Best golf windbreaker to brave the elements with style

By: Justin Park

October 2, 2023

Even when battling the wind, you need total mobility in your golf swing. Here's are some of the best windbreakers to keep your game sharp and your core warm.

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Wind loves open spaces, which means golf courses can get breezy. And wind not only ices your shots but can also chill your body’s temperature.

The answer? A windbreaker. Windbreakers do just what their name suggests but without sacrificing breathability, so you can keep the chill out but not overheat.

While all windbreakers share the same basic function, your personal style comes into play when choosing one. Some of our top picks are featherlight and packable for golfers who need breathability on the go, while others are more robust jackets for those who deal with harsher weather. Read on to learn find the best golf windbreaker for you and the conditions you’ll need to face.

How to pick the right golf windbreaker for you

The windbreakers in our top picks range in prive from $60 to $250.

These jackets are designed for athletic performance and will not restrict your golf swing. You want to keep your mobility front and center when you’re layering for a round of golf.

Windbreakers are generally lighter jackets and don’t feature the same level of weatherproofing as a rain or ski jacket. However, heavier jackets that prioritize waterproofing often do so at the expense of breathability. If you play in a rainy climate and want a windbreaker that can handle moisture, look for a jacket that either indicates true waterproof performance or at least one that has a DWR treatment that provides water-resistance.

FootJoy Sport Windshirt Pullover

FootJoy

$95

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Highlights

Stand-up collar
Durable water-repellent (DWR) treated
4-way stretch weave

This lightweight pullover from FootJoy is perfect for chilly mornings and breezy afternoons when you need a layer to take the edge off so you can enjoy your round. Featuring a DWR finish, it’s also up to the task for light sprinkles so you can play through until the weather improves.

Between the four-way stretch fabric and stand-up collar, you can be sure you’ll have normal range of motion, too. Aside from being lightweight, this pullover is also easy to fold up into your golf bag when you don’t need it.

Material: Unspecified | Features: Wind- and water-resistant, 4-way stretch | Colors: 3 | Size range: S-XXL

Puma Golf Men’s Gamer Colorblock Golf 1/4 Zip

Puma

$75.00

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Highlights

4-way stretch won’t restrict movement
Numerous color options
Works as both midlayer or jacket

This quarter-zip windbreaker wears like a long-sleeved shirt but performs like a jacket. The polyester fabric has four-way stretch to keep the Gamer from restricting your swing like stiffer jackets might. The simple colorblock styling is both athletic and refined, so it’ll pair with a wide variety of styles.

While not insulated, the Gamer delivers a bit of warmth in addition to wind-blocking, so it’s great for chilly days. For days that warm up, the Puma DryCell microfiber is built to wick sweat moisture away and help it evaporate fast so you won’t get clammy during the game. A drawstring at the waist provides the means to seal this garment up against the wind when it kicks up a notch.

Material: 94% polyester, 6% elastane | Features: 4-way stretch, 40+ UPF sun protection | Colors: 7 dual-color options | Size range: S-3XL

Adidas Men’s Provisional Short Sleeve Golf Jacket

Adidas

$90.00

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Highlights

Won’t restrict arms
Relaxed fit for airflow and movement
Recycled materials

A short-sleeved wind jacket is a great option for warmer days or for golfers that need weather protection but don’t want to limit their swing. The Men’s Provisional Short Sleeve Golf Jacket features Adidas’ WIND.RDY system, a densely knit fabric that blocks wind and provides water resistance.

With a looser fit and oversized sleeves, the cut is almost like an athletic wear poncho designed for breathability, allowing airflow and freedom of movement. The polyester ripstop is naturally weather-resistant and wrinkle-free. A generous half-zip also ensures you can open the jacket up when temperatures rise, but winds continue blowing.

Material: 100% recycled polyester ripstop | Features: WIND.RDY weather resistance technology | Colors: 2 | Size range: S-XXL

Nike Storm-FIT ADV

Nike

$179.95

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Highlights

Quiet fabric
Wind- and waterproof
Double zipper

When the weather turns and brings precipitation along with the wind, most windbreakers and light jackets aren’t truly waterproof, sending you to the clubhouse if things progress beyond a light drizzle. While not as breathable and light as most of the other jackets featured here, the Nike Storm-FIT ADV Golf Jacket is truly waterproof, complete with sealed seams to avoid water incursions along the edges.

Despite being closer to a rain jacket, the polyester fabric isn’t stiff and is engineered to be quiet unlike most Gore-Tex layered mountaineering shells that keep you dry but aren’t designed for upper body sports such as golf.

Material: 100% polyester | Features: Wind- and waterproof | Colors: 1 | Size range: XS-4XL

Under Armour Men’s Storm Windstrike Half-Zip Jacket

Under Armour

$70.41

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Highlights

4-way stretch
Water- and windproof
Works as both midlayer or jacket

Most golfers think of windbreakers as crinkly, flimsy jackets, but apparel innovation has come a long way. The Men’s Storm Windstrike Half-Zip Jacket from Under Armour is a windproof layer that looks more like an athletic wear sweater than a traditional windbreaker. Not only is it windproof, UA Storm technology repels water while retaining breathability thanks to a durable water-repellent treatment.

Unlike Under Armour’s formfitting base layers, this is a fuller, looser fit, so look elsewhere if you prefer a more tailored cut. The colorblock design pairs two or three colors (there are six total colorways) for a simple, athletic look. The four-way stretch polyester/elastane blend paired with the relaxed fit ensures the Storm Windstrike won’t bind during your swings.

Material: 96% polyester, 4% elastane | Features: 4-way stretch, water- and windproof | Colors: 6 | Size range: S-3XL

J.Lindeberg Ash Light Packable Vest

J. Lindeberg

$145.00

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Highlights

Leaves arms free
Packs down super small
Stylish

Sometimes a light vest is all you need to cut the chill and block the wind from reaching your body’s core. The Ash Light Packable Vest from high-fashion golf apparel-maker J.Lindeberg does just that, packaged into an ultralight garment that can easily be stowed away in your golf bag until you need it. It’s something you can leave in your bag for those days where unexpected gusts kick up.

Like most of J.Lindeberg’s apparel, the vest looks sharp thanks to its sleek lines and colorblocked theme, but it won’t overpower whatever else you’re wearing. You can also pair it with other J.Lindeberg tops and pants for a polished look. Because it’s a vest, your arms remain free, but to ensure complete freedom of movement, there are elastic cuffs at the shoulders, and the nylon and elastane blend delivers stretch throughout.

Material: 88% polyamide/nylon, 12% elastane/spandex | Features: Windproof, water-resistant, OEKOTEX-certified | Colors: 3 | Size range: S-XXL

Arc’teryx Norvan Windshell Jacket

Arc’teryx

$130.00

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Highlights

Lightweight, breathable
DWR finish
Folds into its own pocket

A few other options on this list are great for golfers that want something that’s easily stored, but this particular windbreaker takes the cake. The Arc’teryx Norvan Windshell is aimed at runners who need a featherlight layer that stuffs into a pocket, but we’ve found it also makes a great packable option for golf. Because it’s built for high-exerting runners, it’s also highly breathable thanks in part to Permair 20 panels in the underarms.

The Canim nylon for the body and arms of the jacket repels wind and light moisture. And when you aren’t using it, the Norvan Windshell packs into its own single pocket and weighs a mere 3.2 ounces.

Material: Permair 20 (100% nylon), Canim (100% polyester) | Features: Wind- and water-resistant | Colors: 3 | Size range: XS-XXL

Peter Millar Flex Adapt Half-Zip Hoodie

Peter Millar

$230.00

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Highlights

4-way stretch fabric
Water-resistant
Multiple pockets

Though most windbreakers have a high collar to keep chilly winds off your neck, surprisingly few come with a hood. When winds become gales, a hood can be really nice for keeping your head warm and dry and keeping you from calling it a day.

Peter Millar’s Flex Adapt Half-Zip Hoodie gives you that option in a stylish pullover with a zip designed for golf with a generous amount of spandex in the fabric blend to permit athletic movement. There’s a smaller, zippered breast pocket for a scorecard or cellphone and a larger pass-through kangaroo pouch pocket over the core for warmth and extra on-body storage.

Material: 80% polyester, 20% spandex | Features: Wind- and water-resistant, 4-way stretch | Colors: 2 | Size range: S-XXL

Choose which windbreakers to compare

Use the dropdown boxes to choose 3 windbreaker options to compare

Best For

Best pullover

Price

$95

Highlights

Stand-up collar
Durable water-repellent (DWR) treated
4-way stretch weave