---
title: "FootJoy HydroTour vs Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite: 20,000mm against a lifetime guarantee, and the Sunderland now costs about a quarter as much"
url: "https://ifrothgolf.com/read/footjoy-hydrotour-vs-sunderland-whisperdry"
type: "comparison"
topic: "clothing"
author: "Tom Whitaker"
published: "2026-10-25T14:00"
publisher: "ifrothgolf"
---


# FootJoy HydroTour vs Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite: 20,000mm against a lifetime guarantee, and the Sunderland now costs about a quarter as much

> The clocks went back this morning, and the two waterproofs on our winter list have drifted a long way apart. The FootJoy is a current three-layer shell rated to 20,000mm. The Sunderland is an end-of-line jacket being cleared far below its old price, and it still carries the longer guarantee.

## In short

- The FootJoy HydroTour is a current three-layer shell, rated to 20,000mm and 15,000g, with underarm vents and a three-year UK waterproof warranty. It is $250 at American Golf against a $325 RRP. The Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite is rated to 8,000mm and 5,000g, is quiet and stretchy, and has a lifetime waterproof fabric guarantee. It is also end-of-line: County Golf is clearing it at $60 against a $225 RRP, and other stockists have dropped it. Buy the Sunderland for winter Saturdays and trolley rounds while your size lasts. Buy the FootJoy if you carry and play through all-day rain.

## Side by side

| Spec | FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket | Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite Jacket |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Garment type | waterproof jacket | lightweight waterproof shell jacket |
| Waterproof rating | 20,000mm | 8,000mm with sealed seams |
| Breathability | 15,000g/sqm | 5,000g/m2/24h |
| Material | three-layer waterproof and breathable construction | 100% polyester soft-touch fabric with 4-way stretch |
| Features | DrySeal collar with drainage grommets, dual seam-sealed, YKK AquaGuard zips, zipped underarm vents | quiet through the swing, inner storm flap, chin guard, cord-adjust high collar, waterproof lock-down zips on front and side pockets, anti-snag Velcro cuff and waist adjusters, reflective markings on the back, lightweight and packable |
| Warranty | limited waterproof warranty — 2 years in the US, 3 years in the UK | lifetime waterproof fabric guarantee |

_Specs as published by each manufacturer._

The clocks went back overnight, so every round from now until March finishes closer to dark and, in most of Britain, wetter. That makes this the week people buy a waterproof, and the two on our list now sit a long way apart. The [FootJoy HydroTour](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/footjoy-hydrotour-waterproof-jacket) is $250 at American Golf. The [Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/sunderland-whisperdry-jacket) is $60 at County Golf, against an RRP of $225. For most club golfers the Sunderland is the buy while their size lasts. The FootJoy is for people who stand out in proper rain every week.

## Why these two are no longer like-for-like

The Pro-Lite is on its way out. When The Golf Shop Online listed it in March it was $110 against an RRP of $200, described as one of Sunderland's most premium jackets. That product page now redirects to the Sunderland brand page, where the Whisperdry jackets on sale are the Stealth and the Voss Weatherbeater. Two other stockists' listings for the Pro-Lite now return errors. County Golf still lists it as in stock, in sizes small to extra large and three colourways, with a low-stock notice on the page.

None of that makes it a worse jacket. It does change the decision. You are not choosing between two current products. You are choosing between a current flagship and a clearance jacket with a deadline, and there is no next season to wait for if the Pro-Lite is the one you want.

## The numbers on the tag

The HydroTour is a three-layer shell rated to 20,000mm of water column pressure, with a breathability rating of 15,000g per square metre over 24 hours. American Golf lists the shell as 92 per cent polyester and 8 per cent elastane with a DWR finish. Seams are dual sealed, and there are zipped vents under the arms.

The Pro-Lite is rated to 8,000mm and 5,000g, with sealed seams, a 100 per cent polyester face fabric and a waterproof membrane underneath. So the FootJoy carries two and a half times the waterproof rating and three times the breathability rating. If those units are new to you, [what waterproof means on a swing tag](https://ifrothgolf.com/read/what-waterproof-actually-means) explains how the figures are measured.

In practice, the waterproof figure matters most where fabric is pressed against you: under a carry strap across the shoulders, at the elbows, and when you sit on a wet buggy seat. Pressure pushes water through a membrane faster than rain alone does. The breathability gap matters to anyone who walks hard, and we made that case in full in [Stuburt against Galvin Green](https://ifrothgolf.com/read/stuburt-evolve-extreme-vs-galvin-green-armstrong). If you carry your own bag and walk quickly through winter, those two numbers are the reason the HydroTour costs more, and they are worth paying for.

## Stretch, noise and the swing

Both jackets advertise four-way stretch, from different sources. The HydroTour gets it from elastane in the shell. Golfalot's reviewer said the four-way stretch allowed real ease of movement. The Pro-Lite is 100 per cent polyester, and County Golf's listing describes its stretch as mechanical, meaning it comes from the construction of the fabric rather than an elastic fibre.

Noise is the Sunderland's whole pitch. The Whisperdry range is named for it, and the listing calls it ultra quiet. FootJoy makes no noise claim either way. We have not swung either jacket. A rustle at the top of the backswing bothers some golfers and goes unnoticed by others, so if you can, try one on and make a full swing in it.

The FootJoy's known weak point is its zip. Golfalot's reviewer called it stiff and fiddly with cold, wet hands, which is exactly when you need it to work. The HydroTour's DrySeal collar has a second layer with drainage grommets, designed to stop water running down the neck. The Pro-Lite instead has a chin guard, an inner storm flap, a cord-adjustable high collar, lockdown pocket zips and reflective branding on the back. The reflective branding is worth more after today than it was last week.

## The guarantee runs the other way

This is the part the price tags hide. GolfMagic and Golfalot both report that FootJoy warrants the HydroTour 100 per cent waterproof in normal use for three years in the UK. US listings quote two years. Sunderland gives the Pro-Lite's fabric a lifetime waterproof guarantee. So the jacket at roughly a quarter of the price carries the longer promise.

Two cautions apply. First, the lifetime cover is on the fabric. Second, a Sunderland stockist's FAQ says the guarantee is honoured for jackets bought from an authorised stockist and properly cared for. Before you rely on it, ask County Golf whether it is authorised, and keep the receipt.

## Who should buy which

**Buy the Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite** if you play winter Saturdays rather than every wet day, ride or push a trolley, or want a quiet shell that lives in the bag. At $60 with a lifetime fabric guarantee, it is the best value in winter waterproofs while it lasts, and that may not be long.

**Buy the FootJoy HydroTour** if you carry, walk hard, and play through whole days of rain. The 20,000mm rating, the breathability and the underarm vents are what you are paying for, and American Golf already has it $80 under FootJoy's $325 RRP. It is also the one you can still buy, and claim on, next year.

**Buy neither** if your real problem is cold rather than wet. The layer underneath decides that, as we argued in [the midlayer is doing the jacket's job](https://ifrothgolf.com/read/your-midlayer-is-doing-the-jackets-job). And if you own a good jacket but no waterproof trousers, [buy the trousers first](https://ifrothgolf.com/read/waterproof-trousers-are-the-half-nobody-buys). The rest of the field is in the [best waterproof golf jackets](https://ifrothgolf.com/guides/best-waterproof-golf-jackets) guide.

## The takeaway

The FootJoy HydroTour is a current three-layer shell, rated to 20,000mm and 15,000g, with underarm vents and a three-year UK waterproof warranty. It is $250 at American Golf against a $325 RRP. The Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite is rated to 8,000mm and 5,000g, is quiet and stretchy, and has a lifetime waterproof fabric guarantee. It is also end-of-line: County Golf is clearing it at $60 against a $225 RRP, and other stockists have dropped it. Buy the Sunderland for winter Saturdays and trolley rounds while your size lasts. Buy the FootJoy if you carry and play through all-day rain.

## FAQ

### Is the Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite discontinued?

It looks that way. The Golf Shop Online, which listed it in March 2026 at about 90 pounds against a 160-pound RRP, now redirects that page to the Sunderland brand page, where the current Whisperdry jackets are the Stealth and the Voss Weatherbeater. County Golf still lists the Pro-Lite as in stock, in sizes small to extra large, at about 50 pounds against a 170-pound RRP, with a low-stock notice on the page.

### How waterproof are the FootJoy HydroTour and Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite?

The FootJoy HydroTour is a three-layer jacket rated to 20,000mm of water column pressure with 15,000g/m2/24h breathability. The Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite is rated to 8,000mm with 5,000g/m2/24h breathability. Both have sealed seams. The FootJoy's rating is two and a half times higher, which matters most where straps or seats press the fabric against you.

### What warranty do the FootJoy HydroTour and Sunderland Whisperdry come with?

FootJoy warrants the HydroTour 100 per cent waterproof in normal use for three years in the UK, according to GolfMagic and Golfalot, and US listings quote two years. Sunderland gives the Whisperdry Pro-Lite's fabric a lifetime waterproof guarantee. A Sunderland stockist notes that the guarantee applies to jackets bought from authorised stockists and cared for properly, so keep your receipt.

### Is the FootJoy HydroTour worth the extra money over the Sunderland?

Only if you play a lot of wet golf and walk or carry. You pay for a 20,000mm rating, three times the breathability and zipped underarm vents, which help most on long, hard-walking rounds in steady rain. For occasional winter rounds on a trolley or buggy, the clearance Sunderland at about a quarter of the price keeps you dry and comes with a longer guarantee.

## Products mentioned

- [FootJoy HydroTour Waterproof Jacket](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/footjoy-hydrotour-waterproof-jacket) · $325 approx — Three-layer, 20,000mm, underarm vents and a three-year UK waterproof warranty. The one to buy if you stand out in proper rain every week.
  **Where to buy:** [Check price at American Golf](https://www.americangolf.co.uk/en/golf-clothing/footjoy-mens-hydrotour-full-zip-waterproof-golf-jacket-422074.html)

- [Sunderland of Scotland Sunderland Whisperdry Pro-Lite Jacket](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/sunderland-whisperdry-jacket) · $60 approx — End-of-line and being cleared well below its old RRP, with Sunderland's lifetime waterproof fabric guarantee. Buy it while your size lasts.
  **Where to buy:** [Check price at County Golf](https://www.county-golf.co.uk/mens-baselayers-waterproof-clothing/product/sunderland-whisperdry-pro-lite-waterproof-jacket-f960)

---

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