Equipment
Is the CAGE ECCO’s next big golf shoe?
Let’s say you’re in the midst of a remarkable run as a leader in the golf shoe industry, based in part due to your ability to own and manage every aspect of its leather and shoe production, as well as retail sales. And let’s further hypothesize that your bullpen of world-renowned playing professionals wearing your shoes across the globe includes the likes of Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell, among others.
And finally, imagine you have a long line of loyal customers dedicated to your products because of the consistent quality of those same products. What’s next for a company like that?
ECCO CAGE in White/Black/Red ($200)
For ECCO, it’s the CAGE golf shoes, a cleated model designed to be every bit as comfortable as your favorite pair of footwear. Aiming for the sweet spot of classic styling, comfort and stability, ECCO employed its state-of-the-art direct injection wrap system (DiP) to give the shoe a “cage,” which looks a lot like webbing. It works its way from the heel to the midsole and ultimately to the toe box of the shoe, and allows the upper and outsole portions of the shoe to bond without the use of glue or stitching of any kind. The one-piece construction allows for increased swing stability, flexibility when walking, and less movement overall when shifting your weight during the golf swing, according to ECCO, as well as increased memory and a water-tight seal.
There are two different CAGE models, the CAGE CAGE EVO (pictured below, and soon-to-be tested by GolfWRX Members), which uses a textile, or multi-material upper. It’s otherwise identical to the CAGE, which has a calderra leather upper that offers a broken-in feel and toughness.
ECCO CAGE EVO in Bermuda Blue ($190).
Rounding out its features, the CAGE is anatomically designed to provide an outsole that aligns and moves with your foot. There’s no glue, no “cement,” and nothing piecemeal about the CAGE’s one-piece design, which ECCO says helps the shoes move “in unison with the foot’s essential ligaments and muscles.” The CAGE may not improve your footwork, but it can’t hurt.
For some golfers, the CAGE’s traction elements could be the most important part of the discussion. The company has made itself synonymous with top-of-the-line spikeless golf shoes, but the CAGE is unapologetically a cleated golf shoe, using Champ’s Slim-Lok soft spikes to appeal to golfers seeking maximum traction on the course. The shoes also employ ECCO’s HYDROMAX leather treatment, which will keep your feet dry in the heaviest dew.
ECCO CAGE in Black ($200)
Unlike other golf shoe companies, ECCO isn’t driven to get its stable of players to only wear its newest product. Instead, the company leaves that decision to the individual to determine what best fits their game. For example, Graeme McDowell has historically been loyal to the World Class line, given his sense of style. Ernie Els, on the other hand, has shown broad allegiance to various types of shoes found in the Hybrid line.
As a result, the CAGE has yet to be worn by anyone other than PGA Tour member Will Wilcox, but don’t be surprised to see any number of ECCO’s tour stars wearing them soon.
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- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
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- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
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New Level has been making some really good golf equipment since the company started up in 2018. Offering irons that are more geared towards the better player, precision has been a fundamental philosophy for New Level in creating irons and wedges.
The 480 line of irons has been the flagship of the brand, and the newest member of that team is the 480-DB iron that is now open to pre-orders. A new cavity design is what the whole 480 line is about, and the 480-DB takes advantage of that with added ball speed and a larger sweet spot.
For players who require their irons to offer the best feel, rest assured the DB is a fully forged (from 1020 carbon steel) one-piece golf club. No multi-piece, hollow design with this iron.
While the 480-DB is the next generation of the popular 902-OS, New Level didn’t follow the current trend in golf by chasing distance with the new iron. They actually weakened the lofts on the 480-DB with the spec sheet showing a 33-degree 7-iron and 45-degree pitching wedge. These lofts allow the DB to have less offset while still offering consistent distance off the face.
A traditional design was also at the forefront of the new irons to make sure that golfers with an eye for detail can look down at them with confidence that they will perform under any condition.
A weight low in the back cavity will allow their master club builders to dial in the perfect weight for the golfer, no matter the length or shaft being used. New Level believes that the new 480-DB is one of the most forgiving one-piece forged irons on the market today. A pre-worn leading edge on the sole should get through the turf quickly and with reduced digging for better turf interaction.
You can pre-order the New Level 480-DB right now on the New Level website.
Pricing specs availability
- Irons: 4-PW
- Price: $149/oron
- Availability: Pre-order
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Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
Will Zalatoris WITB 2024 (April)
Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees @8.25) Buy here. Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (45 inches) 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy...
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Josh
May 23, 2016 at 5:51 pm
These look how I imagine golf shoes made by Crocs would look
j
May 19, 2016 at 8:33 am
So ugly would never buy
Dj
May 19, 2016 at 12:03 am
Some of the ugliest I’ve seen.
Joey5Picks
May 18, 2016 at 9:18 pm
“Is the CAGE ECCO’s next big golf shoe?”
No.
MP-4
May 18, 2016 at 5:43 pm
CAGE ECCO a.k.a. the CROCK ECCO?
No they are too gimmicky looking.
Way too much form over function.
Although the top mesh on the CAGE EVO isn’t so bad.
On my second pair of BIOM Hybrids. Best shoe ever.
SB
May 18, 2016 at 3:31 pm
no
Jake
May 18, 2016 at 7:08 pm
No
CCShop
May 18, 2016 at 2:48 pm
EVO looks like a rip off the Hyperflex. The first gen Ecco is still the best
John Krug
May 18, 2016 at 1:23 pm
The article should have described the last of the shoe. For example wide in front, narrow at the back.
Bar
May 18, 2016 at 10:52 am
Are they going to make them in half sizes. Bought Bioms and nearly had my ankles amputated. Not for me until they show a bit more interest in their customers.
Desmond
May 18, 2016 at 3:49 pm
If you go from a 44 to 45 – it’s a half size for me.
Scott
May 19, 2016 at 12:12 pm
I love Ecco shoes. However, sizing can be trying. At one point I owed a 45, 46, and 47 for 3 different styles. It is hard to buy Ecco shoes on line.
Bar
May 18, 2016 at 10:49 am
Are they going to make them in half sizes. Bought Bioms and nearly had my heels amputated. No thanks.
Carlos Danger
May 18, 2016 at 9:16 am
Huge fan of the ECCOs. Have a pair of Hybrid and the Biom. They are as or more comfortable than any shoe I own including slippers etc…
The only down side to the pairs I have owned is that they are not necessarily a pair of shoes I would wear in wet conditions, even if its just a dewey morning. They seem to absorb moisture opposed to resisting it. My hybrids actually look like a stepped in a puddle if its super hot out and I am sweating alot.
Desmond
May 18, 2016 at 8:49 am
I find the BIOM line very comfortable – Hybrid 2 and BIOM Lace (cleated), and would tend not to deviate from BIOM, which does not have much cushion, which I like, because I use my feet to read the greens.
In the Cage, I think the white on Blue looks good, as does the Black. The gray Cage on white is not to my taste. I would think the Cage is very stable. My bet is the cushion here is still in the insole as it is in the Hybrid 2. At $190 (Evo) and $200, my first preference would be to find a Biom Lace on sale ($240 retail) if I wanted cleats – the Lace is very comfortable. If you do not want cleats, the Biom Hybrid 2 GTX with Goretex is the shoe.
KJ
May 18, 2016 at 8:41 am
Ecco makes great shoes…but for the most part they are just not very stylish.
Nath
May 18, 2016 at 8:23 am
Yea, i’ll give these a go.
Now where in aus can i find em?
Mikec
May 18, 2016 at 7:50 am
I tried these on and hated them. Big miss IMO for Ecco, just like their zero (or whatever they were called). Leather is too firm. Plus the overall look is just plain ugly. That being said, with the exception of the BIOM Hyrbrid, not a fan of the new BIOM cleated either. Still gaming the first generation BIOM cleated and hybrid as if you take care of them, the YAK leather lasts forever.
TCJ
May 18, 2016 at 10:02 am
Agreed, first gen bioms are awesome! I should of picked up some hybrids when I had the chance…