When a well established brand in a niche sport decides to jump into the fray of another niche sport, it can be risky. But when the founder is a Norwegian Olympic ski champion and the existing brand has already built a loyal following in the world of skiwear, failure seems like less of an option.

That brand is KJUS, founded in 2000 by ski champion Lasse Kjus and Swiss entrepreneur Didi Serena to try and fill a gap in technical and functional ski apparel, at a time when fashion was king. They later entered the golf space in 2013 with a product line of premium rain gear, based on existing skiwear technology and expertise, and quickly established a solid base among golfers.

KJUS has since expanded into a full line of golf apparel, focused on comfort and freedom of movement with innovative and premium apparel. Here are a few examples to give you an idea of what happens when you combine perfect climate control and premium workmanship.

Functionality First, Fashion… Also First

The golf shirts – along with everything else – from KJUS are designed to help golfers reach the absolute top of their game, the fact that they also look good is just a nice little bonus. And that comes through in both the Soren Stripe Shirt and the Lee Stripe Shirt with features like breathable, quick-drying fabric with UV protection, and an antibacterial finish to fight odor causing bacteria.

When it comes to the pants and shorts from the KJUS, both the Iver Pants and the Iver 10 Inch Shorts share qualities like breathable and ultra-lightweight fabric with water and dirt-repellent properties, perfect for mist and rain. They’re also both built with stretch and are machine washable for an easy-peasy experience.

The (Not-So-Soggy) Bread and Butter

But where KJUS continues to shine – and seemingly always will – is when the sun doesn’t, in the outwear and rain gear categories. For instance, the Rain Rescue 2.5L Rainwear is a packable, featherweight jacket that is windproof and waterproof, and built with stretch for no restriction. And the Retention Outerwear is extra lightweight and offers Thermo Core warming with an insulated front and a quilted finish.

More options in the outwear category include the Reach, with thermoregulating graphene lining to provide comfort and warmth, plus stretch at the sides and arms for excellent freedom of movement. And the Inverness QZ Hoodie features Eco-Coffee technology, blending cashmere with recycled coffee grounds for enhanced fabric properties, with a hoodie for extra coverage in the rain. And it looks cool.

We could go on but you get the idea. It’s pretty clear that the Boulder, Colorado-based KJUS brand that’s now owned by Acushnet isn’t messing around when it comes to functionality and performance. And now when you see that K logo pop up again, which it continues to do on all of the world’s major golf tours, you’ll know that the golfer takes their golf performance – and probably their skiing too – very seriously.