KJUS Jacket and Pants
Weather or Not
Rain or shine, you can comfortably play a good round with these key pieces.
by Shaun Tolson
KJUS Gemini Vest
In 1999, the late Payne Stewart famously cut the sleeves off his Gore-Tex rain jacket before the final round of the US Open. He went on to win the championship by a single shot. If you too find full-length waterproof sleeves—or sleeves in general—uncomfortable to play in then consider the Gemini Vest by Kjus. Made of an advanced synthetic material with a water-repellent finish and featuring a water-repellent reversed zipper and fully taped seams, the vest is watertight. It is also reversible to better handle the cold, as one might expect from an athletic apparel brand founded by a champion alpine skier (Olympic and World Champion Lasse Kjus of Norway). When worn with the dark side facing out, the vest attracts ambient heat, pulling warmth inside, closer to the wearer’s body. When reversed, it pulls heat away from the body and also reflects ambient heat. Altogether, the Gemini Vest can provide more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change. $400; kjus.com
Galvin Green Action Jacket and Alpha Pants
Swedish company Galvin Green remains the undisputed champion of all-weather outerwear for golf. Crafted from Gore-Tex C-knit fabric, the new Action jacket is fully seam-sealed to be both waterproof and windproof. Designed specifically with golf in mind, the shoulders and lower back area have been reinforced with TECHSTEEL, an extremely durable fabric that absorbs the friction produced when golfers walk the course with a golf bag on their back. The use of stretch fabric or stretch inserts in key areas allows golfers to swing without restraint.
Like the Action jacket, the new Alpha pants are made from Gore-Tex C-knit fabric, composed of three distinct layers. The outer layer of tight-knitted polyester has a soft feel. The middle layer is made up of a Gore-Tex membrane, and the thick, soft mesh C-Knit backer on the inside has a smooth surface that makes it easy to slide the pants over other garments for layering. $600 (pants), $700 (jacket); galvingreen.com
Like the Action jacket, the new Alpha pants are made from Gore-Tex C-knit fabric, composed of three distinct layers. The outer layer of tight-knitted polyester has a soft feel. The middle layer is made up of a Gore-Tex membrane, and the thick, soft mesh C-Knit backer on the inside has a smooth surface that makes it easy to slide the pants over other garments for layering. $600 (pants), $700 (jacket); galvingreen.com
Sun Mountain Cirque
The Sun Mountain company is perhaps best known for its golf bags and travel gear, but it also makes an impressive lineup of outerwear. The brand’s flagship model, the Cirque (available in both jackets and pants), features a three-layer Japanese fabric construction that is almost twice as breathable as the brand’s previous rain gear and has a four-way stretch capability to keep it incredibly playable. The jacket is further enhanced with waterproof zippers, adjustable cuffs, and a cinch system at the waist. Similarly, the pants feature an auto-fit stretch waist with a zipper fly, belt loops, two front pockets, and two rear pockets—one with a zipper closure and the other outfitted with Velcro. Both articles of clothing are sold with a two-year waterproof guarantee. $260 (pants) and $300 (jacket); sunmountain.com
Galway Bay All-Weather Unlined Golf Pants
Galway Bay’s proprietary Hydro-Flex 32 fabric is impervious to both wind and rain. It’s also lightweight, and in this design, can pull off the look and feel of a traditional pair of golf pants that wear well in wet weather—as well as in temperatures between 45 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Deep pockets keep scorecards and other valuables dry. Best of all, the pants can be worn by themselves, which means golfers can start a round, knowing that they’ll be comfortable on the course without having to pull on a secondary pair of rain pants. $184; galwaybaygolf.com