Golf Magazine: The Shoe Philes – Nike Lunar Clayton

Written By: Tony Covey

“Nike Golf introduces the Nike Lunar Clayton, a shoe that celebrates the heritage and history of the sport of golf while providing athletes with superior comfort, supportive fit and an aesthetic appeal suitable for wear both on-and-off-course.”

I’m not sure how the boss is going to feel about turning MyGolfSpy into MyShoeSpy this week, but he keeps telling me that we’re an equipment site, and so now it’s my job to convince him that what the golf companies keep telling me is true:

“Footwear (golf shoes) is equipment” – Nearly everyone who makes a golf shoe

As I mentioned when I wrote about PUMA Golf’s new Monolite, I’m fully aware that there are plenty of you that get excited – maybe even unnaturally so – about golf shoes (Not that there’s anything wrong with that). And so, given the initial reaction to the pics we posted from Nike’s Innovation Unleashed event, I have no doubt that some of you are going to be downright titillated by the release of Nike’s new for 2014 Lunar Clayton.

If you need some alone time, by all means…

Meet Clayton

In perhaps more politically correct terms, Clayton is Nike’s modern take on the classic wingtip style. In the white model the Lunarlon outsole (I believe the color is Nike’s Venom Green) gives the shoe a bit of a modern twist that’s recently been described as “subtly loud”.

I like loud. I can learn to live with subtle.

More to the point (my point anyway), with its retro good looks, and spikeless design, Clayton brings some serious pimp style to the golf course. I thought I heard “Shaft” playing the first time I slipped them on my feet.

Whether or not that’s what Nike was going for…who knows?

Clayton was inspired by seriously high-end Italian footwear, and well, once Nike gets inspired, some pretty cool things almost always happen. I’ve learned that Nike Golf pretty much lives at the intersection of innovation and inspiration, so it’s not completely surprising that Nike would develop a high-end, handcrafted, spikeless golf shoe. Non-conformity is also sort of a Nike thing.

Nike believes there’s a market for Clayton. Whether or not that proves to be true is more or less up to you.

Deconstructing Clayton

Clayton’s upper is made of waterproof leather. We’ve already mentioned Nike’s Lunarlon (cushioning) outsole. The two are joined by a leather welt (part of that whole classic look thing), which helps to keep everything together (and keep your feet dry). Toss in a new lacing system, a molded rubber outsole, and a premium sock liner, and you’re left with what Nike claims is handcrafted leather shoe that, unlike other high-end leather golf shoes, requires zero break in.

But How Does it Fit?

I’m always a little wary of declaring any golf shoe uncomfortable. My feet are different from yours. If you want to get into specifics, mine are probably shorter and fatter than yours. Depending on the shoe, I’m sometimes better off in a wide (for reference, anything narrower than the adidas adizero, and I need a wide). What fits me well might not fit you, and vice versa.

My samples of the Lunar Clayton are size 9.5. My foot…it’s probably a solid 9 ¼, which means 9.5 is usually right (9.5 is what I wear in every other pair of Nike Golf Shoes I’ve ever owned).

Comparatively speaking, the Clayton’s run a bit longer (closer to a 9 ¾, maybe even 10), and are noticeably narrower than say Nike’s Lunar Control. There’s not a chance in the world I could wear the Lunar Clayton in my standard size 9.5, and that’s a bummer.

I’m waiting to hear back from Nike on the availability of wide sizes, but for now my advice is that fat-footed among you stay away from the standard medium width models.

The good news is that in addition to the 2-year limited waterproof warranty, Nike also offers a 45-day limited comfort warranty. Basically, if you’re not happy with the comfort or cushioning (which is really still just comfort), grab your receipt, bring them back to the authorized retailer you bought them from, and Nike will give you your money back.

Can’t beat that, right?

My Personal Clayton Devastation

Friends, I am a devastated (as a man can be about shoe troubles) that the Lunar Clayton doesn’t fit. This is one seriously boss golf shoe, and its incompatibility with my foot nearly ruined Christmas. I’ll keep you posted on wide-sized availability. If it happens, you can bet I’ll be near first in line to check them out.