Apparel Review:
Sunice Hurricane Ultimate Gore-Tex Jacket
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

You probably don’t know that when Sunice hit the apparel industry with its stylish yet high-performance apparel, it actually borrowed the durable functionality of firefighting apparel for its new line of clothing. Makes sense now, doesn’t it?

In fact, from the first stitch to the latest in eye-catching design, Sunice is known within the golf world – and abroad – for fusing science and style. From Mount Everest to the Olympic Games, Sunice has been a staple apparel item. As company literature states, “From 40 below to the 18th hole, Sunice continues the revolution in winter and golf actionwear with a performance-enhancing collection that frees the body and thrills the soul – no matter how extreme the conditions.”

OK. Sounds good on paper. But, how would the Sunice Hurricane Ultimate Gore-Tex Jacket perform under the ultimate of bad-weather conditions: a winter ice storm in southwestern Ontario. Believe it or not, Sunice delivered a sample jacket to London Ontario Golf one day before a big ice storm hit. Perfect timing – an opportunity to put the Hurricane to the test.

Even before I slipped on this jacket, its style caught my eye. This is certainly not your grandfather’s golf jacket. In fact, it resembles a very cool lightweight motorcycle jacket – not too flashy, but with a hint of style to make you stand out on the golf course. This jacket really adds a slimming effect, too, but without restraining any movement.

Here’s the skinny on the Hurricane. Its garment features a Gore-Tex laminated Performance Shell for comfort and durable waterproof protection. The lining, Gore-Tex membrane, outer fabric trio of protection sees rain, snow, sleet, hail and sweat leave the jacket surface, keeping you dry and comfortable. The jacket really is lightweight, too, thanks to less than 500 g in total suit weight. Waterproof zippers with lock down pullers are a plus.

The motorcycle jacket look comes via external welding tape details, and lazer cut sleeve pockets, plus telescopic sleeves. There’s a Pro Trim adjustable waist cinch, and four-way stretch inserts for unrestricted motion. An in-pocket ball cleaner is the icing on the cake.

Back to the ice storm. I wore the Hurricane to an afternoon appointment, and was pleasantly surprised – believe me, it was cold and wet yet I remained warm and dry. If this jacket performs this admirably now, I can’t wait to show it off on the golf course.

I’ve always been a fan of Sunice, but now after learning more about its technology and company history, I know why it’s one of today’s top stylish-performance apparel companies.

Check out all of the 2008 Sunice offerings at www.sunice.com.