50 Words or Less
Puma Golf’s Autumn/Winter 2016 apparel line expands the brand’s appeal while maintaining their identity. Perfect sizing and great performance.
Introduction
As much as any brand in the game, Puma Golf has done a tremendous job creating an image: young, colorful, bold, and fun. As good as this is for selling flat bill hats to Generation Rickie, it can feel exclusive to older golfers. With their latest collection, Puma has done a great job of reaching out to those more traditional players without losing what makes them unique.
Performance
While testing this Puma apparel at Chambers Bay and Salish Cliffs, the two things that stood out most were the moisture management and the way the clothes breathe. If you’ve been to the Pacific Northwest, you know that rounds that start early will see a wide range of temperatures. I started my day with two or three layers, but the Puma golf shirts never felt stuffy or overly warm.
When the sun came out in full force, Puma’s moisture management shined. Even during my eight mile trek around Chambers Bay, my clothes (and my body) stayed fresh and dry. It’s also worth noting that, unlike many moisture wicking shirts, Puma’s shirts don’t stink.
Style
Much as I like Rickie, I’m not now, nor have I ever been, an orange pants guy. While this signature item is still available (along with other bold bottoms), Puma’s Autumn/Winter lineup has many pants and shorts that are geared toward more conservative players. Though the colors are toned down, the style is still geared up with interesting textures and great details like the stick figure print on the inside of the pockets.
The full range of styles is evident in the golf shirts as well. There are trendy prints in “look at me” colorways, but you can also get them in toned-down colors like navy or grey. For the player only interested in basics, you can get Puma Golf’s Essential polo in a rainbow of colors.
Fit
Puma may have the best “true to size” fit of any company in golf right now. At 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, I’m wearing a medium shirt in the pictures above. I could comfortably wear a large, but I prefer a more fitted top. Puma does have two different fits, “Tailored” (navy/grey) and “Performance” (white). The difference isn’t huge, but the Tailored shirt is a bit more tapered in the body and the sleeves are a touch shorter.
Puma’s pants and shorts are sized perfectly as well. When you go from a 32″ waist to a 34″ waist, you get noticeably more room for your thighs and glutes, which some of us need.
Conclusion
Golf fans are watching Rickie Fowler grow up in front of their eyes, and we’re seeing something similar with Puma Golf apparel. Though they’re doing a great job maintaining their identity as the leader in fun, Puma is also expanding their tent to include golfers of all types.
Matt Saternus
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