50 Words or Less
The ECCO Speed Hybrid golf shoe aims to be a cross between casual looks, comfort, and performance in order to be a well-rounded casual golf shoe for the spikeless enthusiast.
Introduction
At Plugged In Golf, we’ve written about a handful of ECCO’s “casual” spikeless golf shoes that Fred Couples blazed the trail with a few years ago at The Masters. Following the success of the initial Street shoe Couples wore, ECCO really committed itself to taking the lead in the spikeless market and released quite a few different variations since. The latest effort is the ECCO Speed Hybrid which is clearly inspired by a casual looking gym shoe but still has characteristics needed to be a functional golf shoe.
Comfort
Comfort is going to be relative to expectations when it comes to the ECCO Speed Hybrid golf shoes. A quick glance leaves you thinking they look pretty plush and will be soft and pillow-y. This isn’t necessarily the case, but it doesn’t mean the shoe isn’t comfortable. ECCO clearly designed this shoe to maintain comfort but to be functional as well. The leather in the upper portion of the shoe is firm enough to hold its shape and stay solid for you, but soft enough that it isn’t rigid and pokey. The footbed itself is very firm and supportive due to the E-DTS technology used in the outsole to provide better performance. As much as these shoes are designed to look like a sneaker, the actual comfort level is much more in line with a traditional feeling golf shoe.
Looks
At first glance, the ECCO Speed Hybrid shoe looks just like any other casual sneaker/walking shoe made for comfort and long-term wearability. At a closer glance, you’ll find the nubby bottom for gripping the turf better and realize the upper has been treated with something so they have more of a “sheen” and aren’t as soft and supple as they look from afar. This “something” is ECCO’s “HYDROMAX” treatment which is designed to keep moisture out of the shoe in order to keep your feet drier while maintaining breathability. All three colorways of the Speed Hybrid have a neutral upper combined with a vibrant sole and accenting to add just a bit of character to the shoe.
Performance
Spikeless golf shoes tend to “be what they are.” They’re only going to have so much grip and so many attributes similar to regular traditional golf shoes. That said, I was very impressed with how stable the ECCO Speed Hybrid was during the golf swing. As mentioned before, ECCO uses their E-DTS technology, as well as molded traction bars, to provide greater stability and I think it’s definitely noticeable if you have strong familiarity with other spikeless golf shoes. Most spikeless shoes, including the Speed Hybrid’s predecessors, tend to only be able to take so much torque and inevitably will twist across the sole. The Speed Hybrid has that firmer, more solid base which holds up nicely and prevents that twist, therefore making for a better foundation during the swing.
Conclusion
If you have been a big fan of ECCO’s lineage of spikeless casual golf shoes, you’ll be just as pumped about the Speed Hybrid shoe this season. The sole provides the same grip as previous ECCO spikeless shoes and ECCO’s E-DTS hybrid technology definitely makes the shoe firmer and more stable during the swing. While the Speed Hybrid isn’t a pillowy bed of clouds, it’s a good middle ground between the feel of a traditional solid golf shoe and the cool casual street feel that have you walking down the fairways just like Boom Boom Couples…ok, you still won’t be as cool.
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Bill plays Scott Readman Concepts putters and accessories.
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I followed the link to the Ecco site to take another look at these shoes. Yikes! $180 for a pair of basic spike less shoes with few frills? At at price I could find a premium offering from Footjoy or buy a pair from Kikkor golf and still have money left for a golf shirt or two.
Solid and honest review. Ultimately would you put these shoes in a list of top 5 spike less shoes you would recommend to a friend? Top 10? A casual spike less shoe would need to be pretty remarkable at that price.
I’m not clear what kind of “frills” you’re looking for in a spikeless shoe. You also seem to think this isn’t a premium spikeless shoe, but I think Ecco would argue otherwise. As far as your Kikkor comparison, this is a much more solid and substantial shoe than the Kikkors I’ve worn. I don’t think it’s fair to knock the price point when it’s perfectly easy to find other spikeless options in the same price range or higher.
If you really read the review, the comments indicate that the look is much more casual, but the performance of the shoe is geared more toward being a solid and substantial golf shoe. I’d be interested to hear what spikeless shoe would be considered “pretty remarkable” at a higher-end price point, or in general.
As Barney Stinson might say “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!” I admit I have never viewed Ecco as a premium golf shoe brand and have never considered a casual spike less shoe as my first choice. I enjoy walking 9 in the evenings and most courses in the triad area of NC are moderately hilly, so I have always prefered a golf shoe with spikes.
Rather than be a critic of a shoe I’ve never laid eyes on, much less tried on my feet, I decided to head over to Golfsmith and give the Ecco Speed Hybrid a try and form a real opinion. (Isn’t that the point of an equipment review website anyway; to get me to try something I wouldn’t otherwise?) Of course, the Speed Hybrid was not in stock there, but I figured I would give a couple of other Ecco shoes a test fit. I walked around in a pair of Biom Hybrid 2, another casual spike less offering as well as the spiked Ecco Cage model. The Biom Hybrid is actually more expensive than the Speed Hybrid, at least at Golfsmith, as it runs $195. I stand corrected on the Ecco shoes. Both models I tried on we’re comfortable and stable, although I could tell the Cage model would have a bit longer break in period than the casual pair. Ecco definitely has the feel of a premium shoe.
Just to compare, I also tried the new UnderArmour Tempo Hybrid, which I would consider the “cooler brand” as well as the FootJoy Versaluxe, which I would consider the “premium brand.” I didn’t even get the first UA shoe laced up before it was poking into my foot and altogether uncomfortable. Back on the shelf with those. The FJ were more comfortable, than the UA but not moreso than the Ecco.
Still, I would have a hard time laying down $180-$200 for a pair of golf shoes, but that might not always be the case. If that ever changes, Ecco will be on my radar. Thanks, Bill!
I play A LOT of golf and walk some of the time and also have 2 pair of ECCO spikeless shoes. For spikeless shoes, these are very good, and very durable, however, speaking from experience, if you play a lot expect to replace the arch support because after a while, it gets paper thin. That said, I bought an arch insert and the shoes are still performing well. As a bonus, they give you a pair of replacement laces. Expensive shoes but worth it for the most part.
I don’t get these >$150 golf shoes. It’s a complete rip off. Gimme a light weight, breathable, water-resistant, comfortable golf shoe for $100. You make a decent profit – I get a decent shoe … don’t be so eff’n greedy.
“eff’n greedy” to describe Ecco here? With all due respect, I can’t just ignore this one. I didn’t not indicate these shoes were not breathable or had water issues, nor have I heard anything anywhere else indicating issues here. While I don’t disagree that you can get discounts on shoes with the criteria you mentioned, many a golf shoe is well over the $150 mark and there is certainly a difference in the quality of shoe.
If you’re comment is geared toward your stance toward the golf shoe industry as a whole, fine I guess, but the $150+ price range for premium CURRENT shoes has been the standard for a LONG time. Hardly fair to call greedy. If that’s greedy, so is just about every price point for a golf club you’d buy off the rack. If there’s an issue there as well, maybe it’s time to hang up the spikes.