The Best Golf Windbreakers of 2024

With apologies to whatever contrary old Scot said, “Nae wind, nae golf,”  but you were wrong. No matter where you play and no matter the time of year, a steady breeze or onslaught of tree-rattling gusts can break a golfer’s spirit—and send a chill down their spine (because of fear AND the cold). The best golf windbreakers, though, stave off the chill and keep you on your game, even when the day becomes blustery. 

Today’s golf windbreakers aren’t just for the cold. Among the best, you’ll find wind vests, short-sleeved wind shirts and numerous convertible golf jackets with zippers or buttons. While a traditional long-sleeved windbreaker might be your go-to—it’s easy enough to just stuff in your bag’s big pocket and pull it out when you need it—you need to check out one of the other options for warm, windy days or for layering on top of your favorite merino wool blend crewneck sweatshirt. 

Regardless of what type of wind you’re facing, there’s a windbreaker that will keep goosebumps from taking over. Unfortunately, they won’t help you hit it into the wind. You’re on your own for that. 

The Best Golf Windbreakers

adidas – Ultimate365 Convertible Jacket

The Ultimate365 Convertible Jacket is the latest innovation from the Three Stripes brand, made from their TWISTWEAVE stretch fabric that seals out wind while allowing a full range of motion. When things heat up, you can zip off the sleeves and hood, leaving just the vest. One detail we love is the double zipper that allows you to customize the fit.

lululemon – Pace Breaker Jacket

lululemon continues to cement its place in the golf world. As it turns out, materials that excel in the yoga studio do pretty well on the golf course, too. The Pace Breaker Jacket is a jack of all trades that you’ll never leave home without. It’s wind-resistant and water-repellent, rendering inclement weather impotent. The recycled fabric stretches four ways and the fit is roomy enough to layer under without getting in the way of your swing. 

Manors – Frontier Shooter Shirt

If any brand knows how to deal with wind, it’s the UK’s Manors Golf. Living near some of the most notoriously windy courses in the world will teach you a thing or two and Manors is an excellent student. Their Frontier Shooter Shirt is light and roomy, has button snaps in the front that are easy to use even with a glove on, a secure zippered chest pocket and venting at the back to exhaust any excess body heat. If you’re a fan of short-sleeved wind shirts, we recommend this one. Right now. Prefer to go sleeveless? Check out their Reversible Legacy Vest. 

NIKE – Tour Essential 

Sometimes seeing the word “Essential” in a product’s description means that you’re getting the barebones version of whatever that thing is, void of any extra features. That’s not how it works for NIKE. In this case, Essential means this jacket is truly essential to golfers who play in the harshest conditions. It’s made with a stretchy material through the arms and body to allow for full swings and does the dirty work of blocking the wind and rain from making it to your skin.  

Malbon – Malbon x New Balance Wind Shirt

There’s been a lot of buzz around Malbon lately but their latest apparel drops show that it’s not getting to their head. Rather than rest on their laurels (and tons of press), they’re releasing apparel and collaborations at a prolific rate. The Wind Shirt is part of a collaboration with New Balance. The result? A sleek, roomy, pared-back wind shirt that would be hard for even the most curmudgeonly golfer to deny. The logos are modest, the half-zip allows for custom airflow and hidden hand pockets at the side are welcome when things get really blustery between shots. 

Metalwood – Paneled Track Jacket

Some naysayers would argue that Metalwood is just a style brand with golf in the periphery but the Paneled Track Jacket proves those uptight style police wrong. Made from a silky-smooth nylon that feels great on the skin, the jacket is jam-packed with tiny details that will make a world of difference for golfers, like tailored sleeves that stay out of the way and air vents in the back to stay cool. Another win for Metalwood. 

Students – Stratmore Nylon Shell Jacket

Another new brand on the periphery of capital “G” golf is Students. Their founder has spent much of his adult life falling in love with golf and his way of giving back to the game was by melding his fashion and streetwear know-how with his absolute addiction to golf. This combo birthed Students, a lifestyle brand that skews “street” but has “golf” woven into each stitch. The Nylon Shell Jacket is a perfect callback to high-school golf team wind gear of the ‘80s and ‘90s. This one is just made from much better materials.  

RLX – Convertible Water-Repellent Jacket

Speaking of founders with a background in fashion, this next jacket comes from Ralph Lauren’s golf label, RLX. Made to the exacting style standards you’d expect from any Ralph Lauren brand, RLX takes the RL framework and uses it to build out an entire golf lineup that is perfectly at home with any other RL brand. The Convertible Jacket uses sleek water-repellent nylon to keep the weather at bay, has hand pockets to store little accessories and can be converted to a short-sleeved shirt when the weather starts to warm up. 

Eastside Golf – Coaches Jacket

Much like the windbreaker silhouette used by Students, another ‘80s-style silhouette has found its way back into golf thanks to Eastside Golf. The Coaches Jacket (every high school PE teacher’s favorite layer) is actually pretty darned good for golf, too. The cotton/nylon blend is comfortable over a crewneck sweatshirt or a tee, depending on the weather, and a touch of Spandex adds just enough stretch to let you get to the peak of your backswing. 

Backcountry – MTN Air Anorak

This may seem like it’s coming out of left field but, trust us, this anorak-style windbreaker from Backcountry’s in-house brand punches well above its weight. The guy on our team who spent time testing it was in love with the fit: baggy enough to layer over his other golf clothes but well-cropped at the waist and sleeves. It’s also extremely lightweight. You could be forgiven for not even knowing you were wearing it—it’s just that breezy. To top things off, it’s made from Pertex Quantum Air fabric, one of the best tech materials for breathability in windy conditions. 

Tips for Choosing the Best Golf Windbreakers

If you are new to men’s golf outerwear you’ll want to invest in a few great pieces. Although the pricing on a men’s golf jacket can seem a little high, even avid golfers find having one or two versatile outwear pieces is all that is necessary. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• When playing in cold weather layers are key, choose a men’s golf jacket that takes into account warmth, wind but also comfort on the course. 
• Waterproof protection is great, but the best waterproof golf jackets tend to be a little heavier and more expensive. Ask yourself if the cold wind and light rain bother you or if you’ll be staying out there regardless of the conditions. 
• Never sacrifice mobility. Golf windbreakers in 2024 are made with durable materials specific for golfers who want to spend time on the course. You don’t have to look or feel like a kid in a snow suit!
• Men’s golf outerwear comes in various options, including full-zip, partial-zip, and even pullover. Make sure your golf apparel never gets in the way of your swing.