Ecco isn’t a brand afraid to try something a little different now and again. The Danish brand has certainly adopted some signature Scandinavian flair in its recent offerings, most notably the upper design of Biom H5, inspired by Norwegian Fjords and the Scottish Highlands.
Though dubbed a high top, I see the new Biom H5 High Top as more of a golf boot, or just a more comprehensive golf shoe option for the autumn and winter months. I was excited to see how it stacked up against similarly designed shoes in some wet autumnal weather.
(Image credit: Future)
This is a literal extension of the Biom H5 shoe I tested earlier this year. Supremely comfortable, but not without its flaws, this high-top version has a much higher ankle area and a slightly different pattern and design across the upper. I’ll start with the standout feature, which is undoubtedly the BOA lacing system. This dial fastening and loosening system is a joy to use (as it is on other BOA shoes I’ve tested) and allows you to get a more customised fit as well as adjust the tightness of the shoe on the move with such ease. It makes a lot of sense to have this system on a shoe that will predominantly be used over the winter.
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The comfort is strong as well, as it always has been for me, testing the best Ecco golf shoes. The boot’s weather resistance is ensured by the proprietary Ecco-Tex waterproof membrane, which keeps your feet dry and comfortable even in the wettest conditions, while the BOA fit system does the job of providing adjustability to fine-tune the fit of the boot and mould to your foot shape.
The bold look will certainly draw opinions from both sides of the aisle.
(Image credit: Future)
Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder with this shoe’s design. I’ve had plenty of feedback from colleagues and playing partners, ranging from sublime to ridiculous, snow boot to high-end trainer. I’ll leave you to make up your mind on the looks, but for me it’s an undeniably bold design that, if you’re comparing it to a golf boot, is a much better job than the black lumps of plastic I’ve often tested.
From a practical point of view, this shoe certainly lends itself to autumn and winter wear. The high ankle stops any water or other detritus from creeping into your feet, while also offering a good amount of support around the ankle and heel, unlike a standard shoe. It’s not the most breathable shoe in the world, great for the cold winter months to keep your feet warm, but a little stuffy if you’re wearing them on a mild day.
The outsole doesn’t have the lugs to offer the same sort of ground penetration as other spikeless outsoles.
(Image credit: Future)
However, much like the sister shoe, I wasn’t all that impressed with the outsole. Though competent in dry and damp conditions, I don’t have full confidence in my grip in fully wet conditions. The lugs don’t offer the same ground penetration as the likes of the outsole of the Adidas Adizero ZG, and I just don’t think it’s a great outsole unless you’re playing in dry conditions.
If we look at this as a competitor to the humble golf boot, it’s a very stylish and practical differentiator to the often dull and clunky winter boot. Only the outsole lets down this otherwise good golf shoe.
