Testing Rory McIlroy’s golf shoe: Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 Review
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
- Great grip
- Super comfortable
- Two-year waterproof warranty
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Cons
- Soft upper is prone to creasing
What we say...
Testing the Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3, Nike’s premium shoe worn by Rory McIlroy.
The Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 is the golf shoe worn by Rory McIlroy. Rory is one of the best golfers in the world, but is this one of the best golf shoes? Let’s find out…
Pros
- Great grip
- Super comfortable
- Two-year waterproof warranty
Cons
- Soft upper is prone to creasing
The Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 is Nike’s premium golf shoe and comes with an RRP of £209.99 in the UK or $190 in the US, which seems a bit harsh on UK golfers and puts it above comparable shoes from the likes of adidas, FootJoy, and Under Armour. But, if you shop around, you’ll be able to pick them up for quite a bit less than that RRP, so don’t let that put you off.
What do you get for your money with the Air Zoom Victory Tour 3?
There’s a full-grain leather upper which feels really soft and supple. There’s a two-year waterproof warranty, and it passed my scientific test of pouring a bottle of water on my foot while wearing them, not allowing any moisture through to my sock.
There’s an internal strap that sits underneath the laces, providing a secure locked-in fit.
There’s plenty of foam underfoot, giving a very soft and cushioned feeling, while the ankle area also feels well-padded and soft. There’s a ‘Zoom Air’ unit under the foot which is meant to “increase energy return”, but I couldn’t feel it and wouldn’t have known it was there if I hadn’t been looking for it.
The sole features seven Softspikes of two different types: four ‘Silver Tornado’ in the heel and outer side plus three ‘Tour Flex Pro’ in the forefoot. I certainly couldn’t feel the difference in the two spikes but the overall grip is faultless.
I found they fit true to size and were really comfortable right out of the box, with no rubbing on their first outing, which was 18 holes at a long course.
Despite being a sporty-looking shoe, they’re not super lightweight, weighing in at 416g in a UK size 9.5.
Looks wise, I think it’s a good combination of sporty and smart. It doesn’t necessarily scream premium, just because it’s pretty plain and simple, but I do like that understated style personally. The sole is the thing that stands out most from an aesthetic point of view.
The sole is very rigid, but that helps it feel secure and the amount of cushioning still provides plenty of comfort.
There are nine colors available, 10 if you include a limited-edition NRG model with gold and silver embellishments, which costs a little bit more.
Alternative options
If you like the look of these but want a cheaper option, there’s the Nike Victory Pro 3, but that doesn’t look as cool, lacks a lot of the tech in the Victory Tour 3, and only has a one-year waterproof warranty. Check out our list of the best Nike golf shoes.
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About the author
Rob McGarr – Contributing Editor
Rob has been a writer and editor for over 15 years, covering all manner of subjects for leading magazines and websites.
He has previously been Features Editor of Today’s Golfer magazine and Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com, and held roles at FHM, Men’s Running, Golf World, and MAN Magazine.
You can follow him on YouTube where – depending on what day of the week it is – he’ll either be trying his best to get his handicap down to scratch or shoving his clubs in a cupboard, never to be seen again.
Rob is a member at Royal North Devon, England’s oldest golf course, where he plays off a three-handicap.
