Spring 2012 – Reviews, ratings and rankings of the best golf carry bags. Our editors test and compare the latest golf carry bags head-to-head to help you determine which golf carry bag is best. Tested products include offerings from Sun Mountain, Ping and Titleist.
The Sun Mountain Zero-G is pricey, but delivers excellence. Like a stay at the Ritz-Carlton. Or dinner at Nobu. Includes the nifty invention of a belt strap to distribute weight to the hips and legs and keep your back healthy. Let’s loop another 18!
Retail price: $229.99
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Score
94
Grade
A
The Titleist Premium Stand Bag delivers on all of the features a consumer would expect from a product with “premium” in its name. Those looking for lots of storage space (and not as concerned about weight) will love this bag.
Retail price: $190
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Score
92
Grade
A-
The new Ping 4 Under is a great combination of all the basics at an extremely attractive price. Light on your your back and wallet, this is the bag of choice in the lightweight category.
Retail price: $135
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Score
91
Grade
A-
The Callaway Hyper-Lite 4.0 is a solid perfomer – there’s nothing radical about it, but it delivers what you need in a carry bag. The features include a 6-way top for club storage, pockets for everything you need, and exceptional padding both on in the shoulder straps and on the bag itself. Note that while it is marketed as “Hyper-Lite”, the 4.9 lb. bag (as tested) was only slightly lighter than the average tested bag.
Retail price: $159
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Score
91
Grade
A-
The Sun Mountain Superlight 3.5 delivers excellence at a reasonable price. Unlike the CEO of GM. Or Barry Zito. Or “Waterworld”.
Retail Price: $169.99
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Score
90
Grade
A-
It’s the Hoofer you’ve known for years with a few new tweaks. Reliable and versatile, this bag straddles the line between lightweights and more full-featured carry bags and will appeal to a variety of players.
Retail Price: $189.99
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Score
88
Grade
B+
If you are anal as some of us, you’ll love being able to put your clubs into 14 individual slots. Otherwise, you might not think the extra cost, in both dollars and weight, is justified.
Retail Price: $199.99
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Score
84
Grade
B
Stay tuned for our review of the Nike Performance Carry…coming soon.
Until then, just know that the Nike Performance Carry features a 14-way, full-length divider system. Includes 10 pockets (8 zippered) and the “Max Air Curved” revolving double strap system…sounds serious, no?
And dont forget the quick golf ball access sleeve, tee holder, pen sleeve and glove patch.
Retail price: $240.00
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Nike latest golf bag, the Nike Vapor X, is marketed as weighing under four pounds and enters the Nike lineup as the lightest of their fully-featured carry bags.
We are currently testing the Nike Vapor X. Stay tuned for our review…
Retail Price: $230.00
Street Price: $179.00
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We haven’t had a chance to test the Sun Mountain KG:2 carry bag, which was just introduced in November, but until we do, here’s what we know:
The KG:2 comes with a host of Sun Mountain’s premium stand bag features, including it’s light weight, the E-Z Fit Dual Strap System, and a cart-friendly bottom and new leg-lock system. The bag features a 9.5″ 4-way top, three integrated top handles, and 8 pockets (with a mobile phone specific pocket – just make sure you turn it off though, OK?). The bag comes in eight color combinations: Yam(!)/Ink, Black, Black/Purple/Gold (go Tigers!), Black/Charcoal/Red, Gunmetal/Black/Lava, Navy/Lava/Ocean, Blue/Navy/Yellow, and White/Lime/Black.
Retail price: $299
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