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We put the new Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 golf shoes to the test. They promise comfort, traction and ultimate waterpoof protection. Do they deliver?
The Biom Hybrid 2 were one of the best golf shoes released in recent years so it was interesting to go and find out how Ecco had made them better.
We were given our first look at the Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 at the brand’s launch event at their leather plant and museum in Dongen.
The look of these shoes has changed completely from something fairly bland and functional to a cutting-edge, stylish and more fashionable aesthetic.
I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t overly keen on the hero model for 2018 (which looks a bit like snake-skin) when I first saw it.
Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 review - Golf shoes - Equipment reviews | National Club Golfer
But once I put them on I thought they looked great. These are highly premium shoes and I think Ecco have taken an approach where they maybe want to stand out a bit more.
If you’ve paid around £200 for a pair of golf shoes then you’d want your playing partners to at least notice them, right?
But something which Ecco do really well is still offer some colour options for those people who might be a bit more reserved.
But the Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 aren’t expensive because of how they look, it’s because they are loaded with technology to make them comfortable, stable and pretty much indestructible.
Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 review – The technology
There are three key areas which have been focussed on.
And there’s an all new grip system on the outsole which Ecco are calling Tri-Fi Grip. It basically means that there are three areas on the outsole which each have a specific role.
There’s added grip towards the outstep area of the toe which adds stability, a ‘rotation line’ around the top of the toe to help you turn forwards and then a re-enforced chunkier bit of grip around the heel for durability on a part of the shoe which can wear faster than others.
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The third cool bit of technology is that they have a 100 percent waterproof Gore-Tex construction.
All of Ecco’s new shoes for 2018 – including the Ecco Cool Pro below – have Gore-Tex lining as Ecco believe it is the only way to guarantee keeping the water out.
When you put these shoes on for the first time you remember why you like Ecco shoes – they are supremely comfortable.
Ecco work hard and do lots of research to help their shoes mould to the shape of golfers feet. The Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 are no different.
These feel a bit wider than previous Ecco shoes I have worn so take care with sizing.
But for me, it feels like they provide a nice, low-profile base.
Out on the course in the two rounds I wore these shoes I found the comfort levels to be excellent. They are a fairly substantial shoe but are still very light so you don’t get that tired achy feeling at the end of 18 holes.
Despite all the technology that has gone into the Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 they still feel like a lightweight, comfortable pair of trainers.
The grip from the outsole was doing a great job in wet and slippery conditions but they are still very much a spikeless shoe which can be worn off the course too.
I didn’t quite feel like these shoes locked my foot in as much as I would like – maybe it was the width but I did feel like there was a bit of lateral movement.
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It is my preference to feel like a golf shoe is grabbing hold of my foot to keep it steady.
After the rounds, there were certainly no ingress of water, my feet were completely dry. And these shoes are very easy to wipe clean.
Mud does get caught up in the outsole a bit but with a bit of air-hosing they will be clean enough to wear in the clubhouse or in the car for the drive home.
Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 review – NCG verdict
Everything about these golf shoes feels premium. They look really premium too.
Yes they are expensive but you can really see and appreciate where your money has gone. The Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 golf shoes are aimed at the serious golfer who wants ultimate performance.
I think what we are seeing here from Ecco is a bit more confidence in their brand. They’ve always known how good their products are but now they are puffing their chests out a bit and shouting about it a bit more loudly.
Despite packing in a lot of performance benefits for on the golf course the Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 are still a ‘hybrid’ golf shoe. Which to me means a golf shoe that can be worn off the course as much as on it.
When paying around £200 why wouldn’t you want to get maximum use out of them?
These are definitely a ‘go-to’ shoe for me when it comes to selecting a pair of shoes to wear to the office. And I know that I can nip to the driving range at lunchtime without even thinking about changing my shoes.
For me, they don’t quite offer the maximum stability I am looking for out on the golf course. For that, I’ll always be leaning towards a pair of spiked or cleated shoes.
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But they get full marks for comfort and full marks for their ability to deal with the elements – I’m not sure you’ll find many spikeless shoes capable of nailing those two elements so comprehensively.
