Nobody likes to spend money on rain gear. It’s expensive. It’s not something we wear often. It’s not exciting like a brand-new driver. Still, it’s absolutely lifesaving when you need it.
A few weeks ago, eight THP staff members gathered at Hidden Creek Golf Club in New Jersey for a weekend of golf and work. Wait, did we say April in New Jersey? We did. Coordinating schedules with eight people is a challenge and it was the only chance we had to make it work. Though the weeks prior had been perfectly pleasant, there were some repercussions to making that decision, namely in the form of mid-40’s temperatures and an inch of rain.
We still played golf. Would you do anything different after looking forward to a trip for months and flying thousands of miles? The same situation could happen to anybody. For example, those folks planning trip to Scotland, Ireland, or even the Pacific Northwest. Golf is an outdoor sport and there are times when Mother Nature is unkind.
At Hidden Creek there were “haves” and there were “have nots” when it came to rain gear. One unfortunate soul, our staff writer Dean, suffered incredibly as his inadequate rain jacket decided that instead of repelling water it would act like a chamois. After nine holes the jacket weighed at least 8 pounds and he was thoroughly soaked. Lessons were learned.
It’s Just Rain Gear, Right?
No! All rain gear is not created equal. What does that mean though? Well, it helps to understand exactly what we are asking of rain gear, because we ask a lot. Obviously, it should be waterproof. It should help us stay warm in cold rain, but it shouldn’t suffocate us when we’re playing on a warm and wet afternoon. It should accommodate layering. We need to be able to swing freely in it. In a perfect world, we’ll look good wearing it too.
That’s a lot to ask, but there’s a company that has found a way to deliver all this. Galway Bay Golf, named after a cliff-lined bay on the western coast of Ireland, makes “outwear you want to wear,” according to CEO Bryan Finnerty.
Galway Bay Golf
We sampled three items from Galway Bay. Two are what we’d consider true rain gear, and the other is a layering piece. We’ll explore how the company’s gear looks, feels, and performs.
Foyle Performance Hybrid Midlayer
The first Galway Bay piece we’re going to talk about isn’t rain gear at all. Rather, it’s a layering piece that is designed to keep you warm and stylish, on the course or off it.
Galway Bay describes the Foyle perfectly:
“This stylish fusion of fashion and functionality combines warmth and freedom of movement. With 40 grams of quilting insulation, it keeps you cozy while allowing flexibility. The sleek design, branded trims, and soft fabric add a touch of luxury.”
At first glance, the Foyle is one of those pieces or apparel that makes you say “wow”. It’s impressive and quite unique. While at its core the Foyle is a quarter-zip pullover, it just doesn’t feel that way in hand. First, the top is a non-snag, matte-finish material that is quilted with 40 grams of insulation to cover the chest and upper arms. The lower parts are a smooth, stretchy material without any insulation. The combination provides something that almost feels like a warm blanket covering your core, while the arms remain free to move about unencumbered.
The front collar does not have a seam and didn’t introduce any annoyance or discomfort when fully zipped. To add a hint of class, a vertically aligned “Galway Bay” runs down the flat zipper covering. Both the cuffs and waistband have an elastic fabric to keep warmth in and provide a modern fit. We enjoyed that the elastic waist sat nicely on the midsection without being too restrictive or prone to riding up the body. Instead, the Foyle retained its slightly form-fitting, tapered look at all times. There are two zippered pockets on each side of the body, each of which was perfect for both storage and keeping the hands warm.
The Foyle truly is a “wear anywhere” garment. While it’s designed for the golfer, we found ourselves wearing it just about anywhere we could. It was the perfect alternative to a jacket in temperatures ranging from the low 50’s up to the low 60’s. Conveniently, it fits perfectly underneath the Corrib Rain Jacket, making the combo an ideal option for cold and rainy days on the golf course.
The Foyle fits true to size and is available in three colors – Black, Navy Blue, and Gray. It retails for $199 and is available directly from Galway Bay.
Corrib Golf Rain Jacket
Next, we come to the centerpiece of any rain gear collection – the rain jacket. Galway Bay’s offering is called the Corrib Golf Rain jacket. Before we dive into the Corrib’s features, let’s talk a bit about waterproof and breathability ratings, as both are vitally important to selecting the right outerwear for your needs.
Waterproof and breathability ratings are simply labeled for consumers, typically in number form. For example, you might see a jacket labeled as having a 20,000mm (20k) waterproof rating and a 20,000g (20k) breathability rating.
A waterproof rating of 20k means that 1 square inch of the material can resist leaking for 24 hours with 20,000mm of water place in a sealed tube on top of it. A breathability rating of 20k means that 20,000g of water vapor (sweat the real world) can move through a square meter of material over the course of 24 hours. With both ratings, a higher number means higher performance.
We know why a waterproof rating is important, but what about breathability? The easiest way to put this into terms you will understand is to go to the extremes. Take a rubber coat for example, which should be impervious to both water and water vapor. Yes, you’ll stay dry, but you’ll likely drown in your own sweat as well. Imagine a round on a rainy summer afternoon. While you want to stay dry, you certainly won’t be comfortable in a jacket that traps all the perspiration coming off you. The same goes for cooler days – a buildup of perspiration can make you feel colder, so it’s vital that a waterproof garment breathes, especially when worn by people playing a sport.
Now that we’ve covered all that, the Corrib’s waterproof and breathability ratings both come in at an astounding 30k respectively. Both ratings are at the very top of their class, not only for golf rain jackets, but for waterproof jackets in general. The Corrib also features sealed seams and 3-layer construction, both of which are vital aspects to weatherproof performance. Generally, 3-layer construction means that a jacket is constructed of three bonded layers, each contributing in their own way to resisting water, breathing, and importantly – comfort. To put a 30k rating into a real-world scenario, you could wear the Corrib all day in torrential rain and expect to remain dry on the body parts covered by the material, all while remaining comfortable.
We had a chance to wear the Corrib in light rain on a cool Spring day with temperatures in the 50’s and found it to perform exactly as advertised. We stayed warm and completely dry. Unfortunately, we didn’t encounter a day where “torrential” rain was an issue. So, we got creative. Our house was in dire need of a power washing, so we suited up in the Corrib and Claddagh pants. To set the scene, the temperatures were hovering in the low 70’s and the sun was shining brightly. Staying dry without overheating during all our activity would be vital. Over the course of four hours, we thoroughly soaked both the house and us and are thrilled to report that we not only stayed dry but did so without building up too much heat.
Earlier, we mentioned that Galway Bay makes “outerwear you want to wear”, and we want to touch on the less technical aspects of the Corrib. First, it’s easy to see that this is a stylish jacket. The tapered, form fitting design, clean collar, and trim accents all contribute towards an athletic look that puts many rain jackets to shame. It’s a jacket you feel good wearing, even in a casual setting. The fabric is quiet during movement compared to others and it the four-way stretch construction make swinging a golf club smooth and natural.
There’s really nothing else we can say about the Corrib other than we loved it. The combination of form and function are executed flawlessly. If we could offer one suggestion, it would be to add a removable hood, but an adequate rain hat will make that a non-issue for consumers. The Corrib retails for $449 and is available in Black, White, Grey, and Navy Blue.
Claddagh Chino Rain Pant
We briefly called out the Claddagh Chino Rain Pants while recounting our power washing test, but they are worth talking about on their own. First, let’s talk about why we all hate rain pants. If you’ve owned a pair, you probably have visions of parachute pants, cinch cords, and rubber lined waist bands rolling through your mind. That’s what we think about at least. Most rain pants are designed to be worn over your normal pants. They are oversized. They look awful. You stuff them away in the bottom of your bag where they belong until you’re forced to pull them out.
The Galway Bay Claddagh Chino Rain Pants are the opposite of all those things. They are pants first. Meant to be worn anywhere, but especially the golf course and not only in bad weather. Galway Bay wants the Claddagh to be the pair of pants you grab every day. Knowing that, it should be noted that they aren’t intended to be worn over another your other pants. You could do that, assuming you picked a larger size, but you’d completely be missing the point.
Made of 3-layer performance fabric with 30k waterproof and breathability ratings, the Claddagh pants feature 4-way stretch to provide plenty of leeway for any athletic endeavor and feature a tapered design with premium trims to give them a distinctly classy look. It should be noted the waist doesn’t offer the same level of stretch as the body of the pants, so make sure you’re being honest about your waist size when ordering.
Other features we love include incredibly deep pockets, a ball market pocket, and back pockets with a slight overhang that will protect your valuables. Like the Corrib jacket, they are remarkably quiet, though we wouldn’t classify them as “silent”. Though we were a bit skeptical at first, they truly fit and feel like a standard pair of pants, making them a pleasure to wear in any setting.
The Claddagh Chino Rain Pants are available in black, blue, navy blue, gray, silver cloud or quiet harbor and are priced at $229.
More information on the entire Galway Bay line can be found on the company’s website, galwaybaygolf.com
