12 best golf vests for fashion-forward functionality

Keep your core warm, swing free and play your best golf game by investing in a nice golf vest (perfect for on and off the course).

Courtesy

If you’re a golfer who really prefers to keep your arms free of excess fabric to maintain a fast, easy swing, a vest is an ideal option to help you keep your core, and in turn, your whole body, warm.

You might slip on a vest when it’s cool enough for more than a polo but not so chilly to call for a full jacket. And maybe you need more pockets to carry a rangefinder or your phone? Vests can add more carrying options beyond just golf pants or shorts. 

How to pick the right golf vest for you

The best golf vests don’t vary in price as much as some golf accessories. While you can find some budget options around $50 to $75, most name brands range between $100 to $200. If you want guaranteed quality, be prepared to spend in that price range.
In most cases, golf vests are made of polyester, nylon, or similar fabrics. Depending on insulation and other factors, those materials may be water-repellant, wind-resistant, or insulating.
The best golf vests can fight off the cold, hold off the rain, cancel out the wind, and look cool while doing it. You know where and when you play golf — consider the weather conditions and choose a vest that works best for your game.

Highlights

  • Mockneck
  • Quarter-zip
  • Lightweight

Highlights

  • Affordable
  • Comfortable
  • Good build quality

Highlights

  • Weather-proof
  • Zippered hand pockets
  • Leading-edge fabrics

Highlights

  • Lightweight
  • Classic fit, four-way stretch
  • Wind resistance

Highlights

  • Moisture-wicking
  • Stretch side fabric for ventilation
  • Tagless and easy-care

Highlights

  • Insulated
  • Wind-resistant
  • Rainproof

Highlights

  • Strong all-purpose choice
  • Warm, breathable
  • New fall colors

Highlights

  • Heated pockets
  • Adjustable heat settings
  • Waterproof

Highlights

  • HydroKnit waterproof fabric
  • Very lightweight
  • Breathable

Highlights

  • Good build quality
  • Reliable rainwear
  • Stretches for swing movement

Highlights

  • Good build quality
  • Reversible

Highlights

  • Fashionable
  • Modern materials
  • Wind and water-resistant
Choose which golf vests to compare
Use the dropdown boxes to choose 3 golf vest options to compare
Stretch Jersey Quarter-Zip Vest
Best For
Best for light coverage
Price
$138
Highlights
  • Mockneck
  • Quarter-zip
  • Lightweight
Callaway Men's High Gauge Fleece Full Zip Vest
Best For
Best budget
Price
$55
Highlights
  • Affordable
  • Comfortable
  • Good build quality
PUMA Men's Scotia Quilted Vest
Best For
Frosty Performance
Price
$230
Highlights
  • Weather-proof
  • Zippered hand pockets
  • Leading-edge fabrics
Peter Millar Fuse Elite Hybrid Vest
Best For
Best for water resistantancy
Price
$200
Highlights
  • Lightweight
  • Classic fit, four-way stretch
  • Wind resistance
Rhoback The Birkdale Vest
Best For
Best trendy option
Price
$138
Highlights
  • Moisture-wicking
  • Stretch side fabric for ventilation
  • Tagless and easy-care
Sunderland of Scotland s.Anton
Best For
Best for cool weather
Price
$91.75
Highlights
  • Insulated
  • Wind-resistant
  • Rainproof
STITCH GT Vest 2023
Best For
Best advanced material
Price
$168
Highlights
  • Strong all-purpose choice
  • Warm, breathable
  • New fall colors
G-Tech Men's Heated Vest
Best For
best for extremely cold conditions
Price
$220
Highlights
  • Heated pockets
  • Adjustable heat settings
  • Waterproof
FootJoy HydroKnit Vest
Best For
Best for warm weather
Price
$145
Highlights
  • HydroKnit waterproof fabric
  • Very lightweight
  • Breathable
Glenmuir g.Cairn
Best For
Best for rainy weather
Price
$128
Highlights
  • Good build quality
  • Reliable rainwear
  • Stretches for swing movement
William Murray Golf Slice Shot Vest
Best For
Best for casual wear
Price
$120
Highlights
  • Good build quality
  • Reversible
Peter Millar Flex Adapt Full-Zip Vest
Best For
Best for style
Price
$220
Highlights
  • Fashionable
  • Modern materials
  • Wind and water-resistant
Stretch Jersey Quarter-Zip Vest
Best For
Best for light coverage
Price
$138
Highlights
  • Mockneck
  • Quarter-zip
  • Lightweight
Callaway Men's High Gauge Fleece Full Zip Vest
Best For
Best budget
Price
$55
Highlights
  • Affordable
  • Comfortable
  • Good build quality
PUMA Men's Scotia Quilted Vest
Best For
Frosty Performance
Price
$230
Highlights
  • Weather-proof
  • Zippered hand pockets
  • Leading-edge fabrics
Peter Millar Fuse Elite Hybrid Vest
Best For
Best for water resistantancy
Price
$200
Highlights
  • Lightweight
  • Classic fit, four-way stretch
  • Wind resistance
Rhoback The Birkdale Vest
Best For
Best trendy option
Price
$138
Highlights
  • Moisture-wicking
  • Stretch side fabric for ventilation
  • Tagless and easy-care
Sunderland of Scotland s.Anton
Best For
Best for cool weather
Price
$91.75
Highlights
  • Insulated
  • Wind-resistant
  • Rainproof
STITCH GT Vest 2023
Best For
Best advanced material
Price
$168
Highlights
  • Strong all-purpose choice
  • Warm, breathable
  • New fall colors
G-Tech Men's Heated Vest
Best For
best for extremely cold conditions
Price
$220
Highlights
  • Heated pockets
  • Adjustable heat settings
  • Waterproof
FootJoy HydroKnit Vest
Best For
Best for warm weather
Price
$145
Highlights
  • HydroKnit waterproof fabric
  • Very lightweight
  • Breathable
Glenmuir g.Cairn
Best For
Best for rainy weather
Price
$128
Highlights
  • Good build quality
  • Reliable rainwear
  • Stretches for swing movement
William Murray Golf Slice Shot Vest
Best For
Best for casual wear
Price
$120
Highlights
  • Good build quality
  • Reversible
Peter Millar Flex Adapt Full-Zip Vest
Best For
Best for style
Price
$220
Highlights
  • Fashionable
  • Modern materials
  • Wind and water-resistant
Stretch Jersey Quarter-Zip Vest
Best For
Best for light coverage
Price
$138
Highlights
  • Mockneck
  • Quarter-zip
  • Lightweight
Callaway Men's High Gauge Fleece Full Zip Vest
Best For
Best budget
Price
$55
Highlights
  • Affordable
  • Comfortable
  • Good build quality
PUMA Men's Scotia Quilted Vest
Best For
Frosty Performance
Price
$230
Highlights
  • Weather-proof
  • Zippered hand pockets
  • Leading-edge fabrics
Peter Millar Fuse Elite Hybrid Vest
Best For
Best for water resistantancy
Price
$200
Highlights
  • Lightweight
  • Classic fit, four-way stretch
  • Wind resistance
Rhoback The Birkdale Vest
Best For
Best trendy option
Price
$138
Highlights
  • Moisture-wicking
  • Stretch side fabric for ventilation
  • Tagless and easy-care
Sunderland of Scotland s.Anton
Best For
Best for cool weather
Price
$91.75
Highlights
  • Insulated
  • Wind-resistant
  • Rainproof
STITCH GT Vest 2023
Best For
Best advanced material
Price
$168
Highlights
  • Strong all-purpose choice
  • Warm, breathable
  • New fall colors
G-Tech Men's Heated Vest
Best For
best for extremely cold conditions
Price
$220
Highlights
  • Heated pockets
  • Adjustable heat settings
  • Waterproof
FootJoy HydroKnit Vest
Best For
Best for warm weather
Price
$145
Highlights
  • HydroKnit waterproof fabric
  • Very lightweight
  • Breathable
Glenmuir g.Cairn
Best For
Best for rainy weather
Price
$128
Highlights
  • Good build quality
  • Reliable rainwear
  • Stretches for swing movement
William Murray Golf Slice Shot Vest
Best For
Best for casual wear
Price
$120
Highlights
  • Good build quality
  • Reversible
Peter Millar Flex Adapt Full-Zip Vest
Best For
Best for style
Price
$220
Highlights
  • Fashionable
  • Modern materials
  • Wind and water-resistant

In-“vest” in on-course warmth and style

Hopefully, you’ll play most of your golf rounds in what you consider nice weather. But still, when the temperature drops, the wind picks up, or rain arrives, the best golf vests can offer protection without sleeves that can encumber an easy golf swing. Knowing the conditions you’ll face on the course should help you don a vest that’ll work well for you.

FAQ

How should a golf vest fit?

A golf vest should be loose and comfortable enough to not restrict the turning of your torso during your golf swing. However, it should also remain formfitting enough to stay out of your way during that swing but not so loose that it slides around during your backswing. 

Why wear a vest for golf?

The obvious answer is that it’s cold or rainy. You want to be warmer and dryer, but you still need your arms unencumbered by the long sleeves of a jacket. You might want to don a vest for extra pocket space if you keep your phone or rangefinder close.

What’s a golf vest called?

The garment has no generally used terminology beyond “golf vest.” However, golf vests can also come in the form of a gilet — usually a zip-up garment without sleeves that aren’t as form-fitting as a vest and can run down past the waist.

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John Scott Lewinski

Golf.com Contributor

John Scott Lewinski hustles around the world, writing for a network of publications and recording a total monthly readership of more than 100 million people. As an author, he is represented by the Fineprint Literary Agency, New York.