FootJoy Arcus Waterproof Jacket Review

FootJoy's Arcus waterproof jacket comes with some big promises thanks to the brand's innovative TriLock System, which sees three unique performance fabrics fused together to deliver 'complete protection, playing comfort, and full range of motion.'

The Arcus is essentially billed as the ultimate golf rain jacket, and the premium price corresponds to that, so I was excited to give it a test.

Straight away, I was impressed with the fit from the Arcus jacket. I am 5'10 and usually wear a large, and I found it to offer a nice, snug fit. It certainly isn't too tight and I wouldn't describe it as baggy either, so I would recommend going for your usual size.

The jacket has a good amount of stretch to it and the wrist cuffs have velcro adjusters to find your preferred fit. Even without any adjustment they are quite tight and require a second or two extra when taking the jacket off, especially if you wear a watch.

When fully zipped up, the collar section is extremely comfortable on the neck with no sharp edges. I found there to be no rubbing or any pain from anything poking into my neck thanks to what is a very nice shape that has clearly been well thought out.

After writing this, I have seen on the website it is billed as a "lightweight low-profile collar" that "reduces interference during play while maintaining waterproof protection." I fully agree with that and would say FootJoy's designers have done a great job.

There's no adjustable waist drawstring but to be honest I don't think it really needs one as the fit is nice and tight anyway.

The jacket impressively comes with four outer pockets, two for your hands, and two on the chest as opposed to the usual one you'd find with golf rain jackets.

The chest ones in particular are surprisingly large and easily fit a scorecard or a phone. There's also two netted pockets inside for extra peace of mind when the weather takes a turn.

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I'm a fan of the styling FootJoy has gone for, and there's two noticeable FJ logos - on the left-collar and one on the back of the neck. There is a lovely embossed FootJoy script on the left wrist section and FJ logos on the zips that are fairly discreet.

My sample is the 'Storm/Black' colorway and there are four to choose from, including all-black, all-navy and an 'Oyster Grey/Mid Blue'. They're all nice, I'd have to say, but if I'm being super critical then I would say the range is missing a red colorway, an all-grey and perhaps a green as well.

FootJoy says the jacket is made with "enhanced durability and lasting protection where it's needed most" in certain areas, and I would say that it feels well made and should last many years. For this price you would certainly hope so and I have seen no signs of damage as of yet thankfully.

It has a very good amount of stretch and is a joy to play golf in, even with a midlayer underneath. It's extremely thin and, while not overly warm on the face of it, it does a good job of keeping the wind away and warmth in.

Overall, there really isn't much to dislike here. It's a very competitive market with good options at a range of prices, but with four outer zip pockets, an extremely comfortable collar area and FootJoy's innovative Tri-Lock build, I think the Arcus stands out among the crowd when it comes to the best golf rain jackets.

It isn't cheap but it will last you years, so it represents good value for money if you're seeking a premium golf rain jacket that delivers in all areas.

For more waterproof gear advice, check out our guides on the best golf rain pants, or best waterproof golf shoes.