Under Armour has already released what I believe will be the two best golf shoes of 2026. The Drive Pro Clone and the Drive Pro Clone SL blew me away with the mixture of comfort, performance and looks. I haven't tested everything due to be launched in 2026 yet, mind you, but so far they're top of the pile. So, with this in mind, why has Under Armour also released this new Halo Tour SL, and who is it for? I went out onto the golf course and to the driving range to try to answer both questions.
Let's start with the what, before the why. The Halo Tour is a spikeless shoe based on the brand's flagship Halo running shoe, which many of you reading may have used before. We've seen brands like Adidas and Nike dip into their archives before to inspire golf shoes, but I can't recall a running trainer so closely followed for a golf-specific shoe, though I'm happy to be corrected here. Though more casual in its look, performance, grip, stability and comfort have not been sacrificed, and this is still a purposely designed golf shoe, just with its visual identity rooted in running.
From a looks perspective, I can see exactly what Under Armour is trying to do with this shoe (and I appreciate there is likely a large audience out there for it), but they're just not my style. Under Armour's Halo running shoes are a huge part of the brand, and the golf team has absolutely grounded this shoe in the running shoe aesthetic. However, they remind me of a Puma Huarache, rather than something particularly athletic. Too loud, too lumpy, too busy. The way the design on the back of the shoe vaguely forms the Under Armour 'X' logo is clever, but it's ultimately a design that doesn't form to my personal tastes.
The way I'm seeing wider golf fashion going - classic shoe silhouettes, baggier trousers, knitted outerwear - I can't help but look at this shoe as already a little dated. Golf has had its rebellious moment. Hoodies, joggers, sneakers that you can play golf in all feel a little 2019 to me, and this shoe seems to be screaming more at that audience rather than looking ahead to what golfers might be wanting to wear in a few years. This, however, is entirely subjective, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You may love this bold and louder look, and that is fine.
What I cannot grumble at is the performance Under Armour has packed into this shoe. In fact, there are few golf shoes so obviously aimed at the 'sneaker' market that can come close to offering the same levels of performance. But Under Armour, in its now trademark style and quality, has been able to pack levels of performance we likely haven't ever seen in a 'casual' golf shoe before.
The stability is superb, thanks mostly to the heel cup, which neatly cups your heel in place for a locked-in sensation that doesn't feel uncomfortable or unnatural. Though the midsole feels softer than in Clone (it might not be, but it certainly feels that way), there is still the sort of support you'd expect from a performance spikeless shoe, and my foot never felt like it was rolling around inside the Halo. It's a very athletic-feeling shoe all told.
The outsole, though good, isn't as good as that on the Drive Pro Clone SL. Nor should it be. Under Armour would be cannibalising its own shoe if the outsole on Halo was better than its flagship spikeless model. It's a solid performer on the grass, though, with different-shaped nubs and traction cones that offer decent ground penetration and plenty of lateral stability. Importantly, in a shoe like this, the outsole doesn't feel too uncomfortable off the course on hard surfaces. Firmer TPU outsoles can often feel slippery on harder surfaces, but the more rubber-like feel of the Halo's outsole leaves it feeling solid and stable on all surfaces. This shoe is clearly being marketed at those who wear their golf shoes from the moment they leave their house to the moment they return, and everything in between.
And I've worn this shoe a lot off the course, probably more so than on it so far. There's a walking softness I've not experienced in an Under Armour shoe for a long time. You can really feel the Hovr foam in the midsole working to cushion your foot, but not to the detriment of support through the swing.
At £120, it's competitively priced. There's a lot of shoe for your money here. The quality and feel are up there with a shoe that could be £30-£40 more expensive. Add to the amount of on-course, driving range and off-course wear you could get out of these shoes, and it's a very sound investment for the modern golfer.
My dislike for the design is my only real criticism of this shoe, and that's an entirely subjective opinion. What isn't subjective is the mixture of comfort and real performance on offer in this more casual design. I can't think of any other shoe right now with this design language that performs as well as Halo Tour SL does. So, if you're less of a misery guts than I am about the looks, this shoe will tick all of the boxes for you.
The Under Armour Halo Tour SL goes on sale on February 20th with an RRP of £120.
