Temps de lecture : 7 min
Key Takeaways
- Performance is identical to the Reserve Classic Tour RS at the same $200 price, with a better look.
- No break-in period and zero hot spots — comfortable from the first swing.
- Limited availability means you should grab these while you can.
I said something in a recent round that I’ll stand by here: a lot of the newer Payntr shoes are starting to look like each other. That’s always been the brand’s thing, though. There’s the old era — all those original X-series shoes — and then the new era that kicked off with the Eighty Seven SC. Since then, every release out of this Classic Collection has leaned into the same clean, low-profile silhouette. More attractive shoes across the board, but harder to tell apart at a glance.
The Jones x Payntr RS is very much part of that new era. And I’ll tell you this straight: it might be my favorite of the bunch. I walked two rounds in the White/Field Khaki pair, and I haven’t stopped thinking about them since. Here’s the thing nobody talks about: a good shoe collab doesn’t just slap a logo on a trainer. It brings the partner’s identity into the design without ruining what made the base shoe work. Jones and Payntr nailed it. Let me show you why.
How This Compares to the Eighty Seven SC and Reserve Classic Tour RS
If you’ve read my other Payntr reviews, you know their whole Classic Collection shares DNA. But there are real differences between these three, not just paint jobs. I’ve played that shot a thousand times — comparing shoes, I mean — and the devil is in the details.
The Eighty Seven SC is still the flagship. It runs $220 to $240 depending on colorway, and it’s the only one of the three with Payntr’s carbon fiber Carbitex GearFlex propulsion plate. It also sits on a PMXNITROGEN+ midsole, which gives it a bouncier, more responsive feel underfoot. You’ll also notice a bit more design detail stitched around the laces that the other two don’t have.
The Reserve Classic Tour RS is the $200 “step-down” — but not really. It swaps that carbon fiber plate for Payntr’s PMX Speed PLT, which does a similar job of helping you harness ground reaction force, just without carbon fiber and without working in as many directions. The midsole changes too, from PMXNITROGEN+ foam to PMXFoam, which sits lower profile and feels a little firmer. Payntr kept the PMXNITROGEN+ footbed though, so it’s not like all the bounce disappeared. In my experience? I don’t notice any major performance difference between this and the Eighty Seven. Bobby Jones figured out this kind of thing in 1928: technology matters less than fit and feel. The same holds true today.
The Jones x Payntr RS shares a spec sheet with the Reserve Classic Tour RS almost line for line. Same Clarino Trivela upper, same PMX Speed PLT, same PMXFoam midsole with the mock leather welt, same PMXNITROGEN+ footbed. Functionally, this is the Reserve Classic Tour RS platform. What Jones brought to the table is entirely in the styling. And that’s where this shoe earns its spot. The “1971” detail on the tongue is a nice nod to the brand’s roots, and the tan/khaki colorway on the pair I tested is subtle in a way that a lot of golf shoe collabs aren’t. Nothing about it screams for attention. It just looks right.
First Impressions of the Payntr x Jones RS
I love the look of this shoe. Being in Portland, where both Jones and Payntr call home, I’ve seen a bunch of guys wearing both colorways over the past month. Outside of Portland, though, I’d bet this isn’t a shoe you’re running into very often — and that adds to the cool factor. There’s something to be said for wearing gear that isn’t on every third guy in your group. Walk the course. You’ll understand why that matters.
My first impression was that it looks like most other Payntr shoes from the current era. Same low-profile silhouette you’ll recognize from the Eighty Seven SC or Reserve Classic Tour RS. But look a little closer, and the Jones touches start showing up. The “1971” on the tongue, the subtle colorway, small flourishes that make this feel like its own shoe rather than a straight reskin. This isn’t the first time Payntr has teamed up with a brand and nailed it. The Forresters x Payntr Rainshedder RS1 is still one of my favorite shoes of the year and my go-to for inclement weather rounds. Payntr clearly knows how to let a collaborator’s identity come through without losing what makes the base shoe good.
How Do the Payntr x Jones Shoes Perform on the Course?
Two rounds in and this is a very stable shoe. No slipping, no hesitation trusting it through the swing. The game doesn’t owe you anything, but a good shoe gives you one less thing to worry about. Here’s the thing I discovered: the Eighty Seven SC has the more expensive Carbitex carbon fiber plate, and the Jones x Payntr RS doesn’t. On paper, that should be a noticeable gap. On the course? I really don’t feel a difference. Unless you’re swinging it well over 100 mph, I don’t think most golfers will either.
Are They Comfortable?
Very comfortable. No break-in period to speak of, and after two rounds I haven’t had a single issue with rubbing or pressure points. The ARIAPRENE tongue and bootie do their job locking the foot down without it ever feeling restrictive.
In fact, while I initially had a good experience with the Eighty Seven SC shoes, lately I’ve found there’s an odd pressure on the top of my forefoot that has been causing some discomfort. Not sure why it’s been happening, and I assume it might be a localized issue to me, but it’s caused me to switch to other models which I haven’t had this issue with. Regardless, the Jones Sports Co. RS by Payntr Golf is very comfortable.
At $200, the Jones x Payntr RS lands right at the same price as the Reserve Classic Tour RS, and $20 to $40 below the Eighty Seven SC depending on colorway. Given you’re getting nearly identical performance tech to the Reserve Classic Tour RS with an even better-looking, more distinct shoe on top of it, that’s a strong value case if the aesthetic is your thing.
Should You Buy the Jones x Payntr RS?
I feel like I’ve said this for many of the new Payntr models I’ve reviewed, but at least at the moment, this is my current favorite Payntr shoe. It’s a better value and — for me — more comfortable than the original Eighty Seven SC. It looks much better than the original X models from the brand. And it’s a more everyday wearable shoe compared to its sister collab, the Forresters RS1. That’s not a tip, that’s a truth.
Considering this is a limited edition drop, it won’t be available forever. If you’re able to snag the Jones x Payntr collab shoe, I think it’s absolutely the best Payntr golf shoe to buy right now.
Where It Ranks Among Current Payntr Shoes
I put together a ranking a week before I got this Jones model. But since every new Payntr shoe seems to get labeled “my favorite,” let me give you an up-to-date list of where things stand:
- Jones x Payntr RS – Most well-rounded. Does everything well.
- Forresters x Payntr RS1 – Most unique, not an everyday shoe. Most comfortable Payntr I own, but sold out.
- Reserve Classic Tour RS – Same tech as the Jones, but standard styling. Still great value.
- Eighty Seven SC – Flagship tech, best all-around performance. The shoe that put Payntr on the map.
- X Tour Proto RS – Best of the original lineup. Great performer, but I don’t like the styling as much.
The Jones Sports Co. RS by Payntr Golf brings everything we love about Payntr shoes to the table, with subtle Jones flourishes that make these one of my favorite Payntr shoes to date. Walk the course in these, and you’ll understand. This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and buy one of the products on this page, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our opinions or our reviews. Everything we do is to benefit you as the reader, so all of our reviews are as honest and unbiased as possible.
Playing golf since before GPS rangefinders existed. Eddie covers the classic game — courses, technique, and the stories worth keeping.