Hey guys, great work with the site and all the work/effort you put in. I have to say though, I was pretty disappointed here. I was in the market for a new bag, and searched the internet high and low for reviews before I made my decision. I ended up going with the Cobra Ultralight bag and the deciding factor was the fact that it was ranked as the #1 bag by MGS. I’m far from an expert golfer or product reviewer, but as soon as I loaded this bag up, my excitement quickly turned to regret.
Like others have mentioned, it would be nice to see a rating on club tangle. While I understand that it is almost unavoidable in a lightweight stand bag, I feel that it still needs to be rated. The club tangle on the lower 4 dividers is a real pain. The divider is only full length down the middle, so you end up with 5 clubs between the two side dividers that do not cooperate when the stand is in use (due to gravity they all bunch in the same spot). I play midsize grips and each time I pull a club, I pull two others with it.
The feature that really disappointed me though, and is the reason I will be returning the bag, is the so called “Best in Class Stand System”. Sure it works great to keep the bag up (releases quickly, wide base, sturdy), but the problem exists when the bag is on your back. Anytime the bag bounces slightly against your back (which is nearly every step), the legs starts to push out. After 3 quick steps down a tee-box, the legs were nearly fully extended. It drove me crazy and friends walking behind me were asking why the legs of the bag kept hanging down while I walked.
I took all of the clubs out of the bag to dissect the problem at home. Turns out that just simply pushing the side of the bag will cause the legs to start pushing out. It’s as if when the fabric on the sides of the bag feels tension, the stand starts to engage. Since the pressure of your back causes tension on the fabric every step, it makes the legs kick out on every walk. I have never had this issue with a bag before but will be going back to what I was using before.
I know this review should be directed more at Cobra than at MGS (and will post on their site as well), but when you are providing in-depth analysis of products to the average golf consumer, I should not have such obvious issues with a #1 ranked product.
Like I mentioned before though, very appreciative of the work you guys do, and I will continue reading daily!

Just wanted to say- nice review. I carry my bag SM 4.5 and like it. I had a Ogio and it just never lay across my back correctly but still had some nice features. Bags have nice features that I do not care for but others like them. List your favorite features and go shop for those bags and always try them before you buy -no grousing

Without a Sun Mountain 3.5 or 3.5 Hugg in the mix, this is not the best guide to bags, or even the 2.5+, which I carried over 18 holes on a hot humid day, and I help up better than younger guys with push carts. And I understand, the Ping bag still have club sticking issues. Try again.

I just carried my Epic 10″ Staff Bag…empty, it’s only 2-3 lbs heavier than most of the bags listed here (8.8 lbs.) … I just took out all of the junk I didn’t need, rangefinder (I have a GPS watch), only 6 balls, tees, clubs (didn’t need GW, 3 or 4 iron at this course..). it was lighter than any of the guys carry bags I was playing with… And yes I have a carry bag, didn’t realize we were walking that day… next time a caddy complains about it… I’m not buying the “let me use my bag instead” request…

Interesting study. I’m a British golfer, now living in the US and almost always walk and have been carrying for 30 years, (we don’t really ‘do’ carts where I’m from)….until my back gave out. I don’t mean to sound arrogant or boorish but I’m a bit of an expert on this having had tens of carry bags in this time. The fact that the Sun mountain 2.5 and 3.5 are not considered in this study flaws the whole thing. Weight is almost everything. Also, it is evident that many golfers this side of the pond, when carrying, have little idea how to actually adjust the straps. Invariably, it is almost also too high on the back to be an ergonomically sound position, or even comfortable. Just look at the photo above. That’ll screw your back in no time…….

So quick question, which bag in MGS’s opinion is best for getting clubs in and out with the least amount of binding or catching? I have an old Ping Hoofer and I love it but my clubs are constantly getting stuck against each other. It has a 4 way top but only 2 full length dividers. I would love to hear from MGS or the community on this one. Thank you

I am surprised 14 way bags aren’t number #1. Hoofer 14 vs than reg hoofer unless u like fighting irons on a hot summer day.

I didn’t see any Wilson Staff Nexus bags, for me personally I love the bag, light weight with a really good structure and durability. The price was on point and lots of pockets for storage. I was sold mostly by the exo skeleton type design and it really works well for me.

Interesting that the Vice bag went from #2 in last year’s test to middle of the pack with the new test metrics

Am I the only one who feels weird rocking a bag brand if I don’t also carry some of that brand’s clubs? I tend to go with “neutral” bag brands like Nike (RIP), Sun Mountain, UA, Ogio etc. Even if I love a Callaway bag, I feel odd carrying it if I don’t game at least one callaway club.

Awesome write up guys! That’s some serious testing going on right there. I’m glad to see a lot of OEM’s being used & the categories that were scored were spot on.

Great recap and thanks for the insight on 2018 golf bags.

TANGLE…..being a walker for 18 holes (70+ times a year) I have tried 5 different bags in 3 years. I understand the frustration with club removal and something not easy to solve. Club shafts quantity, divider count, and GRIP type all add to TANGLE. Added to this testing or build design, especially on carry stand bags, is a DIVIDER COUNT and SLEEVE attachment.

SLEEVE attachment to the outside edge of the bag makes a difference. Most just secure at the top divider area and bottom of bag. So the sides are open and TANGLE happens. Suggest sleeve material is sewn or secured on the outside edge of the bag and you will remove a big cause for tangle and removal frustration!

I took a brand new bag in October, from a premium manufacturer, and tried to get ahead of tangle that was evident the first 3 rounds using this new bag. Using epoxy, I secured the divider sleeve fabric along the outside edge of the bag on 4 sleeves. I had to cut out the plastic divider cross pieces at the top, and then re-engineer them after securing the sleeves.

Hope this works all summer after golf courses open here!

Keep up the good work. Shame on those who just spew negatives without consideration of OEM submission, without solution, or without proper consideration! Sending opinions is easy, sending educated arguments or solutions is best!

Thanks again-
Jon

I thought a Sun Mountain 4.5 weighed 4.5 pounds. Part of the attraction. I have considered it versus some of the other bags that you cite as lighter and I just don’t believe it. Can you please confirm this number is correct in your table?

Only 1 SM bag? 3 pings . Tried both over the years and the SM carry range are far superior

Curious as to why the ‘Editor’s Choice’ was awarded to the 2nd ranked bag, and not the highest ranked?

I own a Ping Huffer from a coupe years ago. Basically same bag. Clubs were nearly impossible to get in and out and something scratched my wood shafts from the inside of the bag. Absolutely terrible bag IMO. Doesn’t look like ease of putting in and taking out clubs is a metric? Sun Mountain always makes the best bags period.

I have never used a stand bag because I always ride. Now that they have 14 way dividers I could be willing to make the change. What are the reasons to make the change?

I have a minor back problem, I still carry my own bag, but I can ONLY carry on my left shoulder. I would like to see if the bags can be carried on the left shoulder or right shoulder. Too often, bags have bulky pockets on the right side of the bag that prevent carrying the bag on the left shoulder & left hip.

Anyone recommend a good carry bag that will sit well on a trolley please? Searched high and low.

I won my Titleist stand bag several years ago in Tournament. Awesome bag, don’t use it much as I have a Sun Mountain Cart Bag. But the Titleist bag, when I do use it seems like everything you would every want. My buddy won one in the same Tournament, but his wife snagged, she uses it all the time.

Also, I agree whole heartedly with Mark.

The cost of the bag definitely should be one of the criteria, even if it is not weighted the same as the rest.

I’m curious why price is not part of the point system

You have the Titleist Player’s 14 listed with a weight of 6.4 lbs and the Titleist website lists the weight as 5.1 lbs. That’s a significant difference. I am curious, who has an incorrect number?

The Sun Mountain 2.5+ should win this if you walk most of the time. A wonderful bag.

I wish the non club manufacturer bags placed higher. I don’t want a PING bag with my Taylormade clubs. The Frogger bag looks promising but it’s kinda ugly. Gonna check out OGIO

IMO the new Titleist Players stand bags are hands down the best looking of all stand bags in the market. I’m a 4 top cuff divider guy as I like more space to slot my clubs and it keeps the weight down. The only improvement would be to make the straps a little more padded. Other than that, it’s a perfect looking and functional carry bag. Pure style!

I’ve got a ping hoofer from probably 5 years back and I love everything about it EXCEPT for the dividers. It’s by far the worst bag I’ve ever dealt with as far as club tangle goes. Do these new Ping bags fix this issue?

I assume the test was between bags sent out by the various companies? I ask that as the bags compared are from different categories. Example; almost all manufacture a 14 way and some of the bags are and are not the lightweight versions from each mfg.

Now that Callaway owns Ogio, hopefully they bring color back to their line. Ogio bags looks wise have gotten very staid and stale.
I did notice that at a visit last week to Roger Dunn Golf shop in So Cal, only Callaway bags were displayed and no Ogio. It would be a big mistake for Callaway to do so. I won three Ogios and the appeal was NOT having a club manufacturer name on the side.

Whatever happened to the Wilson Staff Nexus bag? It was The Most Wanted a few years ago. I bought one last year to replace a Sun Mountain cart bag and absolutely love it. I don’t carry it on the course but I do hike it to the practice facility which is a long walk. On days I play I put it on my push cart and it fits perfectly.

I could care less about Style and I agree with Hula_Rock that for this piece of equipment, durability is a huge factor that needs to be considered.

I have been caddying part-time for the last 30 years. No offense to the newer bags, but my all-time #1 stand bag is the original Ping Hoofer.

Is there another name or specific name for the Maxfli Air bag?
I can’t find them anywhere…

Nice work again MGS.

I personally will only use a 14 way divided bag at this stage, and with how nasty this winter has been with rain and sleet during rounds taking a toll, I may actually need to look into one of these sooner than I planned.

This winter has sucked for golf in Jersey… ugh.

I humped my clubs thru the 60s, 70s, and most of the eighties. These feather light bags are amazing! I own one now and wished I could have had equipment like these new Stand bags back in the day. Tks for the review guys.

DURABILITY should be added to the testing matrix, at least in a follow up test. e.g. 6 months from now with normal wear and tear. I have used 2 of the bags listed in the test, one of which only lasted 4 months before it started to break down…..

…not sure how the maxfli air doesn’t get a best buy…. for less than 50 bucks you get the bag that is first in walkability and first in weight. maybe the storage and style aren’t there but is that worth another 100 bucks for the cleveland bag ?? Not in my book.

I’m kind of surprised that that the Titleist Players 14 didn’t make the top cut. IMO, it’s tops with Ping Hoofer for looks (I wish the Titleist came in the same copper/black color!), has great carrying capacity, versatile strapping, and has the best 14-way diving for a stand bag along w/ maybe Ogio.

It might have been better to separate 14-way divided and standard open pocket bags, because the choices are quite different, and if you’re absolutely a freak about having 14-way dividers like me, the decisions are a little different.

The other thing that Titleist had over just about everyone else’s stand is a good putter well. Had Ping featured a front large well, I would have been sold, but good luck shoving a large MOI mallet head in the back of that bag with the cover on!

Some brands such as PING are very well represented while some other like Sun Mountain are not. Why don’t you test Sun Mountain 2.5+ bag or Titleist player 4 waterproof ?