This Rain Jacket Claims to be Stretchy. We Put it To the Test

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised. 

What We Tried:

Galvin Green Ames rain jacket. The Swedish-based company is making a strong push to be on the forefront of sustainability in the industry and this jacket is the product of their efforts.

Who Tried It:

Jon Howard, the resident jack of all trades. Despite having lived in England for three years, I still do not enjoy playing in precipitation — although the Ames jacket has me reconsidering.

Ripping off the price BAND-AID

We’ve reviewed expensive raingear in the past and we got a lot of feedback, much of it negative. How you spend your money is your choice but my goal here is to provide an honest review of the Ames jacket based on my experience.

Pecs, Specs, Pertex

To say the Ames rain jacket is a very technical garment might be an understatement. First off, a big transition from GORE-TEX to Pertex was made. They aren’t completely moving away from GORE-TEX but the “water-loving” Pertex aligns more with the sustainability initiative Galvin Green has embarked upon.

The Pertex material provides a softer feel and a “slide’n’glide” effect to reduce friction with garments worn underneath, guaranteeing total waterproofness.

Also something to take note of is that these garments are described as “the stretchiest waterproofs we’ve ever made.” Essentially, the Ames is one of, if not the softest, stretchiest waterproof to date from Galvin Green and, despite the price, offers immense value.

Galvin Green Ames: My Experience

As mentioned, I do not jump at the opportunity to play golf in less than ideal elements. Furthermore, my body is constantly in “warm mode” so my jackets often remain in my closet.

I didn’t limit my testing to the golf course but also wore the Ames rain jacket while running errands and on a cool evening walk with my dog. Below are some noticeable aspects that caught my attention

Stretch

Galvin Green might be right in stating this is the “stretchiest waterproof” yet. This, of course, is paramount for comfort. If the jacket doesn’t conform to my movements, you won’t catch me in it for very long, especially when I’m golfing.

The rear of the jacket was noticeably stretchy and, of course, some “give” in this area is necessary to make an unrestricted golf swing.

Waterproofness

The obvious mandate for a golf rain jacket is to keep you dry and this jacket lives up to that. I did notice a slight puckering on the surface of the material when wet (especially light-colored garments) but that disappeared once it dried.

Fit

I loved the adjustable sleeves and waist as well as the mid-section adjustable enclosures. I have a toddler and I coach college golf so I live on the run (but I don’t actually do any running). So maybe my “dad bod” is developing. In any case, I noticed in the size large jacket I tested that the midsection was more snug than expected while the sleeves were bunched at the wrist when I adjusted them.

So I would be in a conundrum of wanting a better fit in the sleeves but suffering a limited range of motion in the midsection. No jacket is going to fit every person perfectly but I wanted to make sure I was honest with you.

Breathability

If there was an area to knock on the Ames rain jacket, breathability would be the one for me. I do not have the facility for a full-fledged breathability test but I can provide my subjective experience. As mentioned, my internal thermostat generally runs hot but, even still, in 50° F weather, I found myself feeling like Ted Striker in the movie Airplane trying to land the plane.

My Take

You are probably muttering to your screen, “Cool, bro, but would you buy it?”

Short answer, yes. Long answer, yes.

Like a prime Derrick Rose in Chicago hesitation move, the price did make me stumble back … at first. If I view it as a purchase or “consumable”, count me out. However, because Galvin Green is known for quality products that last, I would definitely categorize this as a long-term “investment” and take the plunge.

If you can’t move past the $399 price tag, I would suggest checking out the Best Value Rain Gear from 2024’s Most Wanted Rain Gear Test.

Galvin Green’s Ames jacket is a solid option for the golfer who often experiences inclement weather, on and off the links.