We like our golf gear the way mountain people like theirs: durable, stain resistant, weather resistant, and still going next winter, not just this one. The thinking is simple. If it can survive the mountain, it will be fine at the local muni, especially in January.
January is when it matters. An Austin winter round is a cold, windy first tee, fairways soaked with dew, maybe a drizzle, and an afternoon that can turn warm by the back nine. That is a layering problem, and outdoor brands have been solving layering problems for a long time. Golf brands mostly make polos.
What we looked for. Stretch or gussets so the turn is free; wind blocking and water repellency that stays quiet at address; fabric that shrugs off grass stains and mud; pockets that zip; and shoes that keep socks dry on wet grass. We skipped harnesses, ski kit and heavy down, and anything that looks like you got lost on the way to the summit.
Five brands. Arc’teryx, started by Vancouver climbers in 1989. Salomon, from the French Alps since 1947. Gramicci, a Yosemite climber’s pant brand from 1982. Purple Mountain Observatory, a London label from 2021. And Goldwin, a Japanese ski maker from 1950 that has made golf clothes since 1981, which makes it the bridge between the two worlds.
If your winters run milder, our Technical Brands Roundup, Vol. 2 covers wind, light rain and muggy afternoons.
A note on shoes: trail and hiking soles grip wet grass well, but they aren’t golf soles. Check your course’s footwear rules before you walk one onto a green.
Below: seven pieces from each brand, 35 in all, from a $50 cap to a $385 rain jacket, and one January kit built from them. Everything was in stock on each brand’s US store when we checked on October 22, 2026.
Arc’teryx · North Vancouver, 1989. Started by Vancouver climbers in a basement making harnesses and packs, named for the Archaeopteryx fossil, and still designing and testing in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. Gore-Tex apparel came in 1996; its ReBIRD program repairs and resells used gear.
Pants, layers, a shell, a shoe · $50–$200The Gamma Pant and a Kyanite are the place to start.
Salomon · Annecy, 1947. Born in the French Alps making ski edges and bindings, then ski boots, then trail shoes: the XA Pro in 2002 and the XT-6 in 2013, a racing shoe that later crossed over to the street. Owned by Amer Sports, which also owns Arc’teryx.
Three Gore-Tex shoes and the layers · $50–$200Dry feet on wet grass is the whole case for Salomon at the muni. For breathable summer options, see our five trail runners that belong on the course.
Gramicci · Ventura, California, 1982. Founded in a garage by Mike Graham, one of Yosemite’s Stonemasters, around a climbing short with a diamond gusset borrowed from kung-fu trousers and a built-in webbing belt. The G-Pant followed; the brand now calls Japan home.
Nylon pants, fleece and shells · $55–$190Water-repellent versions of the climbing pant, plus the layers to go with them. The cotton originals are in our Gramicci Brand to Know.
Purple Mountain Observatory · London, 2021. Founded by Matt Braun and Georgia Smith and named for Purple Mountain above Nanjing, near where the clothes are made. Unisex outerwear for trail and town, built on PrimaLoft, Polartec and other named technical fabrics.
Pants, a shell and active fleece · $77–$305Sold in US dollars from London; ships worldwide, and US orders ship duties unpaid.
Goldwin · Toyama, Japan, 1950. A ski-wear maker that also runs The North Face in Japan, and the bridge between the two worlds: Goldwin has made golf clothes since a U.S. Open Golf line in 1981, opened Goldwin Golf Club USA in California in 1994 and was an official supplier to the U.S. Open from 1997.
Shells, layers, pants and a short · $90–$385The one brand here that has made golf clothes, too.
One way to put it together from the picks above, for a 7:30 tee time with wind. Swap any piece for its neighbor.
Salomon XA PRO 3D V9 GORE-TEX for dry socks on wet fairways ($170).
Goldwin Nimble Tech Tapered Pants: windproof, a big gusset, slacks look ($270).
Arc’teryx Delta 1/2 Zip under a Gramicci Thermal Fleece Vest ($180 + $140).
Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody in the bag, Salomon Bonatti Pro cap on the head ($200 + $50).
Many public courses allow soft-soled athletic shoes, but rules vary and some ask for golf-specific soles. Low trail shoes with Gore-Tex keep your feet dry on wet grass; check the course's footwear policy before you play.
Layers: a thin quarter-zip or fleece, an insulated vest that leaves the arms free, a packable wind or rain shell, wind-blocking pants and waterproof shoes. Shed layers as the day warms up.
Several Arc'teryx pieces work well on a course, especially the stretch Gamma Pant, the Atom Vest, Kyanite and Delta fleeces and the packable Squamish windshell. They are built for movement and weather.
If your course allows soft-soled athletic shoes, low Gore-Tex trail shoes such as the Salomon XT-6 GORE-TEX, XA PRO 3D V9 GORE-TEX or Arc'teryx Kopec 2 Low GTX keep feet dry on wet morning grass. Check the course's footwear rules first.
Look for stretch, a gusseted crotch and wind or water resistance. Good options include the Arc'teryx Gamma Pant, Goldwin Nimble Tech Tapered Pants, the Gramicci Nylon Gramicci Pant and the Purple Mountain Observatory City Pant.
Yes. Gramicci pants were built for climbing, with a gusset for movement, and the nylon versions are water-repellent and dry fast, which suits wet fairways. The built-in waistband adjusts quickly mid-round.
Yes. Goldwin, the Japanese outdoor and ski-wear company, has made golf apparel since a U.S. Open Golf line in 1981 and was an official supplier to the U.S. Open from 1997. Its current US line is outdoor and lifestyle clothing.
