Most golfers need two golf jackets: a lightweight wind jacket for breezy, mild days and a thermal jacket for cold ones, plus a waterproof rain jacket if they play in wet weather. A windshirt like the Sun Mountain Riley Jacket blocks the wind without weighing you down. A down jacket like the Knockdown or Crosswind II keeps you warm on cold mornings while stretch panels let you swing freely. A softshell-style jacket like the WeatherFlex bridges the gap on cool, damp days.
A few things worth knowing before you buy:
- Golf jackets come in four main types: wind jackets and windshirts, thermal jackets, softshell or hybrid jackets, and rain jackets.
- A windbreaker blocks wind and sheds light moisture. A rain jacket is waterproof. They aren't interchangeable.
- You can swing in a down jacket if it's built for golf, with stretch panels at the sides, back and sleeves.
- Size your golf jacket to fit over your layers, and test it with a full swing before you buy.
Wind jackets and windshirts: light protection for breezy rounds.
A golf windshirt is a lightweight, wind-resistant pullover or jacket that blocks the wind without the weight or rustle of a rain jacket. Most windshirts are stretchy and water-repellent, so they shed a passing shower, but they aren't waterproof. They pack small enough to keep in your bag all season.
Sun Mountain has made golf windshirts for well over a decade. Today's lineup:
- The Riley Jacket is windproof, featherlight, quiet and ultra stretch, with a water-repellent finish. It packs down small.
- The Peak Jacket uses a 100% polyester woven fabric with a DWR finish and a wind-resistant face, in a streamlined cut made for layering.
- The Canyon Jacket adds an attached hood and a waist cinch to a lightweight, stretchy, water-repellent and breathable shell. It's packable and made in part from recycled polyester.
- The Tech Plus Quarter-Zip and Tech Plus Full-Zip Hoodie pair Hex Stretch fabric with wind- and water-resistant panels on the chest and upper back. Women's versions are the Tech Quarter-Zip and Tech Hoodie.
Thermal golf jackets: the best golf jackets for cold weather.
What is the best golf jacket for cold weather? For the coldest rounds, the Sun Mountain Knockdown Jacket is the warmest option, pairing lightweight down with a windproof outer. The Headwind Jacket is the most versatile, with enough warmth for cold mornings and enough breathability to walk in
Warmest option: Knockdown Jacket.
The Knockdown Jacket uses lightweight down insulation behind a windproof outer layer. Thermalflex stretch panels at the sides and sleeves keep it moving with your swing, and the fabric is moisture-wicking and quiet. It has a two-way zipper, zippered hand-warmer pockets, internal stash pockets, an internal zippered chest pocket and partial rib cuffs.
Down warmth for less: Crosswind II Jacket.
The Crosswind II Jacket is down-filled with welded quilting, so there are no stitch holes for the wind to find. It's wind- and water-resistant, with stretch-knit sleeves and side panels, micro-fleece-lined hand pockets, an internal chest zipper pocket and a Velcro hem pocket.
Most versatile option: Headwind Jacket.
The Headwind Jacket combines 37.5 Technology with down-insulated, windproof, water-resistant front panels that are quilted without stitching. Hexstretch on the sides, back and sleeves gives you a full range of motion, and a two-way zipper lets you vent heat as you walk. Micro-fleece-lined hand-warmer pockets keep your hands loose between shots.
If you want core warmth without sleeves, layer a golf vest under a wind jacket or wear one on its own on milder days.
Softshell and hybrid golf jackets: one layer for changeable days.
A softshell golf jacket feels like a stretchy mid-layer but protects like an outer shell. It's the jacket for cool fall days when the forecast can't make up its mind.
The WeatherFlex Jacket is made from a high-stretch jacquard with four-way stretch, a 15K/20K waterproof and breathable rating, fully seam-sealed construction and an eco-friendly DWR finish. A stand-up collar blocks wind, a two-way zipper lets you vent between shots, and zippered hand-warmer pockets keep your hands warm.
Rain jackets: when you need full waterproofing.
When it's raining steadily, you need a waterproof golf jacket with fully sealed seams, not a windshirt. Sun Mountain's rain jackets range from the packable Monsoon Jacket to the lightweight Stratus Jacket and the three-layer Cirque II Jacket. For a full breakdown of waterproof ratings, rain pants and women's rainwear, read our guide to the best waterproof golf jacket and rain gear for fall golf.
What to look for in a golf jacket.
Whatever the weather, a good golf jacket gets these details right:
- Swing mobility. Stretch panels at the sides, back and sleeves so the jacket moves with your turn.
- Quiet fabric. No rustle or crinkle at the top of your backswing.
- Wind protection where you need it. Windproof front panels block wind without making the whole jacket stiff.
- The right water protection. DWR sheds light moisture. A waterproof rating and sealed seams keep out real rain.
- Packability. A jacket that stows in your bag is a jacket you'll actually have when the wind picks up.
- Useful pockets. Hand-warmer pockets, plus an inside chest pocket for your phone or rangefinder.
- A two-way zipper. It lets you vent heat between shots and open the hem for a better range of motion.
- Fit over layers. Size it to fit over a quarter-zip, then test it with a full swing.
Choose Sun Mountain for golf jackets in every season.
Sun Mountain has designed golf outerwear in Missoula, Montana since the mid-1980s. Our jackets are built by golfers who play through real wind and cold. You'll see it in the details: stretch panels where your swing needs them, fabric made to stay quiet, down placed for warmth without bulk, and a lineup that runs from featherweight windshirts to down thermals.
Shop golf jackets for men and women's golf jackets, or browse the cold-weather collection to find the right jacket for the season.
Golf jacket FAQs.
What kind of jacket should you wear golfing?
Wear a golf-specific jacket with stretch panels and quiet fabric so it doesn't restrict your swing. On breezy days, a lightweight windshirt like the Sun Mountain Riley Jacket is enough. On cold days, a down jacket like the Knockdown or Crosswind II keeps you warm, and in steady rain you need a waterproof, seam-sealed rain jacket.
Is a windbreaker or a rain jacket better for golf?
A windbreaker is better on dry, breezy days because it breathes well and moves freely, but it isn't waterproof. A rain jacket is better when rain is in the forecast because it's fully waterproof, though usually less breathable. Many golfers keep a windshirt in the bag and add a rain jacket on wet days.
What is a golf windshirt?
A golf windshirt is a lightweight, wind-resistant pullover or jacket designed to block the wind without restricting your swing. Most windshirts are stretchy, quiet and water-repellent, but not waterproof. Sun Mountain's windshirt options include the Tech Plus Quarter-Zip and the packable Riley Jacket.
How should a golf jacket fit?
A golf jacket should fit comfortably over a quarter-zip or mid-layer without pulling across your shoulders. The sleeves shouldn't ride up when you extend your arms, and the hem should stay put through your swing. Take your stance and make a few full swings in the jacket before you buy.
Golf Jackets Guide: The Right Golf Jacket for Every Season
Most golfers need two golf jackets: a lightweight wind jacket for breezy, mild days and a thermal jacket for cold ones, plus a waterproof rain jacket if they play in wet weather. A windshirt like the Sun Mountain Riley Jacket blocks the wind without weighing you down. A down jacket like the Knockdown or Crosswind II keeps you warm on cold mornings while stretch panels let you swing freely. A softshell-style jacket like the WeatherFlex bridges the gap on cool, damp days.
A few things worth knowing before you buy:
Wind jackets and windshirts: light protection for breezy rounds.
A golf windshirt is a lightweight, wind-resistant pullover or jacket that blocks the wind without the weight or rustle of a rain jacket. Most windshirts are stretchy and water-repellent, so they shed a passing shower, but they aren't waterproof. They pack small enough to keep in your bag all season.
Sun Mountain has made golf windshirts for well over a decade. Today's lineup:
Thermal golf jackets: the best golf jackets for cold weather.
What is the best golf jacket for cold weather? For the coldest rounds, the Sun Mountain Knockdown Jacket is the warmest option, pairing lightweight down with a windproof outer. The Headwind Jacket is the most versatile, with enough warmth for cold mornings and enough breathability to walk in
Warmest option: Knockdown Jacket.
The Knockdown Jacket uses lightweight down insulation behind a windproof outer layer. Thermalflex stretch panels at the sides and sleeves keep it moving with your swing, and the fabric is moisture-wicking and quiet. It has a two-way zipper, zippered hand-warmer pockets, internal stash pockets, an internal zippered chest pocket and partial rib cuffs.
Down warmth for less: Crosswind II Jacket.
The Crosswind II Jacket is down-filled with welded quilting, so there are no stitch holes for the wind to find. It's wind- and water-resistant, with stretch-knit sleeves and side panels, micro-fleece-lined hand pockets, an internal chest zipper pocket and a Velcro hem pocket.
Most versatile option: Headwind Jacket.
The Headwind Jacket combines 37.5 Technology with down-insulated, windproof, water-resistant front panels that are quilted without stitching. Hexstretch on the sides, back and sleeves gives you a full range of motion, and a two-way zipper lets you vent heat as you walk. Micro-fleece-lined hand-warmer pockets keep your hands loose between shots.
If you want core warmth without sleeves, layer a golf vest under a wind jacket or wear one on its own on milder days.
Softshell and hybrid golf jackets: one layer for changeable days.
A softshell golf jacket feels like a stretchy mid-layer but protects like an outer shell. It's the jacket for cool fall days when the forecast can't make up its mind.
The WeatherFlex Jacket is made from a high-stretch jacquard with four-way stretch, a 15K/20K waterproof and breathable rating, fully seam-sealed construction and an eco-friendly DWR finish. A stand-up collar blocks wind, a two-way zipper lets you vent between shots, and zippered hand-warmer pockets keep your hands warm.
Rain jackets: when you need full waterproofing.
When it's raining steadily, you need a waterproof golf jacket with fully sealed seams, not a windshirt. Sun Mountain's rain jackets range from the packable Monsoon Jacket to the lightweight Stratus Jacket and the three-layer Cirque II Jacket. For a full breakdown of waterproof ratings, rain pants and women's rainwear, read our guide to the best waterproof golf jacket and rain gear for fall golf.
What to look for in a golf jacket.
Whatever the weather, a good golf jacket gets these details right:
Choose Sun Mountain for golf jackets in every season.
Sun Mountain has designed golf outerwear in Missoula, Montana since the mid-1980s. Our jackets are built by golfers who play through real wind and cold. You'll see it in the details: stretch panels where your swing needs them, fabric made to stay quiet, down placed for warmth without bulk, and a lineup that runs from featherweight windshirts to down thermals.
Shop golf jackets for men and women's golf jackets, or browse the cold-weather collection to find the right jacket for the season.
Golf jacket FAQs.
What kind of jacket should you wear golfing?
Wear a golf-specific jacket with stretch panels and quiet fabric so it doesn't restrict your swing. On breezy days, a lightweight windshirt like the Sun Mountain Riley Jacket is enough. On cold days, a down jacket like the Knockdown or Crosswind II keeps you warm, and in steady rain you need a waterproof, seam-sealed rain jacket.
Is a windbreaker or a rain jacket better for golf?
A windbreaker is better on dry, breezy days because it breathes well and moves freely, but it isn't waterproof. A rain jacket is better when rain is in the forecast because it's fully waterproof, though usually less breathable. Many golfers keep a windshirt in the bag and add a rain jacket on wet days.
What is a golf windshirt?
A golf windshirt is a lightweight, wind-resistant pullover or jacket designed to block the wind without restricting your swing. Most windshirts are stretchy, quiet and water-repellent, but not waterproof. Sun Mountain's windshirt options include the Tech Plus Quarter-Zip and the packable Riley Jacket.
How should a golf jacket fit?
A golf jacket should fit comfortably over a quarter-zip or mid-layer without pulling across your shoulders. The sleeves shouldn't ride up when you extend your arms, and the hem should stay put through your swing. Take your stance and make a few full swings in the jacket before you buy.