We all need a travel bag every once in a while. But, if you are a globetrotting golfer or going on your ultimate bucket list trip, having a quality golf travel bag is a must-have. Because, let’s face it, no one wants to play with some generic rental set when you are shelling out the big bucks for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You would like to bring your favorite and precious golf clubs. Thus, having one of the best golf travel bags at your disposal will keep your clubs safe and secure while you’re on the move.
What Should You Be Looking For in Best Golf Travel Bags?
There are a few things you should look for when choosing a golf travel bag. These are:
- Hard Case Vs. Soft Case
While researching the golf travel bag market, you will come across two main types of case structures. Some come with a hard exterior, while others have a soft (or normal) case. Soft cases are cheaper, lightweight, and easy to carry and store. But they are also less roomy and less durable than hard cases. Not to mention, hard cases also provide better protection for your golf clubs. Some companies offer a hard shell top to put on your soft case bag.
- Padding and Durability
Make sure the bag you choose is durable and has plenty of padding to protect your clubs. Some bags also have an internal compression strap system to protect your sticks. Invest in a good Bag Boy travel support system to remain on the safe side. It will protect your sticks from damage while handling at airports and shuttle terminals.
- Wheel System
A wheel system will help you move it around in crowded spaces. While some bags feature spinner wheels, which you can rotate, most only feature two wheels. Two wheels make your bag a lot harder to maneuver and handle. Therefore, when researching a suitable golf travel bag, ensure you find a bag with a suitable wheel system.
- Weight
Depending on how often you travel, get a bag that’s lightweight and easy to handle. If you have back issues or are a senior citizen, getting a lighter bag with a soft shell will be most suitable. There’s no need to suffer an injury on your golfing vacation. Moreover, weight is also important because your shipping costs depend on it. All airlines have weight restrictions. If you exceed the weight limit, you have to save even more money.
- External pockets & compartments
Storage capacity is another important factor. Ensure the main storage compartment is roomy enough and additional pockets outside the bag to house your accessories. Extra storage comes in handy when playing at a golf course where you must battle the conditions. In that case, you can bring some appropriate weather gear as well.
- Manufacturer’s Warranty
Lastly, consider the warranty of the bag as well. Ensure the manufacturer is confident enough in their product to offer a suitable warranty if something goes south. Remember, the odds of damage are always higher with air travel because of how the airport staff handles luggage. Interestingly, some golf bag manufacturers also cover air travel damage in their warranty. So, make sure your money is safe.
Top 10 Best Rated Golf Travel Bags
Titleist Players Travel Cover
The Titleist Players travel cover is probably the best-looking travel bag out there. It’s simple, sleek, and black – which most people want from their travel bags. It has two internal zipper pockets that provide plenty of room to keep even your larger clubs safe. There’s also an external valuables pocket which you can use to store balls, food, and other accessories. Plus, premium skate wheels offer plenty of support and make for a smooth ride. The wheels, as well as the Titleist golf travel bag, are sturdy enough to last a long time.
Reasons to Buy
- Clean, Simple, and Very good looking bag
- Lockable zippers
- Wheels for movability
- Durable and sturdy materials
Reasons to Avoid
- The exterior protective layer is rather thin.
Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover
This Sun Mountain Golf Travel Bag cover has always been one of our favorites because of its innovative design. It serves your purpose of protecting your clubs in transit. But you can also fold it to the size of an average cabin cover when not in use. Therefore, it gets really easy to store without taking up much space. It’s made of ballistic-style nylon, which is more durable than regular manufacturing materials. What’s more, it’s also available in multiple colors to make it easy to identify in airports.
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent and durable case
- Transforms down to a small size when not in use
- Plenty of colors to choose from
Reasons to Avoid
- There are no exterior pockets
Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover
The Clubglider is another very innovative and unique design from Sun Mountain. It features a retractable leg set that you can utilize to support all the weight for easy gliding and transport. As the name suggests, it glides on smooth surfaces and takes the stress away from your back, shoulders, and wrists while maneuvering it. The padding around the bag is thick, so expect no accidents while carrying your precious clubs. Two external pockets are also on either side to keep your other stuff. Inside the bag, it has two straps to hold your clubs tight and safe.
Reasons to Buy
- Can fit stand and cart bags
- Retractable wheels help with maneuverability
- Durable stitching and materials
Reasons to Avoid
- At 3.1 kg, this bag is slightly heavier than others
Ping Rolling Travel Cover
Ping golf travel bag is a durable and abrasion-resistant bag that keeps your clubs safe no matter their size, thanks to a strong polypropylene base. It features a big outside pocket, six handles, and four wheels to ensure that it’s easy to carry and transport during travels. Moreover, it comes with interlocking skid rails to make it roll easily on curbs. Oh, and it folds down as well. When not in use, simply fold it down to store it somewhere safe. It’s more compact than Kube and stands up straight, much better.
Reasons to Buy
- Foldable construction
- Easy to open and easy to close
- Easy to carry and transport
Reasons to Avoid
- Not much roomy
OutdoorMaster Padded Golf Club Travel Cover
If you want a waterproof golf club travel bag, look no further. It’s made with thick polyester, making it very soft to the touch. Besides, polyester is also waterproof, giving you peace of mind when you want to transport your clubs in the rain. It rolls smoothly and features different ways to carry around. It has shoulder straps and multiple handles to help you carry it in any way you want. It is also very wide and spacey. So, you can pack more stuff like shoes or other belongings along with your special golf clubs. Not to mention, this unit also folds down to a compact size to fit a closet.
Reasons to Buy
- Features optimized inline skate wheel for smooth rolling
- Premium rubber base offers long-lasting and unobstructed carriage
- Carry however you prefer
- Foldable design
Reasons to Avoid
- Seam-stitching isn’t heavy duty
Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid
The OGIO Alpha is a bit on the expensive side but provides enough protection to make the money well spent. It has reinforced compression straps and integrated handles for maximum protection and easy handling. The zippers are lockable, as well. Moreover, it has extra padding around club heads to provide you peace of mind that your clubs won’t face any damage in transit. It’s also very generously sized. So, you can fit all card and stand golf bags if you want.
Reasons to Buy
- Multi-layered protection
- D shape opening makes for easy handling
- Skid plate and rails for protection against any abrasion
Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive
Mizuno Golf-CG Last Large Pro Travel Cover Bag
If you are a fan of traditional golf bags, this Mizuno travel bag will surely satisfy your aesthetics. It comes in traditional blue color, and it’s large enough to keep all your clubs safe and sound. It uses a stiff arm and reinforcements on pockets, zippers, and handles for extra security. And it folds down as well to save space when not in use. Lastly, Mizuno provides a limited lifetime warranty on all its products. Therefore, you can always get your money back if something goes south.
Reasons to Buy
- A very traditional-looking bag
- Folds down when not in use
- Comes with a limited lifetime warranty
Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive
MacGregor VIP II Premium Travel Cover
The VIP II makes moving around the airport very stress-free courtesy of its inline skate wheels. It’s made from a durable nylon cover that features additional padding around the top of the bag. This provides extra padding for all of your clubheads. Plus, it’s roomy enough to accommodate a 49 inches driver. Inside, it has an anti-burst strap to keep everything in its place as you move. On the outside, it has heavy-duty straps to make the overall look neat and tidy. While it’s certainly more expensive than the VIP Deluxe version, we believe VIP II provides better value for the money.
Reasons to Buy
- Easy to handle and maneuver while traveling
- Very durable construction
- Ample storage space for additional staff
Reasons to Avoid
- Slightly heavy
- Expensive
Himal Outdoors Soft-Side Golf Travel Bag
Himal golf travel bag is one of the best budget options on the market today. It has a handle on top and wheels on the bottom, making it easy to maneuver, and you can just wheel it around if you want. This oxford polyester bag is long and has extra padding at the top. But not too much to make it look like a big cushion. It’s also easy to get the golf bag into your travel bag as the zipper is conveniently placed from the top to the floor on both sides. We also love the tiny business card slot on the front.
Reasons to Buy
- Sturdy enough to protect your clubs
- Comes in a universal size
- Smooth zippers
- Budget-friendly
Reasons to Avoid
- The shaft isn’t heavy duty
Club Glove Last Bag Large Pro
Club Glove is synonymous with quality travel bags, and the Last Bag Large Pro is no different. Made of Invista Cordura 1000 D nylon fabric, the Last Bag is a durable travel bag that offers durable protection for your clubs, gear, and bag. Thanks to 1600 denier ballistic nylon and reinforced handle connection, it’s a durable bag. As for design, there’s thick padding for protection on the top section and generous pockets on either side with snap closures. While Last Bag is one of the most expensive golf travel bags out there, unlike your shiny new balls and clubs, this one is sure to last a long time.
Reasons to Buy
- Extremely well built and constructed
- Has a fantastic design
- Available in a lot of colors
Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive
Best Golf Travel Bags – FAQs
Why Do I Need A Golf Travel Bag?
If you are traveling all the way to the golf course in your own car, then you probably don’t need a golf travel bag. However, a travel bag becomes absolutely necessary if you travel to another city via airplane. A golf travel bag is specifically designed to protect your equipment during travel on a plane or handling by a courier.
Is Weight Important for a Travel Bag?
Of course, weight is a very important factor. This is because you have to carry the bag around. If your bag is heavy, you will just invite trouble. Weight becomes more important if you purchase a model with only two wheels. Best golf travel bags are easy to maneuver, which means they have wheels that slide well and can change direction.
Can I Put My Clothes in a Golf Travel Bag?
Of course, you can put your clothes, shoes, golf balls, or any other thing you want to put in the bag. I have placed extra clothes, particularly liquids over the 100ml limit, in my golf bag during my travels. It really helps, especially when you are flying on a budget airline that may cost you extra for the extra luggage.