Golfers know that the pursuit for the best golf bags is a fully personal journey. While a golf bag isn’t going to make or break your round, a bad bag can be the difference between a fun day on the links and a miserable back nine. Whether you’re walking or taking a cart, you’re going to want to make sure you get something lightweight, easy to carry, and have a decent amount of storage for all the balls you may or may not lose. And as golf apparel has improved over the years—making for much more stylish greens—the best golf bags can even complement your fit instead of dragging it (and you) down. Here, we found the best golf bags that won’t break your back—or ruin your round.
For more golf recommendations, check out our guides to all of the best golf shirts, golf pants, golf shorts, and golf shoes.
The Best Golf Bags, According to GQ
Best Overall Golf Bag: Vessel Player Air Stand
Vessel is known as a maker of premium golf bags with real leather touchpoints, carbon fiber legs, and water-resistant leather-like material that makes their bags have a real touch of class. The company’s stand bags are often still heavy, which they’ve mitigated with their self-adjusting equilibrium strap. The Player Air weighs 4.5 pounds, which isn’t the lightest around but won’t completely break your back. We like that the company used a lighter material that still feels durable and is water-repellant, which feels like a step up from standard bags on the market. With minimalist branding, smooth zippers, and magnetic closures, the Vessel feels exactly like getting upgraded to business after being stuck in economy for so long.
Best Lightweight Golf Bag: Titleist Players 4 Carbon Stand
At just under three pounds, this bag is the one you need for that long-awaited trip to Bandon Dunes, where walking is required and where you’ll want to jam in 36 holes each day. The bag rides lightly on your back and has enough storage for the rain gear you’ll need on the Oregon coast as well as accessible pockets for your rangefinder, balls, and a water bottle. The smaller branding and carbon fiber legs help the bag achieve an upscale look and the club dividers stretch the full length of your bag, keeping everything from getting twisted and making it hard to pull out your clubs.
Best Looking Golf Bag: Shapland Stand Bag 2.4
This is the bag that blends today’s bag technology with golf’s original material: canvas and leather. The bag weighs in at six pounds, which is a big heftier than we’d like, but the leather padding around its handles and hearty cushion in the straps make for a nice ride on your shoulders. Plus, the retro look makes it feel like it fits in with the early 20th century, when we weren’t so fussy about things. The carbon fiber legs and the leather-wrapped bottom club compartment help with durability. Shapland’s owner, Henry Rowland, is famous for his prompt customer service as well as constantly tweaking the performance of his lineup of bags. We love their simple look, which allows you to flash your personality through your play.
Best Upgrade Golf Bag: Titleist Linkslegend Members Bag
Everything about the Linkslegend Members bag feels premium, from the velour-lined pockets to the luxe finish. The plush double straps are comfortable for toting from hole to hole, and the water-resistant synthetic material feels just like leather without needing all the necessary care. The bag comes in 10 colors, and if you’re feeling so inclined, you can get complimentary personalization so that no one tries to get away with walking away with your bag.
Best Waterproof Golf Bag: Sun Mountain H2No LiteSpeed
A little rain never hurt anybody. It has, however, ruined many a golf bag. Sun Mountain’s waterproof H2No Litespeed ensures everything you’re toting stays dry even if you’re sopping wet. It’s made of the same material as Sun Mountain’s rain gear and features curved shoulder straps for a more ergonomic feel, two velour-lined valuables pockets, and a full-length zipper compartment for extra gear.
Best Golf Cart Bag: Ogio Silencer Cart Bag
If you’re taking a cart, The Silencer is a great choice. It features a tight slots for all your clubs and keeps them from rattling around–and smashing into each other–especially if you decide to go full Formula 1 on the cart path. (Not that we’re endorsing doing so.) It is also outfitted with 11 pockets and cart straps to protect the bag and increase its durability.
Easiest to Carry Golf Bag: G/Fore Daytona Plus Carry
Anyone who doesn’t think golf can induce a good sweat clearly never had to carry their own bag. We think G/Fore’s Daytona Plus to be one of the easiest on the back, so that you’re spending less time readjusting the straps and more time getting to the next hole. The Daytona Plus allows for equal weight distribution, and because it features a neoprene back panel, it’ll conform to your body for an even better feel.
Best Golf Bag for the City Dweller: Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover
City golfers who live in cramped apartments know the struggle of carving out real estate for their clubs. And, if you to travel to play, you’ll need something to protect your clubs from the heavy wear of airline travel. The Kube folds up for easy storage and you can easily tuck it away in a corner or closet. The padding will provide plenty of protection and it comes in a variety of bright colors so that when you see your babies on the baggage carousel they’ll stand out from the crowd.
Best Travel Bag for the Intermittent Golfer: Stitch Multi-Use Traveler
There was a time when you were on the course more regularly. Then you had kids. Or maybe you got a promotion. But despite your rounds being few and far between these days, if you haven’t upgraded your clubs in a minute, The MUT is a great option. The MUT, as it’s affectionally called, gives you the best of both worlds: You can use it as a golf travel bag to protect your clubs or as the perfect carry-on for a work trip. Stitch takes car racing style and imposes it on their collection of sleek golf bags and travel gear.
What to Look For in a Golf Bag
Waterproofing: A bag’s ability to deal with weather is important as a watered-down bags are heavier and bog you down if you’re a walker—not to mention they allow your clubs to get soaked. Make sure your golf bag is at least water resistant so your clubs and other gear stay dry in case of inclement weather. And if you’re golfing in a place that’s notoriously rainy, a waterproof golf bag will give you peace of mind during a torrential downpour or if your caddy somehow manages to drop your bag in the pond.
Pockets: The main compartment in a golf bag is a given, but some nice-to-haves include storage spaces for tees, balls, gloves, and other accoutrements for the game. Extra props if you can store some clothes like a rain jacket or sweater for changing weather. Water bottle holders are nice, but very few bags have kept up with the proliferation of larger bottles from popular makers like Yeti and Stanley, so keep that in mind when choosing your hydration container of choice to the green.
Comfort: A bad back, achey shoulder, and creaky neck will surely ruin your game. One way to help avoid any of that (and a trip to the chiropractor) is by choosing a golf bag that’ll be comfortable to carry for 18 holes. Make sure your golf bag can equally distribute weight against your back, and we like the bags that let you go single- or double-strapped for whatever’s easiest on your body for that day.
