ECCO LT1 Golf Shoe Life Tested Review

ECCO golf shoes stand out for pulling off a seemingly impossible combination. They deliver unrivaled waterproofing – literally, I have yet to come across another golf shoe with a 3-year waterproof warranty – in a comfortable and breathable unit. 

For all-weather golfers, players who extend their golf season from early spring into late fall, and those who don’t want to buy different shoes for dry rounds, wet rounds, and walking rounds, ECCO shoes are ideal. 

So when the folks at ECCO told me they had a new lightweight shoe coming in 2024, I was intrigued. Could this new ECCO LT1 golf shoe exceed last year’s BIOM H4, which to this day I’ve proclaimed to be one of the top two or three golf shoes for walking, and one of the very best waterproof golf shoes out there? I’ve spent the last few weeks putting it to the test in all conditions to find out.

This is the part where I try to transform a confusing product description that includes terms like ECCO LYTR, E-DTS Net outsole, FLUIDFORM technology and X-TENSA INVISIBLE Technology into a description you can make sense of.

The LT1 is ECCO’s newest spikelss golf shoe, backed by ECCO’s 3-year waterproof warranty. It’s touted for combining its lightweight design with breathability and guaranteed stability. In other words, it feels good, plays in any weather, and keeps you grounded. If all that checks out, that would pretty much make it the perfect golf shoe.

In case you’re curious, here’s what all those technologies I mentioned earlier are:

• ECCO LYTR: A lightweight bounce and rebound foam in the sole of the shoe that contributes to the comfort, walkability, and lightweight build.
• E-DTS Net Outsole: The traction system designed for multidirectional traction and durability (pictured above)
• FLUIDFORM Technology: Rather than stitching or glue, ECCO uses this technology – an injectable liquid – to bond the sole and upper to create a seamless and lightweight shoe that is flexible and durable.
• X-TENSA INVISIBLE Technology: This feature assists stability and comfort. Although presumably, you cannot see it.

So is the ECCO LT1 the perfect golf shoe? I walked a few rounds in them – traversing more than my share of hills and slopes – in both wet and dry conditions, and I’m not quite willing to say it’s the perfect golf shoe. 

Is the LT1 an excellent golf shoe? Absolutely. Here’s why.

The LT1 is indeed lighter than any other ECCO shoe I’ve tried, and this is the third different ECCO shoe I’ve tested, so there’s definitely something to the lightweight technologies ECCO has incorporated into this package. 

The waterproofing, as I’ve come to expect with ECCO, is flawless. I would wear these shoes in any conditions that I’m also willing to play golf in – which I’d wager is more than most people – and this is one area where I really think ECCO separates itself from its competitors. If you only want to own one pair of golf shoes, and you want them to last several seasons, there’s no shoe I’d recommend more than a pair of ECCOs, whether it’s these LT1s, my other favorites the BIOM H4s, or a different style. ECCO swapped the GORE-TEX waterproofing of its previous shoes with its own ECCO-TEX waterproof product this year. That product helps ECCO pull off the breathable, waterproof, and comfortable trifecta better than anyone. You really can wear these in any conditions.

The traction and stability are superior as well. I played in some wet conditions with the LT1s, and I can’t imagine slipping or losing a solid connection with the ground in these shoes. They truly set a strong and confidence-inspiring base.

The comfort, however, is where I have slight hesitation. The shoe feels quite lightweight, both in hand and on the foot. And while the sizing is true once the shoe is on, I found it a little tougher to slip this shoe one than other shoes – even other ECCOs – in the same size.

I enjoyed the comfort while walking the course, but the shoe feels a bit firm, and not quite as breathable as other ECCO shoes I’ve tried. After walking a round in them, my feet and legs felt a little more fatigued than compared to the BIOM H4 – despite the lighter build.

I can’t guarantee that’s because of the shoe, or even prove I felt more fatigue after walking in the LT1s, but to put it another way, if you told me I’d be walking 36 holes tomorrow and had to pick one pair of shoes to do it in, I’d probably grab the BIOM H4 over the LT1.

All-in-all, however, I can tell you these ECCO LT1s are great golf shoes and they’re highly versatile.