adidas MC70 Golf Shoes Review: Simply the best value golf shoes on the market

It's impossible to get far into any conversation about adidas's MC70 golf shoe without talking about its vastly-underrated predecessor, the MC80.

Launched a couple of years back, the MC80 was adidas's first major salvo at the FootJoys and G/FOREs of the world, presenting a silhouette that went toe-to-toe with models like the Premiere and Gallivan2r while incorporating some of the sportswear giant's most modern under-foot tech.

Most critics loved it as a result, and the MC80 has rightly gone down as one of the most underrated shoes of the last few years. But it never really sold, nor did it make much of a splash on tour. Why? Who knows? Maybe people thought that if you're going to spend FootJoy money, you may as well get a pair of FootJoys – even if they're less comfortable.

Two years on, and the MC70, a not-quite-successor to the MC80, is here, both replacing the latter as adidas's traditional golf shoe option while serving as an all-round entry point into adidas's mid-tier shoe range.

It's slimmer, lighter, and most notably cheaper than its predecessor, and packs a surprising amount of top-end tech into its elegant frame with the refreshing choice of either a spiked or a spikeless model.

But does the performance and the ride match the undeniable good looks? We were invited to the shoe's exclusive launch at Goodwood Golf Club to find out.

Looks and features

The 'MC' in 'MC70' stands for Modern Classic, so it's only fair that we judge adidas's new shoe on both of these adjectives. Let's start with the classic, which is represented in the traditional silhouette the MC70 embodies.

Overall, these are some seriously good looking shoes, the MC70 forgoing the MC80's wingtip detailing for a smoother, cleaner full-grain leather upper. The design is given a little extra edge thanks to a textured leather panel leading up to the eyestay, preventing the whole package from getting too boring, while the sportier midsole also gives it a more modern profile. 

Is it quite as sexy as the MC80? I personally don't think so, but it'll certainly appeal to more golfers, will hold up well in inclement weather, and still cuts a very smart figure when placed next to the more expensive traditionally-styled shoes out there.

The modern comes, of course, in the layers of tech hidden within the MC70's chassis. The most notable of this is the cushioning system on offer, which combines two running derived foams in the firmer, more responsive Lightstrike in the forefoot and a wedge of softer Boost foam in the heel. The ride, as such, is poppy and responsive, with a little extra give in the initial step and stability through the forefoot as you make your swing.

The whole package is beefed up a little extra with the addition of adidas's long-used Torsion system, which essentially stops the outsole from twisting and adds lateral stability throughout the swing.

Performance

Normally, in more affordable footwear packages such as this, the difference in price starts to show itself later in the round. With the MC70, however, we're pleased to confirm this isn't the case.

Much of this comes down to the midsole, with is among the most comfortable of any shoe we've tested in the MC70's price bracket. It's the perfect combination of bouncy, soft while walking and stable through the swing, offering more than enough comfort for a long walking round, and makes us wonder why they didn't use the same combination on the similarly priced, yet noticeably firmer Adipower model. 

As such, given a straight choice between the MC70 and its sportier sibling, we'd reach for the former pretty much every time.

The grip in both the spiked and spikeless variants is excellent, the entire platform strengthened with the addition of a cast polyurethane outsole that works with the torsion bar to deliver stability in spades. 

We'd probably recommend the Spiked variant if you really want to feel locked in on top of the MC70's softer foam, but the spikeless traction pattern is among the best we've tested if you're concerned about off-course wearability.

Should you buy the adidas MC70 golf shoes?

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adidas's MC70 is one of those shoes I have to really dig deep to find anything to meaningfully critique. Is it quite as good-looking as the MC80 or a pair of FootJoy Premieres? Perhaps not, but given the MC70 rings in at £80 cheaper than the latter and is actually more comfortable straight out of the box, we can easily forgive that.

Beyond the looks, the MC70 delivers an incredible combination of comfort and stability that's hard to find elsewhere in shoe this price. The combination of foams used is easily the most comfortable and responsive of that found in any mid-range adidas shoe right now, while the combination of the torsion bar and traction platforms delivers outstanding grip and stability in both the spiked and spikeless models.

Put simply, this is one of the best value golf shoes on the market right now, and if you're after a more budget-friendly shoe that delivers top-end looks and pro-level performance, you'll struggle to go far wrong with a pair of these.