There quite simply isn’t a more well respected brand when it comes to spikeless golf shoes than Ecco.
They basically invented the category.
Over the last 5 years, they’ve continually pumped out my favorite golf shoes.
First, it was the Hybrids 2s.
Then the Hybrid 3s became my new favorite.
Currently? I’ve continued to rave about how the Ecco Biom C4 is the best golf shoe I’ve ever owned.
They’re incredible.
But every pair of the half dozen or so Ecco shoes I’ve reviewed? They’ve all been spikeless models.
Ecco’s G series of spiked shoes have been around for years, but I’ve never tried them out.
Until now.
Ecco has just recently released the Ecco Biom G5, their latest effort in the series.
But with a steep price tag and a brand known more for their hybrid models, is it worth picking up a pair?
That’s what we’re going to look at today in this Ecco Biom G5 review.
First Impressions of the Ecco Biom G5
When I first saw photos of the G5, I thought it was a good-looking shoe.
But in person?
The Biom G5 looks even better.
My wife is a footwear color designer for a major company, and said “This shoe is exactly what every brand wants, a basic with a couple pops of color. It looks great.”
I opted for the “white/regatta” colorway which has some nice hints of blue and orange – very similar to the colors in my Biom C4 shoes.
Every pair of Ecco shoes I’ve owned has been made with the softest leather I’ve ever seen on a shoe, so the G5s feel like a big departure with a combination of leather and “performance mesh” that feels just as high-end as the leather does.
It’s also GORE-Tex so the shoe is 100% waterproof – and it feels that way.
Everything about the G5 feels premium, and then some.
As is typical in the G series the sole has high-end tour spikes, and the rest of it takes design and performance cues from other models in the Ecco line. It almost feels like the same sole as the C4, just with spikes screwed in.
This isn’t a bad thing, as the current C4 provides excellent traction for a spikeless model.
I opted for the Boa laces, which is my first shoe to feature the technology.
This feels like a best-of-both-worlds shoe, as you get the comfort of the Ecco C4, with the stability of a traditional golf shoe. It's not cheap, but this is shoe lives up to it's premium price tag.
Ecco Biom G5 Performance
As expected, the shoes feel extremely comfortable as soon as you put them on.
I’ve found Eccos to have the most consistent fit around any shoe brand I’ve worn consistently.
I’m a size 12 to 12.5, and the European Ecco size 46, always fits me perfectly.
The shoe is definitely stiffer than its hybrid counterparts, which is to be expected, as it’s more of a tour-level shoe.
While the shoe is very comfortable, it does take a bit more breaking in than other Ecco models. The C4 felt like there were pillows on my feet for the entirety of my first round in them.
The Biom G5, didn’t start feeling that way until my third round in them. Not that they were uncomfortable at first, but by the end of my first round, my feet were slightly more sore than they’ve been with other Ecco models.
But once they broke in a little bit? Oh man, fantastic.
One thing I like about these shoes, is you can simply remove the inlay sole for extra-width. So if they feel a little tight at first? Never fear.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the Boa laces, but I’m a fan. Looks wise, I can take it or leave it. But when it comes to putting the shoes on, and getting that perfect fit? It’s easy to see why they’ve continued to be offered across so many golf shoes.
Final Thoughts on the Ecco Biom G5
I mentioned in my recent Payntr review that the product description on golf shoes these days reads like a tech sheet. Lots of fancy names and proprietary “technologies” touting how great the shoe is.
Ecco is no different with things like: Biom Natural Motion, Zarma-Tour spikes, FLUIDFORM cushioning, and so on.
I could relay the marketing speak and tell you what all those things are, but you don’t really need to know.
What do you need to know? The G5 feels like the best of both worlds between a stable spiked shoe and the traditional comfort you get from an Ecco hybrid (once you break them in.)
This is a shoe that will perform under any conditions, and if you’re a fan of Ecco, but need more stability than the C series provides?
I’d highly recommend the G5.
The downside is that they don’t come cheap. The retail price is $270, which makes these among the most expensive shoes we’ve ever reviewed here at Breaking Eighty.
For a high-end spiked tour shoe, you can expect to spend close around $200. The Footjoy Alpha and Sqairz Speed are just shy of that.
If you want to stick with Ecco and save some money, then I’d highly consider the newer Ecco Biom Tour shoes.
If you’re on a budget (or even if you aren’t) the Adidas Tour 360 is phenomenal. And when you catch a sale, I’ve seen them as low as $140.
So the G5 is definitely a significant bump up.
But I also think you’re getting what you pay for. The Ecco is more comfortable than both the Fooyjot and Sqairz, and frankly, significantly more stylish. The C series hybrids have always been a little polarizing as far as looks go.
These G5s however, I personally think are the best-looking spiked shoes on the market.
I’ve got some tough choices to make. I’ve been fortunate to review some wonderful golf shoes this year. Brands have been stepping up their game, and the G5 is a wonderful example of this. There’s no doubt the G5 will make it into my regular rotation of golf shoes for many rounds to come.
This feels like a best-of-both-worlds shoe, as you get the comfort of the Ecco C4, with the stability of a traditional golf shoe. It's not cheap, but this is shoe lives up to it's premium price tag.
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A Spiked Ecco Golf Shoe? We're here for it.
At $270 retail, these are very expensive golf shoes. Especially considering with the release of the Biom Tour at under $200, it's an even tougher proposition. But these feel a level above the Tour models in performance, and 5 levels above in terms of looks. If you like Ecco and want a traditional shoe? These are the ones I'd go for.
The Good
- Boa technology allows for a perfect fit
- Feel as expensive as their price tag - great build quality.
- More stable than spikeless Ecco shoes
The Bad
- Very expensive
- Take a few rounds to break in
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Presentation
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Performance
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Price
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Personal Affinity
