REVIEW: FootJoy’s ThermoSeries Is the Real Deal for the Year-Round Golfer

Winter golf is here for many of us, and one of the biggest challenges is staying warm in the elements.

There are a lot of great companies out there that make great apparel: Nike, Travis Matthew, Under Armour, and Peter Millar are just a few that I’ve had the opportunity to try, and I’ve had tremendous results. Of course, they all have their drawbacks.

FootJoy’s ThermoSeries is one that I would have to admit is one of the best I’ve had the opportunity to put to the test. In my review of what they sent me recently, I’ve put under intense scrutiny the various items I received, and I was blown away, for the most part.

FootJoy ThermoSeries: The Tech

ThermoSeries is designed for layering and is versatile in the sense that you can combine multiple layers for the coldest days of the season, or wear just one for the brisk Autumn afternoon. I know it will keep me warm in the latter, because I decided to use it during a 40-degree and 31-degree day during the last week of November.

Ideally, this is my favorite time of year to play golf. Tee times are easier to come by, fees are a little less expensive, and the weather is just easier to dress in. I admit, I enjoy the Summer rounds, but there’s something about being able to look a little more classy in the Fall and Winter. It is undoubtedly easier to dress for success during the colder months, at least in my opinion.

FootJoy employs a baselayer, then a second line of defense, then an outer shell to keep your body warm in the cold weather. The base layer is similar to a mesh material that I would buy at Costco under the “32 Heat” brand. FootJoy’s base layer is a higher quality, long-sleeve shirt that helps maintain body heat but isn’t overly restrictive. 

Next is the second line of defense, which is the Mid-Layer. A Quarter-Zip in white with blue dots, it’s a clean look that looks great on the course and could be worn to dinner as well. There are several different colorways for that.

Then comes the Hybrid Jacket or the Full-Zip Hoodie. Both are great options, and I find the hoodie to be a little easier to move around in and feel more “free” during play. However, the jacket was definitely a warmer option, and I truly do love the look of it. I practiced short game with it on:

A lot of winter golf clothing is restrictive and uncomfortable to play in but the ThermoSeries from @FootJoy was perfect. I felt free and had a full range of motion with swings pic.twitter.com/tMYNaUFm8E

— Joey Klender (@KlenderJoey) November 29, 2023

The Jacket is also a great addition to your wardrobe if you need something to wear that’s a little more dressy. It is an excellent and versatile addition to the closet.

I also received the ThermoSeries Vest, but admit I haven’t had a chance to play with it quite yet. However, it is a medium-thickness vest with plenty of warmth to offer your core, and I plan to save it for a 50 to 60-degree day.

Finally, the ThermoSeries Pants are the final piece of the puzzle. Now these are definitely going to give you the most amount of warmth with a pair of Long Johns underneath, which I think FootJoy should definitely dive into for next year using the same tech as the Base Layer.

These pants are a tailored fit that aren’t too tight and aren’t too loose:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Joey Klender (@klendergolf)

All in all, the pants are what I hope to see improvement on for next year. My legs were getting pretty cold with these on, and I think that’s more or less because of the lack of layers compared to up top. I tried a couple of different pairs of Long Johns I had over the days of testing, and the “32 Heat” from Costco was my pick over the Under Armour ones I had. I don’t have much to complain about from the pants, just that I expected to be a little warmer with them on.

Overall Functionality

The big benchmark for this type of clothing is whether you are able to maintain your range of motion with it on. As I previously mentioned, there are a lot of great companies out there that offer some really great products, but it is personal preference for how you feel in them.

I have tried some cold weather gear in past years that does not quite give me the reach in the backswing that I want or is too compressive in other areas. This makes for an uncomfortable round.

However, I was able to feel all of what I needed while practicing and playing in the ThermoSeries. There was no challenge with anything. I was warm and comfortable and felt like I was playing in shorts in a polo, not in several layers of clothing.

Quality

You are going to pay a pretty penny for FootJoy clothing, but it is well worth it.

I was really impressed with how everything fit and how everything felt. I do recommend washing everything in cold water and tumble drying on low, just as the product care tags suggest. 

Everything is thick enough to keep you warm and thin enough to be non-restrictive. I have zero complaints about the quality, and FootJoy continues to be the benchmark and pinnacle of golf clothing, at least for me.

I was sent the ThermoSeries from @FootJoy recently and I tested them out in some 40 degree weather.

You have to practice all year to be sharp and that includes the cold. I was super impressed with how warm I stayed with the cold and the wind both beating down on me during my… pic.twitter.com/nxOzO9vAYz

— Joey Klender (@KlenderJoey) November 29, 2023

Final Thoughts

If you have a few hundred dollars to throw around on some new golf clothing and you plan to play in the colder temperatures, I would ultimately suggest the FootJoy ThermoSeries before anything else I’ve tried.

Do I think that there are things to be improved upon? Not really. I wish they did develop a base layer for your legs, but if that’s my biggest complaint, I think they did pretty well.

I just love the colors and the quality of everything. I love feeling like an outfit is tied together well and I didn’t have an issue with that with the FootJoy ThermoSeries, I just don’t have any complaints about it because I was warm, I was able to play comfortably, and it was a pleasant experience all around. 

I will be wearing the ThermoSeries during all of my rounds this off-season.