Glove tested: FootJoy WeatherSof (men’s) Retail price: $13 Material(s): Cabretta and synthetic leather, mesh, microfiber Colors: White with black, blue, lime, orange or red; all black; taupe with black Hand: Left, right Sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL
Available in cadet* fit: Yes (left hand only) Weather: All
About this glove: It’s hard to believe that 20% of the world’s golfers wear the same make and model of glove. Hard to believe until you find out it’s the FootJoy WeatherSof.
It’s no surprise a FootJoy model tops global glove sales, given the brand’s stranglehold on the business. But even by FJ standards, WeatherSof is a juggernaut. Originally launched in 1990, it outsells the flagship StaSof and the top-shelf Pure Touch Limited thanks to its lower price and better durability.
WeatherSof is no bargain-basement glove, either. It’s made from fine cabretta leather along with synthetic leather and breathable mesh materials, plus microfiber along the fingers. FootJoy offers a nice array of WeatherSof colors, too, a contrast to the limited color palettes of the company’s pricier models.
What do so many golfers find so appealing about this particular glove? It turns it, pretty much everything.
Appearance: Whichever color combo you choose, the design is the same. A strip of mesh (called PowerNet) lines the backhand and bottom knuckles for an attractive, streamlined look. The oval-shaped velcro tab is a nice touch. For some reason, the back of the index finger is free of perforations, making it stand out from its sibling digits. (Does the index finger not need air like the others? Just curious.)
Comfort: A golf glove doesn’t become the world’s top seller without being pretty darn comfortable. WeatherSof is certainly that, enveloping the hand in cool leather comfort. The elasticized pieces keep the leather from over-stretching when the hand is clenched, while the microfiber in the fingers matches the sheepskin’s soft touch.
Feel: It may suffer slightly in comparison with FootJoy’s pricier models, but WeatherSof is better than adequate in the feel department. The palm features a cabretta strip sandwiched between two pieces of synthetic material; hence, the mild dropoff in tactile conductivity from club to hand. Nonetheless, we’d hardly call WeatherSof’s feel a weakness.
Tackiness: This aptly named glove handles moisture very well, whether it’s from sweat, dew or rain. Get it damp and it dries quickly, retaining surface friction in the palm and fingers. The tack lasts over repeated rounds, too.
Durability: Here’s where WeatherSof makes its money. While FJ’s StaSof and Pure Touch gloves are fantastic products, this one is considerably more durable. Treat it right and you should easily squeeze 20-plus rounds from a WeatherSof glove. Surface abrasions take a good while to appear, and tears to the fabric or seams take a lot longer than that.
Bottom line: They say you get what you pay for, but in the case of FootJoy’s WeatherSof glove, we think you get a good bit more. That’s especially true considering three-packs are often sold for around $25, or a little more than $8 per glove. We’d gladly buy it at full price.
*Cadet gloves have shorter fingers than regular gloves of the same size; e.g., a cadet medium glove has the same palm fit with shorter fingers than a standard medium.
