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2 October 2026 · 8 min read

Golf rain jacket and rain trousers: water column, breathability and what both cost

Waterproof or water repellent, 10,000 or 20,000 mm: what the figures on golf rain jackets and rain trousers mean and what both cost at a Swiss retailer.

Golf rain jacket and rain trousers: water column, breathability and what both cost — post image

Three things matter on a golf rain jacket: the water column, the breathability and whether the seams are sealed. At a Swiss retailer six golf rain jackets from four brands state a water column of 10,000 to 20,000 mm and cost CHF 199.90 to 429.90, and four rain trousers with a water column cost CHF 229.90 to 369.90. In the simulator you need none of it. I read the listings on 2 October 2026, and this is what they promise.

Waterproof or water repellent: what does the page promise?

The two sound alike and are not the same. According to Gore-Tex the membrane makes the fabric waterproof, windproof and breathable. Most products add a coating called DWR: it forms a thin layer on the outer fabric on which water beads up instead of soaking in (Gore-Tex, DWR). Without it the garment stays waterproof but feels cold and clammy as soon as the outer fabric is wet.

So read what the page promises. The water-repellent trousers from Jack Nicklaus protect "in light rain" according to the retailer's text and cost CHF 69.95 instead of CHF 139.90. The Bounce rain trousers from Abacus promise to keep you dry "in heavy rain" and state 15,000 WP (Golfers Paradise, rain trousers). Those are two classes, not two prices for the same trousers.

What does the water column mean?

The water column gives the pressure that has to act on the fabric before it lets water through. It is measured in the hydrostatic pressure test according to DIN EN ISO 811, and 1000 mm of water column equal 0.1 bar (allmountain.ch). The 20,000 mm of the top values below are therefore 2 bar. A Swiss outdoor blog recommends 10,000 mm for rain jackets when hiking and biking and 15,000 mm for rain trousers. That is not a golf recommendation, but the shop's golf jackets sit in the same range.

Water columnequalsExample from the table below
10,000 mm1 barAbacus Links Stretch
15,000 mm1.5 barAbacus Bounce
20,000 mm2 barPeak Performance, Cross Sportswear, Chervo, Abacus Pitch

The number alone is not enough. According to the same blog the weak points of a rain jacket lie less in the fabric than in the seams and zips. All six jackets in the table below name sealed, taped, glued or welded seams. Look for that statement when a jacket gives only a water column.

Breathability: the second number

The denser the fabric, the less vapour it lets through. The outdoor blog allmountain.ch writes that high density means less vapour permeability and that you have to find a compromise between waterproofness, breathability, price and flexibility. Galvin Green puts it for golf like this: a jacket that keeps the rain out but traps sweat in can feel worse than no jacket at all (Galvin Green). The retailer's pages give breathability in three units: g/m²/24h, MVP and mm. The Chervo trousers state "breathability of 20,000 mm", the Cross trousers "20,000 g/m²/24h": same number, different unit. Compare them only within the same unit.

What does a golf rain jacket cost?

Here are the prices of a Swiss retailer on 2 October 2026 (Golfers Paradise, rain suits and Golfers Paradise, jackets). The brands are Abacus, Peak Performance, Cross Sportswear and Chervo. It is a selection, not a market survey. Water column and breathability are as the retailer states them:

JacketWater columnBreathabilityPrice in CHF
Abacus Links Stretch10,000 mm10,000 MVP199.90
Abacus Bounce15,000 mm15,000 MVP263.90 to 329.90
Peak Performance 2.5L20,000 mm15,000 g/m²/24h279.00 to 279.90
Cross Sportswear Pro20,000 mm20,000 g/m²/24h349.00 to 349.90
Chervo Masterpiece20,000 mm20,000 MVP399.00 to 399.90
Abacus Pitch Halfzip20,000 mm50,000 g/m²/24h429.90

The water column alone does not explain the price: four of the six jackets state 20,000 mm, and their prices lie between CHF 279.00 and 429.90. Beside it the pages list weight, stretch and extra technologies that you do not see in the table. The Abacus Pitch Halfzip weighs only 260 grams according to the retailer. Cheaper is the Kipling from Jack Nicklaus, a windbreaker whose material the retailer describes as waterproof, for light rain, at CHF 79.95 instead of CHF 159.90.

And the rain trousers?

The trousers cost less than the jackets of the same line: for Abacus Bounce the jacket costs up to CHF 329.90 and the trousers CHF 229.90, for Cross Sportswear Pro CHF 349.00 against CHF 299.00. Several trousers have a detail that jackets do not need: zips at the leg openings so that you can pull them on and off over the golf shoes.

Rain trousersWater columnBreathabilityPrice in CHF
Jack Nicklaus Water Repellent (women)water repellent, for light rainnot stated69.95 instead of 139.90
Abacus Bounce (men)15,000 WP15,000 MVP229.90
Abacus Pitch 37.520,000 WP50,000 MVP295.90 to 369.90
Cross Sportswear Pro20,000 mm20,000 g/m²/24h299.00 to 299.90
Chervo Supersonic (men)20,000 mm20,000 mm369.00 to 369.90

Do you need the trousers?

That depends on the rain you play in. For light rain the retailer lists water-repellent trousers for CHF 69.95. Anyone who also plays in heavy rain chooses a pair with a water column, and then the trousers are an expense like the jacket. What a rainy day on the course means otherwise is in Golf in rain and cold.

Cut, weight and care

A rain jacket has to let you swing. Galvin Green advises looking for stretch inserts or an ergonomic cut, because jackets not made for golf would bind at the shoulders, ride up in the swing and trap heat. The retailer's pages for all six jackets name stretch or elastic materials.

For the head the retailer lists the Storm Hat rain hat from Cross Sportswear: waterproof membrane, wide brim, adjustable chin strap, CHF 47.90 to 59.90.

The coating does not last for ever. Gore-Tex writes that DWR is not permanent: when water no longer beads, you wash and dry the garment and add heat, or you renew the coating with a spray or wash-in product. A Gore-Tex garment stays waterproof even then. For other brands the care label applies.

Winter: layers instead of one thick jacket

Galvin Green advises combining a lightweight waterproof outer shell with base layers and mid-layers, which gives flexibility all year. The thin jacket then stays the same and the layers underneath change. What works on the course from November to March is in Golf in winter in Switzerland. For the rest of the kit: Golf shoes: spikes or spikeless for the feet, Golf glove: which hand for the hand and Golf etiquette and dress code for what the club expects.

What this means for you: in the simulator you need none of it

It does not rain in the bay. You need neither jacket nor trousers nor rain glove. What you bring to the first hour is in What to bring to your first simulator hour.

Do the sum: jacket and trousers of the Abacus Bounce line cost CHF 559.80 together. At a median of CHF 50 per bay and hour that is a good 11 hours in the simulator (80 of the 110 indoor venues state an hourly price, as of 2 October 2026, own entries). Anyone who mainly wants to practise in the rain finds the way in at golf simulator for beginners and at open now which venue is open right now.

Frequently asked questions

How much water column does a golf rain jacket need?

Six golf jackets of a Swiss retailer state 10,000 to 20,000 mm. A Swiss outdoor blog recommends 10,000 mm for rain jackets when hiking and biking. The number alone is not enough: look for sealed seams too, because according to the same blog the weak points lie rather in seams and zips.

What is the difference between waterproof and water repellent?

According to Gore-Tex the membrane makes a fabric waterproof, and the DWR coating makes water bead off the outer fabric. The retailer describes a water-repellent pair of trousers for light rain and the waterproof trousers with a water column for heavy rain.

What does a golf rain jacket cost in Switzerland?

At a Swiss retailer six golf rain jackets that state a water column cost CHF 199.90 to 429.90, a windbreaker for light rain CHF 79.95 (as of 2 October 2026). Four rain trousers with a water column are CHF 229.90 to 369.90, a water-repellent pair CHF 69.95.

Do I need rain trousers for golf?

That depends on the rain. For light rain the retailer offers water-repellent trousers for CHF 69.95. For heavy rain, trousers with 15,000 to 20,000 mm of water column promise protection and cost CHF 229.90 to 369.90. In the simulator you need none.

How do I care for a golf rain jacket?

According to Gore-Tex the coating is not permanent. When water no longer beads, washing, drying and heat help, otherwise a spray or wash-in product. A Gore-Tex garment stays waterproof without the coating but feels clammy. For other brands the care label applies.

Sources