Comfort. It hasn’t always been the focus of golf shoes. In the past, golfers often looked pretty sharp in shoes that were heavy and uncomfortable but as the game and footwear evolved, so did the demand for comfort. After all, if you walk a course you’ll have covered five or six miles, depending on how much you chase your ball into the trees and the rough.

That’s where ECCO comes in. Only a decade ago, the notion of having a spikeless shoe was basically unheard of in the golf business. Traditional spikes were designed specifically for the golf course and were quickly switched out for a pair of sneakers before tossing the clubs into the car. ECCO single-handedly changed that by creating a shoe where comfort was the key—but the shoes also had the technical elements to hold up to the most demanding golfers on the planet. You can wear ECCO shoes from the car to the course, and then to the office afterwards— without ever feeling the need to remove them.

Natural Motion

ECCO’s goal is to get to the golfer’s heart through their feet—by making shoes so comfortable that you never want to take them off. The Danish company has done a great deal to change people’s perceptions of golf shoes since Fred Couples showed up at the Masters seven years ago wearing spikeless ECCO shoes and lauding their comfort. That’s not to say comfort is the only factor—ECCO’s Biom technology, which is found in its golf shoes, was developed through biomechanical gait analysis under a variety of conditions. The result was using Biom in shoes to make the wearer’s experience smoother and more efficient. Biom, which stands for “biomechanical optimization,” attempts to mimic and enhance the natural shapes, movements and abilities of the foot. On the golf course that means less energy expended getting around, and more to put into every drive or chip, as well as improved power through the shot.

“That’s what Biom is all about—it’s natural motion,” says Todd Davidson, national sales manager of ECCO Canada.

There’s no question that since rising to prominence with the spikeless golf shoe movement, ECCO has worked hard to create a unique story for every new version of its shoes. Some of that story is told through quality—the details that go into every shoe, as well as the craftsmanship. But it is also told through the unique materials and processes that ECCO uses, creating particular attributes specific to each pair of shoes.

ECCO shoes are made primarily from yak leather, an extremely lightweight, breathable leather that provides a soft and flexible feel for the wearer. As the only manufacturer in golf footwear to operate its own tanneries and factories, ECCO has full control of the quality of the leather. This allows the brand to tailor the material specifically to its shoes. The end result is one of the most versatile leathers available—a strong, thin hide that yields extraordinary comfort.

Davidson says the yak leather is special for reasons beyond its technical attributes. “You can see some of the imperfections from the hide,” he says, referring to light markings visible in the leather. “They’re very subtle, but they give each pair a unique story.”

The use of yak leather allows ECCO to control the shape of its shoes, resulting in the classic ECCO Biom construction, as well as the comfort and stability that it promotes.

Just ask Couples, who has remained committed to the brand at a time when endorsement deals come and go. “I’ve competed in ECCO Golf shoes for a decade now,” Couples explained recently. “And I can honestly say I can’t see a time where I wear anything else. The comfort provided is second-to-none.”

This comfort is furthered by the unique sizing of ECCO’s shoes. With no half sizes or varying widths offered, each shoe is created with more width in the toe and a heel designed to secure the foot and prevent slippage. “The shape and contours of the shoe ensure that underneath the laces, the golfer is really secure,” says Davidson. That leads to a surprising level of stability for a shoe that looks casual to many.

New for 2018

New to the ECCO Golf collection in 2018 is the Biom Hybrid 3, a reinvention of one of the brand’s most popular products. As with all of ECCO’s designs, the Biom Hybrid 3 features premium yak leather, and all models of the Hybrid 3 include GORE-TEX, ensuring that the shoe will be both waterproof and breathable. The Hybrid 3 is available in both men’s and women’s versions in a multitude of colours, and both lace and BOA closure systems are available. The shoe also includes a neoprene collar made from a soft, stretchable material that minimizes impact on the foot and ankle. Finally, the outsole of the Biom Hybrid 3 is designed with Tri-Fi-Grip, a three-zoned outsole engineered to provide both lateral and rotational stability while optimizing comfort when walking.

The Biom Hybrid 3 illustrates ECCO’s commitment to creating a shoe that connects lifestyle and sport. With an effective combination of style and comfort, ECCO’s shoes will remain on your feet long after the round is over.