There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised. 

What We Tried:

The PAYNTR X 001 Trainer. The new training shoe is the Oregon-based brand’s first foray into something other than golf. The brand’s push into fitness is headlined by long-drive champ Martin Borgmeier. If they’re good enough for that mountain of man, they’re good enough for me, right?

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. For the past few months, I’ve been extremely consistent in the gym. As such, I’m always looking for an excuse to get a new pair of trainers. My wife thinks I have too many. I think I need a new pair for every day of the week.

Why Training?

If you haven’t noticed, it’s clear that the intersection between golf and fitness is growing stronger. Evidenced by FootJoy’s recent release of the Flex TR, the golf shoe industry is just starting to take note of the growing demand for training gear.

Big name brands like NIKE, Under Armour and PUMA already have this area covered. But smaller brands like PAYNTR have a lot to offer to the crowded training space. Can the budding golf brand create a training shoe that rivals the big boys like the NIKE Metcon or Under Armour Slipspeed?

Let’s find out.

Tech Specs: Makings of a Winner

On paper, the PAYNTR X 001 Trainer is a winner. It’s got all of the ingredients I feel are crucial to a top-of-the-line training shoe.

Structured Upper

First and foremost, the upper must be robust. Mesh is nice, sure, but for any explosive lateral movements, more structure is needed.

PAYNTR tackled this challenge with a woven jacquard upper. It remains plenty flexible while still providing good lateral stability. It’s also abrasion-resistant, because your shoe needs to be as tough as your workout.

Responsive Ride

Moving downward, a good training shoe must have a responsive cushion setup. That is to say, a trainer should be comfortable enough for short runs and stable enough for heavy lifting. This is done through PAYNTR’s PMXNitro+ foam. This nitrogen-infused foam is smooth and stable. For quicker movements, it provides an explosive, “springy” feel. For more controlled movements, the foam is firm and stable.

Talking a walk or going for a light jog in the X 001 Trainer feels equally as good. It’s darned comfortable foam.

Stable Base

To top it off (or to get to the bottom of it), the PAYNTR X 001 Trainer features a unique Carbitex MonoFlex PROPULSION PLATE. That’s a lot of big words but stick with me.

The carbon propulsion plate (produced by Carbitex) is designed to flex in one direction only, hence the MonoFlex moniker. It flexes with the natural motion of your foot to provide energy return but does not flex in the opposite direction. This enhances the overall stability of the shoe.

This propulsion plate, coupled with the enhanced rubber outsole, makes the X 001 Trainer plenty stable for squats or responsive for some quick cardio.

Real World Performance

All of those specs sound impressive, right? But, alas, the only thing that really matters is real world performance. The PAYNTR X 001 Trainer has been my go-to training shoe for the last three weeks.

My experience? Pretty good. The X 001 Trainer is a baller training shoe, through and through.

Starting from the top, the jacquard upper is super comfortable (although, it does dirty rather easily, so keep this in mind if you opt for the white pair). The overall fit was really good, too. The wider toe box area was welcomed.

Moving down the shoe to perhaps my favorite part, the PMXNitro+ foam was money. It’s among the most responsive and comfortable foams I’ve trained in.

From box jumps to bench press, the X 001 Trainer is just a solid training shoe.

I can’t say I noticed the propulsion plate too much, though. Perhaps a direct comparison to something without said plate would help. Even still, the shoe felt plenty responsive.

If I had one gripe, it would be the tongue. I’m not a big fan of super-skinny tongues. It’s good for breathability but I find it hard to keep them in place while training.

Cool Down

Right now, the PAYNTR X 001 Trainer is sticking in my gym bag. PAYNTR made it clear a few years ago that they were a serious player in the golf shoe game. Now, with the introduction of the X 001 Trainer, they’ve positioned themselves as a serious player in the training game.

If I could change one thing, it would be the price. Most other competitors’ training shoes start around $150. Perhaps it leaves an opportunity for PAYNTR to undercut with a takedown model, similar to what they’ve done with their golf shoe lineup.

Even still, if you’re serious about your fitness and want a shoe that easily transitions from the weight room to the pavement and back again, the X 001 Trainer should be high up on your “must try” list.

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