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2018 RAIN GEAR BUYER’S GUIDE
Are you a fair-weather golfer, or will you play through a hurricane?
For many golfers, weather conditions do not deter them from playing 18. If you’re going to be out in inclement conditions, you’re going to need some quality protection. I’d wager that many golfers aren’t aware that there are products beyond the brands you know, and some of them outperform offerings from golf’s biggest names. Some brands utilize GORE-TEX, while others leverage a lighter more flexible material. In some cases, you have to give up flexibility to stay dry; or sacrifice 100% weatherproofing to be able to swing with ease. This is true for the majority of offerings. However, there are companies that have produced products that offer everything a golfer wants when playing in extreme weather condition to help shoot their best round.
Unless you avoid the course entirely when the weather looks dicey, the rain suit is an essential piece of equipment. The current market includes rain suits of all shapes, sizes, and colors. From Gore-Tex to Poncho, staying dry is a must.
If you’re in need of a sturdy rain suit – and that’s most of us – this guide is for you.
2018 RAIN JACKET FEATURES CHART
| Name | Material | Cost | Sizes | Colors | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADIDAS climaproof heather | Polyester | $160.00 | S-XL | 2 | Medium |
| ANTIGUA Storm Suit | Polyester | $50.00 | L-XL | 1 | Large |
| CROSS SPORTSWEAR M Edge | Polyester and polyurethane | $319.00 | S-XXL | 3 | Narrow |
| GALVIN GREEN ALON Gortex | GORE-TEX | $347.00 | S-XXXL | 3 | Narrow |
| Galway Bay | Polartec NeoShell | $299.00 | S-XXL | 2 | Medium |
| NIKE Storm-Fit RainSuit | Polyester | $85.00 | S-XXL | 2 | Large |
| Ping Zero Gravity Your Full | Polyester | $249.00 | S-XXL | 2 | Medium |
| Ping Zero Gravity Tour | Polyester | $209.00 | S-XXXL | 2 | Medium |
| PUMA Storm Jacket Pro | Nylon and Polyester | $280.00 | S-XXL | 1 | Medium |
| SUN MOUNTAIN | Ultimate Knit | $299.99 | M-XXL | 3 | Medium |
| Under Armour Gortex | GORE-TEX | $149.00 | S-XXXL | 2 | Narrow |
| Under Armour Storm | Nylon | $85.00 | S-XXXL | 1 | Large |
| ZERO RESTRICTION Halt | Gore Membrane | $395.00 | S-XL | 2 | Medium |
| ZERO RESTRICTION Matrix | Rayon and Elastane | $550.00 | S-XXL | 2 | Medium |
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FEATURES THAT MATTER
Fit: Golfers come in all shapes and sizes, and fit preferences differ from region to region. Some companies like Cross cater for golfers who like the tailored fit while other companies like Nike have products for a baggier fit. Whatever your personal preference is, it is something you should consider before purchasing a rain suit.
Pockets: Pockets might not seem to be a big deal for many golfers as long as they work, but this is not the case from what we have found during testing. Pockets can sometimes be tight and some can causes scratches when the pocket is too small, or the zippers are too tight. Some jackets Zero Restriction and Sun Mountain offer pocket in pocket designs for those that like to keep tees and ball markers in their first layer rather than the second layer.
Breathability: When swinging and walking, you generate a lot of heat, but where does that heat go? In some cases, the heat is trapped, and you can become too hot. In other cases, the heat is able to escape. There is a happy medium where you have vents for the heat to be released but also keeps you warm.
Comfort: When swinging, you don’t want to be restricted, and that can be a problem in some designs. Others remain fitted, yet stretchy, creating a second skin feel while keeping you dry and warm. This is another important feature that must be considered – if you cannot swing normally, then you are only hindering yourself.
2018 RAIN PANTS FEATURE CHART
| Name | Material | Cost | Sizes | Colors | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADIDAS clmprf heather | Polyester | $85.00 | S-XL | 1 | Narrow |
| ANTIGUA | Polyester | $50.00 | L-XL | 1 | Large |
| CROSS SPORTSWEAR M Edge | Polyester and Polyurethane | $279.99 | S-XXL | 1 | Narrow |
| GALVIN GREEN AXEL Gortex | Goretex | $333.00 | S-XXL | 1 | Narrow |
| Galway Bay | Polartec NeoShell | $184.00 | 32-40 | 2 | Medium |
| NIKE Storm-Fit Rain Suit | Polyester | $85 | S-XXL | 1 | Large |
| Ping Zero Gravity Tour | Polyester | $199.00 | 29-33 | 1 | Narrow |
| PUMA Storm Jacket Pro | Nylon and Polyester | $220.00 | S-XXL | 1 | Medium |
| SUN MOUNTAIN Elite | Ultimate Knit | $259.99 | S-XXL | 1 | Medium |
| Under Armour Gortex | Polyester | $110.00 | S-XXXL | 1 | Narrow |
| Under Armour Storm | Nylon | $85.00 | S-XXXL | 1 | Large |
| ZERO RESTRICTION Halt | Rayon and Elastane | $490.00 | S-XXXL | 1 | Medium |
| ZERO RESTRICTION Matrix | Rayon and Elastane | $490.00 | S-XXXL | 1 | Medium |
HOW WE SCORE
We’re always fine-tuning the process to make sure we’re collecting the best data possible. Continuing that trend we’ve updated and refined this year’s analysis to bring you the best buying advice possible.
We put in hours of testing utilizing data-driven protocols to test new metrics.
Over the course of the test, we used the same protocol for every rain suit in the test. To limit bias, we paid careful attention to the phrasing of the questions as well as the timing of when particular questions were asked.
Waterproofing (35 points) – Does even the slightest amount of water seep through the suit or does it bead off? Does the tapering around the wrists, ankles, and neck keep water out of the suit? Since the goal of a rain suit is to keep out water, we deemed waterproofing to be the most important metric. Suits that didn’t perform well in this category had flaws in design and material. Some top finishers were made of impervious Gore-Tex while others were made of similar alternative materials.
Breathability (20 points) – Does the heat created between the suit and the body have any means of escaping? Can the heat escape through vent-like technology? Does the suit breath through the fabric itself? The worst suits in terms of breathability felt like literal black trash bags. Some top finishers featured material that repels water on the outside while attracting it on the inside. This means that not only does the suit keep you dry, but it also removes your sweat from your skin to keep you cool. According to industry experts, breathability is far more important than most realize.
Comfort (25 points) -Score is given based on whether there are any flaws in the suit’s design or construction. Questioning for this category was done while the tester was hitting, as comfort is especially important during a shot. Comfort while walking was also considered. While playing in the rain, your suit cannot hurt your ability to play. Top performers felt as though nothing was there.
Fit (20 points) – How well do the pants taper around the ankle, legs, arms, and midsection? How much adjustability is provided in the waist? Can the jacket’s midsection be tapered? Can the neck opening be tightened? This is important because rain gear is worn over other clothes it’s important to have adjustability. One must be able to ensure that the suit does not impede the swing, and a poorly fitting suit does just that.
Final grades were awarded based on total scores. Best Overall is our highest overall scoring the best rain suit, and awards are awarded to the top five suits. Also, more specific Best in Class recognitions are awarded to the rain gear in certain categories (like best value) that pushes the industry envelope.
THE BEST RAIN GEAR OF 2018
2018 Rain Gear Buyers Guide
The Rest of the Field
Under Armour – If you want a light Gore-Tex rain suit that keeps you dry then Under Armour is for you. The product can be a little restricting when playing because of its narrow/medium fit, but it is down to personal preference.
Ping – Ping has a rain suit that is not the typical head to toe suit. The bottoms are full length and work great in the rain as the water runs off with ease. The top is 3/4 sleeved and allows you to swing with ease because of how light and flexible it is. Obviously, your arms get wet when it rains, but some prefer the absence of sleeves around the wrists.
Jeff
5 years ago
I love my Galway Bay zip short sleeve jacket with the rain sleeves. I also, have the lined pants and like them as well. The only issue I have with the pants is they seem to ride low in the crotch area. I’m constantly having to pull them up so they are comfortable. Not sure if it’s a size issue or a material cut issue. But feels like they are falling off even though the waist fits perfectly.