ECCO BIOM Tour Golf Shoe Life-Tested Review
Could ECCO’s lineup of golf shoes become even more robust? That’s what the high-quality shoe-maker is aiming for with the release of the ECCO BIOM Tour, a spiked golf shoe built for optimal traction and stability in any conditions.
So, did ECCO hit the mark? We tested the laced version of the ECCO BIOM Tour on the golf course – yes, there’s also a BOA option – to find out. Here is our complete life-tested review.
ECCO BIOM Tour Golf Shoe Final Verdict
Find at ECCOFind on Amazon
MSRP: $190
Colors: Black, White
Spikes: 8 Pivix spikes
Waterproof: 3-year waterproof warranty
The ECCO BIOM Tour golf shoes were released in September, 2023, and I took them straight out of the box and onto the first tee. No breaking these bad boys in prior to testing.
My first impressions were mixed. They instantly gave my feet the familiar comfort I’ve come to expect from ECCO. If you’ve worn ECCO golf shoes before, your feet know what to expect, and they will not be disappointed.
Second, they felt a little heavier than ECCO’s spikeless counterparts I’m used to. I don’t have a scale to confirm this, but seeing as these are spiked and built to excel in dicey conditions, I assume there’s some accuracy to that feeling.
That didn’t make the walk unpleasant, but if I’m picking a pair of golf shoes for walking, and the conditions are reasonably dry, or even moderately wet, I might pick a shoe that’s a little lighter and more flexible, like ECCO’s BIOM H4 (more on that later).
After walking a full 18 holes in some soggy and muddy fall-in-New-England conditions, it was clear that the BIOM Tour delivers on its promise of a premium spiked golf shoe. The additional balance and connection to the ground throughout every swing, regardless of the surface I stood on, was evident, and will be a welcomed benefit in exchange for a little extra maneuverability for many golfers.
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ECCO BIOM Tour Specs & Features
Find at ECCOFind on Amazon
MSRP: $190
Did we mention that the BIOM Tour is built to be a go-to spiked golf shoe that’s optimal for wet conditions? I believe we did. But don’t just take our word for it. These are the features that ECCO built into the BIOM Tour, many of which are geared towards making it stand out as a top spiked, all-weather option.
- BIOM Natural Motion Technology
- Spiked sole with 8 Pivix spikes
- Grooved outsole for additional stability and traction
- Waterproof membrane & 3-year waterproof warranty
- Ultra-light PHORENE midsole
- FLUIDFORM Direct Comfort Technology
- Removable/washable Ortholite insole
ECCO BIOM Tour: Our Complete Life-Tested Review
I took the ECCO BIOM Tour to a wet and muddy golf course to put them to the test. I studied the traction, evaluated the waterproofing, scrutinized the comfort and I even chime in on the style. Here are the results.
Look & Style
There’s nothing particularly eye-catching or bold about the ECCO BIOM Tour. They come in two colors options, black or white, and two lace options, laced or BOA.
The white versions that I tested have some gray-ish materials on them, including a rubber wrap that surrounds the bottom of the shoe and wraps around the heel, and some accents on the tongue and top of the shoe, that save it from being a purely all-white shoe. Similarly, the black pair utilizes different materials and shades to disrupt a strictly all-black look.
Either way, there isn’t much style to speak of, and if you’re looking to make a statement with your golf shoes, don’t expect these to be a conversation-starter on the first tee.
On the other hand, if you want a neutral golf shoe, that oh by the way is incredibly functional, and you can pair with any golf outfit, these fit the bill.
Traction & Turf Interaction
The ECCO BIOM Tour provides better stability, balance, and traction than any golf shoe I’ve tested, and this department is where these shoes – in my opinion – really separate themselves from the competition.
Admittedly, my personal preference is spikeless golf shoes. I prefer to walk whenever I play, and today’s spikeless shoes – like ECCO’s aforementioned BIOM H4 – give me more than enough traction to keep my balance on any lie. On top of that, I don’t swing out of my shoes, so I don’t rely on the added connection to the ground that a spiked shoe provides.
That said, while I’ve never felt I was missing any ground connection playing spikeless shoes, the gap in traction between what I’m accustomed to and what the BIOM Tour provides is wide.
The BIOM Tour golf shoes really make you feel locked to the ground, creating what feels like an unbreakable connection to the turf. Whether or not that’s a feature you crave from your everyday golf shoe, it’s certainly enjoyable, and makes these shoes a little more fun to play in.
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Waterproof
For all the features the BIOM Tour golf shoes offer, there is one that’s noticeably missing, and that’s GORE-TEX. So many of ECCO’s best golf shoes boast the 100% waterproof yet breathable technology that makes the shoes standout from the competition, that it’s a little curious these don’t incorporate GORE-TEX.
Despite that, the BIOM Tour does still boast a waterproof membrane and an industry-best 3-year waterproof warranty. Even though we haven’t put the BIOM Tour through years of testing just yet, I left the test with plenty of confidence that these shoes would get me through the wettest of conditions without trouble.
ECCO is known for producing durable golf shoes, and even though these don’t feature GORE-TEX, they still carry the ECCO emblem. With a little maintenance, you can expect to get several years of use from them.
Comfort & Sizing
I mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again, the BIOM Tour are as comfortable on your feet as any ECCO golf shoe. If you aren’t familiar with how ECCO golf shoes feel on your feet, and how ECCO’s BIOM – which stands for biomechanical optimization – technology feels, you’re missing out. The shoes are extremely comfortable, particularly for walking, and the fit is spot on.
Generally speaking and all things being equal, spiked golf shoes aren’t as comfortable as their spikless counterparts, but the BIOM Tour felt as comfortable on my feet as the other golf shoes I’ve tested, and better overall than any other spiked shoes I can remember using.
Pros & Cons of the ECCO BIOM Tour
That’s a lot of information to digest about one pair of shoes. Let’s pull all the highs and lows into one quick list. Here are the pros and cons of the ECCO BIOM Tour:
Pros:
- Waterproof membrane and 3-year waterproof warranty
- Laced and BOA versions
- 8 spikes plus grooved outsole gives premium traction and balance
- Outstanding comfort
- Confidence-inspiring in wet or slippery conditions
Cons:
- Bland aesthetic
- Heavier build prevents it from being a go-to shoe for walkers
- No GORE-TEX
Who Should Wear The ECCO BIOM Tour
Living in the Northeast, where, if you want a longer golf season, you have to play in some questionable conditions, I always have a go-to spiked option for those fall and spring rounds, and for golfers like me, that’s where I would recommend the ECCO BIOM Tour.
But, not all golfers are like me, and there is a much larger segment of players who should seriously consider the BIOM Tour. I think these shoes are a great option for players who meet any of the following criteria:
- Golfers who rely on a single pair of golf shoes to get through any conditions;
- Players who want one of the best all-around spiked golf shoes;
- Golfers who typically use a cart;
- Golfers who accept a slightly heavier shoe to access the traction benefits;
- Players with faster swing speeds who rely on an unbreakable connection to the ground to maintain balance throughout the swing.
The Bottom Line
Even if you’re like me, and you prefer a spikeless golf shoe, there are still always a handful of rounds every year that require a little more from your footwear than even the best spikeless shoes can offer.
Regardless of your spiked or spikless preferences, the ECCO BIOM Tour is an excellent golf shoe, and golfers looking for the highest-quality spiked golf shoe, and all the benefits that come along with that, and who are willing to pay a premium price, should consider the ECCO BIOM Tour.