Could the ECCO LT1 golf shoes go it alone on a Caribbean island?

One of the challenges in packing for an extended media trip is deciding how many pairs of shoes to bring. There will be several rounds of golf, dress-up dinners, casual meals and entertainment, urban hiking, beach visits and lounging. And what if it rains?

A recent trip to the Dominican Republic coincided with the arrival of a new pair of ECCO’s lightweight, spikeless LT1 golf shoes and it seemed like the perfect time to put them to the test. The question was how many roles could they fill? Usually when I travel, I like to pack as lightly as possible. Lugging a golf bag means having extra room to stash whatever won’t fit in the suitcase but shoes don’t compact real well, so there’s even a limit to how many pairs will fit.

I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of picky about my footwear. Not in a fashion sense so much, it’s more about having the right shoes for the activity. Some people can get away with wearing a pair of sneakers for everything but that’s not me. And when it comes to golf, I’ve been spoiled over the years and expect my golf shoes to look good, feel good and perform well.

The LT1’s certainly looked good. The day they arrived it was raining outside so no go for an outdoor test, but I tried them on and walked around inside the house and they felt good. Real good in fact. Almost bedroom slipper comfortable. ECCO says the LT1 is ‘setting a new standard for lightness and comfort.’

OK, but could they handle five rounds of golf in a tropical climate? And what if they hurt or chafed? Would I need a back-up pair?

Normally, I’d play at least one round at home with a new pair of shoes before putting them into the starting line-up for an away game, but I was in a gambling mood. It’s not like I would be performing on a highwire without a net, but I really didn’t want to pack a back-up pair. The upside was that the ECCOs looked so good they could pull double duty at dinner or on one of those sightseeing trips if necessary too.

If you’ve ever owned a pair of ECCOs, you know they’re renowned for offering superb comfort and the LT1s are certainly up to standard. They delivered exceptional cushioning on the course and after five days of golf plus another two days covering the PGA Tour pros at the Puntacana Corales Open, my feet never felt sore or tired.

The spikeless outsole has a pattern of nubs which provided all the grip I needed for the dry conditions in the DR. The shoes are fully waterproof and while I never experienced any wet weather, I expect the nubs would hold their own there too.

I’ve read some reviews about the LT1 model that suggest that the shoe is too soft to provide proper support on full swing shots. Maybe for someone like Bryson DeChambeau who swings for the fences on every shot, but my tempo is a bit less frantic, and I found the shoes gave me all the lateral support I needed.

All in all, the ECCO LT1 shoes performed exceptionally well in the Dominican Republic and the one pair of shoes gamble paid off. They even handled some extra off-course activities without complaint. I have worn the shoes for a couple of walking rounds since returning home too and now they’re part of my permanent shoe rotation for 2024. Thanks, ECCO!

The LT1’s come in a traditional lace version or with the BOA fastener and four colour options. They retail on the ECCO website in Canada at $280. For more information including sizing and all the technical specs, click HERE.