only models that work as golf shoes (rated ◎ for golf). What they share: “Japan-made, cowhide upper, 5cm lift, sneaker type.” Where they differ: weight, size range, price, and how they rate for occasions other than golf.

Both are ◎ for golf and ◎ for all-day walking, so there is no difference in how well they work on the course. Where they differ is weight, the top of the size range, price, and how you will wear them on non-golf days.

△ means “usable, but another model is recommended,” which we distinguish from × (not suitable). It mainly applies to the Korean-made synthetic leather sneakers; the 3 most representative models are summarized in the table below.

Even a △ model is fine for hitting a few dozen balls from a flat bay at the driving range. A round on the course, however, combines slopes, turf and long-distance walking, so if you are buying a new pair specifically for golf, go straight for the ◎-rated no28 or no31 from the start.

If you already own no05 or no13 and want to “get a feel for them at the range first,” that is a realistic way to use them. However, with a 7cm model like no37 the higher center of gravity is more noticeable on slopes, so we especially do not recommend it for a round. You can compare the differences by height in the elevator sneakers lineup.

Note that dress shoes, loafers, sandals and boots are all × for golf. Even within the same Japan-made series, the Cowhide Leather Casual Shoes no29 are × for golf and not suited to a round (we cover them as a candidate for arrival shoes in POINT 04).

Many golf courses have a dress code for arrival and for inside the clubhouse; typical examples are a jacket requirement and a rule specifying dress shoes or loafers. It is easiest to think in terms of 2 pairs: 1 for the round and 1 for arrival and the clubhouse.

The basic rule for sizing is to choose the same size as the sneakers you usually wear. Because the height comes from an internal insole structure, you can judge length and width just as you would with ordinary sneakers. The full reasoning is explained in “Elevator Shoe Sizing: Why Your Usual Sneaker Size Is the Right Choice.” There are 3 points specific to golf.

Both no28 and no31 have a cowhide upper. After a round, brush off any grass and soil, wipe them with a dry cloth, and let them dry somewhere well ventilated. Just 2 rules are enough: do not leave them wet in your shoe bag, and do not force-dry them in direct sunlight or with a hair dryer. The cowhide care routine is laid out in “How to Clean and Care for Elevator Shoes | Tips to Make Synthetic Leather, Suede and Cowhide Last.”

On non-golf days, no28 is ◎ for everyday wear and no31 is ○. An easy way to decide: no28 if you will often wear them as weekend sneakers, the lighter no31 if golf, travel and walking around town are your main uses. Both are ○ for dates, so for a meal on the way home from golf you will not need to change shoes.

These 2 pairs are both part of the Japan-made elevator shoes series. When you consider that 1 pair covers both golf and everyday wear, the price gap over the Korean-made models becomes easier to accept.