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Golf Shoe Review

As any two planker knows, there is no finer feeling than releasing your feet from a pair of ski boots at the end of a long day of shredding the gnar gnar. Sadly, there are times when taking off a pair of golf shoes after walking 18 provides the same relieving sensation.

Such is not the case with the Kikkor Eppik golf shoe.

The Kikkor Eppik is only the second shoe Chapeau Noir has ever made it through round one without a pinch, pressure point, or blister - the other being the Ecco Casual Cool II. Other than the fact that Chapeau Noir is somewhat fastidious and didn't want to scuff his dead pedal on the drive home, there was no real reason to take the Eppik's off for the drive home.

Kikkor founder James Lepp, 2005 NCAA Division I champion and two time Canadian Tour winner has brought a product to a market to that is ripe for innovation, and in need of building the younger (and younger at heart) demographic. While Kikkor may be a new entrant in the golf shoe market for 2010, the product is mature. Attention to detail in the build quality is high - no short cuts have been taken. The premium action leather is sweet, and provides toe flex at exactly the right point.

Fellow Player Reaction

First things first - the gals in the pro shop noticed the Kikkor shoes immediately. Always remember, there's nothing wrong with letting the girls know that you're money and that you want to party. (thanks Trent!)

Playing his first round of 2010 due to a ridiculous series of unfortunate events, Chapeau Noir's mind wandered to what the reaction to the skate shoe style Kikkor shoe might be at the first tee from his fellow players. Not that CN was truly concerned, because the walk from the clubhouse to the first tee at the home club is a long one, and by arrival at the starter's hut CN knew these shoes were a great fit and an easy wear - right out of the box.

Ooohhh! Chapeau Noir sinks a finger into soft yet supportive Kikkor Komfort Foam.

As for the anticipated reaction, there really wasn't one, and we can take that lack of a reaction as a huge endorsement from the traditional shoe wearing gents that rounded out the foursome, all of whom are either pushing, or over forty. Then again, cataracts can cloud peripheral vision.

All joking aside, if there was ever going to be a time to light into someone for his shoe choice, this was it. But not one batted an eye or made a snarky remark - indicating that the time for a shoe like Kikkor has truly arrived.

Come the sixth hole, one of my playing partners asked about the shoes. At first he thought I had forgotten my golf shoes at home, and had to resort to wearing my street shoes. But after a couple of holes he had noticed the CHAMP Q-LOK Scorpion spikes and how unbelievably stable and stylish CN looked, and said he was somewhat surprised that they were golf shoes, but was keenly interested to find out more about them.

Interestingly, he also asked if these were the shoes that Fred Couples wore at the Masters. "Fred should be so lucky," came the response. After clearing up that misconception, he was keen to know where he could get a pair for his teenage son, who thought the game needed a shot of something different.

Chapeau Noir has developed what some might call an unhealthy level of affection for his Kikkor Eppik shoes.

The Kikkor Komfort Foam Technology turns a good shoe into a great shoe. It be too much of a cliche to say they feel like you're walking on clouds, but that's what it feels like. Besides, just look at how soft and cuddly they are!

In an on course stability cross comparison, one of my other playing partners was playing just his second round in a pair of FootJoy SYNR-G shoes, and on the 12th hole he was complaining about slipping and sliding. Granted he was working on integrating a new swing thought, and struggling with it a bit. In his Kikkor's, Chapeau Noir didn't slip once, even on freshly watered tee decks. Must be the CHAMP Q-LOK Scorpion spikes!

The singular caveat that Chapeau Noir will raise is that inherent in the look of a true skate / street style golf shoe tends to be a bulkier look than the traditional golf shoe - but that's the point. It's different, and may take a bit of getting used to if you haven't worn a skate / street style shoe before. Once you're past that, you will find an extremely comfortable golf shoe, that's every bit a golf shoe.

Get Fit and Buy

Kikkor's are available online at kikkor.com, and if you're concerned about sizing, check out Kikkor's handy sizing guide. This is the guide on which Chapeau Noir's Eppik's were based, and they're a perfect fit.

For a thoroughly entertaining social media experience, follow Kikkor on the twitter, the facebook, and the youtube! Oh, follow the Chapeau while you're at it!