I revolutionized my dad’s golf game.
I didn’t give him any pointers on his swing. I didn’t buy him a new set of clubs.
I bought him a new hat and a shirt that fits decently, rather than the bulky polo he opted for every time we went out to the links.
And in my search, I found an up and coming brand: TravisMathew.
I picked up a shirt, shorts, and their new shoes for myself to see what they’re all about.
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What Is TravisMathew?
TravisMathew is based in Orange County, California, and their clothes are inspired by the Southern California lifestyle: a balance between intense activity in the sun, comfort, and leisure.
Joe Buck, Oscar del la Hoya, Mark Wahlberg, Justin Timberlake, and Mathew McConoughey have all been spotted wearing the signature TM logo, and the brand sponsors Jon Rahm, who sits at number three in the world rankings at the time of writing (and just won his first US Open!).
So if one of the top five golfers in the entire world wears TravisMathew, I’m curious what the brand will do for me.
The standout feature of TravisMathew clothing is the fit: all items have a trimmer, more modern fit suited to young professionals, which may be a bit of a shock if you’ve been wearing baggy shirts and shorts your whole life. The fabric and comfort is outstanding, which makes these clothes a great choice for a night out for drinks or a day on the golf course.
Things to Consider Before Buying Apparel from TravisMathew
You know the guy: he’s speeding his cart down the fairway, and he looks like he’s been wearing the same ratty chinos for the past 20 years.
TravisMathew clothes are an investment, and while you can find comfortable performance driven clothes for cheaper, you’ll be hard pressed to find a brand that fits this well off the rack.
I’ll shoot straight with you (which isn’t something I can do on the course, by the way). TravisMathew is worth exploring if you care about looking sharp. Some guys don’t really care, and that’s fine.
But if you ever hit the links with your boss and you want to subtly maintain those professional standards you keep in the office, well-fitting clothes are one of the best ways to do so in my opinion. In that case, the investment is well worth it.
TravisMathew isn’t just a golf brand, though. They’re a full lifestyle brand, so you can rock these threads on a date night, too.
TravisMathew Review
The Zinna Polo Shirt
I picked up one of TravisMathew’s popular year-round polos: The Zinna.
The Zinna is a little different from their hot-weather polo, The Heater 2.0. The fabric is more traditional, and I prefer it over more technical-fabric focused options.
Made with 63% Pima cotton and 37% polyester, the fabric has a lot of structure to it. What that means is that the collar keeps its shape, the shoulders don’t droop and get misshapen, and the stomach and chest lay flat.
I love the fit of the Zinna Polo. I’ve shopped with a few other brands in a similar space as TravisMathew, and I’ve found them to fit a little large. I’m between a medium and large size, so I opted for the medium: the fit is spot-on in the shoulders.
And because of the slightly thicker fabric, the shirt is flattering across my chest and keeps my stomach looking trim.
The arms are fairly narrow, which is great for buff and skinny guys alike—no one wants to have their biceps swimming in fabric.
When it comes to comfort, the added polyester gives this shirt some stretch and flexibility, so it’s no issue on the course.
If you’ve never tried Pima cotton before, you’ll be impressed. This shirt is soft and breathable, but the biggest benefit comes after you finish your golf game: it doesn’t pick up a stench like some pure technical fabrics can. That makes the Zinna a solid choice for hot weather, regardless of if you’re golfing or not.
If you’ve never tried Pima cotton before, you’ll be impressed. This shirt is soft and breathable, and it's keeps the stank at bay.
The Beck Shorts
With summer fast approaching, I snagged a pair of TravisMathew’s best selling shorts, The Beck.
They feature a 10” inseam, which means they fall just above my knee (I’m 6’1” for reference). I’m often a bit wary of 10” shorts because I have fairly large thighs and almost no calf muscles to speak of.
If the cut is wider through the thigh, I end up looking like I’ve got chicken-legs. I’m happy to report that the Beck Shorts are quite slim through the thigh and the leg opening has a decent amount of taper.
I wouldn’t call it slim-fit, but they’re certainly not baggy or ill-fitting. I’m usually partial to a 7” short, but the Beck is a welcome addition to my wardrobe, especially when I’m out golfing.
The fabric is made with a polyester, cotton, and spandex blend that’s lightweight, breathable, and has a decent amount of stretch in it. They’re ideal for all the movement and bending one does on the course, but they have a refined texture that looks just as good out on the street.
The Beck is ideal for all the movement and bending one does on the course, but they have a refined texture that looks just as good out on the street.
The Daily Knit Shoe from Cuater by TravisMathew
To round out my outfit, I picked up a pair of shoes from TravisMathew’s footwear brand, Cuater. Cuater specializes in golf shoes and accessories, and I picked up their Daily Knit sneaker for laid back everyday wear.
These sneakers are designed with comfort as a priority, from the upper fabric, to the high density foam insole, to the wedge foam and rubber outsole.
I went with black, but all four color options are neutral and go with just about anything you have in your closet.
I busted my sneakers out for a cross country flight, and they’re excellent travel partners. As a tall guy, cramming into a plane seat isn’t always a good time, and my feet can get pretty uncomfortable after staying smooshed for six hours.
Going through security was easy—just slip the sneakers on and off. And when I had to scramble to make my layover flight, the Daily Knit had plenty of support for the quick jog.
My biggest concern with knit shoes like this is the toe. I’ve seen too many pairs of Allbirds where the toe gets stretched out and starts to look floppy. It usually happens in a matter of weeks, too.
I’ve been stomping around in my Daily Knit shoes for about a month now, and I’ve played a round of golf, travelled back and forth across the country, and put in my fair share of miles in them and they’re still looking sharp.
These sneakers are designed with comfort as a priority, from the upper fabric, to the high density foam insole, to the wedge foam and rubber outsole.
What do Other Reviewers Say About TravisMathew?
After scouring through the reviews online, I noticed more than a few guys say that TravisMathew is their go-to brand.
Like a lot of gents, finding a brand that makes quality clothes with a flattering fit is a chore, and once you find one, it’s hard to let go.
From what I could see, a lot of guys picked TravisMathew for the slimmer modern style. The comfort and flexibility is just a cherry on top.
My Thoughts Overall On TravisMathew
What I Like
TravisMathew features more modern fits that are slimmer through the torso and more flattering for the arms.
The technical fabrics are breathable, lightweight, sweat wicking, and have plenty of stretch in them so you don’t feel restricted.
All the brand’s clothes are wrinkle-resistant, which makes them ideal for travel.
If you join the free TravisMathew rewards club, you get free shipping and returns.
What I Don’t Like
TravisMathew’s collection is huge, which in many ways is a benefit, but it’s difficult to see how different models compare with one another, and which item you should pick over another for your specific needs.
Who is TravisMathew for?
TravisMathew is a go-to brand for young professionals who don’t want to sacrifice style for the sake of comfort. If you regularly hit the links and want to pop into the local brewery with the guys on the way home, TravisMathew is a fantastic option.
The Verdict
After sporting a full TravisMathew outfit for several days and putting their clothes through the paces, I can say I’m a fan.
The Zinna Polo shirt has a flattering fit in the arms and chest, and despite the soft fabric, the collar retains its structure well.
The Beck shorts are super lightweight and comfortable, and the tailored fit through the thigh and knee help keep the “chicken leg” look at bay.
The Daily Knit from Cuater is a winner for its comfort and casual style. I was a bit worried about the knit upper, as comparable brands sometimes have issues with the toe stretching and losing form. But because the Daily Knit is made with technical fabrics, stretching is less of an issue and the sneakers have retained their shape well.
The biggest drawback I have with TravisMathew is the organization of their collection: for instance, the brand has tons of different polos, and it’s tough to know the difference in fabric and fit without going into each description. It’s a small gripe, I know, but for performance clothes, I like the benefits to be obvious.
The standout feature of TravisMathew clothing is the fit: all items have a trimmer, more modern fit suited to young professionals, which may be a bit of a shock if you’ve been wearing baggy shirts and shorts your whole life. The fabric and comfort is outstanding, which makes these clothes a great choice for a night out for drinks or a day on the golf course.
FAQs
Do TravisMathew shirts shrink?
Yes, TravisMathew shirts generally feature a cotton blend. While they won’t shrink as much as a full cotton shirt, there will be a minor amount of shrinkage.
How do TravisMathew shorts fit?
TravisMathew shorts fit true to size in the waist. The leg openings are more tailored, so if you have really large thighs, you may want to bump a size up from your standard waist size.
Do any pro golfers wear TravisMathew?
The most popular golfer wearing TravisMathew is Jon Rahm, one of the top five golfers playing the sport today.