12 best golf vests for fashion-forward functionality

By: John Scott Lewinski October 3, 2023

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).

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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.

Stretch Jersey Quarter-Zip Vest

Polo RLX Golf

$138

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Highlights

Mockneck
Quarter-zip
Lightweight

Callaway Men’s High Gauge Fleece Full Zip Vest

Callaway

$55

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Highlights

Affordable
Comfortable
Good build quality

PUMA Men’s Scotia Quilted Vest

Puma

$230

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Highlights

Weather-proof
Zippered hand pockets
Leading-edge fabrics

Peter Millar Fuse Elite Hybrid Vest

Peter Millar

$200

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Highlights

Lightweight
Classic fit, four-way stretch
Wind resistance

A lightweight outer layer, developed from four-way stretch performance fabric. It features a wind-and-water-resistant front, with light insulation for added warmth. The side panels and back are designed with a stretch knit construction for all-around mobility. A mixed quilted pattern, two-way zip front and handwarmer pockets complete the design.

Material: 100% polyester, with 87% polyester / 13% spandex back | Features: Wind resistance, four-way stretch and easy-care | Colors: 4 | Size range: S-XXL

Rhoback The Birkdale Vest

Rhoback

$138

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Highlights

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

Keep warm and comfortable with The Birkdale performance vest. All Rhoback performance vests are moisture wicking and comfortable. With side stretch fabric and quilted torso, don’t expect this vest to constrict any type of swing, throw, or handshake, no matter the weather.

Material: Quilted fabric: 100% polyester, Side fabric: 92% polyester, 8% spandex, Liner fabric: 94% polyester, 6% spandex | Features: Water-resistant, breathable fabric, multiple pockets | Colors: 1 | Size range: S-3XL

Sunderland of Scotland s.Anton

Sunderland of Scotland

$91.75

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Highlights

Insulated
Wind-resistant
Rainproof

Weather comes to us in degrees, and deciding what golf vest to wear is also a matter of degree. Here, we’re looking at golf wear specially for cool weather but not cold. Think autumn instead of winter. For that moderate chill, it’s best to select something comfortable without sealing in all of that body temperature. The Sunderland of Scotland s.Anton is intended for cool weather play, using padded nylon to protect from wind and rain.

The s.Anton design is only intended for chilly weather use — it’s best to store it away when warmer temperatures return. And since it’s not designed for breathability, this vest should come off if the sun comes out.

Material: 100% nylon with padded quilt | Features: Insulated, wind- and rainproof, stretch panels | Colors: 5 dual-color combinations | Size range: S-XXL

STITCH GT Vest 2023

STITCH

$168

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Highlights

Strong all-purpose choice
Warm, breathable
New fall colors

STITCH is one of the newer golf apparel manufacturers, but they’re doing nice work with advanced material use and effective, functional design. The STITCH GT Vest 2023 hits the Goldilocks Zone, as it’s warm enough to serve as an outer layer, while proving breathable enough to avoid retaining too much heat.

Lightweight and water-repellent thanks to modern material use from the newer blends of polyester, spandex, and elastane, it’s a strong go-to choice. STITCH reports the GT is most effective when paired with their Speedster or Scout layers.

Material: 89% polyester, 11% spandex | Features: Soft, breathable, moisture wicking, 4-way stretch | Colors: 7 | Size range: S-XXL

G-Tech Men’s Heated Vest

G-Tech Apparel USA Inc

$220

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Highlights

Heated pockets
Adjustable heat settings
Waterproof

When the mercury drops several degrees lower, we head to full-on cold weather golf and call in the G-Tech Men’s Heated Vest. Adjustable electric heating elements in the pockets keep your hands toasty, while similar wiring worked throughout the vest’s fabric spreads the heat around this innovative garment.

The G-Tech Men’s Heated Vest is not a golf-specific design, though, as it’s meant for general cold weather wear. All of those heating elements might feel odd during a golf swing, so it could take some time to get used to this particular vest. However, gripping the club without frostbitten fingers may make the vest’s bulkiness worth it for winter golfers.

Material: Polyester, spandex | Features: Electrically-heated pockets, adjustable heat level, waterproof | Colors: 1 | Size range: S-XXL

FootJoy HydroKnit Vest

FootJoy

$145

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Highlights

HydroKnit waterproof fabric
Very lightweight
Breathable

When it comes to most golf wear and accessories from shoes to gloves and everything in between, you can’t really go wrong with FootJoy. With this FootJoy HydroKnit Vest, the brand puts its waterproof technology to work in an extremely lightweight design. It’s the perfect choice for days when you need some rainwear without adding too much heat to your attire.

Its light polyester constriction means this vest breathes well even during humid or rainy weather. However, it’s not warm enough for those chillier days on the golf course.

Material: 100% polyester | Features: Waterproof, breathable fabric | Colors: 4 dual-color combinations | Size range: S-XXL

Glenmuir g.Cairn

Glenmuir

$128

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Highlights

Good build quality
Reliable rainwear
Stretches for swing movement

It’s not Scottish golf if it doesn’t rain. With that in mind, the Scottish golf wear designers at Glenmuir sprinkle rainwear throughout its carefully crafted collection of polos, sweaters, and other apparel. The Glenmuir g.Cairn vest is lightweight and repels water.

It’s a gilet design, so it stretches past the waist, which is normally where most golf vests end. As a result, the fit might take some getting used to — though this particular type of fit keeps the garment out of the way of your swing.

Material: 100% polyester | Features: Water-repellant, stretch bindings, personalizable | Colors: 3 | Size range: S-XXL

William Murray Golf Slice Shot Vest

William Murray

$120

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Highlights

Good build quality
Reversible

Like the comic and movie star (Bill Murray) whose name is above the door, William Murray Golf doesn’t take the game too seriously. The brand’s styles offer amusing patterns, tartans, and looser fits. While the garments are decidedly more fun, they don’t allow style to override function.

The William Murray Golf Slice Shot Vest is reversible, allowing players to wear one side on the course and another to any function afterward. Additionally, the insulated polyester garment can stand in as a dual-purpose vest to keep the wearer a little warmer both on and off the golf course as well.

Material: Polyester, PrimaLoft fill | Features: Reversible, insulated, 4-way stretch | Colors: 2 (with reversible pattern as well) | Size range: S-3XL

Peter Millar Flex Adapt Full-Zip Vest

Peter Millar

$220

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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

Best For

Best for light coverage

Price

$138

Highlights

Mockneck
Quarter-zip
Lightweight