After 50+ rounds and 3 months of ownership, it’s finally time to give you our thoughts on the first ever shoe designed exclusively for disc golf, the
The minute we heard about the Syncrasy, we were stoked!
A shoe that‘s actually made for disc golf? And it’s waterproof!?
We couldn’t wait!
Unfortunately, Covid happened, and with it came supply chain issues, so we were forced to patiently wait, but trust us when we say it was well worth it!
At this point you may be asking yourself,
Do I need a disc golf shoe?
or
Why should I wear a disc golf shoe?
These are questions that are ultimately up to you to answer, but it’s important to remember that disc golf is a sport, and every sport utilizes it’s own unique footwear to help the player maximize performance.
It may not seem as important in disc golf, but enhanced grip or maintained focus from not having wet feet could be the difference down the stretch between winning and losing by just a single stroke.
The Idio Syncrasy is the first of it's kind in the sense that never before has a shoe been exclusively designed for playing disc golf. In the past, players had to rely on hiking shoes and sneakers to get through their rounds.
While these types of shoes can and do work, you're often compromising features in one way or another.
The Syncrasy changed all that by giving players an option that is not only waterproof like most hiking shoes, but with the weight, grip, and support offered by athletic shoes that aren't waterproof.
So you can start to see why we were excited to test them out!
But before we get too far into this review, it is worth disclosing that we are an affiliate of Idio Sports.
After giving the Syncrasy’s a fair shake, we saw that Idio had an affiliate opportunity for those who were interested.
Because this a product we have had such a positive experience with, we didn’t hesitate to join their affiliate program as we want promote any product we think the majority of players will love.
That being said, let’s get back into it!
Have no fear of wet feet when crossing water while playing or retrieving an errant disc!
As mentioned, it's ultimately up to you to decide if a disc golf shoe is right for you.
However, if you're the type of player who takes their disc golf game seriously, and are trying to play to the best of your ability in leagues and tournaments in pursuit of climbing the ratings,
Then you should absolutely be considering a pair of Idio Sports Syncrasy's to help you in this pursuit!
It only makes sense!
You can play basketball in regular sneakers.
You can play football in any old cleats.
And you can golf in dress shoes.
But,
Would Lebron James play basketball in regular sneakers?
Would Tom Brady run onto the field in anything but the best football cleat available?
Would Tiger Woods wear anything but the best golf shoe on the market?
The answer is no and it's not because they're trying to make a fashion statement (although sometimes this is accomplished at the same time), it's because wearing the proper footwear is vital to maximizing performance every time they are stepping foot into competition.
Prior to having a dedicated disc golf shoe, I would have to rely on an old pair of sneakers, or a pair of hiking shoes/boots to get through my round.
Neither option was terrible and either option gets the job done.
The issue is that typically you are compromising one feature to achieve another when choosing one type of footwear over another.
For example, when using sneakers, you get the asset of minimal weight, and excellent grip, but lose out on durability, and most of the time a lack of water proofing.
When using hiking boots or shoes, you gain the durability and waterproofing while still having grip, but they're often heavy and bulky which is a nuisance.
With the Idio Syncrasy, you get all of the best features of each option, but in one shoe!
Disc golf is a unique sport in that it requires athletic movements, in a lot of different terrains, while also requiring a lot of walking, sometimes in wet conditions.
With these unique elements comes a unique demand for performance in all of these elements, which the Syncrasy accomplishes fairly well.
Now that you have an idea of what a disc golf shoe like the Syncrasy has to offer, let's take a look and see how it measures up in several categories of shoe performance.
If at any time you wish to check out these awesome shoes at Idio’s website, simply click one of many pictures or buttons to head on over!
Idio Syncrasy Pros
Comfort
Up first is comfort, is the Syncrasy comfortable to wear? After all, disc golf courses are not often flat and include not just hills, but also obstacles such as roots and rocks.
Well, after over 50 rounds played in various terrains, I would honestly give the Idio’s a solid 10/10 in comfort!
When I initially got them, I was very curious as to how well they would fit and feel after a full day of playing. But I was very surprised as right from the get go, these things rocked.
As mentioned, a typical 18 hole course requires a lot of walking on uneven terrain, so comfort is a big deal and one that can quickly make or break a first impression of a new shoe.
The Syncrasy’s have provided excellent comfort right out of the box!
There was no noticeable break in period for me like I have experienced with other sports shoes and I felt that the fit was very true to size as I bought the size I usually would for everyday shoes.
Those with wider feet who we have talked to did find that the shoes fit true to size, but felt a little snug at first before eventually breaking in after a round or two.
I’ve worn both thin socks and thicker athletic socks and both fit extremely well, but I have not tried extremely insulated socks yet to see how they might fit.
It is noted that these shoes also aren’t insulated and designed to keep your feet warm, but I have worn them for rounds in the 20 degree range and felt no chill in my toes.
There is a definite lack of ankle support compared to traditional hiking shoes and boots, but it is on par with most of your average sneakers that players use when playing and hasn’t been a factor for me yet.
As an added bonus, these shoes are incredibly light, especially when compared to a hiking shoe or boot.
This may not seem like a big deal, but after walking a few miles to get a round in, you’ll be thankful to have as little weight on your feet as possible.
Grip
The Syncrasy has provided me with excellent grip in a variety of situations so far in my experience. I’ve had no issues on tee pads of any material, as well as mud, dirt, and grass when throwing approach shots.
They have definitely provided an enhanced grip compared to my old sneakers, and are on par with my heavier hiking books that I previously wore for most of my rounds.
They have however been very slick on ice compared to other shoes that I have worn. Luckily this doesn’t come into play often, but it is worth mentioning.
The grip has stayed intact and functional over the last couple of months, but as I’ll mention in the durability section, I have noticed some wear in the thread after a few months of heavy play.
The unique tread pattern has provided excellent grip in a variety of surfaces
and given me a lot of confidence, especially on the tee pad
Waterproofing
This is perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of this shoe that I couldn’t wait to test, and so far it has not disappointed as I have yet to experience wet feet while wearing them.
This has held true even for dewy grass in the morning and soppy conditions after a solid rain.
As you may expect, water can come over the top of the shoe, but this would be the same for any shoe regardless of waterproof status.
As time goes on, I will be interested to see just how well the Syncrasy stays waterproof.
I have had waterproof shoes in the past for other activities and they all eventually became susceptible to leaks over time. I would be a happy camper if these shoes were able to stay dry for one year of extended use.
Treating the shoes regularly with a waterproof sealer may help extend the life of the waterproofing ability of these shoes, but again, only time will tell how long they will last without any added protection.
Nobody likes having wet feet, especially when trying to play a sport.
So having water proof shoes for a sport that regularly exposes the player to wet conditions is a must in my opinion, and Idio did a great job keeping that in mind when designing these shoes.
Durability and Quality
One of the biggest criticisms of the Syncrasy I’ve seen while scrolling on social media has been their lack of durability/quality and players blowing through them in a relatively short period of time.
That being said,
I’m not sure if I have just been that lucky, or if the problems are a fluke from an early run and quality control,
but I have hardly seen any wear on my pair in the 3 months that I have played in them.
The material used seems to be of great quality and I don’t see any obvious areas where inferior materials were used to manufacture these shoes.
As expected there has been some normal wear like you’d expect from any shoe, but this wear has in no way affected the performance or even the appearance of the shoes so far.
The shoe is definitely built with the needs of a disc golfer in mind and certain areas of the shoe have been reinforced accordingly.
Namely, the toe box has been reinforced with a rubber/plastic material to help increase the longevity of the shoe for when players drag their toe while throwing.
This concept is very similar to shoes that javelin throwers wear as this part of the shoe is very susceptible to premature wear for them too if not adequately reinforced.
In the case of the Syncrasy’s, Idio did an excellent job in my opinion of adding the perfect amount of reinforcement needed to protect the toe box and as you can see in the photos below, my shoes have held up very well.
Where there has been some noted wear is on the tread. While it still provides excellent grip when playing, I have noticed that the grip is wearing at a rate that is consistent and proportionate to how much I have worn them.
This is especially true for my right foot as I’m a right handed player and that is the foot I’m pivoting on for RHBH throws.
You won’t be able to see it in the pictures, but there are also a couple of areas where a single seam/stitch has broken. It hasn’t seemed to cause any issues yet, but it is something I’m keeping an eye on for now.
As you can see in these pictures, my shoes have held up very well so far in 50 rounds of playing, with little wear noted
Some of the pictures that I have seen online would definitely be cause for concern as some were showing blowouts at the seams around the toe box and mid foot areas.
Again, this could have been a fluke, from a bad run, or an issue from an early run, but I have definitely not had that problem, as seen in the pictures.
I also haven’t known anyone personally who have had issues with durability or quality so far, but with these shoes being so new to the market, only time will tell.
When it comes to durability, I think it’s important to remember that just because it’s a disc golf shoe, doesn’t mean that they it is indestructible.
It’s going to eventually wear out just like any shoe does, even ones made by the Nike’s, Adidas’s, and Reebok’s of the world.
When I was growing up playing mainstream sports such as baseball, football, and basketball, I would need to get a new shoe each year for each sport simply due to wear and tear. This was especially true when I was older and playing at a higher level.
And those sports are only played for a few months out of the year, where disc golf can largely be played all year when weather permits it, and outside to boot!
So if you’re committed to buying a disc golf shoe, definitely hope that you get as much use out of them as possible, but keep in mind that it would be unfair if you expect these shoes to last you for several years before needing replacement.
Heck, I replace my indoor use casual shoes twice a year and I’m only walking in those!
Style
Last but not least is their overall style and aesthetics.
Not that it should matter much, but let’s face it, no one wants to wear an ugly shoe.
They could be the absolute best shoes in the world, but I guarantee some players would not be caught dead in them if they didn’t look remotely decent.
Luckily for the Idio’s, I think they look perfectly fine and mimic a common sneaker extremely well.
I’ve seen players wear their pair straight from the course to a restaurant or indoor facility like a disc golf shop and honestly, I‘m not sure anyone even noticed, disc golfers and non disc golfers alike.
There are 3 color options available at the time of this article being written and I can only assume that these options will increase and expand as time goes on and Idio is able to do some further market research.
The shoes look very sleek and modern in my opinion and while they aren’t making a fashion statement by any means, they do look very crisp and clean overall and would fit anyone’s personal style.
The Syncrasy’s look very crisp and with 3 color options, there
is a choice for all players to look their best while playing!
Cons
We can’t discuss the pros of a disc golf shoe without also mentioning the cons as well.
Fortunately, there are very few so far after 3 months of use, but they are worth mentioning in this article.
First, I have to touch again on durability. While I haven’t had any personal experience with it, durability has been a concern with these shoes by others who have tried them.
The reviews on their website have been exceedingly positive, so perhaps this isn’t a major issue at all, but one that has been voiced by several players.
I think it‘s normal to expect a shoe to last at least 6-12 months of moderate use, however some players are experiencing failure much much sooner.
Unfortunately, we typically don’t know the full story in these situations.
For example, the player could have a unique throwing style that causes increased torque or drag, or they could be using it as their everyday shoe for not just disc golf, but also work and casual outings.
But the possibility of it being the fault of the shoe is absolutely real and should be considered before buying.
The next issue isn’t a con “yet”, but I would also like to see how this shoe holds up over time. especially with the waterproofing aspect.
If it stays waterproof as long as the shoe is useable, that is a huge win in my book.
My previous experience with waterproof shoes has been that they do great in the beginning but then start to leak after a couple of months, so my expectations of the Idio’s are fairly low, but so far so good!
Another con is hard to describe, but the tongue sometimes make an odd sound when being worn, almost as if tissue paper is being rubbed together. I can’t quite pin point the sound and it doesn’t seem to be affecting use, but I did want to mention it in this section.
The biggest con I can see in an otherwise excellent product, is the price.
While it’s not the most expensive shoe you may ever buy, it may be hard for some players to justify purchasing a shoe just for disc golf at an MSRP of $129.
My concern at that price point is that if the shoe does not show longevity, then it is way too expensive as there are non disc golf shoes on the market that may be suitable for well under that price point and with a more proven track record in the shoe industry.
I personally would like to see their price in the ball park of $99, but for all the features it offers, I can see them being justified in the price.
There are other expensive options out there as well, but the Idio‘s will need to match their quality if they want to compete for the long term.
Over time, Idio may be able to reduce costs and maintain quality, but for now it is worth mentioning that you will need to drop some decent money on these to get yourself a pair.
I bit the bullet and am glad I did, but I also play a lot of disc golf and enjoy having a dedicated shoe for my passionate hobby.
Wrap-Up
In all, I truly feel that Idio did an excellent job in creating the first shoe specifically designed with disc golfers in mind. If you take the game serious at all, I feel you would absolutely benefit from rocking these shoes every time you’re out on the course.
If you buy them (and you should if you’re considering it!), you can expect the following benefits:
Excellent grip for a variety of conditions
Out of the box comfort and fit for miles of walking when playing
Reinforced toe box for increased longevity
WATERPROOF!
Aesthetically pleasing for all individual styles with many color options
On the flip side, you’ll also have to weigh the following cons:
Price
Possibility for premature wear and tear below industry standards
All in all, I sincerely believe that in this case and my experience, the pros significantly outweigh the cons and this is a product I can really stand behind for any player who is looking to improve their disc golf game.
At a retail price of $129, they are going to bite the wallet a little bit, but I look at it as an investment to play the sport that I love, and sometimes it is hard to put a price on something like that.
If you need any more information on the Idio Syncrasy’s or if you are wanting to grab a pair as soon possible, you can head over to Idio’s website to do both by clicking the button below!
You’ll be glad you did!
Once you get your very own pair of Idio’s, be sure to check back in and let us know what you think of them, we’d love to hear!
Who knows, maybe you’ll have some epic story like you grabbed your first ace while wearing them, wouldn’t that be sweet?!
But until then, be sure to stay,
Inside the Circle!
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