50 Words or Less
Surprisingly warm, very comfortable, extremely functional, looks cool.
Introduction
Living in the greater Chicagoland area and being a golf fanatic do not go hand in hand. We live in a freezing tundra approximately 10 months a year (perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, but cold winters are a staple of Chicago weather). Being the masochist that I am, I frequently decide that it’s a good idea to try golfing in temperatures below 40ºF but end up struggling to make a good swing with all the bulk required to stay warm for a couple of hours. Well, I may have found the solution in Nike Golf’s Thermal Mapping jacket.
Performance
From a golf perspective, the Thermal Mapping jacket performs brilliantly, just like Nike Golf outerwear always does. The Performance Stretch technology that we often see in Nike Golf apparel once again succeeds in making it easy to make a fluid swing while maintaining comfort.
This jacket feels very thin and light, but is amazingly wind and water resistant and surprisingly warm. Nike uses their Therma-FIT technology to provide insulation from the cold, miserable, Chicago weather with minimal weight and bulk.
After trying on this jacket and wearing it in the house, I wasn’t sure I believed it would be the least bit warm. So to put it to the test, I have been wearing the jacket in lieu of my usual heavy winter jacket. This means I’ve worn it in 17ºF freezing nights, and on commutes to work in -20ºF wind chills (that’s an actual number). Simply put, I was shocked at how Nike’s Thermal Mapping golf jacket performed. The only change I would make is to find a way to use the light filled insulation from the body of the jacket on the arms as well. The arms are a stretch knit and that’s where I would feel the weather the most.
Let the record show, I am not saying this jacket should be used on a daily basis for an absolutely freezing commute. The reason for this “test” was to really get a grasp for how warm this jacket really is and see what kind of elements it can hold up to. I will try it out again when we get one of our signature Chicago Winter rains and update this post.
Style
I wouldn’t try and convince you that I’m any sort of expert fashionista, but I like to think that I have a somewhat decent eye for clothing and style…at least for the average man. The Nike Golf Thermal Mapping golf jacket is great because it’s amazingly functional, and looks great, too. It has a nice blend of basic appeal with a little added aesthetic to give it some extra character. The jacket has a great cut that doesn’t give it an ultra European look, but it also doesn’t look like a garbage bag with sleeves, which is quite common in golf jackets. Nike nailed the look with this jacket by giving it a nice athletic cut that’s comfortable and makes you look good.
Since I’ve been wearing the Thermal Mapping jacket around so much lately, I have received multiple compliments on how sleek it looks. This is not likely with most jackets that will give you this level of warmth for a cold outing, nevermind in a golf jacket.
Value
The Nike Golf Thermal Mapping jacket lists at $150. I think deciding the “value” of this jacket is hard. For me, this jacket is worth more than $150. The performance of this jacket mixed with the needs it fills for my cold-weather golfing is almost invaluable. The $150 is an absolute no brainer. If this jacket might meet a functional need that you may have, it’s an easy $150 to spend.
Conclusion
The Thermal Mapping jacket from Nike Golf is one of the best pieces of outerwear I have used to date. Simple as that. I would speculate that I’m not the only either. This jacket was recently posted on Nike Golf’s Twitter and could no longer be found on their web site at the time of this review. What this says to me is that there are a lot of people out there that saw how valuable this jacket could be to them and went ahead and scooped up Nike’s inventory. Nike’s R&D once again blows me away with a high performance jacket that also keeps me warm, and looks good. I can’t wait to see how they outdo themselves next winter!
Specs & Notes
The Nike Men’s Thermal Mapping Jacket ensures you’re ready to tee off no matter the weather. Wind- and water-resistant, the long sleeve jacket combines knit construction with lightweight filled sections to provide warmth and maximum playability. Strategically placed stretch panels extend your range of motion, and the highly breathable design keeps you comfortable when Mother Nature won’t cooperate.
Specifications:
- Performance stretch
- Mock-neck collar
- Full-zip closure
- 2 zippered side pockets for storage
- Long sleeve
- Wind- and water-resistant
- Highly breathable
- Combines knit and light filled sections for warmth and playability
- Therma-FIT technology provides maximum insulation from cold and wind with minimal weight and bulk
- Nike Swoosh® at left collar
- Body Fabric: 100% polyester ripstop
- Back and Sleeve Fabric: 88% polyester / 12% spandex
- Fill: 100% polyester
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Bill Bush
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Looks great, nice review!