What’s in a pair of shoes? Aren’t they all more or less the same? Well… not quite. In reality, golf shoes are highly engineered pieces of kit, often subjected to just as much R&D and testing as many golf clubs. And, like clubs, they’re a matter of personal preference—what works for one golfer might not work for another.
But iconic Danish shoe brand go about the process of producing a new shoe in a different way than most of their competitors. That’s what Head of Product Thomas Maymann tells me in Singapore, where I’ve come to the HSBC Women’s World Championship at the stunning Sentosa Golf Club for the launch of the new Biom H5.
“Most brands start with the design and then make the last (the shoe mould) to fit the design,” he says. “We start with the last – the comfort and performance of the shoe is the first priority – and then we make the design fit the last.”
That statement may spark the notion that Ecco’s shoes, while being insanely comfortable, are left somewhat lacking in the looks department. But, while I can’t claim to have encyclopaedic knowledge of every line Ecco has released, it’s certainly not the case with the Biom 5. They look great!
Forget The Marketing Jargon – They Look & Feel Amazing
According to the press release they draw ‘inspiration from the flowing Nordic fjords and the rugged Scottish Highlands’ and while I’m not entirely sure what that means (Thomas did explain it at some point but there may or may not have been beverages involved), they’re definitely more than adequately pleasing on the eye.
A brand-new, gleaming white pair was waiting for me in my hotel room upon arrival in Singapore, giving me the perfect chance for a road test at the impressive Tanah Merah Country Club. There, I had an unexpected Dubai golf reunion—Elliot Gray, formerly of Arabian Ranches, is now GM, and Brodie McDonald, who I first met during his Al Badia Golf Club days, is Director of Golf. After spending 30 minutes talking about Dubai traffic (as is tradition), it was time to put the Biom H5s to the test.
Now, I should mention that I hadn’t hit a golf ball in six months due to breaking a finger playing football (I know, I know…), so my return to the fairways came with a bit of trepidation — especially with 20 members of the international golf media watching on the first tee. After all, a nice pair of shoes can only do so much.
With nerves jangling, I stepped up to the tee, just praying to get it airborne. To my shock, I ripped one (almost) down the middle. “Get in there… I love these shoes!” I said to no one in particular.
Joking aside… how do they actually perform?
Out on the course, the Biom H5s feel fantastic—comfortable, stable, and grippy, thanks to the ECCO Terra Traction System in the sole. They also feature a new ECCO-Tex waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry, even in the wettest conditions—probably not every UAE golfer’s top priority, but good to know all the same. They’re available in both lace and BOA® closure systems.
If I had one minor gripe, it’s that they don’t come in half sizes, which may have contributed to a blister on my right heel during the road test… but realistically, that was probably just down to them needing a proper break-in period.
Final Verdict?
Highly impressed. These will definitely be going in the (shoe) bag.
