ProQuip Aqualite Pro Review: Waterproofs Tested in Scottish Rain

There’s nothing worse than being out there soaked to the skin in 50mph wind and sideways rain.

I’m an independent caddie at Carnoustie Golf Links. I carried my first bag in 1998. I’ve caddied senior Opens, DP World Tour events and top amateur events.

I have experienced every kind of weather it’s possible to get in Scotland. Frost, hail, ice, 70 mph wind, biblical levels of rain, and blue skies, 90 degrees and 80% humidity.

Sometimes all in the same day.

I have walked more than the circumference of the earth in all weather conditions. I know better than most what works and what doesn’t.

THE TEST

ProQuip sent me an Aqualite Pro suit at the end of September to test and review.

It arrived in time for the Alfred Dunhill Links, and I wore it for four days on a tour player’s bag. We only had a sprinkle for a few holes, so the waterproofing wasn’t really tested. Everything else was. It was very quiet, comfortable, it kept me warm, and it was easy to deal with in terms of packing.

Then I wore it for weeks at work. A caddie’s round is five hours, carrying, and that’s where kit either works or it doesn’t. That covers the fit, the comfort, the wind and whether it gets in the way.

The waterproofing is one day. It’s the middle of October in Scotland and that was the first day wet enough to really put it through its paces.

The Buddon at Carnoustie. Three hours. Drizzle for most of it and heavy rain for a few holes on the back nine. 11 degrees, feels like 9, gusting 23.

THE RATINGS

Waterproofs are rated by something called hydrostatic head. They stand a tube of water on the fabric and measure how high the column gets before it leaks through. That number, in millimetres, is the rating.

A jacket can be sold as waterproof at 800mm. The high ratings, 15,000mm and up, are the ones aimed at heavy rain.

ProQuip don’t publish a figure for the Aqualite Pro. Plenty of golf brands don’t, and it’s a big part of why comparing one jacket to another is so hard.

But the number only describes the fabric. It tells you nothing about the seams, the zips or the cuffs. And the cuffs are where this one let water in.

THE JACKET

I could swing freely in it and the noise is very minimal. I noticed that at the Dunhill, before I knew they had engineered it. They call it Swing-Silent Technology.

99% dry.

The 1% was the cuffs. They ride up the arm just a little, particularly the left one. They got wet, and that got my base layer cuffs wet. It could do with material cuffs that stop them riding up.

A bit damp on the seams of the forearms as well, but only very slightly.

The collar held up well.

It’s a warm jacket in general and excellent at keeping the wind out. Generally you don’t overheat or get too sweaty. I did overheat one day, but I had a base layer, a polo and a thick sweater on underneath. I took the sweater off. I’m happy with its performance from that side of things.

There is no built in hood, and I’m glad. Built in hoods don’t work on this kind of jacket. Either it’s a flimsy fold away one and they just don’t work well when you’re putting them back, or it’s permanently out and for me it just gets in the way. Buy a separate hat.

The pockets are a good size. Enough for my beanie hat comfortably. It could do with an inside pocket.

You can pack it down. I’ll often put the jacket through the handle on the bag.

It dries in a few hours hanging on a door inside the house.

I do like the jacket.

THE TROUSERS

My crotch was dry today. That’s always where trousers give up the ghost first.

I wear them regularly at work. Good size pockets. They have a premium feel.

Two things I’d change.

I just wish waterproof companies kept the pass-through opening so you can get into your actual pockets.

And they come with belt loops. You’ll most likely need a belt, I did. I’m not a huge fan of that style. I’d prefer the velcro waist adjusters, or even a drawcord. The jacket has a shockcord waist and side adjustor tabs. That’s exactly what I’d want on the trousers.

I do like them.

THE VERDICT

Would I spend my own money on them? Yes.

For the price point they are very good. For 90% of the weather you’re likely to get in Scotland they do the job.

I would still probably have another one for the most extreme weather, but then you’re really climbing the price point and looking at £500 to £700 for the top of the range that you’d need.

These are excellent waterproofs for the price point. They do have a more premium feel, particularly the trousers.

The jacket is £120. There’s a three year waterproof guarantee on it.

I’ll come back after the winter and tell you how they’ve held up.