Best winter golf gear 2024: five products to keep you warm and dry
When temperatures drop and the rain begins to fall, these five items will ensure you can still enjoy your time on the course.
Whether you like it or not, unless you live in Florida or another area blessed with year-round sunshine, golf for the next five to six months will be wet, windy and cold.
However, that doesn't mean it can't still be enjoyable and productive. In order for it to be both of those things, though, you do need to come prepared.
That means stashing away the pencil bag, putting the shorts away, and getting ready for everything the elements can throw at you.
Having a fair amount of experience with rain-soaked rounds between the team here at GolfMagic, we do know a thing or two about how best to prepare for the most brutal stretch of the golfing calendar, so we've put together our top five essentials for winter golf.
Let's get into it.
Five essentials for winter golf
1. A Waterproof Golf Bag
A waterproof golf bag is an absolutely vital piece of equipment for any round of winter golf.
Not only will the waterproof covering protect your valuables from perishing in a watery grave, but it will also keep your clubs and particularly grips protected from the elements.
Playing golf with wet grips is almost impossible, and it's the fastest way to ruin any game of golf.
The bag will also provide an ideal place to stash extra layers and hopefully an umbrella, too, so you can rest assured you're prepared for whatever mother nature can throw at you.
A number of brands make waterproof golf bags, but perhaps none make them better than the Sun Mountain. The brand's newest offering for 2024, H2NO Adventure, is one of the best golf bags of 2024, and it provides excellent waterproof protection while also being light, versatile and very comfortable to carry.
2. Waterproof Clothing
While it's critical to protect your clubs and valuables, keeping yourself warm and dry should also be at the top of your priority list when you step out onto the course.
In order to do that, a quality set of waterproofs is vital. Purchasing a jacket and trousers that offer full wind and waterproof protection is the quickest and easiest way to ensure the elements don't ruin your winter.
When choosing which set to purchase, it's key to not only consider how much protection they offer but also how easy they are to put on and take off quickly.
Winter weather can be unpredictable, so ensuring you have a set that can quickly come off and on at a moment's notice will ensure you don't get caught short.
Comfort should also be a key consideration, so be sure to try on any purchases you are going to make to ensure you can swing freely in them without any level of discomfort.
Having recently tested the best waterproof jackets of 2024, we would highly recommend the Galvin Green Ames due to the unbeatable protection it offers from the elements and the lightweight design that makes it incredibly easy to wear and transport.
3. Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes
In order to keep yourself warm and dry from head to toe, we would highly recommend investing in a good pair of spiked waterproof golf shoes.
Not only will the waterproof protection offered by a pair of shoes like the adidas Tour360 24s prevent your feet from getting wet, but the addition of spikes on the outsole will also ensure you have dependable traction when swinging on wet and muddy ground.
The adidas Tour360 24s also deliver excellent levels of comfort and support, so even when you're trudging round on those wert and windy days, your feet will still feel nice and fresh.
We tested these shoes in a bright white colourway, but during winter we would recommend going for the all black pair, so that the mud doesn't stain the white leather.
4. Winter Golf Gloves
If you haven't spotted it yet, there is a waterproof theme running through this list.
Waterproof golf gloves are a game changer in winter months. They may take a little getting used to due to their slightly thicker design, but the payback is huge.
When your hands get wet and cold, you not only lose grip on your clubs, but you also begin to lose dexterity, which will have an instant impact on your performance.
With a good set of winter golf gloves, you will not only be able to grip your clubs better, but your fingers will also stay considerably warmer, allowing you to maintain the touch and control you want when playing shots.
We've had the pleasure of testing a pair of FootJoy RainGrip Golf Gloves, and they made a world of difference during wet and windy rounds due to the added warmth and waterproof protection they provide.
5. Warm Mid-layers
We've tested a number of the best mid-layers of 2024 and without a doubt the best for winter golf is the FootJoy ThermoSeries Hybrid Jacket.
A good mid layer will insulate your body, ensuring your core doesn't get too cold, allowing you to retain a full range of movement through the golf swing.
Making sure you have the correct mid layers on will not only keep you warm, but also provide breathability, so that any sweat doesn't get trapped and is able to move away from the skin.
While staying warm is key, it's easy to overheat when layered up, so making sure you find the right balance is key.
Having additional pockets on the outside is also a fantastic added bonus for when you want to remove a jacket but still have somewhere warm to keep your hands.
Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
