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Whether you are a beginner, hobbyist or seasoned pro, golf bags are an essential bit of kit to have with you on the green. Protecting the clubs you’ve spent your hard-earned money on, and providing a comfortable way to maneuver your gear around even the largest of courses.
If like me, you are a stickler for keeping organized, then you will undoubtedly be in the market for a bag that keeps all your equipment compartmentalized and readily available. The prepared golfer is in luck; modern bags typically only rise in price as the amount of club storage increases instead of seeing pricing based on features, or the number of compartments available.
A quality golf bag will have space for all your clubs, gloves, weather protective clothing, valuables, sunglasses, and anything else you may pack when planning a trip to the fairway.
With many brands offering a host of models, we at Golfer Journal have taken it upon ourselves to help you sift through the murky waters. Followed up with a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision, please enjoy our top picks for the best golf bags.
An outstanding golf bag for the money, the Founders Club Premium Cart Bag offers a fantastic number of features. If you are looking for a new golf cart bag, you will be hard-pressed to find a better trade-off in features and value.
Providing a fourteen-way dividing top, with rubberized protective slot technology; it not only boasts enough room to pack for any golf trip, but it also affords your precious clubs the protection they deserve.
The molded top allows each clubhead to drop into its own designated slot, hugging them close to avoid any knocks or bangs. You may also notice how quiet this makes your walks across the green, with the reduced clanging from your clubs allowing you to enjoy the moment.
Ten well-placed pockets are featured on the Founders Club Premium Cart Bag, with an additional two mesh pockets available; all positioned to provide an even load across the whole unit. The durable weather-resistant material and included rain hood ensure you won’t be worrying about the effects of adverse weather during your next golf excursion.
The only thing to note is that some may find the bag a little heavy, at 9.5lbs, but this is still relatively light and will come down to personal preference.
Bargain
Molded top
Plenty of well-placed storage
Some users may want a lighter bag
The EG Eagole Super Light Golf Cart Bag is the second on our list to feature a 14-way top, more traditional than the Founders Club molded variant, but still including full-length dividers for each slot. Providing a lot of protection for all your favorite clubs.
Three integrated molded handles ensure easy lifting and maneuverability when handling on the course, with the E-Trolley base system making it easy to transfer from pull carts to riding carts with ease. Nine pockets are provided, featuring two full-length apparel pockets, two velour-lined valuables pockets and a nicely sized cooler pocket for your snacks and beverages.
Well-constructed, the material is tough and hard-wearing, and you will be thankful that the rain hood is included during poor weather conditions. Manufacturer warranty provided lasts for five years, a massive plus in our book.
It is worth noting that a downside for me is the placement of some of the plastic parts of this bag, which I feel may suffer from excessive wear and tear.
Affordable
Well sized pockets
Five-year warranty
Plastic parts susceptible to wear
TaylorMade’s Golf TM Stand Bag 5.0 is the first stand bag to be featured in this roundup, as such you can expect a slightly more straightforward construction. Featuring a four-way top with plenty of room for all your clubs, although lacking the organizational capability of similarly priced golf bags.
Available in several colorways all golfers are sure to find something to their taste. Comfort can be found in the shoulder strap system that is well padded and ergonomic; while the bag itself features padded hip areas providing relief over long periods of use.
Non-slip footings found on the anti-slip stand system mean you can rest assured your clubs are kept safe on uneven and wet terrain, with little chance of the bag toppling during unexpected bursts of wind. Combined with the included rain hood, adverse weather should no longer be an issue when it comes to club safety.
Ample storage is provided with numerous pockets, including a velour-lined pouch. I feel this is an area of improvement for the TaylorMade Golf TM Stand, and think this is a bag better suited for younger or less experienced players.
Reasonably priced
Sturdy anti-slip stand system
Several colorways
Provided rain hood
Less organization available, compared to other models
More storage would be an improvement
You should never be short on space with the Izzo Versa Stand Golf Bag, despite having slightly fewer club dividers than others featured on this list. Available in several colors with a free personalized embroidery option when purchased.
Despite being labeled as a stand bag, the Izzo Versa is a hybrid, meaning it is compatible for cart use too. With legs supplying sturdy support in the upright position it also features a non-slip rubber bottom preventing slippage on wet and hard surfaces.
Plenty of pockets throughout; including secure lock magnetic pockets, velour-lined pockets to house your valuables, and uniquely, a power pocket. Izzo includes a 10,000 mAh Lithium-Ion power pack so you can easily keep all your devices charged on the go.
While only having a single strap, users have found it quite comfortable to their surprise during transport, helped with extra padding featured on the bag itself.
Hybrid bag, best of both worlds
Low level of slippage when legs are engaged
Plenty of space for all your needs
Lightweight
Slightly less hardwearing than other brands
Sun Mountain’s C-130 is the most expensive bag on this list, and it shows. Constructed of premium material it seems the guys at Sun Mountain have thought of everything when designing the C-130.
All the features found on the C-130 have been developed with the cart user in mind. Three integrated handles crown the bag, which sports a reverse orientation creating ease of access to all your clubs.
Once cart-mounted, all pockets are easily accessible, designed to have no obstruction for the user. Fourteen full-length dividers offer supreme protection, if you are a golfer with an extensive collection of expensive or modified clubs the C-130 should rank highly on your list.
Three velour-lined pockets for your valuables, with one being water-resistant, two full-length apparel pockets and a spacious cooler pocket deliver all the space golfers demand for extended periods of play. Made from very hard wearing and durable material, the Izzo Versa is a bag sure to find its way to the fairway for many years.
Included is a matching rain hood in any of the numerous colorways on offer. A generous one-year warranty is provided, although I’m confident that users won’t be calling upon it.
Quality construction
Plenty of storage space
Well designed
Plenty of available colorways
Not a budget model
Many seasoned golfers will already know what they like in a golf bag, but those newer players looking to up their game may not know where to begin. What is the difference between cart and stand bags? Does the material matter? How many clubs should my golf bag be able to fit?
At Golfer Journal we have been there before, that’s why we have compiled this wide-ranging buyer guide. Golf bags have seen a transformation over the years as materials have improved and standards have changed, but there are five main points to keep in mind when asking the question; what makes a good golf bag?
A new golf bag can be an excellent addition for any golfer, easing the strain from long walks on the green and keeping your day well organized. For all golf bags, there are five points to consider; all the points are important, and if a bag checks all five boxes you can expect to gain years of enjoyment from your latest purchase.
You want your new addition to be made form an extremely tough durable material, not only do you want it to stand the test of time. But you want the additional protection higher quality materials offer.
Why would you put the expensive gear you have worked hard to purchase in an inexpensive, low-quality bag? Not only will a bag crafted from inferior materials wear faster, requiring another investment to replace it, but it is far more likely that your equipment will become damaged during use.
Being water-proof is a massive bonus, protecting your valuables from any adverse weather you can experience on the green.
Full-length dividers will offer you far greater protection than ½ or ¾ length as they eliminate the chance of clubs knocking together causing damage. Having full-length club dividers is a money-saving effort, as you will need to replace your gear less frequently because of the reduced risk of damage.
Strap padding is extremely important, not only will premium straps keep you comfortable for longer. Your spine will thank you.
I’m sure many of us can attest to the effect carrying around a golf bag for extended periods of time can have on back health.
Budget, obviously this is at the forefront of consideration when making any purchase. With golf bags, there is a rate of diminishing returns after a certain price point.
Even lower to mid-tier bags will have all the features and appointments you would expect. Eventually, you are just paying for the branding and negligible features.
The final point to consider is the brand’s reputation for customer service. While this may be something a lot of golfers don’t consider it is quite a substantial consideration.
The longevity of your purchase is exponentially improved if quality customer service is provided. If you happened to run into an issue with your new purchase and it is still under warranty, dealing with a quality customer service team to resolve the issue will allow you to avoid multiple headaches in the future.
Even a great bag from a mediocre company can be detrimental to your enjoyment of the product.
Many features are available on a golf bag, and the decision to purchase a new one will depend on how many features you require. Some of you will only make use of one or two of the features found on this list; some may need all of them.
But we have compiled a list of features regularly found on the best golf bags to allow those of us newer to the game to make an informed decision about what bag will best suit their needs.
There are pros and cons to each type of bag, both do serve specific functions, and at the end of the day it comes down to your requirements, and how you want to use your gear.
Cart bags are defined by their name; they are well suited to be used in a cart. Generally boasting more storage than their stand counterparts, cart bags typically come with more modern appointments such as locking systems and extra apparel space.
They are ideally suited for the older golfer or golfers who enjoy the luxury of a golf cart.
Stand bags are of a simpler design than cart variants. Having retractable legs to keep the bag balanced while you play; offering great accessibility to your clubs and accessory pockets.
Stand bags often have a lot more convenience features also, providing comfort over extended days of golf where you will be walking a long distance. Golfers that like to get their daily exercise with a walk on the green favor stand golf bags.
Golfers are also moving towards a more modern approach to golf bags; Hybrid golf bags combine the best features of both cart and stand bags. Any golfer thinking of purchasing a hybrid needs to be made aware that not all brands are taking the correct approach, with some being little more than cart bags with legs.
If you are considering a hybrid golf bag, however, there are some pros to look out for:
Sun Mountain has hit the ball out of the park with the C-130 Cart Bag and is my #1 pick for anyone in the market looking for a new golf bag. Premium quality and feel do command premium price, however. But when you factor the longevity of the bag and level of protection provided to your golf equipment, the C-130 is a smart investment.
A close second would be the Izzo Versa, primarily for the flexibility a hybrid bag offers.
I hope these reviews and buyers guide has been helpful for you on your journey to find the best golf bags. If you have purchased any of these bags, please comment below and let us know what you think; or suggest any topics that you would like to see us cover in the future.
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