Review: ECCO Tour Hybrid

News

ECCO’s design philosophy is that “the shoe must follow the foot”. It’s an approach that allows the Danish company to craft footwear which combines style and comfort with uncompromising quality and innovative technology.

Golf365 has been testing the ECCO Tour Hybrid and here’s what we made of it.

ECCO say –

“The Tour Hybrid is a classic golf shoe, with a crossover twist. Combining the best of traditional golfing style with ECCO’s advanced technologies.”

The look –

It’s elegant, but, as ECCO suggest, there is a real modern twist too. Golf365 reviewed a black pair which on first glance was very traditional, but the brick detail (the brick colouring is actually rather like a deep claret) gives a contemporary feel, completed by the non-cleated sole.

First thoughts –

Very positive. It felt like taking a step backwards, towards tradition, and yet forwards, with technology, at the same time.

Trying them on –

Bit of a doubt here. Instinctively they felt very different. The Golf365 secret reviewer has been wearing ECCO BIOMs for two years and the feel was significantly different. Whereas the Bioms are soft and trainer-like, the Tour Hybrids harder and more shoe-like. The street sole immediately felt great however.

The details –

The leather has been treated with ECCO’s Hydromax process for improved water and stain resistance. The ‘second skin’ leather lining and leather covered ECFS insole wicks away moisture to keep your feet comfortable throughout the day. The single density TPU “Street” sole has approximately 100 moulded traction bars which provide more than 800 traction angles for excellent grip.

Out on the course –

Initially they continued to feel instinctively different to the BIOMs, but quite quickly there was no problem. The Tour Hybrid felt elegant and comfortable. Unlike the classic golf shoe it is not built up from the floor, so your feet feel a real link with the surface you are hitting from, something ECCO herald as good for feet and which coaches increasingly insist is good for the swing too.

In the wet –

This was the big test because the lack of cleats or spikes makes you think. What are they going to be like when the grass gets wet? The answer is – they keep on gripping. To be honest why doubt it? ECCO take their shoes seriously so they’re not likely to produce a shoe that doesn’t perform when it matters.

Conclusion –

Loved them. Having a more modern shoe is great, but they don’t always match up with smarter golf trousers. You end up looking a bit like the kid at school who wore trainers with his uniform. Or Retief Goosen in his golf shoes. i.e. not quite right.

The feel of the Tour Hybrid is good, the look is smart, the traction superb and perhaps most importantly performance is excellent, so it’s thumbs up.

Price tag –

R.R.P is £160.

More information –

To visit the ECCO website click here or follow ECCO on Twitter.

LATEST GEAR

Latest