Mike Friton has a long career in creating athletic footwear, dating back to the 1980s when, as a student at the University of Oregon, he helped Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman part-time in designs. Through the late 1990s and 2000s, Friton was a product engineer at Nike, working on some of the company’s more innovative projects in the Innovation Kitchen. Friton has now started working on his own, and his latest creation is a collaboration with Seamus Golf, prominently making headcovers and accessories with quality technical fabrics. The result is one of the more unique entries into the ever-evolving golf-shoe market with the introduction of Seamus’ Feel Player shoes ($195). Available in a limited-quantity, pre-order sale starting Wednesday, these shoes are as minimalist as they come—weighing just eight ounces and handmade with what the company calls a motorcycle leather. The Feel Player shoes are seam-sealed on each stitch line to bolster weather-resistance and made with spacer mesh to promote airflow and moisture-wicking. Akin to more of a moccasin with traction qualities for golf, these are different than anything we’ve seen, explaining why the accessory company, Seamus, is behind this project with Friton’s expertise. For more information on the shoes, click here.

—Stephen Hennessey/@S_HennesseyGD