“The Cage is a polyurethane material that wraps from the heel to the midfoot all the way to the toe,” said ECCO key account manager Eric Meyer when asked to explain how Cage technology works. “The benefit is that the polyurethane locks your heel in to give you stability while you’re walking and swinging. But because polyurethane is so flexible it’s going to move with you while you’re walking and swinging for comfort as well.”
As successful as the original Cage lineup proved to be in creating enhanced stability for players on the course, ECCO believed there was even more that could be done, which has led to the release of the new Cage Pro. While Cage technology remains in place with the Cage Pro line, a new, aggressive outsole has been incorporated into the design to create even more grip and stability, as well as added comfort. The outsole, which is being referred to by ECCO as SPYDR-GRIP, is “where the real magic happens, and this is ECCO taking hybrids to a new level of performance,” said Meyer.
Most notably, the spikeless outsole adds better stability in all conditions and its spikes have been strategically positioned to align with the natural anatomical movements of the foot during the golf swing, which ECCO believes contributes to a more comfortable shoe.
The outsole has also been constructed from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), a material that is more durable and five times stronger than rubber or EVA, which is what’s used in the design of many golf shoes.
In an effort to find out more about Cage Pro, TGW put together a test group for the new shoe, and we were especially interested in finding out what our consumers thought about the unique SPYDR-GRIP outsole.
“I love the stability provided by the design of the SPYDR-GRIP outsole,”said Randy Lair, a 12-handicapper. “In wet or dry conditions, I always feel stable and comfortable with a full swing.”
Added Mike Ball, “The shoes feel great, and they really give you great ground contact and great support during the swing.”
In looking at the unique style of the Cage Pro outsole, it might lead one to wonder, however, if the aggressive, spikeless design could damage putting greens.
According to our testers, however, that’s not a concern.
“The Cage Pro shoes left little or no marks on the greens, but at the same time even though they’re spikeless they are surprisingly stable,” said Brad Burnside, a +2 handicap who splits time between riding and walking when he plays.
Lair echoed those comments, adding, “As far as any impact to the turf on our greens, I see no incremental damage or wear with this new outsole. When the greens are wet or damp, I can see what appears to be cleat marks, but they always fade.”
Of course, where ECCO has earned consistently high marks as a shoe company is when it comes to comfort.
For our testers, Cage Pro earned high marks for both comfort and support, especially after they got a couple of rounds under their belts.
“For me, there was a break-in period,” Burnside said. “At first, I felt like they ran big but after walking a few rounds they began to fit better. It was almost like they molded to my feet, and they seem to get more comfortable with every round.”
Added Ball, who plays to a handicap of 4, “Once I removed the insoles to help get the fit right, which is a great feature that these shoes offer, the break-in time was minimal. And they are really comfortable.”
When it comes to fit, one of the Cage Pro models is available with a Boa closure system, which gives players even more options in terms of getting the perfect fit.
“The Boa style made it easy to fit the shoe to my foot so that they were comfortable right away while still providing the stability you need in a golf shoe,” Lair said. “I’ve purchased ECCO golf shoes before, and I find that they are very predictable and true to size each time. It’s one of the few brands of shoes of any kind I am not afraid to order online because they always fit well.”
Also of note, Cage Pro was created by designers to meet the performance needs of the most serious golfers, and players who fall into that category don’t always play when conditions are perfect.
ECCO has garnered significant praise for its proprietary Hydromax leather treatment as a way of waterproofing shoes, and Cage Pro, which features a soft Dritton leather upper, comes with a two-year waterproof guarantee.
And the feedback from TGW consumers was that keeping their feet dry when the golf course was wet was no issue at all with Cage Pro.
“My feet and socks have remained dry under some very wet conditions, which we have experienced this spring,” Lair said. “I believe that Hydromax technology is as good or better than any other waterproofing applications for golf shoes.”
Said Ball, “We’ve had a lot of rain so far this year but every time I’ve worn the Cage Pro shoes my feet stayed dry and the water protection appears to be very good.”
At the end of the day, of course, what we were most interested in hearing from our testers was whether or not this is a shoe they would purchase for themselves or recommend to friends and playing companions. And in that regard, Cage Pro once again scored high marks.
“The stability and just the all-around comfort really stand out, and those are the two top things I look for in a golf shoe,” Burnside said. “I would definitely recommend Cage Pro. It’s a great all-around shoe. Very stable, waterproof, and comfortable enough to walk at least 18 holes.”
Added Lair: “I would highly recommend the Cage Pro to anyone looking for a stylish golf shoe that is extremely comfortable to wear and very stable in wet or dry conditions. What more can I say. I love these shoes and would buy them in a heartbeat.”
“Also, I really like the Boa lacing system for its convenience and comfort fit. It’s like stepping in and out of house shoes using this system. Great shoe and great design.”
