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FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket Review

The HydroSeries range from FootJoy is pretty comprehensive, bringing three golf jackets all boasting different attributes to the market: the HydroKnit , the HydroLite and the headline garment, the FootJoy HydroTour.

As the headline piece, the HydroTour is said to tick all the boxes for golfers who are not scared to play in the most testing of conditions, cold, wet, windy - if the course is open, they're playing.

I tested the HydroTour on a cold winters day in Manchester, playing Withington Golf Club to assess the performance where it matters most.

FootJoy are claiming to have made the 'ultimate storm-proof jacket' using some specific technologies.

A lightweight 3 panel construction is said to reduce bulk and weight making it easy to pack away whilst maximising mobility during the golf swing.

A new stand-out patented dryseal collar is said to specifically protect the back of your neck from rain by channelling water out through two grommets (small holes) on the back of the collar.

Obviously, the HydroTour claims to be 100% waterproof also thanks to a specially engineered waterproof fabric with a Xtreme DWR finish, dual sealed seams, and YKK Aquaguard waterproof zippers.

To give you extra peace of mind, FootJoy warrants that this piece of outerwear will be 100% waterproof in normal use for three years.

FootJoy HydroTour Jacket Review

I tested the HydroTour in the black / charcoal / lime colourway, which I have to be honest wasn't really to my taste. If you're like me, don't worry though as it also comes available in a navy / black / red colourway which I prefer having seen it on pictures. However this is just personal preference as I've never been a huge fan of bright colours like lime green on waterproofs.

Having said that I actually think the overall design of the HydroTour will appeal to a lot of golfers: It's classic FJ styling with a contemporary nod thanks to a couple of different elements.

The contrasting chest panel and zips give it a slight stand-out edge on other waterproof jackets and will make it easy to tie it in with other areas of colour in your outfit, for example shoes or a hat.

Performance and Versatility

Performance-wise, as you'd expect from a £225 waterproof jacket, the HydroTour excels.

Once on, I found the fit comfortable to wear and swing in. I tested the jacket in a size medium and found the fit to be snug without being too tight in any areas so that it would restrict my golf swing, bearing in mind underneath I was wearing a short sleeve polo shirt and an FJ half zip mid layer, I was still swinging freely and unrestricted.

Throughout the testing the jacket kept me very warm, which in most cases in winter is an obvious plus. I did find however that when taking the jacket off post-round, moisture had gathered on the inside of the jacket, because of this I found the breathability of the HydroTour to be a drawback. The last thing you want to be when you're layering up to protect yourself from the elements is a little too hot under the collar, so to speak.

Therefore if you're playing in the warmer but still wet weather, I suggest going for something more lightweight like the FJ HydroKnit or the FJ HydroLite . I suppose that's a plus for the HydroSeries range - there are plenty of options for all weather.

But it does beg the question, are we now expected to buy three waterproof jackets priced over £150 instead of just one?

An element of the jacket that I thought was poor was the zip. FootJoy say 'A waterproof front zipper allows for easy on/off wear, whilst protecting you from the elements when accessing pockets.' Unfortunately during my testing I didn't find this to be the case. I found the zip to be clunky and very hard to use in fact. It felt stiff and at times hard to pull. This stiffness could be explained by the waterproof materials used so there is a trade-off, but I see this as a drawback all the same.

One of the standout features is the DrySeal double collar system, which caught my eye the first time I saw the jacket. To explain it simply, the jacket almost has two collars - an inner and an outer collar. The inner layer has an elasticated cord running through it so you can adjust it to be tight around your neck. The outer layer then has two small holes in the back of it which are there to allow any water that gets inside the collar to flow away down the back of the jacket, instead of inside of it.

This felt warm on my neck and on the surface this seems like a great innovation for when the rain really starts to come down, but is it really that necessary? Nice idea that again helps warmth but to be honest I'm not that sold.

There are a number of other nice features including 3 outer pockets and one inside pocket for a scorecard, as well as Velcro cuffs that mean the sleeves are not going to get in the way when gripping the club.

FootJoy HydroTour Jacket Verdict

The overall build-quality of the jacket felt really premium. The four-way stretch material allowed for real ease of movement during the golf swing and it really kept me warm and comfortable during my testing so all in all the HydroTour passed the test.

There are some slight niggles that I have like the zip, the need for the collar and the colourways available but I have to say, those aside, this is probably one of the best golf jackets I have reviewed for Golfalot.

It's very FootJoy - it's reliable, good quality and will do the job for a lot of golfers when the weather turns sour.

Would I Use It?

Yes, but not regularly. On the days where it really is cold and I am looking for an old-school, 'proper' waterproof top to not only keep me dry but to also keep me warm - this is the jacket it will be leaning on.

It's not my favourite in terms of aesthetics but it does tick a lot of other performance benefit boxes and I can see it being popular in 2022.

Four-way stretch fabric allows for great mobility
Jacket is warm and comfortable
Collar is comfortable and seems to work
100% waterproof
Simple design will appeal to a lot of golfers
Zip was faffy (I wouldn't want to deal with it whilst having cold and wet hands)
£225 is a lot considering lack of versatility

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FootJoy HydroTour waterproof golf jacket review

Golfers who play golf through the winter months need a jacket that keeps them warm, dry and isn't restrictive. The FootJoy HydroTour IS that jacket. Here's our review

The HydroTour from FootJoy is the company's flagship waterproof jacket and is designed for cooler temperatures. Not only will it protect you from even the heaviest downpours, it will also keep out the wind and ensure you stay warm in the depths of winter. The stretch properties in the jacket provide make it easy to swing the club free of any restrictions. All in all, it's top notch.

Stretch properties provide maximum comfort

Fully waterproof

Also windproof

3-year guarantee

Not ideal for warm days

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Looking for a great golfing waterproof? As you'll see in this FootJoy HydroTour waterproof jacket review, I am very taken with this one. FootJoy may be better known for their shoes but on the evidence of this, perhaps they should change their name to UpperbodyJoy. It's got a ring to it, you have to admit.

As we all know, golf can be difficult even in perfect conditions, but when the wind and rain are giving you a right old hammering and you don’t have the best golfing waterproofs , you can forget about shooting a respectable score even when you’re on top of your game. It’s even trickier in the winter when you also have to deal with keeping out the cold. With FootJoy’s HydroTour waterproof jacket you don’t have to worry about any of that. It’s the ideal winter waterproof for golf.

The HydroTour is the premium offering in FootJoy’s HydroSeries range, which also includes the HydroLite and HydroKnit jackets. Accompanying waterproof trousers are also available, which can be worn on their own or, in the case of the HydroTour and HydroLite, as an over trouser. For this review, however we’re just concentrating on the headline act - the HydroTour jacket. This is a garment you will see on many tour pros throughout autumn and winter as FootJoy is one of the most popular brands on the PGA Tour.

Waterproofs are one of those golfing essentials that, if you’re anything like me, you don’t really enjoy spending money on as there isn’t anything exciting about buying a new set of waterproofs. They’re just something you need to have rather than look forward to buying. When you’re treating yourself to new golf gear you want to buy the cool things, like the best GPS golf watch or a fancy gadget such as the Garmin Approach Z82 laser range finder . Waterproofs don't get the pulse racing but they are necessary, especially if you are not fortunate enough to live in a warm country.

When golfing in the UK waterproofs are as essential to a successful round as having the best driver or the best golf balls . You can’t play golf if you’re soaking wet, but because of the varying temperatures you will probably need more than one waterproof jacket. Summer golf requires a lightweight jacket to prevent you getting too warm, but that jacket is not going to provide the warmth you need if you are the kind of hardy golfer who continues to play throughout autumn and winter.

The HydroTour won’t be suited to a hot July sunshower but from mild September mornings to the bitterly cold days in February this jacket comes into its own, as I discovered recently when putting it through its paces during a UK October in which the weather fluctuated from biblical storms to glorious sunshine. I then put it to the ultimate test in golf on a wet and windy Royal Birkdale in November. The HydroTour performed well in all conditions but really showed its mettle in the worst of the weather.

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FootJoy HydroTour waterproof golf jacket

FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket: Price and availability

The HydroTour is FootJoy's most expensive jacket and has a RRP of £235, although you can find it considerably cheaper if you shop around online. Currently in the UK if you shop around you can pick up this jacket for as little as £179, which makes it a real bargain as the RRP is £225.

In the US it retails at $295 while in Australia it is harder to get hold of but if you can find one it will set you back around $449.

• Buy from Hot Golf in the UK for £179

FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket: Technology

Complete waterproof protection is provided by specially engineered waterproof fabric with a Xtreme DWR finish, dual sealed seams, and YKK Aquaguard waterproof zippers. FootJoy warrants that this piece of outerwear will be 100% waterproof in normal use for three years.

A lightweight construction using only 3 panels reduces bulk and greatly improves mobility, while the specially engineered fabrics offer exceptional breathability to keep you dry and comfortable throughout the entire round.

One of the most unique features of this jacket is the all-new patent pending DrySeal Collar which protects the back of your neck from rain and channels water out through four grommets in the collar (see below).

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FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket: Looks & Features

It’s a lovely looking jacket that comes in four different colourways. I tested the blue and black variant, with the orange trim, which is a rather fetching design that got me a few compliments from my playing partners. That’s highly unusual, so this must be a nice jacket. The red variation of it looks very dashing too, but for those who prefer a more understated look the black and charcoal or the navy and black will be more to your taste.

The first thing I noticed was that it is a very nice fit. It’s not too short so it sits nicely just below the waistline, and it comes with adjustable, elastic cuffs the ensure a snug fit around the wrists. It’s stretchy too, which further aids comfort.

The jacket feels like a premium item of clothing. You know as soon as you put it on that its high end. The four way stretch material used in construction not only allows great freedom of movement throughout the golf swing, but it just adds to the overall comfort and supreme feel of the jacket.

For a cold weather jacket it is impressively lightweight thanks to a minimal panel design which reduces bulk and weight. It will fit handily into the clothing pocket on any golf bag and doesn’t take up a great deal of room.

FootJoy say that the specially engineered fabric used makes the HydroTour their most waterproof rain jacket yet, while also providing industry leading breathability. The jacket is 100% waterproof and has a DWR finish which provides maximum protection in even the wettest conditions, beading water and keeping it from the shell. All zips are sealed and fully waterproof too.

The DrySeal double collar is one of the things that help to separate this jacket from the competition. It’s a clever little innovation whereby you essentially have two collars. An inner and an outer. There’s a cinch cord which you can pull tight to secure the inner layer and that causes water to run into the jacket rather than down the back of your neck.

The HydroTour jacket comes with a three year waterproof warranty.

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FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket: Performance

There are two things I loved about this jacket. The stretchiness which allowed me to swing the club without any restriction and the inner lining which kept me nice and warm (without causing me to sweat) even in a howling November seaside wind.

I wore the jacket for three rounds of golf in wildly varying conditions, and for a couple of sessions at my local driving range. On the first occasion at the range the weather was truly horrendous. The rain was pouring down and the wind was blowing it right into our faces. The driving range is under cover but because of the wind there was no protection from the elements. When I arrived the range was full but within 15 or 20 minutes I was one of only three or four hardy golfers remaining.

My top half was dry and warm, but unfortunately I was wearing jeans so my bottom half got soaked through! Still, it was a good first test for the jacket. On the golf course I tested it in vastly different weather conditions. That’s the beauty of North West England in the autumn and winter; you can go from sunny and warm one day to freezing cold and windy then next. In fact you can do it from one hole to the next!

The jacket performed better in the poor weather, as you’d expect. It’s not ideal on a hot, showery day when you’d be better served with a more lightweight alternative, such as the Ping SensorDry 2.5 waterproof jacket which I reviewed last year.

On the warm day I wore the FootJoy HydroTour for six holes before taking it off. It was dry so there was no need for me to wear it at all, but I needed to see how it felt when the weather was nice. It was ok actually, I wasn’t sweating but I was just a little too warm.

With certain waterproofs you will sweat and the inside of the jacket will become wet. Like condensation on a window. This was something I noticed when reviewing the Under Armour Storm Proof Rain Jacket and Trousers combo . If I wore just a polo underneath the jacket I found it could get a little moist on my forearms on warmer days, so long sleeves were needed. With the HydroTour there were no problems wearing just a polo under it. I’d liken it more to the feeling you have when wearing a jumper or sweatshirt rather than a waterproof garment.

It was on the cooler, windier day that the jacket really came into it’s own, unlike my golf game which seemingly stayed at home in the warm. There was the added bonus of a steady drizzle that day. Well, I saw it as a bonus as I was testing out waterproofs for a review, nobody else on the course saw it that way. The performance of the jacket was impressive, but then tour players wear it so you know it must be top notch.

The third time I wore the jacket on the golf course was the ultimate test for golfing waterproofs - a soaking wet, freezing cold, gusty morning on a seaside links course. In this case, Royal Birkdale. The weather was absolutely filthy when the round began at 10.30am. It settled down halfway through the front nine and I was able to take the jacket off by the 7th hole (it needed to go back on down the stretch as the weather turned again). It handled the worst of the weather with ease and by the time I was able to take it off I was still warm and dry. If a jacket can survive a seaside links in the winter then it can handle anything.

When it comes to hitting shots while wearing the jacket, it isn’t restrictive at all unless you’re wearing something big and bulky underneath it. It stretches as you move and I liked the fit too. The double collar is a really nice touch as you just pull the drawstring to tighten the inner collar and then any rain that runs down from your head into the neck area is gathered in the ‘gutter’ area and then drains out of the four small exit holes.

Not only does the jacket prevent the rain getting in, but the rain just beads off it completely so when I needed to get back in the car afterwards I did not have to remove the jacket, I just wiped over it with a towel and I was able to get in the car without worrying about getting the seats wet.

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FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket: Verdict

When it comes to cold weather golf this jacket is tough to beat. Not only will it keep you dry (which you’d expect from something waterproof!) but crucially it will keep you warm without restricting your swing. You generally won’t need to wear a thick jumper or hoody underneath it for extra warmth other than when it is genuinely freezing. Most of the time just a standard mid layer will suffice as the HydroTour jacket will keep the elements out and allow you to just concentrate on your game. On top of that, it’s a smart looking jacket that can be worn away from the course too.

Dave is a distinctly average golfer with (fading) aspirations to be so much more than that. An avid collector of vintage Ping putters and the world's biggest Payne Stewart fan, Dave turned his front garden into a giant putting green to work on the weakest area of his game, but sadly to date he has seen no improvement. In addition to his work reviewing golf gear for T3, Dave is also the founder and editor of Bang Average Golf TV website .