Is the Jones x Payntr RS the Ultimate Golf Shoe Collab?

I said something in a recent Payntr video that I’ll stand by here: a lot of their newer shoes are starting to look like each other.

That’s kind of always been Payntr’s thing though. There’s the old era, all their original X-series shoes, and then the new era that kicked off with the Eighty Seven SC. Since then, every release out of this Classic Collection has leaned into the same clean, low-profile silhouette. More attractive shoes across the board, but harder to tell apart at a glance.

The Jones x Payntr RS is very much part of that new era. And it might be my favorite of the bunch.

Right out of the box, these look clean. They felt good on my feet before I’d even laced them up, which isn’t always a given with a shoe this structured.

Let’s get into why.

How This Compares to the Eighty Seven SC and Reserve Classic Tour RS

If you’ve read my other Payntr reviews, you know their whole Classic Collection shares DNA. But there are real differences between these three, not just paint jobs.

The Eighty Seven SC is still the flagship. It runs $220 to $240 depending on colorway, and it’s the only one of the three with Payntr’s carbon fiber Carbitex GearFlex propulsion plate. It also sits on a PMXNITROGEN+ midsole, which gives it a bouncier, more responsive feel underfoot. You’ll also notice a bit more design detail stitched around the laces on the SC that the other two don’t have.

The Reserve Classic Tour RS is the $200 “step-down” (but not really). It swaps that carbon fiber plate for Payntr’s PMX Speed PLT, which does a similar job of helping you harness ground reaction force, just without carbon fiber and without working in as many directions. The midsole changes too, from PMXNITROGEN+ foam to PMXFoam, which sits lower profile and feels a little firmer. Payntr kept the PMXNITROGEN+ footbed though, so it’s not like all the bounce disappeared.

In my experience? I don’t notice any major performance differences between this and the Eighty Seven.

The Jones x Payntr RS shares a spec sheet with the Reserve Classic Tour RS almost line for line. Same Clarino Trivela upper, same PMX Speed PLT, same PMXFoam midsole with the mock leather welt, same PMXNITROGEN+ footbed. Functionally, this is the Reserve Classic Tour RS platform. What Jones brought to the table is entirely in the styling.

And that’s where this shoe earns its spot. The Jones touches are genuinely great. The “1971” detail on the tongue is a nice nod to the brand’s roots, and the tan/khaki colorway on the White/Field Khaki pair I tested is subtle in a way that a lot of golf shoe collabs aren’t. Nothing about it screams for attention. It just looks right.

Our Current Favorite Payntr Shoes

Jones x Payntr RS Shoes

$200

The Jones Sports Co. RS by Payntr Golf brings everything we love about Payntr Shoes to the table, with subtle Jones flourishes that make these one of my favorite Payntr shoes to date.

Buy from Jones

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First Impressions of the Payntr x Jones RS Shoes.

I love the look of this shoe.

Being in Portland, where both Jones and Payntr call home, I’ve seen a bunch of guys wearing both colorways over the past month. Outside of Portland, though, I’d bet this isn’t a shoe you’re running into very often, and that adds to the cool factor. There’s something to be said for wearing gear that isn’t on every third guy in your group.

My first impression was that it looks like most other Payntr shoes from the current era. Same low-profile silhouette you’ll recognize from the Eighty Seven SC or Reserve Classic Tour RS. But look a little closer, and the Jones touches start showing up. The “1971” on the tongue, the subtle colorway, small flourishes that make this feel like its own shoe rather than a straight reskin.

This isn’t the first time Payntr has teamed up with a brand and nailed it. The Forresters x Payntr Rainshedder RS1 is still one of my favorite shoes of the year and my go-to for inclement weather rounds. Payntr clearly knows how to let a collaborator’s identity come through without losing what makes the base shoe good, and that’s true here with Jones too.

These fit true to size, no surprises there. Payntr’s sizing has been consistent across every model I’ve tested, and this one’s no different. Comfortable from the first round, no weird rubbing or hot spots anywhere, which isn’t always the case with a shoe this structured right out of the box.

How Do the Payntr x Jones Shoes Perform on the Course?

Two rounds in and this is a very stable shoe. No slipping, no hesitation trusting it through the swing.

Here’s the thing though: the Eighty Seven SC has the more expensive Carbitex carbon fiber plate, and the Jones x Payntr RS doesn’t. On paper, that should be a noticeable gap. On the course? I really don’t feel a difference. Unless you’re swinging it well over 100 mph, I don’t think most golfers will either.

Are they Comfortable?

Very comfortable. No break-in period to speak of, and after two rounds I haven’t had a single issue with rubbing or pressure points. The ARIAPRENE tongue and bootie do their job locking the foot down without it ever feeling restrictive.

In fact, while I initially had a good experience with the Eighty Seven SC shoes, lately, I’ve found there’s an odd pressure on the top of my forefoot that has been causing some discomfort. Not sure why it’s been happening, and I assume it might be a localized issue to me, but it’s caused me to switch to other models which I haven’t had this issue with.

Regardless of that, the Jones Sports Co RS by Payntr Golf (the official name) is very comfortable.

Value

At $200, the Jones x Payntr RS lands right at the same price as the Reserve Classic Tour RS, and $20 to $40 below the Eighty Seven SC depending on colorway. Given you’re getting nearly identical performance tech to the Reserve Classic Tour RS with an (even) better-looking, more distinct shoe on top of it, that’s a strong value case if the aesthetic is your thing.

Should You Buy the Jones x Payntr RS?

I feel like I’ve said this for many of the new Payntr models I’ve reviewed, but at least at the moment, this is my current favorite Payntr shoe.

It’s a better value and (for me) more comfortable than the original Eighty Seven SC, it looks much better than the original X models from the brand, and it’s a more everyday wearable shoe compared the it’s sister collab, the Forresters RS1.

Considering this is a limited edition drop, it won’t be available forever, but if you’re able to snag the Jones x Payntr collab shoe, I think that it’s absolutely the best Payntr golf shoe to buy right now.

Where It Ranks Among Current Payntr Shoes

I shot this video about the current state of Payntr golf shoes literally a week before I got this Jones model. So while it’s not included, it does a good job of giving you a good rundown of where the brand is at currently:

And since I did mention that it kind of feels like every new Payntr shoe has been labeled “my favorite,” I want to do an up-to-date ranking of where things stand for me.

1. Jones x Payntr RS – It’s the most well-rounded of all the shoes. Most of the 
2. Forresters x Payntr RS1 – It’s the most unique, not an everyday shoe, and not the one for most people. But it’s the most comfortable Payntr shoe I own, and I’ll look forward to wearing it again when the weather turns. It’s also sold out, grab them if you find them.
3. Reserve Classic Tour RS — More or less the same shoe as the Jones x Payntr collaboration (or the Vessel one for that matter), but more standard styling. Still a great shoe and a great value.
4. Eighty Seven SC — The flagship, best all-around tech, and the shoe that put Payntr on the map in their new design era. 
5. X Tour Proto RS — The best and most recent addition from their original lineup. This is among the best-performing shoes in the entire lineup, I just don’t like the styling as much as the others.

Our Current Favorite Payntr Shoes

Jones x Payntr RS Shoes

$200

The Jones Sports Co. RS by Payntr Golf brings everything we love about Payntr Shoes to the table, with subtle Jones flourishes that make these one of my favorite Payntr shoes to date.

Buy from Jones

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