50 Words or Less
The FJ1857 collection celebrates the heritage of FootJoy’s over 160 years of shoe making tradition. Beyond premium golf shoes, the collection includes shoes and apparel for looking sharp on and off the golf course. Premium materials and upscale styling abound.
Introduction
1857 – the year Fredrick Packard started the shoe company known today as FootJoy. In those times, hand crafting shoes was more of an art form, typically requiring hundreds of meticulous steps. Craftsman often learned the trade from their fathers and Fredrick was no different, except he also had a love of golf. As the golf shoe side of the company flourished, employees must have been beaming with pride when Walter Hagen commissioned shoes for the first official United States Ryder Cup team in 1927. Today, FootJoy is the leading shoe brand on the PGA tour and is worn by golfers around the globe.
To honor its unassuming origins, FootJoy brought together a special collection of premium shoes and apparel called simply FJ1857. Available online and at select pro shops, the FJ1857 collection exemplifies the tradition of true craftsmanship – turning exceptional materials into luxurious products.
Performance
The FJ1857 collection encompasses shoes and apparel for both on and off the golf course. For performance evaluation, I put the heather grey Stretch Pique shirt and leather glove through the paces of play. In the shirt, spandex allowed for plenty of stretch throughout the golf swing, while I found the breathable cotton a welcome relief on hot afternoons.
The FJ1857 golf glove had a distinctive feel worthy of the presentation box it came in. Slightly thicker than the popular FootJoy Stasof glove, the Pittards of England leather is soft and supple and gave me notable grip confidence. After repeated use, the glove retained its shape and still feels like it was tailored to my hand.
Style & Fit
Overall, the FJ1857 collection exudes a top-shelf style. Each piece exemplifies the attention to detail that defines its distinctiveness.
I can’t discuss exquisite detailing without going directly to the wing tip suede shoes. Behind the classic brogue uppers is a buttery soft leather lining, while beneath the foot bed is a cork underlay that gives the shoes amazing comfort. Sizing runs a half size big, and the shoes are also available in red and grey.
The long sleeve cotton woven shirt also utilizes spandex to give it stretch for the everyday movements of life. The regular fit keeps the look neat while the long shirt tails keep it tucked in nicely. The multi-check print is unique to my eye, and I appreciated the careful placement of the second and third buttons for choosing between business and casual settings. My only disappointment was seeing ‘dry clean only’ on the care tag.
Back to the heather grey shirt, the sleeve seam sat right on the intersection of the arm and shoulder. The sleeve itself had a straight profile and covered my biceps. I’m a big fan of the crisp styling of the pointed self-collar.
Conclusion
Perusing the FJ1857 website I was impressed with the variety of premium offerings, but also equally pleased that the selections were limited. Take for example the golf glove that comes in one color – vanilla. If you can’t appreciate that old school vibe, accentuated with the deep brown piping and badging, this collection probably isn’t for you. But if you are a discerning golfer who appreciates craftsmanship and distinctive styling, the FJ1857 is worth seeking out. Just be aware that these premium products come at luxury prices.
Matt Meeker
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