The ifrothgolf review
Under Armour's Storm SweaterFleece Half-Zip is a mid-layer that tries to be three things at once: the cosy feel of a knit sweater, the give of a stretch fleece, and a bit of the rain protection you'd normally want from a jacket. The fabric has a soft brushed inside, the UA Storm treatment sheds water rather than soaking it up, and a half-zip neck lets you dump heat on the back nine. There is a zipped chest pocket and woven panels on the shoulders to take the rub of a strap.
What's great
The balance of warmth to weight is the standout. It is genuinely stretchy, so you never feel like the shoulders are fighting your swing, and the brushed lining is warm enough to be the only layer over a polo on most cool days. The Storm finish is the real bonus at this price, it laughs off dew and a passing drizzle, and it washes and wears well over a full season.
Worth knowing
The water repellency is a coating, not a membrane, so this is not a wet-weather jacket. Sit in steady rain and it will eventually wet out and get heavy, and the DWR fades over time and needs reproofing to keep beading. Under Armour's cut also runs lean through the chest and arms, so if you like room for a thick base layer, size up. A few colourways sell through fast.
The verdict
If you want one do-it-all layer for cool, dry-ish rounds and you treat the rain resistance as a nice extra rather than a promise, it is hard to beat at under fifty pounds. Just keep a proper waterproof in the bag for when the sky actually opens.
