I Ignored Jones Golf Bags for Years. Then I Tried One.

Jones golf bags have been around for years. I’ve seen plenty of them but, for whatever reason, they never really stood out to me.

Jones clearly had a loyal following. I just wasn’t part of it.

Then I purchased a Jones backpack.

The fabric, construction and overall quality were much better than I expected. It made me wonder whether I had misjudged the golf bags, too.

So I picked up a Jones Trouper in the Moon Gray/North Sea color.

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The quality is better than I expected

The material was the first thing that stood out.

The Trouper is made with recycled ripstop fabric that feels durable without making the bag overly heavy or stiff. At five pounds, it’s not the lightest carry bag on the market but it’s easy enough to move around and still feels substantial. The bag I’ve been using recently is the Vessel which has all the bells and whistles but it’s heavy. The Trouper is noticeably lighter.

Nothing about the fabric, zippers or construction feels cheap.

That was probably my biggest concern about Jones and it disappeared almost immediately.

It has enough room without feeling huge

The Trouper has a five-way top with three full-length dividers. The club layout works well and I haven’t had trouble getting clubs in and out.

There are seven pockets including a fleece-lined valuables pocket and an insulated cooler pocket.

There’s enough room for everything I need without the bag becoming bulky. Some stand bags start creeping toward cart bag size once you fill them. The Trouper still feels like a stand bag.

I also really like the color combination I chose. Jones offers plenty of options but the contrasting color combinations are my favorite. It’s nice to have something other than a solid.

The straps are comfortable

The dual straps fit well and have enough cushioning to stay comfortable without feeling oversized.

Right now, most of my walking rounds are played with a push cart so I usually remove one of the straps. However, the bag is comfortable to carry when I need to and the strap system doesn’t feel overly complicated.

My one complaint

My biggest issue is the front pocket.

It’s an insulated cooler pocket and it’s a great size. The problem is that I typically prefer a traditional ball pocket in that location. I’m probably more likely to use the cooler pocket for golf balls than drinks.

This is a personal preference and not a major design flaw. Plenty of golfers will probably consider the cooler pocket one of the Trouper’s best features. It’s simply not how I normally organize my golf bag.

I was wrong about Jones golf bags

I see the appeal now and I’m keeping the Jones Bag in play for a bit. I’ve been spending a lot of time at the range lately trying to work on some issues in my swing and maybe I’ll change my mind on the cooler pocket now that it’s 95 degrees every day.

One more thing to know about Jones. If you aren’t picky about the bag color you get, they have an incredible Blind Draw program. You can shop for a variety of gear and get deep discounts; you just don’t know what color they will send. It’s worth a look if you want high quality without breaking the bank.