Ecco Biom Trail 1.2
First Impressions
Scandinavian shoe designer Ecco pushes their Biom Natural Motion technology into the world of trail running this season with the introduction of the appropriately named Biom Trail 1.2. Out of the box, our green and black sample – accented by bright yellow-orange laces – looked dynamite and ready to hit the outdoors.
Features
The Ecco Biom Trail has all the features we expected having tried their Biom B road runners last season. The first thing you notice about the Bioms are the large wrap-around heel cup that covers the instep and rear of the shoe. This feature adds stability but we never found it to overpower the fit and feel of the shoe.
The Biom Trail’s upper is mesh covered with a matrix of rubberized reinforcements. The upper isn’t waterproof so expect to get soaked if you’re running through wet flora and fauna as I did recently after a big rain storm.
In keeping with the Natural Motion philosophy (read minimal drop) the forefoot sits at an approximate 12mm height and the heel near 20mm. This 8mm drop is quickly becoming standard for shoes in the category. We like the lesser differential and feel that provides on both road and trail shoes, and it definitely did the trick on the Biom Trails.
Specs
Weight: 28 oz per pair (Mens size 11)
Forefoot height: 12mm
Heel height: 20mm
Construction: Nylon upper, polyurethane midsole, thermoplastic polyurethane outsole
Underfoot, the Biom Trail uses a lugged outsole that gripped well on wet pavement, loose gravel, mud, grass and just about any terrain we could throw at it. Nice.
Fit
The Ecco Biom Trails felt a touch flat footed at first wearing with minimal arch support and a wide toe box. Once I hit the road and the trail, that sensation gave way to a near perfect fit that allowed for solid ground contact and feel. No hot spots, no complaints here.
Final Verdict
The Ecco Biom Trail 1.2 is one darn nice trail shoe. Comfortable. Solidly built. Great feel underfoot. Excellent grip. And good looking too. At $175 MSRP, they aren’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for a new trail runner don’t let the price tag deter you – definitely give the Biom Trails a try.