ECCO has been throwing the term “hybrid” around for at least 15 years now and it just dawned on me that I have no idea what they mean.
I know, I know, buy a clue, yada, yada, yada. Just work with me here, people. At my age, my Random Access Memory is almost full.
The reason I bring it up is because ECCO is releasing another new shoe this week, called the BIOM® H6. We can only presume the H stands for “hybrid,” especially since ECCO says the new BIOM® H6 is based on its two most successful BIOM® hybrid models.
By the way, be prepared for a ton more ® and ™ symbols. ECCO friggin’ loves them.
What is the ECCO BIOM® H6, and what makes it a “hybrid?”
Both are great questions, but let’s set the stage by answering the second question first.
In ECCO-land, “hybrid” is a specific design philosophy. It represents an engineered, high-performance spikeless golf shoe that looks and feels like a casual sneaker instead of traditional, cleated footwear.
You can say ECCO invented, or at least popularized, the spikeless shoe movement. We can actually trace it to the 2010 Masters. Everyone remembers Fred Couples play that year almost as much as his shoes. He wore ECCO’s original Golf Street shoes. They were so remarkably different that everyone noticed them, especially since he went sockless. ECCO’s golf shoe sales jumped an incredible 300 percent that year alone.
ECCO touts the BIOM® H6 as a performance-first shoe with a modern, athletic aesthetic with advanced stability, next-generation traction and all-day comfort. According to ECCO, it’s BIOM® technology “promotes natural shock absorption and motion through low-to-the-ground construction,” for enhanced feel, flexibility and stability. ECCO says its provides a sensation of feeling “grounded.”
That’s all high minded talk for a golf shoe. But what we really care about are the answers to two additional questions: Are the stable and are they comfortable?
Well, are they?
We won’t know until we get samples to try out. Until then, we only have ECCO’s word for it. However, we’ve tested enough shoes over the years and for what it’s worth, ECCO delivers on both comfort and stability more often than not. While we believe in “Trust, but verify,” we can say ECCO has at the very least earned MyGolfSpy’s semi-official “benefit of the doubt.”
We do love reading through ECCO’s litany of features. We particularly like the new X-TENSA™ Support Technology. It’s an anatomically engineered structure that surrounds the foot’s natural bone structure, providing targeted lateral support during the swing while reducing unnecessary pressure. The support structure is actually visible on the lateral side of the upper in the laced version. The BOA® version features the aptly named X-TENSA™ Invisible. It’s integrated between the leather so you can’t see it, hence the name.
The whole idea is to lock in the foot while leaving enough room for the toes to splay naturally for better balance and stability. SQAIRZ has been talking this talk since 2019, but it seems the rest of the golf shoe world is catching on.
The new BIOM® H6 also features ECCO’s proven MTN GRIP outsole. While there’s no ® or ™ on MTN GRIP, we presume the MTN stands for Mountain. If you’re climbing a mountain, you definitely want all the grip you can get.
This version features new side and heel traction elements. ECCO says it increases ground penetration to improve grip during the swing across varying conditions.
Dual-Fit and DriTan™
Lots of shoes do this now, but ECCO has long employed what it calls its Dual-Fit system. It’s an additional insole layer for consistent cushioning. However, if you need extra width, you can take that layer out and customize your fit without sacrificing comfort.
Additionally, ECCO is known for its leather. The company owns its own tanneries and holds dozens of shoe leather-related patents worldwide, including a significant portfolio relating to leather processing, tanning and finishing technologies.
The new ECCO BIOM® H6 uses ECCO’s DriTan™ leather. It features a fully waterproof membrane that keep your feet dry. It also contains perforations to remain breathable for enhanced comfort.
“We want to retain that familiar sense of natural movement and athletic performance, while introducing a new level of comfort, stability and fit,” says ECCO Head of Global Marketing Timo Vollrath. “By combining our BIOM® heritage with the latest innovations, we’ve created a show that feels familiar but performs at a new level.”
ECCO BIOM® H6 options, price and availability
The new ECCO BIOM® H6 golf shoes are available now at retail and on ECCO’s website. They come in both men’s and women’s models. The men’s laced versions come in three colorways: White, White with black, yellow and blue accents, and Gray with black and blue accents. The women’s laced versions come in White and Gray with no color accents.
The BOA® version is available in men’s sizes only, in White and a Black/Gray combo.
The ECCO BIOM® H6 laced retail for $230.00. The BOA® versions run $250.00.
For more information, visit the ECCO website.
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