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Your crusty, dusty golf bag could be standing in the way of you finally breaking 80. Don’t believe me? Here’s why you should care about upgrading your stand bag.
The golf bag is perhaps the most underrated piece of equipment in your arsenal. It is the vessel in which you carry your clubs, after all. But, a top-performing golf stand bag is much more than a golf club Uber. The best golf stand bags keep your drinks cold, are comfortable to carry and have room for an Uncrustable or two.
You wouldn’t use an inferior driver or putter, would you? Think of your golf bag in the same way. When performance matters, so does your stand bag.
We’ve tested countless stand bags in search of one that will help, not hurt, your game. After hours of extensive testing at our facility, we’ve narrowed down the best golf stand bag for your game.
42 challengers. One overall winner.
We’ve put our heart and soul into testing golf stand bags. Over decades of testing, we’ve made it clear that not all stand bags are created equal. Where some stand out, others falter. Countless hours of research and testing has lead us to the point where we can accurately grade and test stand bags to help you find the best one for your game.
This isn’t merely a list of the best stand bags. This is a curated, data-driven guide to help you understand what sets the best apart from the rest. Trust us on this one, no stone was left unturned, no zipper unzipped. Your game deserves the best darned stand bag money can buy.
If you’re unsure of where to start your search, these are our top picks for the best golf stand bags overall.
Review Score
Price
The PING Hoofer has the most stable legs of any stand bag
PING Hoofer stand bags are the best of the best in this regard. No stone is left unturned or detail unchecked.
While the PING Hoofer is comfortable to carry, it is a bit heavier than other lightweight carry options. This is perhaps it's only fault (albeit, a small one).
The PING Hoofer is the best golf stand bag for 2024. Between the spacious pockets, stable stand and comfortable carrying experience, there’s few stand bags in the test that come close to the performance of the Hoofer.
Testers praised the comfortable straps and large pockets. They appreciated the five-way top and the extremely stable stand.
Year in and year out, PING dominates our golf bag testing. I’ve rarely seen PING put out a bag that doesn’t flat out perform.
Why? They nail the details. Every PING bag I’ve had the pleasure of testing nails the little things. The zippers are perfect, the pockets are wide, and each feature is thought out. Seriously. it might get old, but PING just makes the best stand bags out there. Period.
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Price
The PING Hoofer 14 is as functional as they come. Looks don't matter here, only making a darned good stand bag.
PING Hoofer 14 has the same great features of the Hoofer with the addition of the 14-way divider top.
The 14-way top of the Hoofer 14 isn't very smooth with larger, oversized grips. This is especially true for putter grips.
The PING Hoofer 14 is right there when it comes to the best stand bags for 2024. Outside of the 14-way top, this bag is a Hoofer through and through. The slight added weight and the less streamlined dividers put this bag just below the OG Hoofer.
Testers praised the large pockets and stable legs. While some found the 14-way top to be helpful, some did not love it. Larger, midsize grips were hit or miss in this regard.
That thing I said about the PING Hoofer? That applies here, too. Last year I was impressed with the Hoofer 14, but this year it was even better. New pockets, better dividers, and the same Hoofer DNA that makes this stand bag so dang good.
I’m no 14-way divider guy, but I could get along with this Hoofer 14 no problem at all.
Review Score
Price
The Sunday Golf Ranger has some of the best pockets of any stand bag in the test. We love the Frosty Pocket!
Outside of the PING Hoofer bags, the Sunday Golf Ranger has the most stable legs of any other bag in the test. And, the actuation is quick.
At $400, the Sunday Golf Ranger is more expensive than our top two choices.
The Sunday Golf Ranger is currently on preorder, so you can't pick it up quite yet.
The Sunday Golf Ranger is the best stand bag not named PING. The cavernous pockets and stable stand are flat-out awesome. The straps are comfortable enough to forget the heavier weight. The rubberized dividers were among the best in the entire test.
Testers praised the divider setup and the comfortable carry straps. They noted that the zippers were very functional and smooth and the pockets (including the Frosty Pocket) were very useable and large.
When I say the Sunday Golf Ranger blew me away, I’m not exaggerating. Seriously, the Ranger is a worthy challenge for the Hoofer – and that’s saying something.
If you had asked me who had a shot at taking down PING, I wouldn’t have had a clue. This year, Sunday Golf showed that the little guys can nail the details. Man, is this bag a keeper.
Review Score
Price
The Maxfli Honors stand bag is an excellent value. It's one of the few bags in the test under $200.
The Maxfli Honors stand bag has comfortable straps for a great walking/carrying experience.
The Maxfli Honors stand bag is not the lightest bag in the test. At six pounds, it may become burdensome.
Maxfli's bag doesn't have the same premium fit and finish as something like Ghost Golf or Vessel.
The Maxfli Honors stand bag is our best value stand bag for 2024. It stood out as a solid performer without a premium price.
Testers praised the pockets and comfortable carry straps. Others mentioned that the zippers were a little sticky and that the bag felt more “cheap” when compared to premium options.
It’s no secret that Maxfli knows how to make a great value product. Like their golf balls, the new Honors stand bag is an insanely good value.
It does everything that the big boys do, but for a fraction of the cost. Seriously, if I needed to drop some cash on a new stand bag, I’d have a hard time saying no to this guy for just $189.
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Price
The Anyday Maverick Stand Bag is built of high-quality synthetic leather with velour dividers for a premium fit and finish.
The Ghost Golf Anyday Maverick was among the best golf stand bags for storage. It has plentiful storage for all of your needs
The Anyday Maverick has a 14-way top, which isn't the best if you have larger grips.
At eight pounds, the Ghost Golf Anyday Maverick is among the heaviest bags we tested. It's great for the occasional walker and the occasional rider.
The Ghost Golf Anyday Maverick stand bag is the best premium stand bag for 2024. It looks great and packs plenty of features to make your game better. The zipper pulls were among the best we tested. If you can nail the little things, you make a pretty darned good stand bag.
Testers praised the large, easy-to-operate zipper pulls. All loved the feel of the bag but some found the dividers a little too small and the weight fairly heavy.
Not to be outdone by Sunday Golf, Ghost is another semi-newcomer that had a big showing. From the moment the Ghost Golf Bag made it to MGS HQ, I was shocked by the premium feel and premium performance.
If you want a bag that looks darn cool and performs with the best, the Ghost Golf is a safe bet.
Review Score
Price
The Vessel Player Air is the best walking bag. It's comfortable and light enough for a long day on the course
Despite its light weight, the Vessel Player Air has plenty of storage for your snacks and accessories.
The new lightweight material of the Player Air causes the zippers to be sticky at times. It doesn't quite give the zipper enough resistance to pull against smoothly
The Vessel Player Air is the best walking bag for 2024. While not the lightest bag in the test, it makes up for it with great pockets, good features and comfortable straps. If you’ve always wanted a Vessel but the weight has turned you off, this one is worth a try.
Testers praised new lightweight material. Most noticed how light it was right away. Testers also loved the magnetic rangefinder pocket. Most did have problems with the zippers as they often got stuck on certain pockets.
Vessel’s stand bags are always premium and pretty. That said, they’ve departed from their traditional synthetic leather with the new Player Air.
Is it a win for Vessel? I think so. They’ve been missing that lightweight carry option from their lineup. And, it still encapsulates the same luxury DNA that makes their bags so darned popular. Consider this one a winner, especially if you love to walk.
Review Score
Price
The Fairway 14 is not only big on storage, but it has a ton of great pockets. Seriously, this bag has more than enough pocket space for everything you need on the course.
Callaway’s Lowrider 2.0 tech makes this bag great for golf carts, push carts or walking.
While plenty walkable, the Fairway 14 is a little heavier and larger for someone who only walks. It’s best suited for the occasional rider.
Callaway’s new ShaftShield top is super useful but those who want a five- or six-way should look elsewhere.
The Callaway Fairway 14 is the best hybrid golf stand bag. While not necessarily billed as a “hybrid”, the addition of Callaway’s Lowrider 2.0 technology makes this equally good for walking or riding.
Testers loved the large carry handle and adjustable straps. They also praised the rubberized dividers and how smooth it made pulling clubs. Testers were not impressed with the stand system, citing the length of legs as a potential issue for stability.
Let’s face it, I ride much more than I walk. A bag like the Fairway 14 is perfect for this scenario. The legs were a little short for my liking, but this makes way for the Lowrider 2.0 top (basically, a fancy way of saying this bag will fit nicely on a golf cart of push cart.)
Not all stand bags are created equal. There are some that perform much better than others. At MyGolfSpy, we’ve spent years testing hundreds, if not thousands of bags in order to determine the key criteria that make a solid stand bag.
Here’s what you should look for in a new golf stand bag.
One of the key things to consider when purchasing a new golf stand bag is the storage capacity. It’s worth noting that “storage” is not the same as “pockets.” Just because a stand bag has many pockets does not mean it has ample storage.
Here’s what I mean. Not all pockets are the same. The best stand bags have pockets that open wide and are easy to access. Large side pockets should have some forgiveness to accommodate larger items, such as a rain jacket.
Some pocket designs intrude on the storage of other pockets, reducing the total useable storage. This, above all, is why the number of pockets does not necessarily equate to useable storage. Our hands-on testing found at least 15 bags with an extra pocket or two that was basically useless.
In this regard, it’s better to have nine useable pockets than 13 mediocre pockets.
The stand bags that take storage to the next level are the Callaway Fairway 14 and PING Hoofer. Both have fantastic pockets that take advantage of every inch of space. The OGIO Shadow and Hoofer 14 are very good options if you want ample storage.
While 14 dividers might seem helpful, a bag with a 5-way or 6-way top generally provides better divider performance. The move to less dividers can also save weight, making the bag feel more comfortable to carry.
While not the most important thing to consider when looking for the best stand bag, your choice in dividers is critical to finding the best bag for your game.
Most golf stand bags feature five- or six-way dividers. Others feature a 14-way or even a four-way top. Five- or six-way dividers generally keep your clubs organized without making things too crowded.
The number of dividers only matters so much. The curve of the dividers particular to when the stand bag is actuated is important, too. Dividers that have a slight curve naturally splay the irons and woods.
A great example of this is the OGIO Shadow stand bag.
The Sunday Golf Ranger and Callaway’s new stand bags feature new rubberized tops to stop clubs from snagging on the fabric that other bags typically utilize. This feature is one we’d like to see more of, as these bags featured the smoothest club pulls.
Above all, a stand bag should be comfortable to walk with. We refer to this as “walkability.” The idea of walkability is multi-faceted. It takes into account things like weight and size, but also the strap design, how easy a bag is to adjust and even the placement of padding on the hip.
Whether fully loaded with 14 clubs and a dozen balls or slimmed down with just a few clubs for a quick range session, the best stand bags are comfortable and easy to walk with.
We found the Vessel Player Air provides the best walkability. Not far behind is the OGIO Fuse, another great option if you need a comfortable carry experience.
Among other considerations, a stand bag is only as good as its namesake. The stand system (or legs) needs to be stable in any condition.
As is the theme of this Buyer’s Guide, not all stand systems are created equal. Some actuate very quickly and snap right into position while some are wobbly and require a lot of force to set in motion.
We found the best legs and stand systems have supports a few inches from the top of the legs. The best legs also had smaller feet and actuated on demand again and again.
The stand bags with the best stand systems are the PING Hoofer family and the Sunday Golf Ranger. Both are supremely stable.
Something curious we noticed was Callaway’s new stand system. The shorter legs on the Fairway 14 and other models are used to accommodate their Lowrider 2.0 technology. This, coupled with a new larger actuation pedal (the biggest in the test), did smooth out the stand experience.
There was a 5 lb., 10 oz difference between the lightest and heaviest bags in the test. When choosing a stand bag, weight should play a large role in your purchasing decision. A heavy bag can bog you down throughout your round and ultimately, keep you from feeling and playing your best.
Interestingly, four of the 42 bags we tested did not have a dedicated water bottle pocket. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, it’s important that you stay hydrated on the course. If you walk instead of ride, your stand bag must be able to hold a beverage or two.
Only 29 of the 42 stand bags feature a Velcro glove pad. This detail isn’t huge, but it can make a big difference in the overall longevity of your glove. Stuffing it into a pocket over and over again is not the way to make your glove last longer.
Tumi had the most expensive bag in the test. It retails for a whopping $1295. If you don’t plan on shelling out over 1k on a stand bag, you’ve got plenty of other options to choose from. Our best value pick, the Maxfli Honors, is less than $200. That’s a price that we rarely see in the space.
Stand bags are tested by our expert staff and scored based on Weight, Walkability, Storage, Dividers and Features. Testing takes place over a period of several days in our state-of-the-art test facility. This year, our staff tested 42 different stand bags in order to determine a winner.
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Connor is MyGolfSpy's resident sneakerhead who believes that golf is more enjoyable with a fresh pair of kicks. When he isn't scrolling Twitter to find his next golf shoe purchase, you can find him at the piano or trying a new dessert place with his wife. #Lefty
| Driver PING G410 SFT | Hybrid Cobra KING TEC |
| Irons Srixon ZX4 MK II | Wedges Titleist Vokey SM10 |
| Putter L.A.B Mezz.1 Max Custom | Ball Maxfli Tour X |
1 month ago
I have an old and reliable Ping Traverse cart bag but this year, I want to do a lot more walking (and carrying) when possible. I’m 71. I have looked at the Ping Hoofer Lite($230), Craz-E Lite($270) and Mizuno K1-L0 ($250) Stand Bags and have considered them all but they’re up there in price(2024 models). I don’t think MGS has reviewed the Mizuno bag for 2024. My question is that there are Stand (lightweight) bags out there that don’t have the conventional branding we see in these and other reviews and it would be more informative in my opinion , if other third party companies could also be reviewed. I checked out on Amazon a company called Gymax and they “make” a variety of light stand bags that are extremely reasonable in price ($83). Other than an Amazon user’s review, we don’t have one from an objective reviewer.
1 month ago
I bought a brand new McGregor bag about 2 months ago and I absolutely love it. It’s a 14 club length of the bag. More than enough pockets and very lightweight
1 month ago
What about identifying bags with option for left handed carry – for players that pick up the bag with left arm first?
1 month ago
Suggestion- You should publish the scoring for every bag tested so we the reader/consumer can see the underlying data that lead to the your choices and the actual scoring for each bag. It would be nice to see the delta between each bag plus their respective strengths and weaknesses by evaluation criteria. That said, why is that there is only one Vessel bag in the testing and it’s one that not even available yet on their website! There are other bags like the Titleist Linkslegend line that look like they would compete well in the evaluation but were not included. It would be helpful seeing the data and understanding why so many high quality stand bags were not included in the testing.
1 month ago
I second that
1 month ago
As with other years I’m not quite sure why the Ping Hoofer 14 keeps finishing up so high? As others have mentioned their on line reviews always note how poorly they perform with the clubs getting tangled. Granted a lot of 14 way bags have at least some problems with tangling, but the Hoofer with its weird base is far worse. Ping’s bags have always been well made and durable, as have all their products (that I have in abundance) and I would have bought one except for the base design and tangling problem, and I suppose smaller diameter top, but instead moved to Sun Mountain bag.
1 month ago
Exactly my issue with the Hoofer, love everything about the bag EXCEPT that you can take a club out when the legs are out because of base folding up/in to push out the legs ends up pinching the grip caps on every club in the bag.
Moved on to Sun Mountain 5yrs ago, do not love their water bottle pouches but worth the yrade off until Ping’s base is changed.
4 weeks ago
I hate to be so pessimistic, but as soon as you see the Hoofer at #1, it seriously makes you question this site’s credibility. Somehow, PING figured out a way to make the basic act of taking clubs out of your bag an unenjoyable experience, and MYGOLFSPY just refuses to acknowledge it
1 month ago
Hey there is a Sunday Golf bag in there! Cool. Although it’s hard to find on their website, it looks like a new high-end one for them about to be released. I got a Sunday Golf Cruiser over the holidays and I’m excited to use it more than just the range. Interesting to hear about how good the stand is. I wonder if it’s the same stand mechanism since I know at least the Cruiser and the Ryder have the same base and stand. I do like the stand on it. It’s also interesting to see the rubberized top divider.
1 month ago
Love the report. Would like to see a spreadsheet of the bags weights.
1 month ago
Finally bought a Ping Hoofer a few weeks ago and happy to see it validated. I knew the Hoofer had won several times before; not surprised. Very pleased so far. I was also surprised to see the 14 way Hoofer in second though. I guess if you’re using it as a cart bag, fine. I find a 14 way top to be difficult to manage when “hoofing”… 😉
1 month ago
Surprised to see the Hoofer at the top… you look at the reviews online and you’ll see why. I bought one last year and returned it within 30 days. Clubs got so tangled going in/ out of the bag it made me want to throw them. Also hate having a bag that doesn’t have 2 water bottle holders.
I was hoping to love this bag but found out I couldn’t stand it… the pockets and functionality otherwise were great. Just couldn’t stand messing with the clubs in/out every single time.
1 month ago
What is a Vessel Player Air? Google has never heard of it. Nothing on the Vessel site. And your link is for the Player IV.
1 month ago
Same with the Ping Hoofer. You click it and it brings up the Hoofer 14 on PGA Superstore. Whoever made this article did zero double checking.
1 month ago
I’m surprised the Ping Hoofer 14-way bag is runner-up. In the customer review section on sites like TGW, the common complaint about it is that club storage and handling is frustrating at best, and grip ruining at worst. It gets 3.6 out of 5 stars. That’s barely a C+.
I’m not sure I understand the metrics used here for evaluating golf bags. Wouldn’t this be a big factor to consider when taking it out on the course? Wouldn’t the issues the reviews stated contradict the reason for having a 14-way in the first place?
1 month ago
why is the vessel player air not on their website? where can it be found?
1 month ago
What’s the best stand bag with an 8 way divider? Thanks,
1 month ago
I guess I was lucky to win a new Hoofer bag at a Golf Galaxy grand opening.
1 month ago
Where is the table list of scores for the other bags? Is it going to be added later.
Thanks
1 month ago
Seconded
1 month ago
Thirded. Hope close is each or big gap between others not shown?
1 month ago
I appreciate the effort but this has some holes. Honestly this category has to be one of the most subjective there is so kudos for the attempt but maybe you need to do categories of stand bags as this test feels too broad and missing great stand bag options all at the same time. For instance, you claim the Callaway is the best “hybrid” style bag but didn’t even test the Titleist Hybrid 14 which is a very popular bag. I understand you can’t test every stand bag out there because there are so many and just isn’t feasible but to include some of the niche bags while leaving out some of the most popular bags doesn’t make sense.
4 weeks ago
The Titleist Hybrid 14 was the top rated “Hybrid” bag from 2022. Usually MyGolfSpy only tests new products that have come out in the last year. So my guess is Titleist hasn’t updated it in the last 2 years. Still an excellent bag.
4 weeks ago
I looked it up, the Titleist Hybrid 14 was last updated in 2021. I’m sure they’ll test it again when it gets updated.
1 month ago
Genuinely curious how the Hoofer makes such a high grade when the top complaint about the bag is club tangle. The reviews on TGW, Ping’s website, etc all ding the bag for club tangle. They don’t have full length dividers to getting clubs out of the bag will get tangled, especially if you have midsize grips and a larger putter grip. I had the PLD stand bag for two days and noticed the same thing…getting clubs out of the bag was a chore.
Titleist ProV1 Golf Balls
Rearviewmirror
3 weeks ago
I would love to see a full review of the Mizuno BR-D4 as there’s very little out there about it, and it looks like an updated/improved Ping Hoofer.