SQAIRZ owner and founder Bob Winskowicz was, is and forever, will be a firm believer in spiked golf shoes. He’s told me so many times.
So why, then, as we’re nearing the dawn of 2026, is SQAIRZ coming out with its very first spikeless golf shoe?
“We aren’t releasing a spikeless shoe for the sake of launching a spikeless shoe,” Winskowicz tells MyGolfSpy. “We wanted to make sure the traction system and internal structure could facilitate sufficient ground force production.”
That’s a response that’s totally on-brand for SQAIRZ. Whether you buy into the performance or not, it’s a hill the company will die on. The design goals center on the holy trinity of stability, traction and balance, all in the name of ground force production.
So, yeah, the new SQAIRZ SPEED3 SL shoes are spikeless. The company says they’re for walkers, range rats and any golfer who craves lightweight stability. Does that make them right for you? Let’s take a look.
SQAIRZ SPEED3
SL Spikeless shoes: Ain’t nothin’ gonna break-a my stride …
I first encountered SQAIRZ and its spirited founder at Demo Day during the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. He handed me these square-toed things that looked like something Fred Cox used to kick field goals with. Once they were on your feet, however, the sensation of stability was immediate and, frankly, startling.
Since that day, SQAIRZ has been a staunch defender of stable shoes with traction, which meant spikes in tandem with aggressive additional sole texturing. The company has even doubled down by offering free replacement spikes for life.
In more recent shoe models, SQAIRZ has used AI to create its sole traction pattern which has undoubtedly opened the door to releasing a spikeless shoe. The SQAIRZ SPEED3 SL features the spikeless version of its SmartTraction outsole. That outsole is made up of 290 nubs of varying heights, computer-designed to maximize directional grip patterns during a golf swing.
Based on what goes into them, I kinda feel bad just calling them nubs.
The new SQAIRZ SPEED3 SL still has the square toe box but the recent versions look a little less like a field goal kicker’s shoe. The square toe box does allow your toes to splay naturally which is key to balance and stability.
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no …
Another early knock on SQAIRZ shoes has been their weight. The first models were pretty hefty. Subsequent models have lightened up considerably and the new SPEED3 SL might be the lightest SQAIRZ shoe yet.
The ripstop material in the upper is lightweight and breathable and the company says it requires zero break-in. Additionally, SQAIRZ includes an insole (the company calls it a “performance footbed) made by Blumaka. This insert, which sells for $60 on its own, is standard with the SPEED3 SL and is designed to give you additional support and rebound while walking.
Blumaka has many notable pro athletes in its stable, most notably Kansas City Royals outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of The Man They Call Yaz (We luv ‘im).
Hey, if you know, you know.
One touch I’ve appreciated about SQAIRZ since Day One is its Sta-Put shoelaces. The laces are dotted with silicone dabs. Once you tighten and tie them, they stay tight and don’t come loose. It’s not quite BOA but it’s as close as you can get with regular laces.
SQAIRZ has been making inroads in traditional brick-and-mortar golf retail but it’s still predominantly an online direct-to-consumer brand. Buying shoes you can’t try on can be a roadblock for some. SQAIRZ is hoping to address that concern with a 30-day performance guarantee. According to the company, you buy the shoes and wear them for a month. If you don’t like them, send them back, no questions asked.
SQAIRZ SPEED3 SL: Final thoughts, price and availability
With the new SPEED3 SL, SQAIRZ is clearly looking to expand its, ahh, footprint. Numbers don’t lie and spikeless shoes account for 55 to 60 percent of annual golf shoe sales. Golfers like the out-of-the-box comfort and the convenience of not having to replace spikes. Of course, the irony of that is you eventually have to replace the shoes but that’s another story for another day.
Either way, SQAIRZ is looking to appeal to a larger audience and the SPEED3 SL is the first in what’s planned as a larger line of spikeless shoes. The company has also extended its performance footwear into baseball, softball and pickleball. SQAIRZ is the officially licensed footwear partner of MLB Players, Inc., the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association. The SQAIRZ XRZ was named Best Pickleball Shoe of 2025 by Pickleheads which, as best we can tell, is the MyGolfSpy of the pickleball world.
As for availability, the new SQAIRZ SPEED3 SL is currently available in pre-launch limited quantities to SQAIRZ VIP Insiders (you can sign up here) with a wider launch in the coming weeks.
Two colorways – Navy Surge and Bolt Blue – are available now. A Midnight Neon colorway is expected early next year.
The SQAIRZ SPEED3 SL spikeless shoe will retail for $169.97.
For more information and early access, you’ll need to sign up for the SQAIRZ VIP Insider program.
The post SQAIRZ Goes Spikeless: Is This Your New Shoe For 2026? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
