2018 TRAVEL BAG BUYER’S GUIDE

Travel bags are about one word. Protection.

It’s simple but important. If you’re going to play golf and travel, your clubs must arrive safely. A broken driver is not only costly to replace, but also ruins your mood and maybe even your vacation. Investing in the very best to protect your clubs is an absolute must.

The process of buying anything in today’s time has become stressful and time-consuming. We feel the best reviews are those that help you make the right choices and help you get the most out of your time and money. This way you can buy with confidence and eliminate a lot of the guesswork. We are here to help show you how a product will perform before you buy.

One key to our testing protocols is that we test products head-to-head. We select the top products from each category and put them through extensive and detailed head-to-head testing. We test both in the lab and in the field. We score each product across a range of weighted categories. We then rank the products, explain why products finished where they did, and give awards to the best-performing products in the category.

For travel bags, our scoring centered around the protection of clubs and the durability of the bag. The possible storage within the bag and the storage of the bag after use were also considered. Maneuverability – especially through airports – was tested too.

THE METRICS

We’re always fine-tuning the process to make sure we’re collecting the best data possible. Continuing that trend we’ve updated and refined this year’s analysis to bring you the best buying advice possible.

FEATURES CHART

Name	Cost	Colors	Weight	Wheels	Material	Pockets
BAGBOY T-10	$149.95	4	10.3lbs	2	Polyester	4
BAGBOY T-750	$99.95	4	7lbs	2	600 Denier High Tenacity Nylon fabric	2
BAGBOY T-2000	$209.95	4	10lbs	2	1680D Nylon	5
COBRA Rolling Travel Bag	$180.00	1	10.1lbs	2	Polyester	1
PING Rolling Travel Cover	$250.00	1	5.6lbs	4	Polyester	1
SRIXON Travel Cover	$199.99	1	7.4lbs	2	1680 Ballistic Nylon	3
SUN MOUNTAIN Clubglider Tour Series	$329.99	2	13.2lbs	4	Vinyl	2
Tour Trek Flex	$149.99	1	5.2lbs	6	900D Polyester	4
Tour Trek Hard Top	$139.99	1	8lbs	2	1680D Ballistic Nylon	2
Tour Trek Pro	$99.99	1	6.6lbs	2	600D Polyester	3

 

We put in hours of testing utilizing data-driven protocols to test new metrics. The metrics and attention to detail are better than ever.

To determine the best test travel bags, we prepared a golf bag with any and all possible gear one could need while traveling. We included 1 Set of Alignment Sticks, 1 Box of Golf Balls, 14 Clubs, 1 Umbrella, 1 Pair of Golf Shoes, Tees, 4 Gloves, 1 Set of Rain Gear, and 1 Rangefinder.

Once the bag was prepared, testers loaded and unloaded the travel bags. They were then asked to walk around pulling or pushing the bag as they would through an airport.

Tester survey questions centered around whether or not the tester was comfortable with the protection of their clubs. While travel bags serve other minor purposes, this is their most significant function.

Durability (25 points) – To determine durability, we evaluated the stitching of the bag along with the material used. Regardless of what you’re buying, you expect it to last. Travel bags, especially because they’re used so infrequently, need to be durable enough to last several years. Some bags are made of inexpensive materials, while the top performers in this category offer highly-durable wheels, zippers, buckles, and materials.

Packing (15 points) – Quite simply, how much gear can the bag hold? Many of our testers mentioned that they used their travel bag as extra storage on the flight. Given airline fees these days, we’re on the same page. The best bags in this category offer room for the necessities, as well as plenty of room for extras.

Maneuverability (10 points) -How easy is it to load and unload the bags from the car? How easy is it to move through the airport? We closely examined the design of the wheels, the handle placement, as well as the structural base of the bag. Bags that performed poorly were awkward while walking. The top performers not only made for easy walking, but were also able to stand without assistance. Bags that were more stable through the middle section generally performed better.

Protection (45 points) – Your golf clubs are a significant investment. A travel bag then must protect your clubs in every situation. We closely examined the top portion of the travel bag because it is where clubs are the most vulnerable. Manufacturers use a variety of different methods to protect the clubs, but one constant is that poor performers lack coverage on the top and sides of the bag. The bags that provided effective protection do so by combining protective padding with a snug fit.

Storage (5 points) – When you put your travel bag in a corner of your garage, how much space does it take up? Some bags simply fold up, while others are designed specifically with space-savings in mind.

Final grades were awarded based on total scores. Best Overall is our highest overall scoring travel bag, and awards are given to the top three bags. Also, more specific Best in Class recognitions are awarded to bags in certain categories (like maneuverability, protection, and durability) that push the industry’s design envelope.

We also give an “Editor’s Choice” and a “Best Buy” award to those products that provide value products that compete with the bigger names on performance.

THE BEST GOLF TRAVEL BAGS OF 2018

2018 TRAVEL BAG BUYER'S GUIDE

Name	Durability	Packing	Maneuverability	Protection	Storage	Total
SUN MOUNTAIN Clubglider Tour Series	1st	7th	1st	1st	5th	92.5
Tour Trek Flex	5th	9th	2nd	3rd	1st	91
PING Rolling Travel Cover	3rd	9th	3rd	2nd	2nd	91
SRIXON Travel Cover	3rd	1st	9th	5th	4th	89
Tour Trek Pro	5th	3rd	5th	4th	5th	87.5
BAGBOY T-750	5th	3rd	5th	6th	5th	86.5
COBRA Rolling Travel Bag	2nd	2nd	5th	9th	8th	86.5
Tour Trek Hard Top	10th	3rd	5th	7th	3rd	86
BAGBOY T-2000	8th	7th	4th	7th	8th	85
BAGBOY T-10	8th	3rd	10th	10th	10th	81.5