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Review: ECCO Biom Hybrid 2

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Pros: Comfortable, impressive traction, off-the-course wearability, modern look.

Cons: Reflective accents may be too bold for some.

Bottom Line: If you’re in the market for a spikeless shoe with bold looks, the BIOM Hybrid 2 is the best in class.

Overview

ECCO has been making golf shoes since 1996 and spikeless (or hybrid) shoes since 2010. The company launched Biom Golf in 2011, which utilizes the company’s Natural Motion technology. It launched the Biom Hybrid in 2012 and the Tour Hybrid in 2013. This year’s Biom Hybrid 2 is lighter and thinner than the Biom Hybrid.

We’ll begin with the shoe’s exterior: the Biom Hybrid 2 has what Ecco calls yak leather uppers. The yak leather is treated with an anti-stain formula called HydroMax to protect the shoes from the elements.

The Biom Hybrid 2’s design was arrived at by scanning the feet of 2,500 athletes to determine the best way to offer support. The ECCO E-DTS outsole features TPU traction bars, which provide more than 800 traction angles for maximum gripping. TPU is a highly durable, wear-resistant material that won’t break down in casual wear like traditional soles.

ECCO-Golf-SS15-BIOM-Hybrid-2-Image

The Biom Hybrid 2 also has a silicon-printed insole to provide increased stability through the swing, as well as ECCO’s Direct Inject Process (DIP), which attaches the sole to the shoes. Most manufacturers use cement to attach soles to shoes. Not ECCO.

“The ECCO upper is placed in a mold where the polyurethane (PU) midsole is shot around it in liquid form creating a chemical bond,” said David Helter, ECCO USA’s Specialty Sales Director. “Not only does this process create an unbreakable, water-tight seal, it also reduces the overall weight of the shoe. As an alternative to the common EVA foam of other brands, PU is also highly flexible and resists breakdown for out-of-the-box comfort that lasts season after season.”

BIOM-HYBRID-2-landing

The ECCO Biom Hybrid 2 is available in European sizes 41 through 47 (U.S. 7/7.5 through 13/13.5). Hybrid 2’s come in four colors: concrete/royal, black/brick, camel/fanta, white/fire.

They retail for $195.00.

Performance

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It’s no secret that ECCO’s Hybrid shoes have been first-in-class in comfort since the model burst on the scene at the 2011 Masters thanks to Fred Couples. From that standpoint, then, there has never been a question about how your feet feel after walking 18 holes in the shoes.

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The point of interest, from a performance standpoint, is how the shoes perform relative to traditional “spiked” golf shoes. Regarding that, you’re in no danger of feeling like you’re wearing a pair of sneakers with the Biom Hybrid 2 on your feet.

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The shoes’ 800 traction angles are positioned to keep you grounded regardless of how your foot is moving as you walk or swing. And the stability across the sole of the shoe generally offsets most slipping on shots from the rough, although the shoes hardly function like old-school metal spikes in that regard.

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Stability and flex throughout the golf swing are excellent and the shoe is perceptibly lighter and thinner than previous ECCO Hybrids.

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A bonus to wearing BIOM Hybrid 2’s — unlike lock-in-spike shoes, you don’t have to constantly clean muck and leaves out of your spikes with spikeless shoes and you’ll never have to change your spikes again. Plus, these things really are durable, significantly more so than the soles of traditional sneakers.

Looks and Feel

The ECCO Biom Hybrid 2 continues the company’s casual approach to golf shoes. Certainly, the shoe looks more like a sneaker than a traditional leather golf shoe (which, by the way, ECCO does and does well).

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Ecco’s Tour Hybrid HydroMax ($190) are spikeless golf shoes that look like traditional models. 

The Hybrid 2 features a thinner sole than its predecessor, the Hybrid, as well as the dotted striping along the side and larger metallic accent areas in the toe and heel. The upgraded sole technology is immediately apparent at a glance as well.

When ECCO talks about making shoes that fit the foot, the phrase may seem silly or redundant. The only way to really understand what ECCO means is to slip on a pair of Biom Hybrid 2’s, as comfort and stability are top notch while never feeling restricting or constraining.

The Takeaway

If you haven’t given spikeless golf shoes a try, there has never been a better model to make your first foray into that market with.

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If you’re a steel-spikes-and-saddle-shoes-traditionalist… well, you’re probably not reading this review.

And if you liked the Biom Hybrid, you’ll be pleased with the slimmer, thinner Hybrid 2.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://us.shop.ecco.com/golf-men-most-popular/ecco-mens-biom-hybrid-2-151514.html” oemtext=”Learn more from ECCO” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DWV6L70/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DWV6L70&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=QFLO6W7GWVY2M4OH”]

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20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. Analisa De Lissa

    Oct 18, 2020 at 9:16 am

    Hi

    I have a question, i see a lot of products on this site, I have made a screenshot of some products, https://screenshot.photos/cheaperitem155 that you also sell in your store. But there items are 56% cheaper, well my question is what is the difference between your product, is it the quality or something else, I hope you can answer my question.

    Regards
    Analisa De Lissa

    “Sent from my Samsung”

  2. rgb

    Mar 6, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Honestly? The only ‘con’ you can find is that ‘Reflective accents may be too bold for some’. What wusses do you cater to?

  3. Pingback: ECCO BIOM Hybrid 2 Featured on GolfWRX - Buffalo BIG - Brand Invigoration Group

  4. michael

    Nov 20, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    Don’t believe their warranty. The pair I purchased before these came out leaked like I was only waring socks.

    When I contacted ecco they answered with they weren’t made to be played in the rain. Welcome to south Florida.

  5. randy

    Nov 20, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    very soft feeling shoe but I a do prefer a more traditional icon style shoe

  6. Joe Duffer

    Nov 19, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    Unbelievably, ECCO offers only one width (M) for their entire line!

    Factoring in that with poor waterproofing, makes for an easy decision.

  7. Carlos Danger

    Nov 19, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    I just finished my second summer with the first Hybrid version and not only are they still going strong in terms of support, tread, etc…but they are literally the most comfortable pair of shoes I own. Im wearing moccasins as we speak and I wish I had my Ecco’s on.

    If you walk alot (I do 95%), you literally are doing yourself a dis-service not owning a pair of Ecco Hybrid.

    It took me a little while to get used to the “nurse/skateboard/elderly walking shoe look” but now that pretty much every golf shoe looks like that it aint no thang.

    Check in on Kingdom59.com. They just had them for $150 but ended yesterday…but Im sure they will bring them back.

  8. Jim

    Nov 19, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Excellent review. Excellent golf shoe for both comfort and durability. I’ve worn Ecco golf shoes since the late 90’s and moved to spikeless models after Fred Couples played in his at Agusta. The Biom models are so comfortable as are the original Street shoes that I wouldn’t wear any other shoe on the course. I play mostly in the dry, low humidity climate of Colorado but for two weeks every summer in the wet, often rainy climate of Ontario, Canada near Niagara Falls, and have never experienced any water issues with any pair of Ecco shoes. I love this brand of spikeless shoes and enjoyed the numerous pairs of Ecco spiked golf shoes well enough that I’ve purchased several pair of non-golf Ecco shoes at Nordstrom.

  9. Jim Beatty

    Nov 19, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    I own 8 pairs of Ecco shoes they are by far the best shoe on the market and they do stand behind there products

  10. dot dot

    Nov 19, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    An “A”, review how surprising. NOT! Everything on this site gets an “A” review
    Ad = Review

  11. Ronnie

    Nov 19, 2014 at 9:05 am

    I still think True’s are the best.

    • Mikec

      Nov 21, 2014 at 7:32 am

      Sorry, no. Every pair of TRUE I owned except for 1, had to be returned for quality and workmanship reasons. Owned 5 pairs of Ecco’s (3 biom H, 2 biom S) and not a single problem. Yes the Yak Hyrdomax is highly water resistant, but NOT waterproof. If you are playing in the rain/soaking conditions, have an alternate. They handle early morning dew just fine.

  12. Jrodey

    Nov 18, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    ECCO replaced a pair of $275 of golf spikes (poor water proofing) for a $200 pair of Biom 2. I like the new Biom 2 but they don’t feel much different from the original Biom’s. With that said, I’ll continue to buy Ecco ( I have four pairs) but will only buy shoes that have been discounted. No more first off the rack for me…not worth the trade down if they are returned.

  13. Kyle Klages

    Nov 18, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Have they increased the durability of the soles. I find they wear out much more quickly than other spikeless models.

    Still the most comfortable golf shoes I have ever worn.

  14. JDF

    Nov 18, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    Is the waterproofing better than with the original Biom Hybrids? I have three pair because you can’t beat the comfort as a walker, but the waterproofing on them was marginal, at best.

    • Carlos Danger

      Nov 19, 2014 at 4:52 pm

      As you will see by my other post I love these shoes but have to agree on the waterproofing. These are the only shoes I have ever seen that show my sweat stains during the summer

    • Mikec

      Nov 21, 2014 at 7:33 am

      They say that Yak Hydromax is not waterproof. Handles everything for me, but rainy soaking conditions. Get the BIOM GTX, has a GoreTex layer.

  15. cheesehead42

    Nov 18, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    I would be the first one in line to buy these if they offered a size 48. Until then, I am an Ashworth guy.

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Accessory Reviews

Insider photos from Tiger Woods’ launch event for his new “Sun Day Red” apparel line

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On Monday evening, inside the swanky, second-story “Coach House” event center in the Palisades Village, just minutes down the road from the 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods and TaylorMade officially announced their new apparel/footwear/accessory line, called “Sun Day Red.”

The Sun Day Red website officially launched on Monday night during the event, and the products are set to go on sale starting May 1.

The “Sun Day Red,” or “SDR” name will be self-explanatory for most golf fans, since he’s been wearing a victory-red shirt on Sunday’s for his entire professional career, but Woods explained the meaning of Sun Day Red at the launch event:

“It started with mom. Mom thought – being a Capricorn – that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments. Lo and behold, I go to a university that is red; Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”

The Sunday Red outfit has worked to perfection for his 82 PGA Tour victories, including 15 majors, so why not make an entire apparel line based on the career-long superstition?

As I learned at Monday’s launch event, the new Sun Day Red line includes much more than just clothing. To go along with a slew of different golf shirt designs and colorways, there were also windbreakers, hoodies, shoes, hats, headcovers, ball markers and gloves on display.

The upscale event was hosted by sports media personality Erin Andrews, with special guests David Abeles (CEO of TaylorMade) and Tiger Woods himself.

As explained by Abeles, the Sun Day Red brand is an independently-run business under the TaylorMade umbrella, and is based in San Clemente, California (rather than Carlsbad, where TaylorMade headquarters is located), and it’s run by a newly-formed, independent group. Brad Blackinship, formerly of Quiksilver and RVCA, is the appointed president of the new brand.

As for the logo itself, obviously, it’s made to look like a Tiger (the animal), and is comprised of 15 tiger stripes, which correspond with Woods’ 15 major championships. While the logo may need a 16th stripe if Woods adds a major trophy to his collection, it makes perfect sense for the time being.

The golf/lifestyle line is meant to combine premium precision and athletic comfort, while still having plenty of wearability and style off the course. Like Woods said on stage at the event, he wants to be able to go right from the course to dinner wearing Sun Day Red, and that was exactly the aesthetic on display at the event on Monday.

Following the official announcement from Woods and Abeles, they revealed multiple pieces of clothing, accessories and footwear for the event-goers to ogle (and photograph). Check out a selection of product/event photos below, or head over to our @GolfWRX Instagram page for video coverage…OR, head into our GolfWRX Forums for even more photos and member discussion.

Enjoy this exclusive look at Tiger Woods’ new Sun Day Red apparel lineup below.

See more photos from the Sun Day Red launch event here

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GolfWRX Spotlight: Motocaddy M7 Remote and M5 GPS DHC electric cart review

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I have been thinking about electric golf push carts, or trollies, ever since I started playing in my league seven years ago.

Motocaddy has been making high-quality electric, and non-electric, carts since 2004 and has a couple of great options for the golfer who loves to walk. Motocaddy was nice enough to get their M7 Remote and M5 GPS DHC in my hands to try out on the course for a few weeks.

I have had a lot of people stop me to ask about the carts, and the one thing I keep telling them is that these carts are just flat out fun to use on the course.

Motocaddy M7 Remote

The M7 Remote was very easy to get set up right out of the box. All you have to do is charge the battery, install the wheels, and you are pretty much ready to go. The M7 folds up pretty small, just a little larger than the 3-wheel pushcart that I had been using for years. Getting it to the course should be no problem with just about any trunk space. Now, the one downside to an electric cart is the weight when moving it around, and both carts come in at around 35 pounds each. Even with that extra weight, I didn’t have much trouble lifting them in and out of the back of a pickup.

The M7 unfolds quickly with the flick of two levers and extends the front wheels automatically. Once unfolded, you drop in the battery, plug it in, and secure your bag. If you own a Motocaddy bag, they have developed a really nice system called EasiLock that involves two metal studs that fit into the bottom of the cart. This system also includes a molded base that prevents the bag from rotating at all, even on the roughest terrain. You can still use the M7 with almost any other golf bag as it includes elastic straps that wrap around the top and bottom of the bag.

As soon as you plug in the battery the LCD screen comes to life and you are ready to go. You can use the M7 without the remote by using the dial on the handle to control the starting, stopping, and speed. But the M7 has a remote that is activated by a simple press of the power button to get going. The remote is very simple with just five buttons to control where the M7 goes.

Getting a feel for the M7 takes no time at all and by the time you drive it from your car to the 1st tee you will be in complete, and confident, control of the cart. You simply press the “+” button to start moving forward and the cart takes off gently without any rattling of your clubs, and you can press that same button again to increase the speed. The cart will go from a slow crawl, for bumpy or tight areas, too, as fast as I could run with just a few presses of the button. The big red “stop” button in the center stops the cart immediately, and when stopped it is locked in place, even on steep hills. You don’t have to worry about remembering to set the brakes or anything because it is done automatically.

Steering is just as easy: simply press the right or left button to turn the cart. Small, quick presses will just slightly adjust the cart as it moves down the fairway while a long hold of the button can make it turn on a dime to the right or left.

Almost everyone asked me how stable the cart was and if it would tip over. I can proudly say that it has stayed upright even on some unseen bumps at maximum speed. Side hills, ruts, and even curbs are handled with ease with the help of the small rear wheel.

I really enjoy strolling down the fairway with nothing but the M7’s remote in my hand — it just makes golfing more fun!

Motocaddy M5 GPS DHC

After using the M7 and its fancy remote, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like not having it. But to be honest the M5 was just as fun to use, but for a different reason.

As the name suggests, the M5 has a built-in GPS with 40,000 courses preloaded into it. The screen is a good size, pretty responsive to the touch, and easy to read in direct sunlight. Having the GPS directly on the cart is great, you drive up to your ball and immediately have yardage to the front, back, and center of the green as well as bunkers and hazards. You can easily toggle between screens on the GPS and it offers a couple of different views to help navigate the hole. The M5 can also keep score and let you know shot distances right on the screen. Motocaddy even includes nice little touches like a screen protecter kit to ensure durability.

Driving the M5 is just as easy as the M7 with using the dial on the handle. And speaking of the handle, the grips have a great tacky rubber that grips well even in hot and humid conditions. To start the M5 you just press the dial down and the cart will gently start down the fairway. You can turn the dial to increase or decrease the speed — I found between 5-6 to be the most comfortable for me. But the speed can go up to a very fast pace if you are looking to set a record for fastest round of the day.

As you walk down the fairway, or rough, stopping the cart is as simple as pressing he dial again. When stopped the M5 engages a parking brake automatically so you don’t have to worry about it running down a hill without your approval. The M5 has tons of power to go up just about any hill and the Down Hill Control (DHC) keeps the speed consistent even when going down a steep decent.

Since the M5 has so much power, and it is a little heavy, I thought steering would be a little bit of a challenge. It wasn’t, at all. Guiding the M5 took very little effort and slight adjustments going down the fairway were very easy. Really tight turns took a slight bit more effort as the torque can want to go forward a little more than turn. Again, once you get the M5 from the car to the first tee, you will be a master at driving it.

Overall, Motocaddy has created two great carts that provide additional enjoyment to walking your favorite 9 or 18. Having the ability to walk without carrying or pushing your bag, clubs, and whatever else goes with you. I like them so much that it is going to be hard to get the M7’s remote out of my hands when I go play!

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Accessory Reviews

GolfWRX Spotlight: Crossrope weighted jump rope & app

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An 18-hole round of golf averages out to just under five miles of walking, which on its own is a good workout. Once you throw in some potential uphill trekking you get some serious cardio too, but if you all looking for a quick workout between rounds of golf look no further than Crossrope.

Crossrope – The details

Crossrope is a system of the weighted jump rope that allows you to quickly switch the weight of the ropes you are using to boost your workout—they range from 1/4 lbs all the way up to 2 lbs depending on the kit you start out with. There is an accompanying app that helps you go through multiple workout routines and is available free, or you can upgrade to the entire library of workout routines along with more workout tracking options.

This is NOT your middle school jump rope

The handles are heavy duty and feature precision bearings to allow the rope to move smoothly around as you go through a routine. They are also ergonomic and fit into your hand naturally, which making gripping easy, something that is really nice when you’re swinging a 2 lbs coated steel cable around. The handles also come with a fast clip system to make changing cables depending on your selected workout easier too.

The ropes themselves are made from braided steel and are almost impossible to tangle, allowing them to be easily transported and stored when not in use. All in you are getting a premium piece of workout equipment that is effective and easy to store—hard to same the same thing about a treadmill.

When it comes to a workout, skipping rope is one of the most effective cardio workouts you can do, and with Crossrope, you can get both cardio and low impact weight training when using the heaviest ropes, and follow along with the guided workouts.

As someone that hadn’t used a jump rope in over a decade, starting out lighter was a nice way to ease in before moving up, and I was pleasantly surprised how easy and fun some of the workouts in the app were. If you are looking for a fun way to add something to your workouts, or you just want to try something new to get you into golf course walking shape, this could be right up your alley. To learn more check out crossrope.com

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