MGS Tested: Stand Bags of 2021

2021 Stand Bag Buyer’s Guide

Are you in the market for a new stand bag? Or just want to add another to your collection? If so, we have you covered with the Best Stand Bags of 2021!

This has been our most comprehensive stand bag test to date. It was comprised of 39 different models from 24 OEMs, ensuring you get the best advice possible based on our review of the majority of the stand bags on the market.

The stand bag category has expanded from the traditional slim design to hybrid and ultra-slim categories, making your buying decision even tougher.

That’s where we come in. We have identified which bag is best in each category to suit your personal preference.

Keep reading to find out what to look for when purchasing a new stand bag.

The Best Stand Bags of 2021 – What to Look For

Storage

When it comes to storage, more is often better—provided it’s usable. Good storage design is often more about the layout of the pockets than the number. What good is a pocket if it’s difficult to access or is rendered useless because you put something in a different pocket?

The best stand bags of 2021 have well-designed pockets that don’t intrude on one another. If the pockets are laid out intelligently, each pocket can function to its full capacity without limitation, giving you more room for your stuff.

Water bottle pockets should be easily accessible. Bags like the PING Hoofer and Hoofer 14 have water bottle holders that remain upright whether on your back or standing up, avoiding leakage. When it comes to insulated pockets, bigger is typically better, especially if you’re a frequent snacker.

Golfers looking to maximize storage should consider the PXG Hybrid.

Dividers

As with pockets, more dividers aren’t always better. While 14-way dividers allow you to put everything in its place, they often prove frustrating in stand bag designs. In this category, four- to six-way dividers typically prove more functional. Keep in mind that every divider eats up precious space (and adds weight) and, as the count increases, so does the likelihood of clubs snagging as you pull them out. A well-designed top keeps your clubs separated and prevents snagging while still providing good organization.

We find the dividers offered by the PING Hoofer and the TaylorMade FlexTech to be exceptionally functional.

Comfort

While it sounds obvious enough, comfort is a huge part of carrying. The best stand bags of 2021 have reinforced shoulder straps and extra padding to help support your lower back and keep you feeling good over 18 holes. Maybe even 36.

The PING Hoofer Craz-E Lite and the Maxfli Air are among the most comfortable bags for walkers.

Weight

Weight is a critical consideration for the walking golfer. While a single pound might not sound like much, the extra mass can dramatically affect fatigue levels throughout a round. A little extra weight can mean the difference between finishing strong or leaking oil on the back nine.

For those who push or ride, weight should be less of a concern. If the bag is rarely on your back, go for the increased storage, additional features and more versatile tops found in hybrid bags.

Cart users looking for a cross between stand and cart bags should consider the Titleist 14 and PXG Hybrid.

Stand Leg Stability

The materials, opening system and frame of the legs are a critical part of what makes a great stand bag. Once your bag is fully packed with equipment, the stand needs to be sturdy and durable. The best stand bags of 2021 easily open to the proper standing position, close just as easily and remain closed while on your back.

The most stable leg systems we tested were on the PING models and the Vessel Player III DXR.

THE BEST STAND BAGS 2021 - FEATURES

	Product	Weight	Dividers	Pockets	Colors
	BagBoy Chiller Check Price	7	14	8	5
	Big Max Dri Lite Hybrid Check Price	5.2	14	7	7
	Callaway Hyper Lite Zero Check Price	3.4	4	6	5
	Cleveland Stand Check Price	5.8	14	8	4
	Cobra UltraDry Pro Check Price	4.12	5	5	2
	Cobra Ultralight Check Price	5.1	5	8	6
	Datrek Go Lite Hybrid Check Price	5.14	14	6	8
	Inesis Light Check Price	4.14	5	6	1
	Inesis WaterProof Check Price	5.11	14	5	1
	Izzo Lite II Check Price	5.11	6	8	1
	Maxfli Air Check Price	2.14	4	4	2
	Maxfli Honors + 14 Way Check Price	6.3	14	11	27
	Mizuno K1-L0 Check Price	2.15	4	5	4
	Mizuno Tour 6 Check Price	7.7	6	8	2
	Motocaddy Hydroflex Check Price	5.13	5	5	3
	Nike Air Hybrid Check Price	6.7	14	10	1
	Nike Air Sport Check Price	5.11	6	9	1
	Nike Sport Lite Check Price	4.7	5	6	1
	Ogio Fuse Check Price	4.7	4	7	7
	PING Hoofer Check Price	5.8	5	11	7
	PING Hoofer 14 Check Price	5.14	14	11	5
	PING Hoofer Craz E Lite Check Price	3.3	4	7	3
	PING Hoofer Lite Check Price	5.1	4	7	10
	PING L8 Check Price	5	4	5	3
	PXG Fairway Camo Check Price	5.1	4	6	3
	PXG Hybrid Check Price	9.2	6	12	2
	Sitich SL2 Check Price	5.4	4	4	3
	Srixon Z Stand Check Price	5.3	4	7	6
	Sun Mountain 2.5+ Check Price	3.2	4	6	9
	Sun Mountain C-130 Check Price	7.4	14	9	4
	TaylorMade FlexTech Check Price	5.6	5	8	2
	TaylorMade FlexTech Crossover Check Price	5.15	14	9	5
	Taylormade FlexTech Lite Check Price	5	4	7	4
	Titleist Hybrid 14 Check Price	6.12	14	9	6
	Titleist Players 4 Carbon Check Price	4.11	4	6	7
	Vessel Player III DXR Check Price	6.7	6	10	5
	Wilson Staff EXO Check Price	5.5	5	6	5
	XXIO Premium Check Price	8.3	5	5	2
	Zero Friction ZF Check Price	5.3	6	7	1

More Tips

• Do you carry a GPS or rangefinder? Bags like the PING Hoofer and Vessel Player III DXR offer an easily accessible magnetic pocket.
• While waterproof bags are good in rainy conditions, their pockets often require two hands to open and close.
• If you walk or push more often than you ride, consider a hybrid bag. They offer more storage space and their 14- or 15-way tops are more functional on push or riding carts.
• If you frequently play courses with limited or no water stations, you may want to choose from bags offering large cooler pockets, like the Bag Boy Chiller, for multiple water bottles.
• If your stand bag is almost always on your back, fatigue can be an issue. Consider forgoing all but the minimum storage space necessary in favor of a lighter bag.
• Nylon is lighter but tends to retain grime. Stitch bags are made from leather and easy to clean.
• Don’t just count pockets. Consider the quality and functionality of the storage space. Look for pockets that are easily accessible and can hold everything you need them to hold.
• Tired of losing the your bag’s rain hood? Look at the PING Hoofer family with its integrated rain hood.

THE BEST STAND BAGS 2021 - RESULTS

	Product	Storage	Style	Weight	Walkability	Features	Total
	PING Hoofer Check Price	5th	5th	11th	7th	1st	94.5
	Vessel Player III DXR Check Price	9th	5th	25th	5th	2nd	93
	PING Hoofer Lite Check Price	12th	10th	11th	7th	2nd	92.5
	PING Hoofer 14 Check Price	5th	5th	25th	7th	4th	91
	PXG Fairway Camo Check Price	9th	1st	11th	23rd	7th	89.5
	TaylorMade FlexTech Check Price	23rd	12th	11th	5th	7th	88.5
	Taylormade FlexTech Lite Check Price	23rd	12th	11th	2nd	13th	88
	Titleist Hybrid 14 Check Price	5th	1st	35th	29th	6th	88
	Cobra Ultralight Check Price	23rd	12th	11th	14th	7th	87.5
	Srixon Z Stand Check Price	12th	12th	11th	18th	11th	87.5
	TaylorMade FlexTech Crossover Check Price	17th	12th	25th	18th	4th	87.5
	Titleist Players 4 Carbon Check Price	30th	5th	6th	7th	15th	87.5
	Sitich SL2 Check Price	38th	1st	11th	2nd	11th	87
	Motocaddy Hydroflex Check Price	12th	12th	25th	14th	13th	86.5
	PING Hoofer Craz E Lite Check Price	35th	21st	3rd	1st	18th	86
	PXG Hybrid Check Price	1st	1st	40th	35th	7th	86
	Sun Mountain 2.5+ Check Price	30th	10th	3rd	7th	23rd	86
	Cleveland Stand Check Price	2nd	24th	11th	29th	15th	85
	Cobra UltraDry Pro Check Price	17th	12th	6th	14th	26th	85
	Wilson Staff EXO Check Price	17th	24th	11th	23rd	15th	83.5
	Mizuno K1-L0 Check Price	38th	24th	1st	7th	23rd	82
	Ogio Fuse Check Price	9th	24th	6th	29th	31st	82
	Big Max Dri Lite Hybrid Check Price	23rd	21st	11th	23rd	31st	81
	Inesis Light Check Price	23rd	35th	6th	23rd	26th	81
	PING L8 Check Price	35th	12th	11th	35th	18th	81
	Inesis WaterProof Check Price	17th	35th	25th	23rd	21st	80.5
	Maxfli Air Check Price	38th	24th	1st	2nd	34th	80.5
	Mizuno Tour 6 Check Price	35th	5th	35th	23rd	21st	80.5
	Sun Mountain C-130 Check Price	2nd	12th	35th	38th	31st	80
	Callaway Hyper Lite Zero Check Price	12th	24th	3rd	29th	40th	79.5
	Nike Sport Lite Check Price	23rd	35th	6th	7th	37th	79.5
	BagBoy Chiller Check Price	5th	24th	35th	40th	23rd	79
	Maxfli Honors + 14 Way Check Price	32nd	24th	25th	14th	31st	79
	Datrek Go Lite Hybrid Check Price	2nd	23rd	25th	29th	37th	78.5
	Izzo Lite II Check Price	17th	40th	25th	29th	26th	78.5
	Nike Air Hybrid Check Price	23rd	23rd	25th	14th	34th	78
	Nike Air Sport Check Price	17th	35th	25th	14th	34th	78
	XXIO Premium Check Price	32nd	23rd	39th	14th	29th	77.5
	Zero Friction ZF Check Price	12th	35th	11th	38th	37th	76

The Best Stand Bags of 2021 – FAQ

Q: Do I need an insulated pocket?

A: Although most stand bags today come with insulated pockets, bigger is normally better. For instance, those who play 18 holes may want to consider a bag with a large cooler pocket. Golfers who only play nine holes at a time can typically get away with a smaller insulated pocket.

Q: Can I use my stand bag on a cart or push cart?

A: The short answer is yes. Some bags, like PING, offer a cart strap pass-through which helps retain the full functionality of every pocket. Stand bags that are used on push carts tend to slide around during a round. If your push cart offers a stand lock-in design, opting for a stand bag shouldn’t be an issue at all.

Q: How much does the strap system matter?

A: Finding a strap system that works for you is critical. The seemingly smallest details matter. Look for straps with ample reinforced padding. Curved strap designs are generally more comfortable. If you love the bag but hate the straps, aftermarket systems like those from Walk18Golf can dramatically improve comfort but add to the cost of your bag.

Q: Does the top matter?

A: Definitely. If you carry all the time, a four- or five-way top is almost certainly the way to go. Having fewer dividers makes getting clubs in and out of the bag easy. Bags with 14- or 15-way tops are more prone to snagging and are much better suited to the push cart mafia and riders. Keep in mind that bags with four-way tops are, on average, two pounds lighter than those with 14-way tops.

Q: How much should I spend on a bag? 

A: A well-designed, fully featured bag generally starts at $150 with the majority of the best stand bags for 2021 around the $250 range. Golfers who play just a few times a year may be able to find a suitable offering for a bit less.