Equipment
Is the CAGE ECCO’s next big golf shoe?
Let’s say you’re in the midst of a remarkable run as a leader in the golf shoe industry, based in part due to your ability to own and manage every aspect of its leather and shoe production, as well as retail sales. And let’s further hypothesize that your bullpen of world-renowned playing professionals wearing your shoes across the globe includes the likes of Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell, among others.
And finally, imagine you have a long line of loyal customers dedicated to your products because of the consistent quality of those same products. What’s next for a company like that?
ECCO CAGE in White/Black/Red ($200)
For ECCO, it’s the CAGE golf shoes, a cleated model designed to be every bit as comfortable as your favorite pair of footwear. Aiming for the sweet spot of classic styling, comfort and stability, ECCO employed its state-of-the-art direct injection wrap system (DiP) to give the shoe a “cage,” which looks a lot like webbing. It works its way from the heel to the midsole and ultimately to the toe box of the shoe, and allows the upper and outsole portions of the shoe to bond without the use of glue or stitching of any kind. The one-piece construction allows for increased swing stability, flexibility when walking, and less movement overall when shifting your weight during the golf swing, according to ECCO, as well as increased memory and a water-tight seal.
There are two different CAGE models, the CAGE CAGE EVO (pictured below, and soon-to-be tested by GolfWRX Members), which uses a textile, or multi-material upper. It’s otherwise identical to the CAGE, which has a calderra leather upper that offers a broken-in feel and toughness.
ECCO CAGE EVO in Bermuda Blue ($190).
Rounding out its features, the CAGE is anatomically designed to provide an outsole that aligns and moves with your foot. There’s no glue, no “cement,” and nothing piecemeal about the CAGE’s one-piece design, which ECCO says helps the shoes move “in unison with the foot’s essential ligaments and muscles.” The CAGE may not improve your footwork, but it can’t hurt.
For some golfers, the CAGE’s traction elements could be the most important part of the discussion. The company has made itself synonymous with top-of-the-line spikeless golf shoes, but the CAGE is unapologetically a cleated golf shoe, using Champ’s Slim-Lok soft spikes to appeal to golfers seeking maximum traction on the course. The shoes also employ ECCO’s HYDROMAX leather treatment, which will keep your feet dry in the heaviest dew.
ECCO CAGE in Black ($200)
Unlike other golf shoe companies, ECCO isn’t driven to get its stable of players to only wear its newest product. Instead, the company leaves that decision to the individual to determine what best fits their game. For example, Graeme McDowell has historically been loyal to the World Class line, given his sense of style. Ernie Els, on the other hand, has shown broad allegiance to various types of shoes found in the Hybrid line.
As a result, the CAGE has yet to be worn by anyone other than PGA Tour member Will Wilcox, but don’t be surprised to see any number of ECCO’s tour stars wearing them soon.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
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Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Josh
May 23, 2016 at 5:51 pm
These look how I imagine golf shoes made by Crocs would look
j
May 19, 2016 at 8:33 am
So ugly would never buy
Dj
May 19, 2016 at 12:03 am
Some of the ugliest I’ve seen.
Joey5Picks
May 18, 2016 at 9:18 pm
“Is the CAGE ECCO’s next big golf shoe?”
No.
MP-4
May 18, 2016 at 5:43 pm
CAGE ECCO a.k.a. the CROCK ECCO?
No they are too gimmicky looking.
Way too much form over function.
Although the top mesh on the CAGE EVO isn’t so bad.
On my second pair of BIOM Hybrids. Best shoe ever.
SB
May 18, 2016 at 3:31 pm
no
Jake
May 18, 2016 at 7:08 pm
No
CCShop
May 18, 2016 at 2:48 pm
EVO looks like a rip off the Hyperflex. The first gen Ecco is still the best
John Krug
May 18, 2016 at 1:23 pm
The article should have described the last of the shoe. For example wide in front, narrow at the back.
Bar
May 18, 2016 at 10:52 am
Are they going to make them in half sizes. Bought Bioms and nearly had my ankles amputated. Not for me until they show a bit more interest in their customers.
Desmond
May 18, 2016 at 3:49 pm
If you go from a 44 to 45 – it’s a half size for me.
Scott
May 19, 2016 at 12:12 pm
I love Ecco shoes. However, sizing can be trying. At one point I owed a 45, 46, and 47 for 3 different styles. It is hard to buy Ecco shoes on line.
Bar
May 18, 2016 at 10:49 am
Are they going to make them in half sizes. Bought Bioms and nearly had my heels amputated. No thanks.
Carlos Danger
May 18, 2016 at 9:16 am
Huge fan of the ECCOs. Have a pair of Hybrid and the Biom. They are as or more comfortable than any shoe I own including slippers etc…
The only down side to the pairs I have owned is that they are not necessarily a pair of shoes I would wear in wet conditions, even if its just a dewey morning. They seem to absorb moisture opposed to resisting it. My hybrids actually look like a stepped in a puddle if its super hot out and I am sweating alot.
Desmond
May 18, 2016 at 8:49 am
I find the BIOM line very comfortable – Hybrid 2 and BIOM Lace (cleated), and would tend not to deviate from BIOM, which does not have much cushion, which I like, because I use my feet to read the greens.
In the Cage, I think the white on Blue looks good, as does the Black. The gray Cage on white is not to my taste. I would think the Cage is very stable. My bet is the cushion here is still in the insole as it is in the Hybrid 2. At $190 (Evo) and $200, my first preference would be to find a Biom Lace on sale ($240 retail) if I wanted cleats – the Lace is very comfortable. If you do not want cleats, the Biom Hybrid 2 GTX with Goretex is the shoe.
KJ
May 18, 2016 at 8:41 am
Ecco makes great shoes…but for the most part they are just not very stylish.
Nath
May 18, 2016 at 8:23 am
Yea, i’ll give these a go.
Now where in aus can i find em?
Mikec
May 18, 2016 at 7:50 am
I tried these on and hated them. Big miss IMO for Ecco, just like their zero (or whatever they were called). Leather is too firm. Plus the overall look is just plain ugly. That being said, with the exception of the BIOM Hyrbrid, not a fan of the new BIOM cleated either. Still gaming the first generation BIOM cleated and hybrid as if you take care of them, the YAK leather lasts forever.
TCJ
May 18, 2016 at 10:02 am
Agreed, first gen bioms are awesome! I should of picked up some hybrids when I had the chance…