Waterproof Showcase: How to choose yours

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Sunice

Bishop Paclite Pullover £199.99
Edisson Paclite Pants £199.99

Jacket
¼ zip, Gore-Tex Paclite fabric, lifetime guarantee, unlined, two front pockets. 

Trousers
Zipped fly, elasticated waist band, belt loops, contained front and back pockets. 

TG view
With a ski wear background Sunice have pedigree for performance outdoor garments. The jacket uses Gore-Tex Paclite fabric to keep weight to a minimum, while we particularly like the trouser detailing where a ’Taper Tab’ allows you to decide the width of the leg which could be particularly helpful in windy conditions. Also available in blue.  

www.sunice.com

Waterproofs
   

Sunderland

Whisperdry Stealth Jacket £175.95 Whisperdry Hush Trouser £87.95

Jacket
Full-length zip, mesh liner, inside pocket, three front pockets, three-year waterproof guarantee.

Trousers
Zipped fly, elasticated waist band, belt loops, contained front and back pockets. 

TG view
It’s easy to see why these are the most expensive waterproof jacket and trousers in Sunderland’s range. The four-way stretch fabric is extremely lightweight and  malleable and as the product names suggest, the fabric is also extremely quiet.  The trousers come with their own belt.

www.sunderlandgolf.com

Waterproofs
   

Mizuno

Hyper Rain Jacket £129.00
Hyper Rain Pant £99.00

Jacket
Full-length zip, mesh liner, three front pockets, five-year waterproof guarantee to 10 metres.

Trousers
Zipped fly, elasticated waist band, belt loops, contained front and back pockets.

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Made from Mizuno’s own ImpermaLite fabric the Hyper ingeniously responds to the colder temperatures helping maintain body heat to keep you warm and focused on your game. Ventilation flaps in the back help release excess moisture keeping you dry and comfortable.

Golf.mizunoeurope.com

Waterproofs
   

Nike

Storm-Fit Hyperadapt Jacket £210 Storm-Fit Trouser £170

Jacket
Full-length zip, unlined, lifetime guarantee, two front pockets, headphone slot. 

Trousers
Zipped fly, tabbed elastic waist adjustment, belt loops, contained and straight-through pockets. 

TG view
Nike’s jacket guarantee demonstrates confidence in the performance of  their product.  Stretch fabric is used on the shoulder areas to reduce restriction while a vented back increases breathability. The lack of a liner reduces weight and we really like the feel of the inner which feels warmer than some non-lined alternatives.  

www.nikegolf.com

Waterproofs
   

Ping Collection

Tour Eye Jacket £200
Tour Eye Trouser £150

Jacket
Full-length zip, unlined, three-year waterproof guarantee, up to 20 metres, two front and one rear pocket.

Trouser
Zipped fly, tabbed waist adjustment, contained front and back pockets, long leg zips.

Ping have just taken the design of their Ping Apparel Collection back in house to allow them to align the garments with their equipment. The jacket and trousers are the first waterproofs to benefit and because both  are constructed from a 4-way stretch fabric you shouldn’t experience any swing restriction either.

www.pingcollection.co.uk

Waterproofs
   

BUYING TIPS: Guarantee and good fit

Peter Evans, pro at Royal Porthcawl, gives his advice.

● Get guarantees. Waterproofs come with hugely different waterproof guarantees but in my book you get what you pay for. Always check how long the waterproof guarantee is for and weigh it up against the cost of the garment. From my experience if you have to buy twice because a garment fails after it’s out of its guaranteed period it can be just as expensive as buying a more expensive suit initially.

● Consider the fit carefully. We always say it’s really important to consider the fit of the jacket. You don’t want a gathering of fabric in front of you when addressing shots. You can snag a grip in this fabric bulge on a full swing or when putting out. I think most golfers feel much more confident and comfortable when they get a fit to suit their body shape.

ProQuip

Tour Lite Jacket £129
Tour Flex 360° Trouser £99.00

Jacket
Full-length zip, Teflon coated four-way stretch fabric, three-year waterproof guarantee, two front/one rear pocket.

Trousers
Elasticated waist, zip fly, stretchable fabric, contained front and back pockets.

TG view
If weight is your number one concern after waterproofness when buying a jacket we’d recommend the Tour Lite, it weighs in at an incredible 277g. Even at this weight the Pro Quip designers have used a four-way stretch fabric and they’ve factored in two front pockets and one at the back, so nothing is scrimped on.

www.proquipgolf.co.uk

Waterproofs
   

Benross

XTEX Waterproof Jacket £99.99 XTEX Waterproof Trouser £69.99

Jacket
Full-length zip, two-year waterproof guarantee, 2-way stretch fabric, mesh liner, two front/one rear pocket.

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, zipped fly, belt loops, contained front and rear pockets.

TG view
Benross have been making some great golf equipment for years and they say because they don’t sponsor tour players they can charge you the consumer less for top performing kit. The XTEX is a full spec jacket and trouser, including 2-way stretch fabric for ease of movement and a waterproof guarantee to 10 metres.  

www.benrossgolf.com 

Waterproofs
   

FootJoy

DryJoys Tour XP Jacket £200
DryJoys Tour XP Trouser £165

Jacket
¼ zip, inside pocket, unlined, three-year waterproof guarantee, three front pockets.

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, zipped fly, belt loops, contained and straight through pockets.  

TG view
FootJoy have been making waterproofs since 2007 and their latest offering has the look and performance. Tour and elite player testing ensures each garment is capable of performing at the highest level, while this new Tour XP has been tested to 20 metres. The three-layer bonded fabric is also super breathable and stretchy. 

www.footjoy.co.uk  

Waterproofs
   

Galvin Green

Albin Jacket £300
Alf Trouser £250

Jacket
¼ zip, Gore-Tex fabric, mesh lined, one rear pocket.

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, Zipped fly, Contained front and rear pocket, Reinforced trouser hem.

TG view
Galvin are the Gore-Tex kings, because they’re so convinced it’s the best fabric available. The half-zip styling helps remove weight from the jacket front and promotes maximum freedom and movement. Expect all the usual Galvin features like side tabs, rain channel cuffs and a rear pocket which keeps everything out of your way when addressing the ball.

www.galvingreen.com    

Waterproofs
   

Ashworth

Performance Solid Jacket £79.99 Performance Solid Trouser £ 69.99

Jacket
Full-length zip, mesh liner, two front pockets, inside pocket, three-year waterproof guarantee. 

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, zipped fly, contained and straight through pockets, unlined. 

TG view
Ashworth are better know for their apparel but this Performance suit really looks the part. Four-way stretch fabric means no restriction on the golf course, while the suit is guaranteed to 6,000 metres. Ashworth’s typical styling means you’ll be just as comfortable wearing it off the course as on it. 

www.ashworthgolf.co.uk

Waterproofs
   

BUYING TIPS: Sleeve and zip length

● Consider half sleeves or zip-off sleeves. We still get golfers coming into the shop who dislike wearing waterproof jackets, even though today’s fabrics are so lightweight. If this is you consider looking at a short-sleeved jacket as an alternative. The lack of sleeves means you don’t have any additional fabric or fastening’s around the wrists and forearms which helps a lot of golfers get over the feeling of restriction.

● Is full-zip necessary? When the heavens open and we dive for the waterproofs I’ll admit a full-length zip at the front is easier to get on in a hurry rather than pulling a half or quarter-zipped jacket over your head. But I think once the half or quarter-length zipped jacket is on it’s arguably better to wear for golf as there’s less tendency for fabric to gather at the front, meaning a clearer area between your midriff and the grip.

Abacus

Walton Sport Rain Jacket £199 Walton Trouser £99.99

Jacket
¼ zip, mesh liner, three front pockets one rear, removable half sleeves, inside pocket.

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, zipped fly, contained front and rear pockets, belt loops. 

TG view
Abacus may not be a household name but the Swedish designs are rammed full of technology. The Sport Jacket’s StretchDry fabric offers great waterproofness, breathability and stretch which Abacus are keen to promote as ideal for other outdoor activities.  Both garments’ outers are guaranteed to 15 metres.  

www.abacussportswear.com 

Waterproofs
   

Cross

Pro Zip Off Jacket £169
Trouser £130

Jacket
Full-length zip, inside pocket, zip-off half sleeves, mesh lined, two front pockets.

Trousers
Tabbed waist adjustment, zip fly, belt loops, contained front and back pockets.

TG view
Scandinavia’s Cross have just come back to the UK market after a few years away and the dedication to performance doesn’t go unnoticed. The FTX Stretch fabric is lightweight, stretchable and guaranteed to an impressive 20 metres. The sleeves can be zipped off below the elbow which is great if you hate having bulky cuffs on your wrists.

www.crossgolfapparel.com

Waterproofs
   

Puma

Golf Rain Jacket £99
Golf Rain Pant £75

Jacket
Full-length zip, unlined, two front pockets, two-year waterproof guarantee.

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, zip fly, belt loops, contained front and back pockets.

TG view
While we may not see Rickie Fowler donning his waterproofs very often, it doesn’t mean Puma don’t make a lovely set. Guaranteed  to 15 metres, the fabric is highly stretchable and remains lightweight with a lovely feel despite its reasonable thickness. It’s just a shame having the same waterproofs won’t  also give you the swing of the Players champ. 

uk.puma.com

Waterproofs
   

Adidas

Climaproof Gore-Tex Jacket £184.99 Climaproof Gore-Tex Trouser £174.99

Jacket
Full- length zip, Gore-Tex Paclite fabric, lifetime waterproof guarantee, unlined, stretch panels, two front pockets.

Trousers
Gore-Tex fabric, lined, elasticated waist band, two front and back contained pockets. 

adidas’ Climaproof Jacket is extremely lightweight as it’s produced from Gore’s Paclite material which means it also doesn’t need a liner, thus helping reduce weight. A really simple suit with a limited amount of seams and no embroidery, which also helps reduce the risk of any leaks.  

www.adidasgolf.eu

Waterproofs
   

Under Armour

Storm Dry Movement Jacket: £100 Storm Dry Movement Trouser: £70

Jacket
Full zip, two-year guarantee, 2.5 layer bonded construction, three front pockets. 

Trousers
Elasticated waist band, contained front and back pockets, non-working fly. 

TG view
Under Armour’s technical sports apparel is nothing new, but Jordan Spieth’s incredible 2015 has peaked awareness of the brand. The ArmourStorm is a 2.5 layer bonded fabric with a durable guaranteed to 10 metres. A special cocona fabric disperses moisture quickly so the garment dries fast whilst remaining ultra-soft.

www.underarmour.co.uk

Waterproofs
   

BUYING TIPS: Swing and splash out

● Make a swing. I’d advise everybody to try swinging in the waterproofs, ideally to the top of the backswing (take care of the shop’s lights of course). If you’re shelling out hundreds of pounds you need to know how the jacket stretches across and around you before purchasing.

● Buy the best you can afford. Gore-Tex has been around for years and is perceived by many as being the best. There are other suppliers that would argue there are fabrics that are at least as good as Gore-Tex. Experience tells me to buy the best you can afford. The top-priced suits from most suppliers are often made from Gore-Tex which tells you about the quality they offer.

● Be realistic. Of course your new suit should be waterproof and keep out the elements, but remember water can run down the back of your neck. It’s often best to buy a wide brimmed hat too.

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