I wasn’t familiar with Heathlander until a couple of months ago. That’s not entirely surprising — the brand is only a couple of years old, and they’ve been flying under the radar in the best possible way.
But then January rolled around, and within just a few days around the PGA Show, four different people either brought them up or asked me about them. That kind of word-of-mouth doesn’t happen by accident.
Ok, you’ve got my attention.
Heathlander’s flagship offering is called, simply, The Golf Shoe. It’s a traditional-looking shoe in the same vein as the FootJoy Premiere, but with its own modern spin on it. It’s a different kind of modern than, say, the G/FORE Gallivanter. More subtle. More understated. But unmistakably its own thing.
Which brings me to the real question: should you trust a two-year-old brand with $225 of your money?
Let’s find out.
First Impressions of the Heathlander Golf Shoe
I went with the Suffolk colorway — a rich dark blue that, as it turns out, came to be at the specific request of Holderness & Bourne founders John and Alex – who are good friends with the Heathlander founders. I know few people more stylish in golf than them, so this bodes well for the shoe.
Out of the box, the packaging alone makes a statement. You’re not getting a shoe dumped in cardboard and tissue paper. Instead, there’s a reusable canvas shoe bag, a velour dust bag on top of that, and a second pair of accent-colored laces. It’s a thoughtful unboxing experience that signals right away this is a brand that cares about the details.
The leather itself is soft while still having structure — a balance that’s genuinely hard to pull off. It’s not the stiff, almost board-like feel you get out of the box with the FootJoy Premiere Packard. It feels broken in from the moment you pick them up.
Stylistically, I’ll say this: to my eye, they read slightly more athletic than a Gallivanter or a Packard. There’s something about the silhouette that’s a touch more modern than I was expecting. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that at first, and honestly, if you’re a purist for the most traditional look possible, the Gallivanter still holds the crown for me there.
But these have genuinely grown on me the more I’ve worn them.
How Do Heathlander Shoes Fit
I took these as my primary golf shoes on a recent trip to Mexico to play Nauka and Punta Mita.
I very rarely put that much trust in golf shoes on a trip like this – but I decided to roll the dice.
I was especially concerned as I was told these run small. I’m typically a size 12, and I sized up to a 12.5. This had me worried for how they’d fare on my trip.
Fortunately, they were perfect. If you’re between sizes or have wider feet, Heathlander actually recommends sizing up half a size themselves — and in my experience, that advice holds.
Performance: The Part That Actually Surprised Me
I was curious how a brand this new would perform on the course, especially in a shoe style that typically asks you to pay some dues through a break-in period.
With the FootJoy Premiere Packard, that break-in is real. Two rounds in, they’re still working themselves in. So when I threw the Heathlanders on for this trip, I was prepared for some potential pain.
It didn’t come.
Zero hotspots. Zero blisters. Nothing weird. These were comfortable from the very first hole and stayed that way across both rounds. For a leather shoe in this category, that’s genuinely impressive and not something I expected.
The comfort advantage doesn’t stop there.
The Pebax insole is noticeably cushioned, and there’s extra padding built into the back of the heel that you’ll appreciate on a long walking round — a small detail, but one that adds up over 18 holes.
If I’m being direct: these are the most comfortable traditional-style shoe I’ve tested, more so than the Gallivanter and considerably more so than the Packard.
Stability is solid. The proprietary outsole has a unique 9mm tread pattern, and the shoe feels planted through the swing. One minor caveat: that tread design occasionally catches small rocks, which will get lodged in the grooves. It’s a minor annoyance and not something I’d call a dealbreaker, but worth being aware of.
Otherwise, this sole is a joy to walk on.
How Do They Compare to Similar Shoes?
If you’re already familiar with this style of shoe, here’s where I’d put the Heathlander relative to the others I’ve tested:
The FootJoy Premiere Packard has a more classically stiff, traditional build. The craftsmanship is outstanding, but it asks for a break-in investment that Heathlander simply doesn’t. The Packard also runs slightly wider and has an undeniably timeless look, but comfort-wise, it’s not in the same conversation.
But when it comes to reputation? There may be no other shoe that is as respected in golf as the Footjoys. That will count for something with some people.
The G/FORE Gallivanter is still my personal benchmark for looks in this category. The silhouette is stunning, it’s comfortable, and it has that rare quality of making you feel like a proper golfer just by looking down at your feet. But the Heathlander is the more comfortable shoe, and it’s a very close second in the looks department once it grows on you.
The caveat with the Gallivanter is that many of the SKUs are too in your face for me. I prefer their simpler looks.
What About the Colorways?
One thing Heathlander gets right that not everyone in this space does: they let loose a little with the color options.
Alongside the more classic dark tones like Suffolk (dark blue) and Navy Wiltshire, you’ve got options like Berkshire in yellow, Surrey in pink, and Norfolk in purple.
I think this is the way they’ve most differentiated themselves from others. Their hallmark is the pink sole, which is a decidedly modern look. I don’t hate it, but I do prefer the more understated dark blue look I chose.
Are They Worth $225?
At $225, they’re priced right in line with the Gallivanter and just under the Premiere Packard. Given that these are more comfortable than both right out of the box and backed by a one-year weatherproof warranty, the value story holds up.
Yes, Heathlander is a young company. That’s a fair concern to have. But nothing about this shoe feels like a brand still figuring it out. The materials, the details, the packaging, the fit — it all feels considered and finished. These are a serious shoe from a brand that appears to be very serious about getting it right.
The Gallivanter will be staying in my rotation for sure. But the Heathlander? It’s going to be seeing a lot of rounds as well, especially on courses where comfort is paramount.
Highly recommended.
Looking for a traditional-looking shoe that wears like a spikeless shoe? This new shoe by Heathlander may be exactly what you're looking for.
A surprisingly comfortable shoe from a new company that's going places.
I wasn't sure what to expect with Heathlander, but after learning about their story, and more importantly wearing the shoes - I'm sold. This is a very comfortable pair of shoes, that is worth being in the conversation with other similar models from much larger, more established brands.
The Good
- Extremely comfortable right out of the box
- Extra attention was paid to packaging and presentation
- High quality materials
The Bad
- Fairly spendy, but appropriate for the category
- Occasionally rocks can get stuck in the tread
- Bold color ways won't necessarily be for everyone
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Presentation
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Performance
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Price
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Personal Affinity
