Over the last three years, Manors has been busy making a splash in golf fashion and golf content creation space. If you haven’t seen the brand’s clothing on social media yet, you’ll have done well to miss its equally stylish short and long-form content.
The brand’s new Pertex waterproof jacket (and accompanying waterproof trousers) is its first foray into full waterproofs, and I was excited to see how the brand could execute a practical garment while still incorporating some of the stylish design cues we’ve come to know Manors for.
The waterproofing is exemplary. The Pertext material delivers a huge 30,000mm waterproof rating - which in layman's terms is a lot - while also having the ability to let moisture vapour escape, meaning you stay dry without ever overheating. The two-way stretch means it also moves with your swing with no restriction, something that can't be said for all of the best golf rain jackets.
What makes this jacket stand out from others I’ve tested is how lightweight and packable it is, making day-to-day use all the more convenient. The jacket barely weighs anything, hardly making an impression over a midlayer when wearing it on course and never inhibiting the swing. The technology in the fabric makes it incredibly breathable too, meaning it can be worn comfortably on those wet and mild days as easily as when it’s wet and cold.
It can also be packed into its own carry bag, complete with a convenient carabiner clip, which is a really smart touch and one that makes the day-to-day use of a jacket that little bit easier. Stuff it down the bottom of the apparel pocket on your bag, or clip it to the accessory station for even quicker access - it’s a brilliant idea.
Design-wise, in truth, there’s not much you can do with a waterproof jacket. Despite this, Manors has done a great job adding subtle design cues where necessary to still make this feel like a fashionable choice on course. The fit is excellent (aided by the adjustable cuffs on the arms), and the logos and writing down the back offer something for the eye to enjoy, rather than just a plain black jacket.
It’s not too ‘golfy’ either, which can’t be said for many waterproofs. Not that I’m embarrassed to be a golfer, far from it, but something I don’t want to wear a FootJoy jacket away from the golf course and scream to the world I’m a golfer. This Manors jacket is an ‘if you know, you know’ situation where non-golfers will see it as a normal rain jacket, meaning I can wear it with much more confidence off the course, helping warrant the investment too.
It can't be all positive, though, and the jacket does make a lot more noise than a lot of the other best waterproof jackets we’ve tested, rustling quite a lot as you move and swing. Of course, all waterproofs do this due to the nature of the materials, but this was noticeably louder than some, like the HLINC Links jacket or the Ping AquaDrive jacket.
If you’re in the market for a lightweight, packable and well-waterproofed golf jacket for on and off the course, there won’t be much better this winter than what Manors has created here. The subtle but stylish design stands out from the crowd, while the overall execution of the jacket is that of a brand that’s been doing this for years.
