50 Words or Less
The Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 golf shoes feature premium materials and eye catching style. Wonderful comfort and excellent traction.
Introduction
Performing a search for Duca del Cosma on the Plugged In Golf website, I was amazed to find five years worth of reviews. Not yet a mainstream brand in the United States, Duca del Cosma is celebrating “20 years of Italian golf heritage.” What I enjoyed five years ago and still rings true today is that Duca del Cosma brings to golf a refreshing style that’s far from the ordinary. The Davanti 2 is a perfect example of the fashion forward and sporty design Duca del Cosma offers. And there’s no better place to start a golf shoe review than with looks.
Check out the original Duca del Cosma Davanti HERE
Looks
The Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 is loaded with visual interest, but the lime green of the sole and heel is what grabbed my attention first. Number two on the wow meter was the embossed snake skin effect that Duca del Cosma designers utilized on the Italian leather uppers. For an athletic looking shoe, and one Duca del Cosma bills as a trainer, the snake skin element is off the charts unique and cool.
Duca del Cosma is never shy about branding and the Davanti 2 golf trainers don’t break from that tradition. The “DUCA DEL COSMA” tab on the side and logo on the tongue are standard fare from most brands and well executed on the Duca del Cosma Davanti 2. But take a look at the branded eyelets. And how about the “DUCA DEL COSMA” embossed on the top edge of the heel strike and logo on the toe bumper. Plus, maybe my favorite – the logo’d nubs across the sole.
In fairness, a casual observer will never notice most of the branding. And for Duca del Cosma golf shoes, branding is pretty tame. For me the Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 are eye catching without being flashy – a combination I embrace.
Comfort
Sliding on new shoes sans-socks is a great test of the comfort inside, and the Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 were splendid. My feet felt surrounded with soft material, and I couldn’t sense a single rough spot or rub point. Tightening the laces – which held their position perfectly – the fit across the midfoot was secure and even. There was some wiggle room in the toe-box but nothing overly generous. The cut of the shoes around my ankles was wonderfully comfortable and my heels felt secure and stress free.
The Davanti 2 feature INSITE ArchRelief insoles designed for a balance of cushioning and rebound. The arch support is noticeable but not too high. INSITE says the insoles “streamlined arch relief shape helps control pronation without restricting it, assisting with natural foot motion.” I’ve only tested the Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 for a few weeks, and the insoles have a fresh out of the box feel every wearing.
As for sizing, I typically wear a 9.5 medium and went with U.S. size 10. The Duca del Cosma website has a nice size guide, and from experience I follow their guideline of going up a size if in between. Duca del Cosma also offers free exchanges if the size isn’t right – a nice benefit for online shoppers.
Performance
Duca del Cosma may call the Davanti 2 golf trainers, but the traction is excellent for a spikeless golf shoe. The Davanti 2 Airplay 15 soles feature three types of traction nubs, each with a specific function. The hexagon nubs are designated for stability, the Y-shaped nubs for traction, and the round nubs for control. I can’t vouch for any of those individually, but the Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 produced solid traction throughout my swing and across the spectrum of surfaces I encountered on the golf course.
The Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 were also pleasant to walk in. The midsole that extends from the heel felt a bit odd at first, but I soon found it adding a little boost to each stride. Overall, these shoes elevate my feet a tad higher than I’m accustomed to, but nothing significant enough to dissuade me from wearing them on or off the golf course. Similarly, the Davanti 2 are slightly heavier than shoes I frequently wear, but at the end of a round, my feet felt like they were ready for more. Any additional weight in materials was beneficial for overall comfort and performance.
Conclusion
The Davanti 2 are my favorite Duca del Cosma golf shoe to date. I love the non-traditional look that’s stylish without being gaudy. The materials are all high quality and purposeful. I almost forgot to mention the Duca del Cosma Davanti 2 feature a breathable, waterproof membrane. Traction and stability were also great. The not-so-great for most readers will be the retail price of $249. That’s expensive, but doesn’t seem outlandish when I factor in the top-shelf comfort, style, and performance.