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The best of the best! We roundup the Best Golf Vests 2026
Looking for a vest to add to your golfing wardrobe? Whether your braving the early morning chill or seeking versatile layering for those unpredictable days on the course, a high-quality golf vest is a must-have in any golfer’s wardrobe.
This year’s top picks combine style, comfort, and performance, ensuring you stay focused and protected no matter the weather.
Leading brands like Lyle & Scott, Puma, Greg Norman, TravisMathew, Adidas, Callaway, Original Penguin, FootJoy, Under Armour, Ashworth, J.Lindeberg, Ping, Oscar Jacobson, Castore, B Draddy and G/FORE are all vying for your attention with their latest offerings. From sleek, lightweight designs to insulated options for colder rounds, these vests deliver both fashion and function.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best golf vests of 2025, highlighting features, benefits, and what makes each one a standout choice for every golfer’s wardrobe.
Now I love a golf gilet and have several in my wardrobe for a range of outdoor activities, including golf. For me, the best gilets are ones that I almost forget I’m wearing in that they are lightweight and comfortable. They also need to offer strong warmth to weight ratio and be easily packable in my golf bag when the weather warms up.
This full zip gilet by Lyle & Scott is made from recycled material in a softshell fabric with a print pattern on the chest. It has two useful zippered pockets, and I’ve found it to offer reasonable windproofing when worn as a third layer (over a polo and mid layer). And for me the sizing runs a little on the small side for this particular garment. I’m comfortably a medium in a Lyle & Scott polo. The medium in this gilet felt to be a little too close fitting, although admittedly there was no interference with my swing.
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It is one of the more stylish looking gilets, but I didn’t feel that it offered as much heat retention as the more insulating garments available, so I’d suggest it’s more useful for ‘shoulder’ season golfing activities.
One issue I would point out is the price. Some golfers will not want to pay £70.00 for a gilet. You can’t really blame them either, but if you are looking for a premium piece of golf clothing, you will not be found wanting even if you are paying this premium price.
Gilet? Vest? How you describe it seems to be a matter of taste but whatever you want to call this, Lyle & Scott have come up with another winner.
Their golf windproof vest is exceptional. It’s very lightweight – always a factor if you’re slipping it on and off as weather conditions change in early autumn – and it performs excellently in the wind.
I can struggle with zips, partly because the idea of a being left-handed seems alien to some apparel companies, but this draws down very easily and the spacious pockets means I’m not losing stuff out of my trousers as I constantly fish around for a glove or a ball marker.
This isn’t slim fitting, by any means, but it’s compact enough that there isn’t lots of loose fabric hampering your swing. And you can also easily fit a waterproof top over it and not feel like the Michelin man.
Some of you may miss the iconic eagle that usually adorns the front of Lyle & Scott products. The stylish lettering is different, but don’t let that obscure your view. This is an excellent vest. Or is it a gilet?
PROS
Lightweight – whether on your back or in the bag
Snugger fit doesn’t constrain the swing
Spacious pockets are a real plus
CONS
The label conscious among you may miss the iconic eagle.
I have become a huge fan of a golf gilet, and I am a massive fan of the Puma Cloudspun Tech Hybrid Gilet. It is cosy, tight and I just love the way you can lock into a gilet on the golf course. You can slot your hands into the pockets, the well-insulated, nice pockets, and navigate the golf course in comfortable fashion. You can get hold of this gilet in black or navy too, which I think are the best colours for golf clothes in general, and especially in the Autumn and Winter.
One of Greg Norman’s Autumn / Winter garments is the Ultra Stretch Golf gilet. A comfortable breathable garment available in both a black and navy colourway.
It is built with stretch technology making it flexible and easy to wear throughout your round of golf and the fit is great, not too long on the front or back to make it sit well around your torso.
I’d view this as a great option for some added layering on those cooler days, works well over the top of your polo / jumper and is easily folded up into your golf once it starts to warm up.
The clean design of the garment makes it easily wearable off the golf course as well which in my mind adds value to any product when it has multiple purposes.
It is available for only £35 which is exceptional value for a really smart product. If you’re in the market for a new gilet or just want to add to your golfing wardrobe I’d certainly recommend taking a look here – especially if you are a larger build as sizes go up to 4XL.
£19.99
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TravisMathew
TravisMathew Wanderlust Gilet
The TravisMathew Wanderlust Gilet is a really stylish piece of kit. Black clothing might not be to everyone’s taste on the golf course, but it is smart and has a simplistic design. The fit is great, so don’t go over-thinking your size. If you are a large, then choose a large. You get the idea.
It is not only smart, but comfortable too. I like gilets you can walk around the golf course with your hands slotted into the pockets, which is especially satisfying in the colder winter months. There is somethig about a gilet where your hands and arms naturally hang and sit, and this gilet is no exception. You feel secure and locked in with this TravisMathew number.
Now, TravisMathew produces premium clothing items which come at a premium price. You will get your money’s worth, of that, there is no doubt. However, it might be a lot to ask someone to pay £84.99 for a gilet. If you can look beyond that, you have a great piece of clothing on your hands.
As part of Adidas’s 2025 Autumn / Winter collection launch, they have released the Ultimate 365 Tour Frostguard full-zip gilet. A gilet feels like it should be a staple for any golfer looking to get out on the cooler days thanks to the fact your arms are completely free so this is well worth considering. The design of this gilet is really smart, it’s available in two colourways with one piece of adidas branding to give it a clean finish. Considering the lightweight nature of the garment, it is surprisingly warm and comfortable thanks to the lightweight insulation packed into either side of the middle zip on the front of the product. I’ll be sure to be getting plenty of usage out of this on the golf course as the cooler days approach as well using it in off course thanks to the ‘non-technical’ style of it. It is positioned on the more expensive side for a gilet but you can’t argue with the quality or look of it.
When it comes to layering up as it gets colder then it pays to have a few options. The Callaway Full Zip Vest nicely fills the gap in your winter apparel set up. The front is filled with high-performing Primaloft insulation, made from recycled products. The back is a large stretchy panel to ensure you can wear multiple layers, stay warm and not be restricted during your golf swing. All-in-all a nice piece of kit to help you brave the elements.
Having a gilet is an extremely useful part of you golf attire because you can easily put it over most of your golf outfits to keep you much warmer without restricting your movement.
This reversable jacket does exactly that, the Original Penguin reversable gilet is a very comfortable well made gilet with the added advantage of having two colours on so you can change the look to match it with different outfits for the price of one.
It has pockets on either side of the gilet so you have loads of room to carry your various golf things, I found it particularly useful for carrying things like tees, ball markers on even your score card, as it’s so easy to pull out of the pockets quickly, where these things can be more tricky to grab from your trousers, especially if you have a glove on.
£110
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FootJoy
FootJoy ThermoSeries Lightweight Insulated Vest
This insulated gilet from FootJoy is the latest offering in the ThermoSeries range. As the name suggests, this is to keep you nice and warm, and first impressions are favourable.
I tested the version in Stone, which is really a pale cream. Although it’s perhaps not the most practical colour for poor weather golf, it does rather stand out, and different colours are available.
As you’d expect from a gilet, it is comfortable to wear on the course and offers lightweight warmth and wind resistance. There is a quilted front and upper back with very stretchy lower back and side panels. There is a full length zip closure and two handy zippered side pockets (which I’ll probably never use). On the inside, there is a snug fleece lining which adds to the sense of warmth.
I have used this as a third layer, over a polo and midlayer. And, for me, it doesn’t really lend itself to wearing beneath a waterproof as it is a little bulky. That’s also an issue if you’re taking it off mid-round because it’ll take up a bit of space in you winter bag.
It is a premium price, but my experience with FootJoy is that they make durable garments which are designed to last.
This full-zip vest, part of the FootJoy ThermoSeries range, is constructed from a waffle fleece back fabric which offers a warmth and thermal retention. It also has a DWR finish to provide some protection in light rain.
It comes in a ‘regular fit’ which has enabled me to use this as a second or third layer. It’s also easy to wear beneath a waterproof layer if required. I tested the version in navy, which is one of two colours available. It looks really smart, with contrasting detailing at the shoulders and zip.
On the course it’s a delight to wear. It’s comfortable, warm and practical. It comes with a couple of open hand pockets, and although I tend to prefer zip pockets, these work well. There is a useful high collar which is comfortable and snug when zipped up.
It is a little on the pricy side but is such a useful piece of apparel that I’m sure it will represent strong value – especially now you can purchase at a discounted price.
If the thought of playing golf throughout the winter because of the cold temperatures is not for you, then this Insulated Vest might just change your mind.
Bulky layers make it difficult to play to your full potential but this vest gives you warmth, comfort and flexibility all with one product.
The vest fits great and when used over thin layering, it gives you all the protection you need on those cooler days. Available in blue and black, it is the perfect addition to your winter wardrobe.
As well as keeping you warm, it also provides protection if the showers hit and the handy zipped pockets give additional storage options.
Uncomfortable swings are a thing of the past with this winter must have.
If you are looking for something to keep you warm out on the golf course ahead of the winter months and don’t fancy playing in something bulky, then this is ideal.
A quilted scuba vest that features thermal quilted panels packed with polyester down-fill. It was this that made it a joy to test and kept me warm on a pretty cold day.
Not to mention, I think it looks fantastic. I love the simplicity of the design and the patterning on the body of the vest. I could easily see an opportunity to be able to wear this away from the golf course, it think it would be great for everyday use.
Performance wise, the lightweight polyester allows for a greater freedom of movement than what you may get with some thicker vests.
The only slight critique I would have is that I think zips on the pockets would be beneficial for keeping items more secure.
PROS:
Great heat retention
Comfortable fit
Diamond quilt pattern looks smart
CONS:
None
RRP: £109
Sizes: S-3XL
Colours: Black / Navy / Navy-Bright Blue / Red-Black
First of all, I visually loved this J.Lindeberg gilet. The cabernet colour was a personal favourite of mine, I think it aesthetically stood out and looked sharp and smart.
A gilet is an extremely useful piece of golf clothing, in my opinion. It can be worn in all seasons and sometimes you don’t need or want a big jacket to stay warm, a gilet will do the job easily enough.
Although this is very much a featherweight gilet, extremely thin, it does help to retain some heat with its wind proofing and elasticated binding to arm holes to help trap the heat. I must say when testing this I did have a base layer underneath my polo and I would recommend another layer either over this gilet or underneath for when the temperatures really drop.
The lightness is a huge benefit for breathability and moveability, which are both delivered in abundance. Its a delight to wear. It was comfortable, fitted nicely and to size, and coped well in blustery conditions.
The Ping Ramsey Vest is a sleeveless ½ zip fleece.
I am a big fan of this type of top. When layering up for warmth these are ideal to keep warm but minimise restriction.
I was impressed by how light and stretchy this top is. It was extremely comfortable and provides that extra layer of warmth with very little restriction in movement.
It is also a perfect to keep in your bag in the summer should things start to get a little cooler later in the day. It has a classy look to it with the subtle Ping logo on the right shoulder.
PROS:
Good looks and performance
Versatile
Excellent price
CONS:
None
RRP: £50
Sizes: S-3XL
Colours: Black, Ash Marl, Snorkel Blue Marl, Navy, Pine, Sky Blue Marl, Rich Red Marl
The Oscar Jacobson Quinn gilet was a delight to wear. Lightweight, water-repellent fabric, and extremely comfortable. It is a great cross-over garment to use on a cooler day or for those brave enough to take on winter golf on those particularly chilly occasions.
The padded upper body warmer is both a stylish and practical to keep nice and warm whilst looking great on the course. It is also ideal as an addition for in and around the clubhouse or just day to day use.
We tested the product on a cool day with a slight breeze which was ideal for the Quinn gilet.
As expected, playing shots was no problem, plenty of mobility across the arms and chest as well as large storage pockets to look after your personal belongings.
Additionally, it wrapped up nice and easily to fit into the main pocket of my golf bag when it did get a little warmer.
The Castore hybrid jacket is probably one of my favourite items from Castore this year.
It looks great, lightweight and a great option to stay warm in the fall season of golf.
Castore have designed this for optimal range in mobility, they have done so excellently. Despite it being slim fitting, it doesn’t hamper your ability to swing all your clubs at all, in fact you barely notice you are wearing it and still reap the benefits of staying warm in the colder days.
It also bodes well for a light shower, designed with a weatherproof woven panel and water-resistant trims, ideal for the unexpected shower.
Overall, I really like this garment. A secured staple in my wardrobe for the autumnal golf ahead.
My only drawback would be that if you prefer a slightly longer fitted gilet, I would recommend getting a size up. I am 6ft 1, and the XL sits just on my waistline which I personally don’t mind.
This has to be my favourite golf vest of the year. It just feels and looks quality. Standout features of this item include the bigger style zip and the hidden pocket towards the top of the chest (see last couple of pics above). The nicely designed ribbons on the end of the zips are also a nice touch.
It’s lightweight and super comfortable, making it easy to move whilst swinging the golf club.
The double zip adds a nice touch, and the side pockets are perfect for keeping golf essentials handy.
I loved that it’s breathable, so I didn’t overheat, and the stretch fabric allowed for a full range of motion.
It looks great both on and off the course – a stylish item that can used in a wide variety of settings.
Overall, a high-quality vest that’s ideal for changing weather and days on and off the golf course.
PROS
The bigger style zip
Breathable
Versatile
CONS
Premium price
RRP: £185 / $240
Sizes: S-2XL
Colours: Nauti / Mac / Tannebaum / Black / White / Gray / Clearwater (on sale) / Rich (on sale)
In winter, one of the most important pieces of gear any golfer can own, apart from a good midlayer, is a quality gilet. It needs to keep you warm, protect you from the elements, and offer complete freedom of movement. Ideally, it should be as lightweight as possible while still providing maximum warmth and protection.
Having had the pleasure of testing the new Maverick Hybrid Stretch Gilet from G/Fore, I must say it’s not the cheapest option out there, but it ticks all the boxes and then some. It kept me incredibly warm thanks to its lightweight Primaloft insulation. I’m not entirely sure what Primaloft is made of, but it feels soft, light, and it absolutely does the job.
What impressed me most was how unrestrictive it felt. I’ve tried other gilets in the past that were bulky or heavy, which can really interfere with your swing. The Maverick, on the other hand, felt effortless, super light and completely non-restrictive.
It’s also a great-looking piece. Stylish enough to wear off the course, it works just as well for outdoor events, bonfire nights, or walking the dog. You can even layer it under a coat for extra warmth.
Overall, I absolutely loved this gilet. It’s practical, stylish, and high performing, a perfect companion for winter golf and beyond.
It’s available in a great range of colours and sizes, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a premium, versatile outer layer.
Choosing the right golf vest can make all the difference to your comfort on the course. With so many top brands offering innovative designs and advanced materials, you’re sure to find a piece that fits your style and needs. Whether you prefer lightweight breathability or added insulation, the options for 2026 are impressive.
Investing in a quality golf gilet not only enhances your performance but also keeps you looking sharp. Stay prepared for any weather and elevate your golfing wardrobe with our curated selection of the best gilets of the year.
