It’s like Christmas morning when one of the design experts of a product you’re testing is willing to answer some questions. It’s like Christmas and your birthday combined when that expert happens to be Design Director at adidas golf, the one and only Kelly Kikuta. Kelly helped lead the design team for the Codechaos 22 – a shoe that disrupted the golf footwear market. And adidas has absolutely done it again with the release of the adidas Codechaos 25.
Thanks again to Kelly and the adidas team for chatting with us about the subject of today’s review. Now, let’s get into how it performed…
adidas Codechaos 25
Price: $180
Sizing: True to size
Fit
As the reader may know from previous reviews, I wear an 11.5 and have average-width feet.
The fit of the adidas Codechaos 25 was perfect in my typical size, and you definitely get more customization with the BOA dial. The BOA dial gives the wearer the ability to strategically tighten the shoe to the preferred fit. This customization primarily takes place for top of the foot fit. This is a great feature for those that have a hard time “dialing” in the fit of new golf shoes.
And, if you prefer laces, the laced version of the adidas Codechaos 25 releases on November 1, 2024.
Traction
If you go back and read Connor’s review of the Codechaos 22, you’ll notice that his only beef with that shoe was the traction.
So, my big question for Kelly was: “What was done to increase the traction from the Codechaos 22?” [Editor’s Note: That tracks] Kelly quickly answered and let me know that the team made two main changes to eliminate this issue altogether.
The first adjustment was slightly spacing out the lugs on the outsole. Spacing out the lugs allows more penetration into the terrain, which increases grip and control. The second was adding a ridgeline on the lugs, with one lug being slightly more elevated than another. This led to added traction on shots with awkward foot positioning (such as when standing on sloped, mixed, or rough terrain).
Both of these changes were effective, and I have no complaints when it comes to the traction of the adidas Codechaos 25. It should meet all your needs and expectations on that front.
Cushion
The Codechaos 22 ranked high in both comfort and cushion. It utilized Boost cushioning for the entirety of the midsole whereas the adidas Codechaos 25 features full length Boost encased in Lightstrike but poking out at the forefoot and heel.
We see Lightstrike in a lot of adidas’ running and basketball shoes. If you’ve tried some of those models and found them comfy, you can imagine that same cushion and comfort as the top layer of this setup. The Boost provides all-day comfort.
On the adidas website, the brand boasts that you should be able to play golf without ever thinking about your feet. I’d say that’s true. In some ways, I wish they looked more like a normal shoe so I could wear them around the house and at work. But ultimately, the adidas Codechaos 25 is an extremely comfortable golf shoe, and I have no cushioning complaints.
Support
I haven’t complained about anything up to this point, and I don’t have any reason to start when it comes to the support/stability section of the review.
If the combo of Lightstrike and Boost cushioning can be trusted within adidas basketball shoes, you know it’s stable enough to translate to the less laterally demanding sport of golf.
When looking at the adidas Codechaos 25, you’ll also notice a layer of rubber around the shoe that forms supportive sidewalls. This definitely added stability and containment at the outer edges of my feet and around the heel.
There really isn’t anything crazy here. But the performance was solid, and I again have no complaints.
Price
At $180, I’d say pull the trigger immediately on the adidas Codechaos BOA 25 (i.e., BUY THEM ASAP.)
There’s no better time than the present to jump on the train with Kelly and his team. Kelly also made sure to let me know that the Codechaos 25 is for all golfers. I am a 15 handicap, and I love them; but we also saw Keita Nakajima wear them at the Olympics while representing Japan.
Bottom line, my Instagram DMs are open for those of you who buy the Codechaos 25 and hate them (I won’t get any negative messages 😉). [Editor’s Note: Now that’s confidence]
In short, the adidas Codechaos 25 is worth every penny.
The Wrap on the adidas Codechaos 25
As Tiger Woods once said, “We all make decisions. But in the end, our decisions make us.” The decision to buy the adidas Codechaos 25 is a good one. You won’t regret it.
I really enjoy the Codechaos 25, specifically for the fact that it feels so golf-centric. More and more shoe manufacturers are focusing on hybrid golf shoes, and while that’s fine (in fact, I’ve raved about several pairs myself), it’s nice to have a spikeless shoe that’s only meant for the course.
From the best spikeless traction that the market has to offer, to a comfortable midsole, you can’t go wrong here. There wasn’t a single challenge on the course that the Codechaos BOA 25 couldn’t handle.
Thanks again to adidas golf for giving us some time to learn about the Codechaos BOA 25 with the designer himself and sending these for review. It’s the kind of shoe we love showcasing here at WearTesters.
adidas Codechaos 25 Score
How the Author Golfs
Tyler Allred (19 handicap): Golfs 2-3 times a week spending the bulk of his time playing actual rounds. Mostly pushes himself to improve every part of his game, but also enjoys a casual round of golf every now and then.
Disclosure
While adidas did send a pair of the adidas Codechaos 25 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.
