7 Best Straight Down Alternatives in 2026 | Ranked

Updated on: October 1, 2026

Author: Graeme

Exploring the brands UK golfers turn to when a Californian label answers the shipping question in seven words.

How We Review Golf Clothing Brands

Every review on the Three Putt journal is written by Graeme Whiles, the founder of Three Putt Golf Clothing. As a competing brand, we have an obvious conflict of interest. We take this seriously and address it directly in our review methodology, which explains how we assess brands consistently regardless of whether they compete with us.

Top Picks

1. Chervò: Best overall alternative, with Italian knitwear and real waterproofs
2. Castore Golf: Best for British performance kit with free returns
3. B.Draddy: Best for American premium priced in pounds
4. Three Putt Golf: Best for golf streetwear off the course
5. Ping Apparel: Best for club staples and waterproofs you can try on locally
6. Fairway & Greene: Best for classic American clubhouse polos at pro-shop prices
7. Abacus Golf: Best for Scandinavian rainwear on British shelves

Why People Look Beyond Straight Down

UK golfers look beyond Straight Down because they can't buy it. The brand's FAQ says "We ship only within the United States", its store shows UK visitors dollar prices, and there are no UK stockists. Even American customers get no exchanges, and the range has no waterproof jacket for a British winter.

Straight Down is a family-owned golf lifestyle brand from San Luis Obispo, California. Mike Rowley founded it in 1989 as a small T-shirt company for the volleyball and water polo crowd, then took it into golf. It turned 37 in August 2026 and sells through more than 2,000 US pro shops and resorts.

The range is deeper than its low profile suggests. There are more than 300 styles, from featherweight Air Mesh polos with a collar built to stay flat to merino knitwear, its own golf shoes and around 110 women's styles. A nine-style Made in USA collection includes Henderson trousers cut and sewn in Los Angeles. Ambassadors include Sam Stevens, Robert Streb and Steven Alker, who won back-to-back PGA Tour Champions events in August 2026.

For a UK golfer, the problem is access, not quality. A US parcel-forwarding service is the only way in, and it adds postage, fees, 20% import VAT and customs duty. Returns run 30 days from the order date, original shipping isn't refunded and final-sale items can't go back. Polos cost $98–$146 (about £75–£112) before any of that, and support is by email only. Each brand below fixes at least one of those problems.

Want a full breakdown of Straight Down? Check out our full Straight Down golf clothing review.

Best Pick For…

Play Style / Need	Best Brand
Italian knitwear and real waterproofs, sold in pounds	Chervò
British performance kit with free returns	Castore Golf
American premium priced in pounds	B.Draddy
Golf streetwear for after the round	Three Putt Golf
Club staples and waterproofs you can try on locally	Ping Apparel
Classic American clubhouse polos at pro-shop prices	Fairway & Greene
Scandinavian rainwear from UK golf shops	Abacus Golf

Detailed Breakdown by Brand

Chervò: Best Overall Alternative, with Italian Knitwear and Real Waterproofs

Available on: chervo.com · Read our full Chervò review

Key Features:

• Founded in 1982 in the Dolomites by brothers Manfred and Peter Erlacher as a ski apparel brand, moving into golf in the early 1990s with waterproof rainwear
• A named fabric suite: Aqua-Block waterproofing, Wind-Lock windproofing, Pro-Therm insulation, Dry-Matic wicking, Sunblock UV protection and Aqua-Drop water repellency
• Men's, women's and junior lines, from polos and merino-cashmere knitwear to padded and waterproof jackets, trousers, dresses and skirts
• An official Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup licensee, and Team Chervò's Jenny Shin won the 2026 Women's Scottish Open

Pros:

• A UK store that prices in pounds and dispatches by UPS within one working day, where Straight Down won't post to Britain at all
• Aqua-Block waterproofs rated at over 20,000mm with taped seams, a category Straight Down doesn't make
• Merino and cashmere knitwear, such as the £195.59 Nanchino half-zip, to match Straight Down's merino sweaters
• A full women's range, with polos in UK 8–20 and waterproof trousers in UK 6–20

Cons:

• Full-price polos cost £118.72–£149.47 in October 2026, above Straight Down's $98–$146 (about £75–£112)
• UK orders ship duties-unpaid, so the courier may ask for import VAT and duty before delivery
• A €65 return fee and no direct exchanges, so a wrong size is expensive

Verdict:

Chervò matches what makes Straight Down good, with premium polos, proper knitwear and a family founding story. It adds the waterproofs Straight Down never made, and it will take a British order. Cost is the catch: higher prices, duty on delivery and a €65 return fee mean ordering once, and carefully.

Castore Golf: Best for British Performance Kit with Free Returns

Available on: castore.com · Read our full Castore Golf review

Key Features:

• A Manchester-based premium sportswear brand started by brothers Tom and Phil Beahon, with its first golf collection launched in April 2019
• Named fabric tech: AerTek wicking, ProTek water-repellent finishes, OTek odour protection on some polos and the LVS (Layered Ventilation System) range
• Dresses LIV Golf's Majesticks Golf Club under a multi-year deal that began in 2025; the 2026 team is Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter
• A men's golf range of polos, quarter-zips, gilets, trousers, shorts and jackets, plus a Castore x Paul Smith capsule

Pros:

• Sold in pounds from a UK warehouse, so there are no duties: delivery is £3.95, or free over £60
• Free returns within 28 days, where Straight Down won't ship to the UK in the first place
• The £48 Essential polo and £65 golf trousers cost well under Straight Down's $98 entry polo and $136 trousers
• Golf trousers come in Regular and Long legs, with waists from 28 to 38

Cons:

• No women's golf clothing on castore.com, against around 110 women's styles at Straight Down
• Jackets are water-resistant for light drizzle, not waterproof, so the rain gap remains
• No exchanges, and golf sizes stop at 2XL, one short of Straight Down's 3XL

Verdict:

Castore is the simplest swap for a man's on-course wardrobe: athletic polos, trousers and vented layers, bought in pounds with free returns. It's sportier and less heritage-minded than Straight Down, and it skips women's golf and proper waterproofs. For playing kit with no customs risk, it's one of the easiest buys on this list.

B.Draddy: Best for American Premium Priced in Pounds

Available on: bdraddy.com · Read our full B.Draddy review

Key Features:

• Founded in 2013 by Billy Draddy, the third generation of Draddys in sportswear; the name is shorthand for "Brothers Draddy"
• Built on the Liam, a Peruvian Pima cotton polo named after Billy's son and made in Peru
• Part of Summit Golf Brands, alongside Fairway & Greene and Zero Restriction
• Official apparel provider for both teams at the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah, as it was in 2024

Pros:

• Choose the United Kingdom and prices switch to pounds: polos cost about £85–£106 before VAT in October 2026
• International returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase, though you pay the postage
• Italian merino and Scottish cashmere knitwear alongside the Pima polos
• Men's, women's and juniors' lines, with Open champions Brian Harman and Justin Leonard among its ambassadors

Cons:

• Posted prices exclude taxes, shipping, customs and import charges, and no UK delivery rates are published
• No UK stockists, so there's nowhere to try the fit
• No US-made line to match Straight Down's nine Made in USA styles

Verdict:

B.Draddy is the closest American match for Straight Down's quiet country-club look that will actually take a UK order. You'll pay VAT on top and fund your own return postage, but that beats a store that won't post here. Choose it for Pima polos and cashmere, and save Straight Down for a trip to California.

Three Putt Golf: Best for Golf Streetwear Off the Course

Available on: threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk · Read our full Straight Down vs Three Putt comparison

Key Features:

• A UK golf streetwear brand based in Leeds, selling six graphic designs across its streetwear: Contours, Happy Place, Tee Time, Reckless Driving, The Scenic Route and Three on the Green
• Tees: 100% cotton, 305gsm, relaxed fit, S–2XL, £24.99–£30.99, five colourways per design
• Long-sleeve tees at 305gsm (100% cotton) for £28.99–£35.99, and 400gsm cotton crewneck sweatshirts for £37.99–£47.99
• Hoodies: 430gsm, 56% cotton and 44% polyester, oversized drop-shoulder fit, S–2XL, £45.99–£54.99, four colourways per design

Pros:

• Priced in pounds, with free UK delivery
• Tees from £24.99 and hoodies from £45.99, where Straight Down's $48–$64 tees and $80–$150 hoodies can't be posted to Britain
• Published fabric weights and blends for every garment

Cons:

• No performance polos, trousers or outerwear, and no caps or women's-specific range
• Cotton streetwear, not technical kit: no moisture-wicking, stretch fabric or weather protection
• Returns within 14 days of delivery, emailing support@threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk first, with return postage at the customer's cost

Verdict:

Three Putt is our own brand, so weigh this entry with that in mind. It covers the hoodie-and-tee side of a wardrobe, not Straight Down's polos, merino or shoes. If your club has a collared-shirt dress code, you'll want a polo rather than a tee.

Ping Apparel: Best for Club Staples and Waterproofs You Can Try On Locally

Available on: pingeurope.com · Read our full Ping Apparel review

Key Features:

• PING Europe's own range, run from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, for the family-owned club maker founded in 1959 by Karsten and Louise Solheim
• Built on PING's Sensor platform: SensorCool for summer, SensorWarm for cold and SensorDry for rain, with AquaDrive waterproofs
• Men's, women's and junior ranges, from polos, mid-layers and knitwear to trousers, waterproofs and caps
• PING makes Team Europe's 2026 Solheim Cup kit

Pros:

• Polos at £45–£65 with VAT included, and UK delivery at £5, free over £50
• Listed by American Golf, Function18, Clubhouse Golf and GolfOnline, so you can try it on before you buy
• AquaDrive Pro and SensorDry 2.5 waterproofs carry a five-year limited warranty, in a category Straight Down doesn't cover
• Trousers in 30–44 waists with four leg lengths, against Straight Down's 32 or 34 inch inseams

Cons:

• Only 14 days to return a direct order, posted back at your own cost
• Safe club styling that lacks Straight Down's California character
• Almost no independent customer reviews: three on Trustpilot and none on its product pages

Verdict:

Ping runs the same commercial idea as Straight Down, club apparel sold through golf shops, on this side of the Atlantic. You lose some California character and knitwear depth, and gain waterproofs, trouser lengths and stockists you can visit. The 14-day window is short, but it beats a brand that won't ship here.

Fairway & Greene: Best for Classic American Clubhouse Polos at Pro-Shop Prices

Available on: fairwayandgreene.com · Read our full Fairway & Greene review

Key Features:

• Founded in 1995 and part of Summit Golf Brands, alongside B.Draddy and Zero Restriction
• Polos with a memory-wire cutaway collar, in 88/12 poly-spandex with UPF 50+
• Zegna Baruffa Merino windsweaters, from £224 to the £314 Commodore before VAT in October 2026
• The PGA of America's official staff uniform supplier since 2025, with Sepp Straka signed in January 2026

Pros:

• Shows UK visitors prices in pounds, with polos at £65–£69 before VAT in October 2026, below Straight Down's $98 entry polo
• A nine-style Made in the USA collection, matching the size of Straight Down's own
• The Caves Quarter Zip scores 5.0/5 from 108 on-site reviews
• Most men's styles run S–3XL, with six core styles up to 5XL

Cons:

• UK returns and exchanges are accepted, but you pay the return postage to the US
• Prices exclude VAT and import charges, and no UK delivery fee is published
• No waterproofs, no golf trousers and a single pair of shorts

Verdict:

Fairway & Greene is the nearest like-for-like swap: classic American clubhouse polos, merino layers and a small US-made line, from a site that shows pounds. It undercuts Straight Down at polo level. VAT comes on top, though, and returning a wrong size means paying the postage to the US.

Abacus Golf: Best for Scandinavian Rainwear on British Shelves

Available on: clubhousegolf.co.uk · golfonline.co.uk · Read our full Abacus Golf review

Key Features:

• A family-owned Swedish brand founded in 1991 by Sven-Olof Karlsson and Ingrid Lindgren Wachtmeister, based near Lund
• A three-step rain range: Links (10,000mm), Bounce (15,000mm, four-way stretch) and Pitch 37.5 (20,000mm)
• Men's, women's and junior ranges, though UK shops mainly carry the rainwear
• National Tournament Partner to the PGA in Great Britain and Ireland since 2025, and an Official Licensee of the 2027 Ryder Cup

Pros:

• The Pitch 37.5 was joint Best Overall in MyGolfSpy's rain gear tests in both 2025 and 2026
• Sold in pounds by Clubhouse Golf and GolfOnline with no import charges, from about £129 for the Links jacket to £269.99 for the Pitch at RRP
• PFC-free rain fabrics, with recycled polyester in many pieces
• Waterproof trousers in all three rain tiers, so you can build a matching suit

Cons:

• The brand's own store delivers only to Sweden and Denmark, so delivery and returns follow each stockist's terms
• No stated long-term waterproof guarantee
• UK shops carry mostly rainwear, so it won't replace Straight Down's polos and knitwear

Verdict:

Abacus's own website is as little use to a British buyer as Straight Down's, with one big difference: British retailers stock it. It won't replace Straight Down's polos, but it fills the rain gap Straight Down leaves. Buy from a UK stockist and the brand's shipping policy stops mattering.

Quick Comparison Grid

Brand	Best For	Price Range	Sustainability
Straight Down	Premium California polos, merino and a small US-made line	£££	Low (Eco2cotton fleece from recycled T-shirts and a solar-powered HQ; no published target or certification)
Chervò	Italian knitwear and real waterproofs, sold in pounds	££££	Low ("Recycle" tag on a few pieces; no wider programme)
Castore Golf	British performance kit with free returns	££	None published (no recycled-content claims on golf pieces; Modern Slavery Statement only)
B.Draddy	American premium priced in pounds	£££	Low (organic Pima claim; Oeko-Tex and Fair Trade claims with no certificate numbers)
Three Putt Golf	Golf streetwear off the course	££	No recycled-content or eco claims; tees are 100% cotton
Ping Apparel	Club staples and waterproofs you can try on locally	££	Low (item by item, such as the recycled-polyester Lindum polo; no programme)
Fairway & Greene	Classic American clubhouse polos at pro-shop prices	££–£££	Low (Summit-wide page of general aims, no certifications)
Abacus Golf	Scandinavian rainwear on British shelves	££–£££	Low (PFC-free rainwear and recycled polyester; no third-party certification)

Summary

Straight Down is a good brand behind a closed door. The family firm is 37 years in, makes featherweight polos, merino knitwear, its own shoes and a small Made in USA line, and sells through more than 2,000 US pro shops and resorts. Its own FAQ settles the UK question: it ships only within the United States.

Chervò is the best overall swap, with Italian knitwear and real waterproofs from a UK store, though duty and a €65 return fee add up. Castore and Ping are the easiest buys, priced in pounds with no customs. B.Draddy and Fairway & Greene keep the American clubhouse look and show prices in pounds, with VAT and return terms to watch. Abacus covers the rain, and Three Putt covers the hoodies and tees for after the round.

For more US labels and how they treat UK buyers, see our guide to American golf brands.

About the Author

Graeme is a golf enthusiast and writer who believes the best golfwear should work as hard off the course as it does on it. Drawing on years of testing brands across every level, from high street to heritage, he writes honest, wearable reviews that cut through the marketing noise. When he's not reviewing the latest drops, you'll find him on the fairways of West Yorkshire, usually three-putting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Straight Down

Does Straight Down ship to the UK?

No. Straight Down's FAQ says "We ship only within the United States", and the store shows UK visitors prices in US dollars. The only route is a US parcel-forwarding service, which adds postage, fees, 20% import VAT and customs duty. A return would mean posting back to California within 30 days of the original order date.

Where can I buy Straight Down in the UK?

There are no UK stockists. American Golf, Scottsdale Golf, Function18, Clubhouse Golf and GolfOnline didn't list the brand in October 2026, and it has no shops of its own. It sells through its US website and more than 2,000 American pro shops and resorts, so a US golf trip is the realistic route.

Who owns Straight Down?

Straight Down is family-owned and independent. Mike Rowley founded it in San Luis Obispo, California, in 1989 as a small T-shirt company for the volleyball and water polo crowd, then moved it into golf. The brand turned 37 in August 2026 and still runs from San Luis Obispo, with a solar-powered headquarters.

Is Straight Down made in the USA?

Partly. Its Made in USA collection holds nine styles. They include the Henderson five-pocket trousers, cut and sewn in Los Angeles, and the Leucadia pullover, whose recycled fleece is knitted in North Carolina. Most other product pages don't state a country of origin, so don't read the American heritage as whole-range US manufacturing.

What is Straight Down's return policy?

US orders can be returned within 30 days of the original order date, clean and unworn with tags attached, through an online portal. There are no exchanges: you return the item and place a new order. Original shipping isn't refunded, final-sale items can't be returned, and orders placed from 1 November can be returned until 15 January.

How much does Straight Down cost?

In October 2026, men's polos cost $98–$146 (most are $110), tees $48–$64, hoodies $80–$150 and quarter-zips $114–$204. Trousers run $136–$240, vests and jackets $112–$295 and merino sweaters up to $490. At about $1.30 to the pound, polos work out at roughly £75–£112, before forwarding, VAT or duty.

Does Straight Down make waterproof golf jackets?

No. Straight Down's outerwear is vests, quilted and hybrid jackets and a merino sweater-jacket, from the $112 Carson Vest to the $295 Sarazen. They are built for wind and a cool morning rather than rain. For British weather, Abacus, Ping and Chervò all make rated waterproofs you can buy in pounds.

What is the best Straight Down alternative for UK golfers?

Chervò is the best overall alternative: premium polos, merino-cashmere knitwear and Aqua-Block waterproofs from a UK store priced in pounds, though orders ship duties-unpaid. For simpler buying, Castore and Ping sell in pounds with no customs. For the American clubhouse look, B.Draddy and Fairway & Greene show pound prices, with VAT on top.