Galway Bay Rain Gear - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Testers Announced! 

WHY GALWAY BAY?
- Tailored for performance
- Galway Bay Hydro-Flex 32
- Attention to detail
- When we say waterproof, we mean it.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers!

@WaffleHouseTour

@jdparker

@EugeGall

@Alan Scalzi

@GolferXY

[WaffleHouseTour]

Introductions: 

First, kudos to MGS for the whole concept of member testing. I'm sure its not easy or simple for them to continue  making these opportunities available but its those reviews that keep many of us coming back here day after day.  And a big thank you to Galway Bay for participating and making this test possible. 

My name is Christopher and I’m from northwest Iowa.  I belong to three golf clubs Whispering Creek (five minutes from my home); the Prairie Club (four hours away in Nebraska where She Who Must Be Obeyed likes to fish) and Elmwood Country Club (a golden age gem in central Iowa). Most of my golf travails get documented on Instagram or Twitter - so you may see the rain gear in action there. 

I am not a fairweather golfer.  I play in the rain all the time.  My challenge is that I'm also a walker - so when the lightening strikes the pro shop or grounds crew usually sends someone out to get me.  It also means I carry my rain gear with me until I need it.  I also play in the cold - once the frost is gone I'm ready to go.  Wet is fine.  Cold is fine.  I just don't care for the wet and cold at the same time.   But maybe Galway Bay will help me through that particular situation. 

I’m just starting my 56th trip around the sun, so I’m old enough to have two grown daughters – one an OBGYN in Illinois; and the youngest an interior designer who just took up the game also living in Illinois.  Couldn’t get her to pick up a club when she lived at home, but now if I want to play a game with her I have to drive 8 hours to the Chicago suburbs...   (which all fathers gladly do)

My wife and I like to travel – a lot – and have camped our way out to places like Bandon, and St. George UT.  She Who Must Be Obeyed likes to camp and fish; but if I'm camping, its enroute to a golf destination.  Everyone wins. Next spring it may be North Dakota – but that’s another thread. 

This is my second time testing, having done the BirdieBall PuttUp back in 2020 – and it’s a product I still use as part of my winter practice routine.  If saw that you know I’m not one for the funny gifs, but I do try to be obsessive about finding ways to measure the product for you. 

So, lets get to it... 

My current rain gear – I’ve got a set of SunIce rain jacket and pants I got back in 2013; and a set of ProQuip jacket and pants I got just a couple of years ago.  I figured why not buy them in Europe where rain seems to be synonymous with golf.  Today I match the SunIce pants with the ProQuip jacket as I'll explain below. 

I started the test interested in the following questions - you'll see my final answer on each in brief, but I've got multiple posts here that provide the details if you'd like more information.  

1) Breathability - My GoreTex rainsuit by SunIce allows no water in… but no air or humidity out.  Can’t wear it except in the winter as I’ll end up just as wet anyway.  (Final answer - very breathable - stayed dry from both the rain and perspiration)

2) Bag Carry factor - I’ve had rainsuits and been dry, but throw that shoulder strap on and your back is suddenly wet - not sure if that’s related to #1 above but it happens.  I use a push cart most days, but I’d sacrifice my shoulders at least once for the good of the group… (Final answer - no problems)

3) Ease of cleaning or refreshing the water proofing. A good suit doesn’t go in the laundry with your gym clothes if you want it to stay water proof. Everyone has a method of refreshing or prolonging the waterproof nature - some more easily than others.   Do you need to use a special detergent and how easy is that to find?   (Final answer - easy to clean and maintain, you can throw in the washer with mild detergent - or use a DSW like Grangers)

4) Fit and flexibility with emphasis on being able to turn and raise those arms without restriction (ooops that’s the competition).  Ought to be as easy as wearing your favorite quarter zip or vest.  Folks have already posted in the thread about doing some testing with a radar and measuring clubhead speed.  Great suggestion.  I’ve got a Mevo+ and plan to do so.  Thinking about the protocol here. (Final answer - see below on issues w fit, but zero issues on flexibility and maintaining swing speed)

5) Gloves - have they improved on the FootJoy model which is essentially your hands are soaking wet but the club doesn’t slip? Can they double as cold weather gloves?  Or am I keeping two sets of gloves in my “golf trunk duffle”? (Final Answer - similar to other rain gloves - no slippage, but they won't do double duty as winter gloves)

6) Ease of getting on when they skies open up – now the pants are not the pull over kind, which I initially expected.  This is going to be different.  Wearing them all the time – or any time rain looks likely in the forecast.  I typically keep my SunIce pants in the trunk and wrap them around the push cart if the sky looks foreboding.  I need to think about this one a bit.  But in terms of the jacket – how packable is it? My ProQuip is stuffed inside the bag and rolls up into a nice ball even though it has a lining.  (Final Answer - very packable - but you are not pulling the pants on - you'd have to take your shoes off - so just wear them if there is even a chance of rain.)

7) Can it do double duty?  Ie. can it serve as a wind jacket?  Is it a gamer for cold weather play, or just those early morning rounds as the weather changes – or is this strictly for when its raining?  (Final answer - very light weight and breathable, so it's great as a wind break, but it will not do double duty for cold weather - it is more suitable for warm weather. You'll need to layer up in the fall.)

 

 First Impressions 10 0f 10

Returned home from my travels to find a roughly shoe box size package waiting for me.  I thought that’s awfully small.  Well, let me tell you this rain suite is light weight and very, very packable.   I went with the “Ultimate Grey” Hawthorn II Rain Jacket size medium, and the Seagrove II Chino Rain Pant in Black, size 32x32.  That is the size I typically wear – Medium shirts, pull overs, size 40 Regular in a suit jacket and 32x32 pants – unless I find the rare unicorn of a 32x31.  I’m 5’10” and 165lbs.

             

The texture reminds me of my ProQuip, kind of a smooth soft shell.  Almost a satiny feel. Doesn’t feel like anything is there.  The jacket is very thin, no lining or anything like 

Observations – these aren’t pluses or minuses just observations.  

Jacket : There are draw strings  built into the hem of the bottom of the jacket, but nothing up around the rib or under arm area.  I point that out only because other jackets I’ve had have some way to tighten the fit there – we’ll see later if that’s something missing or not. 

There are some Velcro tabs along the zipper line – that’s common – but nothing at the neck.  There are also Velcro along the wrist cuffs to size appropriately. 

    

Its becoming standard to put a zippered pocket on the chest.  I see these on quarter zips too.  I don’t know that I’ve ever put anything in one…  You aren’t going to put a heavy iphone in there… do people really keep a score card there?

Pants: I really like the look.  They look like regular tapered pants – with a nice little notch at the ankle hem. Other than the larger belt loop in the middle back with the logo on it, you might think these are regular golf pants you got somewhere.  GB’s web site says “These unlined pants have the same sleek look and feel as traditional golf pants…” I’d say that is accurate.  I would almost call them slim fit – not overly so – but that are definitely not baggy.   I’d say they look similar to my Dunning golf pants.  When I did the order I tried their “find your fit” option and it recommended a 36x30.  Well, I’m happy with my choice at 32x32.  

Yes, these have a slighty “whisper” sound to them when walking.  We’ll see how that goes. 

The interior of the pant around the waist has band with the name in kind of a rubbery texture – like it is there to help hold things in place and avoid twisting.   

        

I would say the “rise” is average.  Some sleek or tapered pants have zero room in the crotch.  I don’t like Peter Millar shorts (love the shirts) because the rise is too high. As compared to some jeans where there is all kinds of extra room and things are baggy.  Id say are a nice medium, good fit. 

Everything is “storm sealed” including the washing instructions. 

The back pockets have little magnets sewn into them to help keep them closed.  Other rain pants I’ve had have a flap over the pocket to prevent water from getting in, or have zippered back pockets – so this will be interesting to see how it compares.   

The front pockets, as has been mentioned, are not deep.  Some people like that.  What I noticed is they are unsealed. Other pants I have either have some sort of flap, or more likely zipper to keep whatever you put there dry.  So we’ll see how this performs.  GB may have decide the hem of the jacket hangs low enough no water should get it.  It does hang low enough almost covering the pocket – so we’ll find out. 

Because the legs are tapered I think they have a nice look.  Other rainpants kind of pool around your shoes.  My SunIce onces are adjustable so they can be wide or narrow.  My one worry here is that if its too tapered does that shoot the water into the shoe rather than sheeting it off around the shoe.  If its too tapered does it get the sock on the back of my ankle wet, there by making my foot wet.  I don’t know yet – we’ll have to see.  

This whole concept of “always on” rainpants is new to me.  I’ve mentioned before, all mine are pull on over shorts or whatever.  You could wear them all the time, but I usually either start with them off and pull them on, or start with them on during the cool months and pull them off as the day warms up.  There won’t be any of that with these.  Those tapered legs are not going to pull over any shoes. 

Aesthetics 10 out of 10

I think it’s a good looking rainsuit.  I like the variety of colors – we don’t all need to be going Gary Player just because the skies opened up.  In fact, looking at GB’s other offerings its nice to see even more color choices.   

Yes, the GB logo is there on the back, and along the front pocket – but its tasteful – you won’t look like a walking billboard.   You won’t hesitate to wear this product anytime you are out in the rain on or off the course – you aren’t limited to golf only.  I point this out because SheWhoMustBeObeyed often complains I look like I bought my entire wardrobe in a proshop.  

It is very sleek looking – standing up.  I’ll get to the "puffiness" factor below.  But it looks sleek and modern. 

Fit and Comfort 15 out of 20

I struggle with where to score this so I split it 5 out of 10 on fit, and 10 out of 10 on comfort.  Let me explain. 

I asked for and was send a medium. I’m a medium in everything I wear – shirts, quarter zips, sweaters, etc.  I’m a 15 ½ neck and 31 sleeve in a dress shirt and a size 40 regular in a suit jacket.  I didn’t think twice when I ordered a medium.    I have since gone back to the Galway Bay web site and they have a “What’s My Size”  fitting helper.  While it came back recommending a Medium, it also notes it notes it will be “slightly loose” in the chest; where as if I select a Small it says “ideal fit” in the chest.  Well, it was more than just slightly loose.  You'll see in the pictures below it was very loose on me in the chest and belly area.

   

I’ll confess to Operator Error.  If I had purchased this jacket myself, I would be sending it back to exchange for a small.  It's just too “pooofy” around the chest and belly area.  We discovered that first on the full swing speed test.  That Poof doesn't bother me with a full swing – but it does with the short shots and putter.   The jacket definitely gets in the way with the putter in hand.  See more here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see here, it is narrower at the shoulders than at the waist.   With my body type I’m wider at the shoulders than the waist.  I'm not hanging anything over my belt... I understand not everyone is.  But buyers need to think about that.  Unlike almost every other jacket you own, you are going to spend a considerable amount of time bent at the waist.   I mentioned in speed test post – my ProQuip jacket has some velcro straps you can use to tighten up this chest, midsection area.  No such option with GB. I wish there was

But when it comes to comfort – the jacket is flawless.  It is extremely lightweight.  It passes the Breathability test with flying colors.  It is not warm – so you may need to layer up in the spring or fall, but you’ll be fine in the summer.   If you are carrying your bag on your shoulders – you’ll perspire there a bit – as you normally would – but it doesn’t cause any water to leak through.  Video of the bag carry, and what may shoulders looked like are found here. 

The pants fit true to size for me, and wear well.  It is a different concept – always on rain pants.  I’m used to stuffing them in my bag and using them as needed.  But if you think there is the slightest chance of rain, you’ll be fine wearing these all day.  Again, I’m a walker and I wore these several days without rain.  Very comfortable.  Not like shorts, but you are not going to overheat.  Though I'm a walker, when I got into my car after the round there was no bleed though from being wet on the outside. 

On Course  15 out of 20

I dropped 5 points because it absolutely affects my putting.  You may want to ignore that and say “hey dummy I’ll get the correct size” – or “not a problem for me because I will fill it out more” – so feel free to make that mental correction. 

But for me it absolutely impacts my putting – would sometimes catch the butt end of the putter.  Again, a smaller size might be better. 

 

However – while the “poof” gets in the way of my putter – it does not hinder a full shot, nor does it impose any flexibility issues.  I used my Mevo+ and compared my swingspeed with the jacket, and other rain jackets, clothing etc – bottom line, my full swings were just fine, I swung just as fast with the GB rain jacket on as I did with it off, so it passes the test on a full shot. No problems or restrictions in my shoulders, sleeves or the turn.  Full details on the speed test are found here.

The Good, the Bad, the In-Between 20 out of 20 

Good, Bad, InBetween is the MGS term – but I’m calling this section “Did it keep me dry” and that gets 20 out of 20.  It absolutely does the job.  I used a push cart, I carried my bag, It was a monsoon.  I stayed dry.   The water just beads up and sheets right off.   I’ve got a bunch of video at this post.  No water got in at my neck –  my bucket hat stayed outside the collar.  I expressed concern at the unboxing that the tapered legs may end up letting water get into my shoe – nope, feet stayed dry. My phone in my pocket stayed dry.  Water did not find away in anywhere.  My hands are obviously wet, but thats the way rain gloves work. 

I'm not sure what it is about these new technical materials that are used - but you look dry.  Because the water is beading up and sheeting off, you look dry.  Other jackets and clothes often darken up or look soaked.  Not the case here.

If I had a suggestion for Galway Bay – some of us good use a good water proof beanie for when playing in the rain and the cold.  Gotta be a way to do that, right?

Play it or Trade it  15 out of 20

I struggle with this one – I like the texture, the light weight nature, the breathability, the 100% water proof – it’s the fit that bothers me.  I wore the jacket the other day with no rain, just to have a light jacket in the cool morning, and I took it off after two hole because my putter caught on the seem.   If I had a smaller size I think it would be a keeper.  I’m impressed enough with the quality that I’ve been looking longingly at GB’s website at their all season jacket as we are down in the 40s here and I’d prefer that to layers.  Of course, I’d order a smaller size. 

GB’s website says they have free exchanges and returns – so I think someone purchasing this on their own would be safe – if it doesn’t fit right by all means return it asap.  You want a correct fit. 

Conclusion 85 out of 100 

I don’t think anyone will be disappointed by the Galway Bay rain gear.  It absolutely does what it is supposed to do.  It will keep you dry.  You will stay dry.  It is flexible and won’t slow down your swing.  It's breathable and lightweight.   Just be smarter than I am about size, use their “what’s my size” guide and don’t take for granted what you usually wear; and if you get it wrong send it back.  But once you have the right size you’ll be very happy.  

 

Edited October 27, 2023 by WaffleHouseTour
Introduction, UnBoxing, Final review

[Josh Parker]

I want to first say thanks to MGS for the opportunity to test out the Galway Bay rain gear!  My name is Josh and I am out of Austin, Texas.  Born and raised.  A few fun facts outside of golf.  I am married and have 2 young children (2 and 7).   I work in real estate and have been for the last 3.5 years.  I got into the business in order to spend more time with my kids while they are young and I love what I do.  I’m also a licensed fishing captain and we spend a lot of time down at the coast.  There is much more but I will keep this section short and sweet so that we can get to the good stuff.

I started playing golf about 15 years ago at a small city owned course.  There wasn’t much to do in the small town and I was working for the city at the time and several co-workers played so I decided to pick up the game.  Little did I know that it would become quite the obsession.  I played for a few years non-stop and had gotten down to a 3 handicap before moving back to Austin.  Once I was back in Austin, I got a job in construction and moved up the ranks where work/life got busy and golfing was a treat but didn’t happen nearly as much as I would have liked and my game went away.  This past year, I finally got to a place that I was able to dedicate more time to practicing and playing again and thankfully I have a wife that allows me to get out there and play pretty much whenever I want to.  (Now that she’s starting to learn, I’m sure that some of that “quiet” time I enjoy about golfing may change some….. don’t tell her that though…HAHA)  All kidding aside, I am actually excited that I will get to spend some time on the course with her.  I decided to finally get fitted for clubs this past year and it has changed my game and currently sitting at a 12 handicap.

Now for the testing part…

My expectations on rain gear would love to be high, however, most rain gear seems to have limitations in performance and comfort.  Honestly, I am hoping that we get some good rain and can truly put it to the test.  If not, I have some things planned in order to put them through the wringer.  Could be very entertaining as well as informative.  I will be focusing on the following areas:

 

Fit and Finish:

• Is sizing accurate? (granted this can vary from brand to brand)
• Can I wear from the course to dinner?
• Quality of materials used.

On The Course Performance:

• How well does it keep water out and for how long?
• How is the noise level with the jacket and pants?
• Do the gloves keep grip and how durable are they?
• How does it perform as far as being able to swing a club without restriction or does it restrict motion?
• Do I lose swing speed?
• Does it store well in the bag when not in use? 

My current gear repels water to a point and then just soaks thru.  My initial thoughts/hopes with the Galway Bay gear is that the noise is minimal and that it has good ranges of motion.  With the pants meant to be worn as the main article of clothing and not as a cover, after a round in the elements am I going to be able to sit in my vehicle and head home without needing to change?

If there are certain things that folks would like to see, please comment and I will do my best to incorporate that into my testing.

 

 

Well, the day has arrived, and I just received my package from Galway Bay!  Opening the box and here are my initial thoughts. 

Packaging: 

Each item arrives in its own packaging.  The bags are zippered, and each has the company logo on them.  I know packaging on clothing doesn’t matter to many but at the upper end of the price range, seeing everything in its own logoed bag was a pleasant surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gloves:  Golf Rain Grip Gloves

First impression of the gloves is that they are high quality and that the fit and finish is good.  The outside of the gloves reminds me slightly of the new style of construction or mechanics gloves and seem to have breathability.  They fit well and are snug, just like a golf glove should fit.  The palm area feels more like a suede, so I am interested to see how they feel when they are wet and to see if the claim to good grip will really be there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacket:  Hawthorn II Golf Rain Jacket

The quality is far better than many of the rain jackets I have owned in the past.  The sealed zippers and seams are a great feature and the slotted neckline fit nicely when zipped all the way up.  Galway Bay claims the Hydro-Flex 32 fabric not only blocks wind and rain but also has a breathability rating of 15,000.  This is something that I will definitely be testing heavily as we don’t get just a ton of cold weather in Texas, but we do get the rain showers.  I briefly threw on the jacket and the fit feels good.  I feel like there is room in the shoulders and back area that should allow for a smooth golf swing.  The jacket does have that wispy noise that every rain jacket I have owned does but I want to wear it more to see if it is the better or worse than the rest.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pants:  Seagrove II Chino Rain Pant

The pants are made of the same fabric as the jacket and the quality is present in these as well.  They fit well and the sizing is spot on for my everyday clothing size.  Galway Bay says that the pants are soft and quiet.  There is some slight noise but nothing like traditional rain gear.  It will be interesting to see the durability of water resistance between those other brands and the Galway Bay pants.  They are comfortable and could easily be worn as everyday pants.  I don't necessarily see them as a throw over your current pants in a pop-up rainstorm because they do not have any zippers at the cuff of the pants and you would need to remove your shoes, but I plan on attempting that scenario to see what happens. 

Final Review:

First Impressions (10 out of 10)
As mentioned above, the pants and jacket quality are top notch!  The packaging is clean and simple and each item comes in a logo bag proudly displaying the Galway Bay stamp.  The gloves are made well and the sizing on them fit just like the rest of my golf gloves. 

Aesthetics (9 out of 10)

Personally, I love the look of the Galway Bay rain gear.  You can immediately tell that the product is well made and the thought process behind the design and fit was built for golf.  The Hydro-Flex 32 fabric is ultra-light weight and the GB logos and name badge are put in all the right spots to make the clothes stand out in a crowd.

Seagrove II Chino Rain Pants – I really like the look of the pants.  They have a nice taper to them and the attention to detail really impressed me.  One of the things that I had not noticed until I put the pants on, was that they have magnets in the back pockets instead of a zipper or button and it’s something that I really liked about the pants.  The stitching, stretch and modern look of the pants fits in with today’s trends but still has enough classic look to them.  I have several golf pants that could almost be their twin, but they would not keep me dry in the wet rainy conditions like the GB pants did.  The one thing I would have chosen differently would have been to go with the black as I feel like being in the rain and wet grass, dirt, sand, etc. the light grey pants are going to start getting dirty rather quickly.

Hawthorn II Golf Rain Jacket – The jacket is the one item I tested that really stood out to me at the very beginning.  The slotted neckline that does not hit your chin.  The additional room in the shoulders that allows for a smooth swing.  The drawstrings inside the base of the jacket all show the thought process in the design and function for golf.  Then you have the black accent on the back of the jacket with the GB logo that looks clean and sharp.  You also have both a waterproof zipper as well as Velcro to keep additional water at bay.  All of this puts together a great jacket that can easily be worn or stored away in the bag for when the rain starts.

Galway Bay Rain Gloves – First glance at the gloves gives you the typical look of most rain gloves with some subtle differences.  They do have some design on the top of the glove that makes it slightly different from other rain gloves.  The quality and stitching again are high and I would put them up against some of the big-name brands.  The one thing that I would have loved to have seen some type of silicone on the fingers and palm of the gloves for additional grip to make them a little different from the other brands.

Fit & Comfort (19 out of 20)

Seagrove II Chino Rain Pants – I did the online fitting that GB offers on their site and the pants fit perfectly.  The material stretches and breathes well.  They are meant to be worn as your primary garment and not as pull overs.  I did however wear some shorts under them to see if they would work and I was surprised that they had enough stretch to fit.  I own multiple golf pants and I would put these at the top of the list.

Hawthorn II Golf Rain Jacket – When I first pulled the jacket out of its zippered pouch and put it on, I immediately noticed how well it fit and was more form fitting than most rain jackets that I have owned in the past.  Now one would think that form fitting means loss of movement, however, it really did not feel restrictive at all.  It had room in the shoulders and upper back area that allowed for a smooth free swing.   The Hydro-Flex 32 fabric is light and breathes well.  You also can synch down the cuffs and base of the jacket if needed as well as multiple secured pockets that keep the rain away. 

Galway Bay Rain Gloves – I chose my everyday glove size and they were spot on with sizing.  They are soft and form fitting.  I typically like my gloves super tight and the only area that they fell short in were at the wrist area with the Velcro.  They were looser than I prefer but if I am going to give up fit in any section of a glove, it would be this area.  

On-Course (17 out of 20)

Overall, the Galway Bay rain gear is top notch.  I am going to start with the positives because there are so many more positives than negatives.

Wearing the GB gear on the course and the range were great.  They are comfortable and fit well.  I walked in to this test with some major concerns about noise and the ability to swing a club free from restriction.  Galway Bay performed flawlessly in these aspects and on top of all of that, kept me dry. 

The pants breathe well and the stretch in the Hydro-Flex 32 material makes it easy to walk the course.  The pockets are large enough to hold tees, marker, and golf balls but not overly big.  The back pockets have magnets in them to help keep them closed when not in use and perfect for a glove.

The jacket was probably the one article of clothing that impressed me the most.  So often rain gear is restrictive and noisy which can change my game and distract me from playing my best.  Let’s face it, you are already playing in the rain and now you have these limitations, it doesn’t make for an enjoyable round.  Galway Bay knocked it out of the park on their jacket.  It is comfortable and light.  It has the necessary stretch and design to allow you to keep your normal swing, and this is paramount in bad weather gear.  The slight noise I heard when I first put on the jacket ended up not being a distraction whatsoever and I was very pleased that a rain jacket finally fit that bill. 

The GB rain gloves for me are lacking some in performance.  I understand the concept of rain gloves and how they are supposed to work.  The issue I have with them is grip in wet conditions.  I would have loved to see them have some type of silicone on the palm and finger tips to give additional grip which would allow for more feel with the club.  I know most rain gloves on the market do not have this and I am only aware of one company that does, but I think this is a must have.  With all the different grips on clubs these days, wet hands do not always work and the addition of silicone would allow these gloves to work with more grips in the market.

The only other minus to this for me is the pants not being able to act as pull overs.  Being in Texas, we have months over a hundred degrees and we tend to have pop up storms.  When it is that hot, I prefer to have my rain gear stored away in the bag and ready to be thrown on at a moment’s notice.  These will work as pull-overs but you will be forced to take your shoes off to put the pants on.  I would have loved to have seen a zipper added to the pants.

 

The Good, the bad, the in-between (19 out of 20)

The Good – The quality of the Galway Bay rain gear is top notch!  The fit and comfort of the gear is impressive and when you put everything on, you feel like a million bucks.  The pants and jacket could easily be worn to the office and then straight out to the course. 

The Bad – Again for me, the gloves lacked a little in the grip arena for me.  They are like 99% of the other rain gloves out there and they do perform but I just prefer a little more grip.

The In-Between – Here is where I am torn.  I love the fit and comfort of the pants, however, I would have loved to have seen these pants with waterproof zippers at the base of the pant legs so that you could also use them as pullovers in warmer weather.

Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20)

There is no question for me here, Galway Bay rain gear is an absolute play it!  It performed beyond my expectations when it came to comfort, swing ability and above anything else, keeping you dry.  The jacket is tucked away in the bag along with the rain gloves and the pants are ready to be put into action.

 

Conclusion

If you are in the market for rain gear or even if you are not, do yourself a favor and head on over to the Galway Bay site and pick up a new jacket, pants, or gloves.  You will not be disappointed. 

I had some very low expectations with rain gear at the beginning of this process and Galway Bay blew me away with their performance in every aspect.  They have found the solution to a lot of the issues in rain gear for golf.  The Hydro-Flex 32 material that they use on the jacket and pants allows for the full range of motion all while giving you a modern look out on the course. 

Finally, the most important part of rain gear is to keep you dry, and this gear will absolutely do that.

Thank you to Galway Bay and MGS for this opportunity. 

Final Score (94 out of 100)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2023 by jdparker
Intro - Unboxing - Final Review

[EugeGall]

Well G'day to everyone, I'm Eugene Gallacher so you can see I got very original with my user name, ok not really, it was an off day when I joined.
Firstly I'd like to thank MGS and Galway Bay for giving me this opportunity to test out the rain gear, especially hailing from over the pond as a member. I'm eagerly awaiting for my shipment to arrive which is somewhere between the US and the UK, although the current weather has me thinking "who wants to test raingear?"

You'll all be pleased to know the forecast is rain over the next few weeks. Hey at least I won't have to jump in the shower to test them out.

About Me

I'm 52 years young, married with 2 daughters and live in Brighton UK. A fun fact is I'm Scottish with an Irish father, my wife is Welsh and my 2 daughters were born in England and we all have Australian citizenship. I'm an engineer by default and currently the general manager for a manufacturing company that designs instrumentation for the geotechnical, civil and structural engineering sector.
I love sport of all kinds especially (other than golf obviously) football (I'm not saying soccer, sorry guys) and no not the American kind 1. NFL is not football, 2. NFL is not football and 3. NFL is not football, the throwing part kind of gives it away. I'll stop now.

My Golf

Been playing golf since I was 8 (dad was a big golf nut so must be in the genes) and played all through my school years as a junior, took a break when I went to university, all that studying got in the way (maybe girls did too, LOL). Started again in my early twenties and really got serious when I lived in Australia, what can I say the Sandbelt area of Melbourne is blessed with great courses (was a member of Kingston Heath), oh and the weather helped getting my handicap down to 7.4. Moved back to the UK 2012 and here's the kicker, didn't play any golf for the next 10 years so only been back playing for the last 8-9 months. Played with a friend and gave myself a 15 handicap which seemed to work out about right and I've stupidly set myself the goal of handicap 5 by 60; I'm off 9.2. Will I get there, who knows and honestly I don't really mind, it's the trying that counts. Current track is Singing Hills, a lovely 27 hole course with 3 distinct 9 holes (Lake, River & Valley), just north of Brighton and I play every weekend, at least once and get out for 9 midweek, most weeks.
I do all my own club work, regripping & reshafting. Bit of tinkerer at heart.

The Test/Review

1. How to test - hopefully playing golf in the rain, but as said will jump in the shower and my wife has volunteered to soak me with a hose (wants to more like). I'll get creative if needed so will use when walking the dog. I also want to see how they go as cold and wind protection without need to layer too much.
2. Comparisons - they'll be put up against my other stock brands, you know the ones that look like you're wearing garbage bags. My course has Toptracer Range so will will do a distance & dispersion compare on the Galway Bay vs other raingear and my normal clothing to see if they restrict swing, etc.
3. Will they stay after testing - for sure if they work, if they are easy to wash and keep waterproof, if they look as cool in real life as the pictures.
4. Why did I want to test - not a fan of current raingear, they look like garbage bags and I like to look cool when I golf. The pants intrigued me as they state they are normal pants for everyday golf, not something you have pull on when the rain starts. Breathability is a big factor I want to explore, lets face it you're dressed for golf and then it rains and you pull on the gear and end up sweating like a dog on heat.
5. Product knowledge - I'll be honest and say I'd never heard of Galway Bay. They don't come up in searches for raingear here in the UK or maybe I'm just to old to use the internet properly.
6. Expectations - high having now down some research on the product and brand. I don't want them to be just like all the other brands, I'm expecting better.

Anyway I'll keep you all posted and I can't believe I'm going to say this but let the rain begin..... fun times ahead.

EugeGall

Finally - Unboxing, First Impressions and First Use

Well after waiting what felt like a lifetime (reminded me of being a kid waiting for Christmas) they arrived last Friday. Not sure if this was a fault with UPS or UK customs or just the fact the golfing Gods knew I didn't really need them as the weather is so not rainwear use just now in the UK. However, I had taken the day off to play so I was keen to get going.

Small box with the jacket and pants neatly package in their own branded bag and gloves in usual branded sleeve.

    

Jacket

First take on the jacket I really liked the look and feel of the material - more silver colour than just plain dull grey, with a smooth statin feel. It looked like any water would just run off. I also have a thing about touching textures that are a little sandpaper like, that some waterproofs can have - similar to touching a terracotta pot can give me shivers so big plus on the material.

Aesthetically pleasing with the detailing of "Galway Bay" subtle on the breast pocket and left cuff. The pocket zips have a drawcord attached which look like they will make usage easier, although I'll be honest and say I tend not to use the pockets on a jacket. The cuffs had the usual Velcro adjustment. The waist has drawstring adjustment which some may find useful if they want a more fitted feel so I'll see how that goes over time.

 

Over the coming weeks/months (I need rain, ok the shower will do)) I'll compare against my other rainwear. On looks and feel alone it's up there with my current top/jacket

 This has the normal Goretex fabric so I'm curious to see how the Galway Bay Hydro-Flex material compares.

Pants

Straight out of the packet they just looked as stated, normal golf pants - not the garbage bags I currently have. Big plus on this!! Again subtle detailing on the right pocket.

 

The 2 rear pockets have magnetic closures unlike the normal Velcro system - there was no flap so it will be interesting to see how this copes in the rain, but the magnet I thought was a nice touch. Nice tapered cut to the leg and the grey colour just shouted smart!! These pants tick the box for me in all counts so far.

On The Course

As I said I was playing on Friday so I thought no time like the present to put these into practice.  I had planned on wearing the Adidas trousers shown in the picture. Side by side you'd be hard pressed to pick the rain pants.

The weather was nice 70F with no rain in sight, but what the heck I was curious to see if they could cross over into everyday use.  Although as you can see from the picture the jacket did make me feel a little hot.

 I battled on for 2 holes and had to remove it. Not that I found that it made me sweat, it just wasn't the conditions for a jacket. Although I would say this bodes well for the future when it starts to cool off. On the limited shots I did hit with the full gear I found it didn't impact my swing in any way, but it's early days and it wasn't wet.

The pants worn alone for the rest of the round worked just as I hoped - no different to normal golf wear. No rustling sound, no sweating caused and comfortable to wear. Again I'll be curious to see how they fair as the cooler, wetter weather kicks in by I have high hopes so far.

What About The Gloves??

The gloves have a suede feel to the fingers and palm I assume for traction when wet and a stretch fabric to the top. The fit is spot on compared to my everyday glove and the quality looks good. Given the current weather I'm going to have to get creative on testing these over the coming days - thinking of spray bottle and then towelling down, similar to non rain glove when playing in the rain.

Come to think of it I'm going to have to get creative with all the gear, but at least I can do the comparison vs other brands and dry weather clothing to see if they restrict play before the heavens open.

So far so good - 1st impressions get a big thumbs up from me .

Final Review

First Impressions (9 out of 10)
Out of the box and unpacking I have to say the Galway Bay rainwear just looked cool, especially in the grey colour chosen. As I said above I went with the Ultimate Gray Hawthorn II Rain Jacket in a small and the Seagrove II Chino Rain Pant in Gray, size 30x32 (come to think of it should the colour really read "Grey"). The fit was spot on in the jacket and if I'm being picky maybe slightly too long in the leg for my 5'8" and 140lbs frame. Compared to other golf clothing I would say the sizing is on a "par" with what I'm used to. The material has a soft, smooth texture that's almost a cross between silky and satiny (are those are real words, but hopefully you know what I mean). As I said above I have an icky feeling when touching some textures so these were cool.

Jacket: There are two Velcro tabs along the main zipper which is pretty standard and also on the wrist cuffs to size appropriately. There are draw strings built into the bottom of the jacket to tighten around the waist for those who require the need. The collar is tapered around the neck line for comfort which I particularly appreciated as I don't like anything rubbing against my facial hair. The pockets have strings attached for easier opening/closing, I suppose which is useful as I found these to be on the tight side to use (was the tight pocket zips a feature of GB making these more waterproof??). There is the go to breast pocket that whilst very traditional I just find totally useless, I mean does anyone really carry a scorecard in there. Come to think of it I don't use any of the pockets, but that may just be me.
What really jumped out at me was the lack of weight in the this jacket, you barley notice you have it on.

Pants:  Now GB state “These unlined pants have the same sleek look and feel as traditional golf pants" and I have to say they are accurate with this description. Compared to my usual Adidas pants it's hard to say which are the rainwear. They have a slim tapered fit and for sure could be used as your every day golf pant as they don't scream rain pant. I have to say GB got these spot on as I hate wearing my "garbage bag" over the top ones. The rear pockets have magnetic closures which I found a little odd given they are rain pants, unlike the usual flap on my other brands, to keep the water out so wasn't sure how this would work so this was where I took the one point off my score.

Gloves: Got these in a size small and the fit was accurate and similar to my usual glove size. The design was nice with a big GB logo on top and the quality of the stitching appeared good. I wasn't too sure what to expect of these as I don't use rain gloves, but more on that later.

Aesthetics (10 out of 10)
What's not like about the look of this setup. The colour is cool, the logos are subtle and the jacket is already my goto on and off the course. Even my wife pointed out the jacket was pretty snazzy and that takes some doing for her to even notice what I'm wearing as she hates my usual loud or typical golf attire, so that's a big thumbs up to GB.

Fit & Comfort (18 out of 20)
As I have already said fit was similar to my normal clothing and the Hydro-Flex 32 material is super light weight and breathable. Given the unusual good weather lately I was concerned that like other rainwear these would be like sweatboxes, but how ever GB have achieved it this is not the case with their jacket and pants. If I don't notice something when wearing it then in my book it passes the comfort test, however if I'm being picky I would have liked to have the option of a draw string around the lower rib area just to pinch it in slightly, so for me 2 marks lost there. As the weather gets colder the light weight will make layering a breeze - yes I wear leggings on bottom and base layer on top when the temperature drops - I'm a wuss when it gets cold. The GB website points out the clothing is rated for 45 to 70 degrees and amazingly I have already tested these 2 extremes with flying colours on the positive side.

On-Course (17 out of 20)
This was obviously the main part of the review for me. Ok so they look good, the fit was spot on and yes they are comfortable to wear, but do they work and can you play in them. Overall it's a big Yes and Yes (well maybe).
The jacket and pants in no way hampered my swing and my scoring was on a par compared to playing in non-rainwear. The slight swish when swinging was a blessing compared to the rustle I get in my other rainwear so I would say the GB get a plus for me in this regard. Not that my other gear hampers my swing it's just the distracting sound that gets into my head. Whilst it never really rained hard/heavy during my testing there was certainly enough to give these a good soak test. The water just appeared to bead and run off and my clothing underneath remained perfectly dry. Given the pants are worn as traditional ones I was pleasantly surprised that I could wear these on the drive home after a wet round without taking water with me. I'd never do this with my over the top ones.
Now this were I'm going to point out the following could just be user error (or the fool using more like). The gloves, given I never wear rain gloves, I wasn't sure about. The grip when wet gave me little confidence, but if I towelled off it improved, but not close enough to what I'm used to - I keep my glove, hands and grips pretty dry when it rains. Plus I'm not a fan of a glove on my right hand, it just feels wrong. So it could be harsh that I'm marking down for my failings more than the actual gloves themselves.

The Good, the bad, the in-between (20 out of 20)
Good - the jacket and pants just screamed quality and not only from a golf viewpoint. The jacket is now my wear to work it's that nice. The pants are as comfy as an old pair of slippers (and that's in a good way). They both keep you dry as required and my dog is voting yes as I wear them to walk him in the wet. The dog may even have the casting vote.
Bad - the gloves as I've already said this could just be me, but I just wouldn't bother and stick to my usual set up.
There is no in-between and the good more than outweighs any bad.

Play It or Trade It (20 out of 20)
This, even as I'm typing is the hardest section. Yes the rainwear meets all my criteria; they kept me dry, they looked cool, the quality was 2nd to none, I can wear it on and off the course, my dog loves them, my wife gave them a thumbs up. However the setup is around the $500 mark and that's pricey for what is just something to keep you dry. Yes I'm lucky that I got picked to test and I tried to work out would I pay that for them. I wanted to be honest to the other MGS members in this who hopefully will read. After some internal head wrangling all I kept coming back to is you get what you pay for and so they just tick all the boxes - a big and truthful PLAY IT!!

Conclusion
I'll be honest and say I hate playing in the rain (who does??), even to the point I'll avoid it. You know what not anymore, I've got my Galway Bays. I now say huh rain, well bring it on, not only do they keep you dry, but you'll look a million dollars while doing it. These are not rainwear, they are just my part of my everyday golf attire. So do yourself a favour and head over to the Galway Bay website and grab some good looking and great quality golf clothing. Don't pray for no rain, just play knowing you've got yourself covered.
Finally a big thank you to Galway Bay and MyGolfSpy for making me play in (and pray for) rain. Who'd have thought that was ever possible.

Final Score (94 out of 100)

Edited October 31, 2023 by EugeGall
Updated for final review

[Alan Scalzi]

       

 

Hi all MGS members and thanks for choosing me to do this test! j I'm Alan, love getting out and playing golf as much as possible with some luck in weather this year seems like I have been able to play ever weekend from the beginning of the new year! Not much snow this year(Yeah)! I'm a home remodeler, I own my own business so getting away to golf is a little easier for me. I usually practice every day as I have room in my basement to hit balls and putt! This year I can say is the most golf I have played  in my lifetime and find myself wanting to play more! Really looking forward to trying out the Galway Bay gear as I don't like wearing alot of layers of clothing when playing golf! The great things about this test is I can wear this when practicing ,  on the course and just wearing them in my everyday life to stay comfortable and dry!  Also when asked to go to Galway web site and get the sizes they need, I stayed around and researched the products! I'm 52 and when someone says rain gear I'm thinking apperal that goes over your clothes,  this is not the case which really im all for as I don't like to wear much when playing golf and other sports. Can't wait till Thursday September 21 as this when I'm supposed to receive my package 

Final Review: First Impressions 10 out of 10. Fit and comfort 20 out of 20 and Aesthetician 10 out of 10: I'm very pleased with the look and feel of the Galway Bay rain gear,  and when I say rain gear that's an understatement as this outfit is very stylish and can be worn off the course as well. Keeps you dry as well as warm.  You don't have to wear alot of clothes underneath as these are designed to be the outfit! The fit is outstanding as it like wearing a normal golf outfit. I worn the jacket to a family function and got a few compliments. The jacket is my go to on any day.

On the course  18-20:

It performed well on the course very comfortable, better than all other outfits i wear, when I have to wear pants. The gloves did give me a concern when worn without rain, just cold. I didn't have the grip I got when they were wet, as I worn them wet with a 30 year old club with a bad grip and no slipping. 

The good, the bad 19 out 20: Liked the way it keeps me dry which is one less thing to worry about when playing or watching a sporting event.  Though I wish you could adjust the pants and not have to wear a belt. Also they should have a way to size for the gloves to get the right size. I do recommend wearing the gloves around the house to break them in.

Play it or trade it 20 out of 20: Worth every penny comfort and style on the pants and jacket are incredible. 

Final score 97 out of 100

Conclusion: If looking for a rain gear to buy this is the one to get. Pants and jacket can be worn as stand alone or with some warm weather gear like long underwear underneath when temperatures get low. I did this and removed the long underwear after a few holes as I live in the Midwest and we sometimes get different seasons in one day! I suggested the gloves having some type of measuring device.  Since I received the gear I don't have to worry about the weather when I'm going out to play.  I received the Hawthorn II golf rain jacket, Seagrove II chino rain paints and the golf rain gloves. Also like to apologize to the Galway Bay company for miss pronouncing the name in my video!

Edited November 2, 2023 by Alan Scalzi
Adding unboxing

[GolferXY]

Boy! It feels like I just made a 30 footer, downhill with a couple of breaks for eagle.  I get to test the Galway Bay rain gear!  Just in time, too.  It rained today for the first time in weeks so I guess the golf gods are smiling on me.

I'm 64, live in the Seattle area, and golf a couple times a week. 

Wife, two grown kids and a great group of friends 

that share my passion for golf.  I also catch a salmon now and then and have a garage full of woodworking tools, so I try to keep busy.  I started golfing at 12 and have been at it ever since.  I still drive it well, hit greens in reg, and 3 putt for bogey a lot. 

Living in the Seattle area but traveling all over the Puget Sound region, I play a lot of golf.  I play year ‘round, which puts me in direct competition with the weather for several months of the year.  I play in the rain quite a bit, and have tried a bunch of different styles of rain gear, from cheap plastic bags to name brand “goretex” options. 

To be honest, I’ve never been particularly satisfied with any of them.  I’m looking forward to testing out the Galway Bay items and I’ll do my best to give a complete and honest  review of them.  I hope you’ll come along for the journey.  There’s nothing better than sharing your passion with others.  I'll be rating the fit and finish, construction, durability, comfort, usability, and my thoughts on how it works...or doesn't work...for a guy like me.  My golf buddies have promised to throw me in the lake if it doesn't rain so I can give an honest review, and I take them at their word.  I'm hoping for rain.

-XY

P.S.

I’m a golf junky.  I admit it.

I was born the year Billy Caspar flew to glory at Winged Foot.

I was never meant to be a golfer.  Mom said I was meant for other things: doctor, lawyer, scientist….believe it or not, actor….but of course, a parent’s dreams often meet with the reality of their child’s decisions.  So I embarked on the hedonistic lifestyle of a rock musician for a few years.  Ended up marrying a pretty girl, settled into a struggling but beautiful life of family, hard work, and the occasional golf outing.  My career was such that when I had the time, I rarely had the money, and when I had the money I rarely had it to spend on golf. 

I was first exposed to golf by my father, who knew nothing of the game except that Palmer and Nicklaus were heroic figures, and he and I would religiously watch the US Open and the Masters every year [along with the Kentucky Derby, go figure!].  I first played the game at twelve when a hockey friend’s dad took us out for a round.  I don’t remember much about the round, but it was so unique that I was totally addicted from the first swing.  I played every chance I got as a child, and got good enough to play in a few tournaments in my teen years.  Good enough that my dad bought me an outrageously priced set of Wilson Staff Dynapower in 1976 as I started high school. 

I had been dreaming of those clubs for months, slobbering over the pages of Golf Digest, reading and re-reading every word in the review.  Looking back I realized that my parents gave me a gift well out of proportion to their income [or my worthiness to receive it].

When I got them it was like winning the lottery.  Beautiful, buttery smooth, when you hit that 7 iron, it would launch low, drop and stop from 145 yards.  It was heavenly.  I never lived up to the potential of the clubs, not even close, but I used those clubs every time I played for the next 20 years, until I could no longer hit the blades and put them in the garage to collect dust while I swung my new cavity back irons. 

Four or five iron sets later, I’m nearing retirement and golfing more than ever.  The days of no time/no money are past, and I can indulge the passion of fifty years.  Irons, Drivers, gadgets of every make and model…many of which I was introduced to by MyGolfSpy!  I love so much about the game: 4 plus hours of intellectual, emotional, and physical struggle; dreaming and scheming to get my hands on the latest and greatest equipment; reading the history of the game in my spare moments.  Yeah, I’m a golf junky,  I admit it.  I bet you are, too!

-XY

 

Edited September 18, 2023 by GolferXY

[GolfSpy_APH]

Our wet weather testers have been selected! 

Excited to see how this works out for them... maybe even more so if it doesnt rain!

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations testers! This should be a good test and I'm looking forward to the results. 

[Leonvdwesthuizen]

Congratulations testers, hope the weather gods are in your favour when you want to go and play!

[IndyBonzo]

Congratulations Testers!

[Tallwood88]

Congrats testers! My Galway Bay raingear is one of my best golf purchases. I hope you enjoy the new gear!

[GolfSpy AFG]

Congrats testers!

["Mr. 72"]

Congratulations testers. I hope it rains on you during your next round???

[vman1964]

Congrats testers. Hopefully you stay dry. 

[RockerFCC]

Congratulations to the selectees, tis the season for testing. 

[Hogzy]

I just had a round of golf in what was claimed, even for Ireland, a substantial downpour not seen very often. I wore my Galway Bay pants for the very fist time. I went through two major brand name rain jackets and was soaked on my upper body. My Galway Bay pants kept my lower body completely dry. I couldn't believe the difference and how well they worked. I have since bought a Galway Bay rain jacket after arriving back in the States. 

I hope the testers get to play (sorry) in the same weather conditions I had in Ireland for a proper review.

I am sold on my new Galway Bay purchases. They really are water proof and very comfortable.

Edited September 12, 2023 by Hogzy
Missed letter

[Josh Parker]

3 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Our wet weather testers have been selected! 

Excited to see how this works out for them... maybe even more so if it doesnt rain!

I can't wait to test this gear out.  My current rain gear is noisy and somewhat bulky, but it does a decent job at keeping you dry.  @GolfSpy_APH and yes, I have some testing planned just in case it doesn't rain!  

[MichMoore]

Good luck to all the testers!!!!  I hope the rain shows up for you!!!!

[xOldBenKenobiX]

13 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Please welcome and congratulate our testers!

@WaffleHouseTour

@jdparker

@EugeGall

@Alan Scalzi

@GolferXY

Congrats testers.

[bob scott]

Good luck guys…..get those wet rounds in

[Preeway]

Congratulations testers. I’m looking for a new rain jacket for sure and this brand is certainly on my radar. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. 

[Bohnson]

Congrats testers! 

[ccostel18]

Congratulations testers!  Put them in your bag, don’t check the forecast, and head straight to the course….come what may

[Cfhandyman]

Congratulations to the testers. May you enjoy playing in the rain and staying dry. No rain in the forecast, the garden hose will be a good substitute. Have fun. 

[ScramblinMan]

Congratulations testers! Hope you stay warm and dry in your new threads! Looking forward to your reports on breathability, flexibility, and comfort…

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Congrats Testers!

[Alan Scalzi]

This will be fun and a big challenge as most people don't like to play in the rain! Well I do as long as its not going to hurt my well-being!

[brandonrumph]

Congrats testers, can't wait to hear the results! Please consider warmth as well as breathability for the fall golfers up north!

[Digiburdie]

Congrats testers! I'll be following closely as I'm in the market for some new rain gear! 

 

[TSauer]

Good luck, testers! If there is no rain in the forecast, I fully expect a simulation with a water hose or sprinkler. Have fun!