The best piece of golf outerwear you can own is a good jacket. It needs to be lightweight, keep you warm and dry, stand up to the wind, withstand downpours, be quiet and give you a complete range of motion while you swing and fit properly. And oh yeah, it needs to be fashionable and stylish, as you’ll want to wear it off the course, too. Plus if you go on a golf vacation, it can roll into a tiny crevice in your suitcase.

adidas Climaheat Jacket

These garments often include many key details. For example, some offer draw cords or cinch straps that quickly snug the fit at your waist. Others offer pockets with “invisible” seams that are sealed to keep water out, so whatever is in your pocket stays dry. There are futuristic materials that are designed to regulate your body temperature while you’re wearing the jacket. Many are “breathable” so that you won’t sweat while you’re wearing them. And then there are shells and linings made of fabrics that stretch with your body as it moves. In other words, a good jacket won’t hinder you in any way.

Ultimately you get what you pay for. That is, most golfers think nothing of spending $100 to buy a jacket at the course. Many people just want something with the club logo stitched in. But paying a little more may go a long way in getting a top that will last many wet and brisk rounds for years to come. It’ll emerge from your laundry without falling apart and maintain its original colors without fading. Which is ideal, as you may quickly find this to be your go-to jacket for every occasion.

Ogio Muffler Pullover Jacket

adidas Golf’s Climaheat prime fill jacket ($150) is made of fabric that maximizes warmth while maintaining freedom of movement. It features bonded quilting and elastic binding, for enhanced performance in chilly weather.

Galvin Green’s Arrow GORE-TEX full-zip ($560) combines stretch fabric where you need it in your swing with non-stretch material where you don’t. It has excellent breathability, mesh lining, and special features such as a water-repellent zipper, rain channels in the sleeve ends, adjustable chest width and two inside pockets.

OGIO’s all-polyester Muffler Golf Pullover ($85) is lightweight, water- and wind-resistant, and features built-in UV protection. A double-adjust waist cord helps you customize the fit to your body.

PUMA Golf’s PWRWARM 1/4 Zip Popover ($75) adapts to various weather conditions, retaining heat close to your body to maintain optimum temperature even when it’s cold outside — with the help of integrated minerals in its yarns.

Sun Mountain’s Tour Series long-sleeve pullover ($179) has a waterproof, breathable membrane bonded to a four-way stretch shell, plus a soft, protective inner layer. It’s durable, lightweight, quiet and breathable.

Zero Restriction’s Forbes vest ($215) is billed as golf’s first “stretch insulated” garment, for uninhibited movement. It has backside lamination that repels wind and a covered placket for extra protection from rain.