Introduction
Buying rain gear can be a difficult purchase for any golfer. For one, there are a lot of options. And, for gear that you ideally won’t have to use that often, it can lighten your wallet pretty quickly. Fortunately, the Galway Bay lineup continues to prove an outstanding choice for your rain gear needs.
Galway Bay is known for producing high-quality, all-weather golf apparel. Our Forum member testers received the Corrib Golf Rain Jacket, the Claddagh Chino Rain Pant and the Cappagh Performance Hybrid Vest or Foyle Performance Hybrid Mid-layer. These products are designed to protect golfers from the elements while ensuring comfort and performance on the course. The Corrib Jacket in particular includes changes that were direct results of feedback given in our previous Forum testing cycle.
Did these products live up to their claims of weather resistance, comfort and mobility? Read on.
Key highlights
- Aesthetics: Sleek, understated, not too flashy. Our testers noticed the well-thought-out attention to detail that went into their kit.
- Fit/Comfort: Testers raved about the fit of their Galway Gear, slim and sleek without any impediments to their swings.
- On the Course: Even during the rainiest of conditions testers reported incredible performance that kept them dry and comfortable for sustained periods.
- Likes: All the gear was a hit but testers were decidedly impressed with the pants in particular.
- Dislikes: Rain gear’s expensive. While Galway Bay certainly offers a ton of value, our testers appreciated their good fortune in being selected for this testing opportunity. Getting a good set of rain gear can set you back a few bucks.
Aesthetics
There’s some hideous rain gear out there. From an 1980s’ tracksuit look to a stiff and overly layered vibe, it’s easy to get a rain gear purchase wrong on the aesthetics front. Finding rain gear that leaves you feeling sleek and athletic and looks the part can be a challenge. According to our testers, Galway Bay rose to that challenge and then some.
” I love everything about the look of the Galway line. Sleek, understated, and clean. You can tell that a lot of thought went into the pieces, and it comes together as a total package. Everything is super lightweight and comfortable. No bulk, and you don’t have to fidget. The pants are a standout for me. Wear like any other chino with the added bonus of waterproof. You can wear them without bad weather and be very comfortable. Just a great design in the rain-gear category,” – djahubes
“I love the subtle and minimalist branding features….Compared to my current rain system, it honestly just looks more superior. Galway Bay really took the time to design the products with looks in mind in the shapes and contours instead of a one-size-fits most approach. Usually, rain pants are offered in S, M, L, XL, etc. and fit a range of sizes–Galway Bay offers specific pant Width x Length just like a pair of dress pants. I think this is key to a proper fit and appearance. I think the modern fit with a traditional and clean appearance will appeal to any golfer!” – slash25rc
Fit/Comfort
Job One for rain gear is obvious: Keep the golfer dry. Job Two may be just as important: Stay out of the way of the golfer’s swing. Being warm and bone-dry matters but a bulky “bundled-up” fit that restricts your mobility and your swing is decidedly no bueno. By the same token, rain gear can’t be so loose and flowing that it interferes with your swing. Take it from me: there’s nothing worse than the dreaded jacket “poof” that obstructs your motion and appears every time you address the ball. Not a problem for our testers and their Galway Bay rain gear.
“GB knocked it out of the park. I cannot tell you how easy it is to swing regularly with the jacket and pants. I spent an hour on the range hitting all shots. The weather was chilly (48 degree and very windy) and I honestly didn’t feel like I was wearing a full rain suit. The shell and pants kept me completely warm (not a sauna like some other brands) and I could swing as free as I wanted. I didn’t even notice that I was wearing a full jacket. Hard to explain, but the claim that you can swing without impediment is absolutely legit,” – djahubes
“The material is light and flexible. When I swing, my mobility isn’t hampered by the fit or the fabric. I was slightly concerned because I’m a bigger guy who generally wears looser-fitting clothing, so I was really pleasantly surprised by this. And if I’m being honest, I actually think the fit makes me feel slimmer than usual, without feeling tight. That’s what we call a win-win in fat guy world.” – RajMahal
On the course
About that aforementioned Job One: Keeping you dry. Galway Bay doesn’t mess around, claiming to deliver 30K-rated waterproofing while remaining lightweight, breathable and perfectly playable on the course. According to our testers, Galway Bay’s rain gear backed up those claims and then some.
” Started off in mid 30’s, snow flurries, turning to 40’s with a solid rain…I must say, the Galway Bay system held up. I stayed completely dry and was able to play unobstructed. I did wear a thermal mock turtle neck under the vest, the jacket and pants. It was cold, but I was not overly uncomfortable (other than my hands!!). This is by far the best inclement weather gear I have used. it is versatile, performs as advertised, and just works. Well worth the investment, particularly if you play year-round in conditions where layering is required,” – djahubes
“I was able to get a round in early this day–while there was no rain on the forecast, it was the perfect opportunity to test out the Galway Bay Cappagh Hybrid Performance Vest. While I have purchased the Foyle Hybrid Performance Mid-layer on my own because I am already such a fan of their other products, I knew the Cappagh vest would pair seamlessly. It was a crisp 52 degrees when we arrived for our foggy 8:30 AM tee time, and under the Galway Bay gear, I just had on a Peter Millar golf polo but was very warm. I warmed up on the range and putting gear and had no issues swinging in both layers,” – slash25rc
Likes
Rain gear is typically intended for use in the rain. Not exactly a startling revelation, I know, so it’s quite impressive when testers rave about the potential of the rain gear for everyday use. Galway Bay’s pants in particular drew praise with more than one tester observing they could easily pass for a quality pair of dress pants.
“Galway Bay must be fibbing if they think these are rain pants! In all seriousness, there’s no way I would ever look at these pants and think “rain gear”. They look incredible–I seriously feel like I could get away with wearing these to the office. That’s how not-rain-pants they look. I am used to trash bags with an elastic band that go over existing pants–these bad boys are tapered, have belt loops, and sticky elastic on the inside band to keep them in place. They, like the jacket, are also super soft and lightweight. I could see wearing these with thermals in the winter to keep out the cold and not look like I am going skiing. Well done with these, Galway Bay.” – slash25rc
Dislikes
The Galway Bay rain gear was clearly a hit with our testers. Still, while our testers were fortunate not having to shell out any funds for their kit, a few recognized the investment the gear represents for the average consumer. As rain gear prices go, there are definitely far more costly options but the Galway Bay line certainly isn’t cheap, either.
“It must be mentioned that this gear is very expensive, like new driver with a Ventus TR expensive. For those players who live in areas where weather is always a factor, I believe this to be a good investment and would recommend. Without long term durability testing it is hard to say that its “worth” it. Expense is relative and this really is the best rain gear that I have played in, so if you need it, grab it…” – djahubes
Bottom line: It kind of stinks to drop your hard-earned funds on gear that may not get used all that often. But if you want the ability to play comfortably in inclement weather, Galway Bay rain gear is a great investment.
Conclusion
A golfer has a lot of options when purchasing rain gear. Finding quality gear that looks good, fits well, allows you to play free and unrestricted and keeps you completely dry can be a challenge. Fortunately, as our Forum testers have found, Galway Bay checks all the boxes when it comes to performance and value in rain gear.
The post FORUM MEMBER REVIEW: Galway Bay Rain Gear appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
