I Waited 5 Years For The Successor To My Favourite Golf Shoe: Was The Ecco Biom C5 Worth The Wait?

I've been testing golf shoes for the best part of five years now, but there's one golf shoe (one of the very first I ever tested) from 2021 that still stands out as a favourite of mine. The shoe in question is the Ecco Biom C4.

Five years later, its replacement is ready. Golf brands replace excellent products all too quickly, in my opinion, so I was thrilled to see Ecco take its time in replacing this top-tier golf shoe.

Having seen the new Ecco Biom C5 in person for the first time in January, and having now worn it for the best part of two months on the golf course, I'm ready to give my verdict. I'm excited to say even my very high expectations have been exceeded.

The standout feature of 2021's C4 was the fit and comfort, and I'm pleased to report the C5 excels in these areas with similar, if not better, levels of brilliance.

It's soft enough to provide a comfortable walk, but not too soft so that it feels like your foot is out of control during the swing. Combining the right amounts of firmness and softness is a balancing act that all of the best golf shoe manufacturers are trying to perfect, and Ecco has found that balance here.

Though I couldn't see a discernible difference between the heel area on the C4 and C5, my heel definitely felt more supported and locked in when testing the C5, allowing me to really throw my body and legs through the swing, knowing my shoes were there to support my feet in the places they need to be kept.

All in all, I felt the performance levels of the C5 have even bettered the C4 - I really feel like this is as much of a performance shoe as something like the Under Armour Drive Pro Clone SL.

From a looks perspective, not much has changed, bar a few refinements. This is certainly one of the best-looking athletic golf shoes on the market. It's not a classic style like the FootJoy Premiere Series Packard, nor is it a fully on/off course shoe like the New Balance 997; this sits somewhere in the middle. Clearly for golf, but with an athletic feel and look.

My favourite part is what Ecco calls its 'exhaust grid scoops' - the holes in between the midsole and outsole - which do two jobs at once. They look great, for one, but they also aid in scooping up cooler, fresh air onto the underside of your foot.

Combined with the Gore-Tex Surround, it makes for a fully waterproof shoe that is also immensely breathable. If breathability is what you look for in a golf shoe, this is the best in class for me.

The £200 might be eye-watering for some, and it certainly sits at the very top of the price spectrum for all of the best golf shoes of 2026. I can't decide for you whether £200 is too much for you or not, but what I can tell you is this shoe oozes every penny of the £200 investment, thanks to the quality of materials and finish across the shoe.

Not only does it use high-end Gore-Tex technology, but the Ecco Performance Leather is both luxurious and durable, making for a shoe that feels like every one of your £200 has been well spent.

Finally, the sock-like material at the very top of the ankle area is also neatly detailed and very soft to the touch. All in all, it's a very classy design that has had no expense spared.

My only minor gripe comes with the spikeless outsole, and it's something that has occurred on many of the best Ecco golf shoes I've tested in recent years.

While it performs absolutely fine in pretty much all conditions, it just doesn't quite give me the confidence of a spikeless outsole like the Adidas Adizero ZG or FootJoy Pro/SL does.

While the lugs are in different shapes, none of them protrudes at a different level from the others. That means if there is a slip, there's no lug there to grab the shoe as it moves. What I'm basically saying in a lot of words is that while the outsole performs perfectly fine, it's by no means my favourite on the market.

Overall, the Biom C5 is a spectacular golf shoe. It fits perfectly, the breathability is class-leading, the materials are luxurious and durable, and the performance is excellent. If you're looking to invest in the long-term enjoyment of your golf footwear this year, the Biom C5 simply has to be on your shortlist.