2019 TRAVEL BAGS BUYERS GUIDE
Picture this: You’ve boarded your flight and are waiting at the gate, peering out onto the tarmac. The baggage handlers are hard at work tossing bags onto their respective planes, heaving suitcases into the lower compartments. In the back of your mind, you sigh and think “my clubs”. Now, imagine the peace of mind that comes with a travel bag that offers your clubs security and protection.
Death has come for the hard case travel bag. Like evolution, the golf travel bag has changed from the hard case to a material that absorbs the blows from those careless baggage handlers while protecting your clubs. Although protection is the main priority of a travel bag, ease of travel should also be considered. We all know that some airports make you walk miles before dropping off your travel bag, so an effective wheel system is a must for a travel bag.
With all those options, it can be overwhelming, and that makes it hard to know which one is right for you. That’s where we come in. We put the top travel bags to the test to ensure you receive the best advice possible when purchasing a new unit.
Whether you’re looking to buy a new travel bag today, looking for some buying advice, or just want a closer look at what’s on the market right now, this guide will help you find the right bag to fit your needs.
FEATURES THAT MATTER TO YOU
Maneuverability
Golf travel bags have followed luggage trends. Versatile wheels are the way to go. Some have just two, while others have six. No matter how many wheels the design has, it is imperative that the wheels work with ease because travel is stressful enough, no need to add poorly designed wheels to the mix.
Protection
Ultimately, keeping your golf clubs protected at all times is the primary of the function of a travel bag. The top part of the bag has the most padding to keep your clubs snug and rightfully so. But, the rest of your bag needs a little love and protection as well. Note that some travel bags are equipped with more substantial padding than others.
Durability
There are a multitude of travel bag options out, but some are more durable than others. Different materials provide different levels of protection, but it’s a misconception that hard outer shells are always more durable and offer better protection. Hard shells tend to crack more easily, while materials that are semi-rigid and spring back to their original shape tend to be more durable than bags that have loose material.
EXPERT TIP - Hard Case to Sell
Many believe that hard cases provide the best protection for your clubs. It's simply not true. Sun Mountain, Srixon, Club Glove, and others use pliable materials that are more than capable of weathering whatever storm is cast upon them by baggage personnel. Semi-rigid and soft materials can absorb impact while retaining their shape. Hard cases can shatter with any significant impact. It's also important to note that many soft cases provide additional padding to keep your clubs snug during their journey.
2019 Travel Bags Features Chart
Name | Colors | Wheels | Material | Pockets | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Athletico Executive Check Price | 1 | 0 | 600 Polester | 0 | |
BagBoy Freestyle Check Price | 3 | 6 | 600D Polyester | 1 | |
BagBoy T-750 Check Price | 4 | 2 | 600D Nylon | 1 | |
BagBoy T-2000 Check Price | 5 | 2 | 168D Nylon | 4 | |
BagBoy T-10 Check Price | 4 | 2 | 600D Polyester | 2 | |
Club Glove Medium Collegiate Check Price | 18 | 2 | 1600D Ballistic Nylon | 2 | |
Decathlon - Inesis Travel Cover Check Price | 1 | 2 | Polyester Catlonic | 0 | |
IZZO High Roller Check Price | 1 | 6 | 1680D Nylon | 1 | |
OGIO Mutant Check Price | 3 | 3 | 1680D Polyester | 2 | |
OUUL Foldable Cover Check Price | 2 | 6 | 600D Polyester | 1 | |
PING Travel Cover Check Price | 1 | 4 | 1200D Polyester | 1 | |
Samsonite Hard Case Check Price | 2 | 2 | ABS Shell | 0 | |
Srixon Travel Cover Check Price | 1 | 2 | 1680 Ballistic Nylon | 3 | |
Sun Mountain Club Glider Tour Check Price | 2 | 4 | Vinyl | 2 | |
Tour Trek TC-Flex Check Price | 1 | 6 | 900D Polester | 1 | |
Tour Trek TC-Pro Check Price | 6 | 2 | 600D Polyester | 3 | |
Tour Trek Hybrid TC-Hard Top Check Price | 1 | 2 | 1680D Ballistic | 2 |
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Your Four Wheeled Friend
Looking for a travel bag that offers an effortless, no stress journey from the car to the terminal? The Sun Mountain Club Glider Tour has you covered.
From the moment you load your clubs, the Club Glider instantly makes your life easier. It boasts a durable outer shell with a cushion like padding on the inside to protect your clubs for the long flight. The Tour's main feature is its extendable leg system that ensures pulling your bag is easier than any other we tested. We are so confident in its maneuverability, we guarantee you can pull it with one finger.
More Tips
- While all travel bags get your clubs safely from point A to B? Not every bag offers the same quality of protection. It is important that you buy a travel bag that can keep your clubs safe against the worst the airlines have to offer.
- Many travel bags have side or front pockets that allow extra items to be stowed rather than cramming them in your suitcase. As long as the weight doesn’t become an issue, additional pockets can save space and money.
- Golfers who want a leisurely stroll in and out of the airport should consider travel bags with 4 or 6 wheels as they typically require minimal effort to roll and control. Sun Mountain and Tour Trek are good examples of bags with more friendly wheel designs.
- If you travel often, durability is a significant consideration. Material that is thin and baggy won’t last as long as thicker and more rigid materials.
2019 Travel Bags Results
Name | Durability | Packing | Maeuverability | Protection | Storage | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Mountain Club Glider Tour Check Price | 1st | 10th | 1st | 3rd | 10th | 92.5 | |
PING Travel Cover Check Price | 4th | 15th | 3rd | 2nd | 7th | 91.5 | |
IZZO High Roller Check Price | 6th | 6th | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 91 | |
Ogio Mutant Check Price | 5th | 1st | 6th | 1st | 10th | 91 | |
Tour Trek TC-Flex Check Price | 6th | 15th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 91 | |
BagBoy Freestyle Check Price | 9th | 1st | 6th | 10th | 1st | 90 | |
OUUL Foldable Travel Cover Check Price | 9th | 10th | 5th | 3rd | 1st | 90 | |
Club Glove Meium Collegiate Check Price | 1st | 10th | 9th | 8th | 10th | 89 | |
Srixon Travel Cover Check Price | 3rd | 1st | 12th | 11th | 10th | 89 | |
Tour Trek TC-Pro Check Price | 6th | 6th | 9th | 8th | 10th | 87.5 | |
Decathlon - Inesis Travel Cover Check Price | 9th | 1st | 12th | 13th | 4th | 87 | |
BagBoy T-750 Check Price | 14th | 10th | 12th | 3rd | 9th | 86.5 | |
Tour Trek Hybrid TC-Hard Top Check Price | 14th | 6th | 9th | 11th | 7th | 86 | |
BagBoy T-2000 Check Price | 9th | 5th | 6th | 14th | 15th | 85 | |
BagBoy T-10 Check Price | 9th | 6th | 16th | 15th | 16th | 81.5 | |
Samsonite Hard Case Check Price | 17th | 10th | 12th | 15th | 17th | 77 | |
Athletico Executive Check Price | 16th | 17th | 17th | 17th | 4th | 74.5 |
FAQ
Q: How necessary are wheels on a golf travel bag?
A: Completely. Keep in mind that every airport is different and you don’t want to be the guy lugging your clubs on your back from terminal A to E. Save yourself and let the wheels do the work.
Q: Why can’t I find many hard shell travel bags anymore?
A: Simply put, the hard shell is dead – at least it should be. There’s little truth behind the myth that a hard case provides the best protection. While some view the hard case as impenetrable, more rigid designs are more prone to impact damage, cracking, and ultimately total structural failure. Softer, semi-rigid materials absorb blows better and will often do a better job protecting your clubs.
Q: Will every golf bag fit in every travel bag?
A: That varies from company to company. Some companies, like Club Glove, offer multiple sizes of travel bags to cater to virtually any size golf bag. Other manufacturers take a one-size-fits-all approach. While your stand bag will likely fit in any travel bag, if you’re a staff bag kind of guy, you’ll want to take extra care in making sure your travel bag can handle your golf bag.
DaveR
4 years ago
I have had the Sun Mountain Club Glider Pro for abou 2 years now. Never traveled for golf before I bought it. I have flown from Philly to Monterrey, to FLA (3 times), to NC, to Wisconsin, to Michgan.
I don’t have anything to compare it to, but that travel bag is freakin’ EXCELLENT. I have been stopped over 10 times by golfers in the terminals asking about the stand and roller, and when I let them walk around a bit with it, their faces light up and their reactions range from disbelief to giddy.
I push that bag through the terminals with a single finger and that is absolutely no exaggeration. My wife described it by saying, “It’s like guiding a cloud!”
No damaged clubs. No problem or extra charges checkin it in.
Easily one of the best purchases of my life. Love. It.