The hallmark of a good waterproof jacket is reliability - once you put it on, you want to know that whatever the weather conditions you'll be able to swing freely whilst staying dry at the same time. At the price point the Zero Restriction Z2000 comes in at, I had the upmost confidence this would indeed be the case, and I happy to report it passed the test with flying colors.
I tested this jacket across several rounds, some of which were in very heavy rain. Water beaded and ran off the shell reliably; at no point did moisture seep through seams or zippers keeping my clothing underneath warm and dry. Against wind, the shell fabric felt solid and I had a comfortable “shielded” sense without feeling claustrophobic - the jacket fit meant that there was not lots of material moving in the harsh wind which allowed a full range of motion in my golf swing. The taped seams and careful detailing seem to do their job at keeping the wind away from your body and the heat in.
The best golf rain jackets also find the sweet spot between allowing breathability so you don't overheat whilst wearing it but also blocking water from the outside coming in. Some of the best cheap golf rain gear do this, some don't. Pleasingly, I didn’t overheat in moderate exertion, and internal condensation was minimal. I combined the jacket with a light quarter zip underneath and found that its a perfect jacket for light layering underneath, this further helps with keeping the wind and rain out and staying warm and dry whilst maintaining comfort.
Although some of the best golf waterproofs now fold up into no size at all, allowing you to fit them easily into your golf bag, the same can't be said for the Z2000 - but that isn't to say it's bulky. It won’t fold down to the size of a tee shirt, but it’s manageable in a carry bag or backpack or even in the large pocket of my golf bag.It does feel slightly more solid than featherweight shells, but that’s the trade for durability and full protective features.
The detailing of this jacket really sets it apart from others in its class. The dual direction YKK Aquaguard zips are superb, they glide smoothly when taking the jacket on and off. My favorite feature of the Z2000 is the cuff system which is quite unique. A clever dot-lock system means that you can silently adjust your fit around your cuffs without disturbing fellow golfers with a traditional velcro system. The anti-chafe chin guard allows you to zip up the jacket fully and feel comfortable and warm, without being scratchy around the chin area.
In terms of sizing, there's an important not that the manufacturer points to - this jacket runs small in terms of sizing. In practical use, I found that what would usually be my “go-to” size was a bit snug over a midlayer. For those who like layering generously, choosing one size up is prudent.
The lifetime waterproof guarantee is also a huge bonus. The guarantee adds a layer of assurance that this jacket is built for longevity and i’m looking forward to wearing it more - it feels great to play golf in.
At a retail price of $610 (US) the Z2000 is certainly a premium purchase. It competes with high-end jackets from leading outdoor and golf apparel brands. The question is whether you’ll fully utilize its capabilities enough to justify the cost. The Z2000 may not be categorically the best in all conditions, but it sits among the top tier of performance shells.
