Best golf bags 2025 — rated and reviewed
The best golf bags for every situation
![A man walking with a golf bag](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PJia8FmbQUwaWUs8pr8RPd-1200-80.jpg)
Any of the best golf bags are a wise investment, whether you're an avid golfer out every weekend or an occasional player who plays a few times a season.
I'm the kind of golfer who prefers to play every weekend, and I keep a few extra golf bags around for various situations. I've tested tons of different models to find the best for the needs of all kinds of golfers. I don't want to say I'm obsessed with golf bags, but I'm a little bit obsessed with them
Whether you're looking for ultra-premium golf bags or budget-friendly options, this meticulously curated list has you covered.
Alongside the best golf bags, grab the best golf shoes and the best golf gloves to get your season underway successfully. If you're interested in clubs, check out my hands-on impressions of the viral L.A.B. Golf DF3 putter.
The quick list
When you think about carry-stand bags, the PING Hoofer is probably the first one that comes to mind. After all, it's been the standard in carry bags for the past three decades, and probably the most comfortable carry bag of all time.
This Maxfli bag is reasonably priced but still has plenty of features. With its 14-way top, you get a nice pocket for each club. There are also plenty of other pockets for balls, tees and other accessories. It's available in several colors, so you can get one that matches your gear.
One of the most popular bags in America, Titleist Players 4 Plus stand bag makes for a highly functional choice. It's like playing Titleist Pro V1s; if you have a Titleist golf bag, it tells other players that you're serious about your game.
Callaway Fairway 14 golf bags are the answer for anyone who either uses a push cart or powered golf cart. With a new 14-way divider "Low-Rider" top with a rubber "overmold" putter well, and plenty of space both inside and in the pockets, you can put everything you want in it.
The best golf bags available right now
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Best golf bags overall
1. PING Hoofer
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When you think about carry stand bags, the PING Hoofer is probably the first one that comes to mind. After all, it's been the standard in carry bags for the past three decades, and probably the most comfortable carry bag of all time over those years, having innovated several features that are standard today. The latest version of the Hoofer doesn't disappoint. It's still a great carry bag, coming in at a very reasonable 5.5 pounds, is comfortable to tote on the course and works equally well on a push cart or a powered golf cart. A pass-through for the golf cart strap under the pockets is particularly helpful when mounting on the back of a golf cart because it gives the golfer access to all 11 pockets. On most carry bags, the strap obstructs one or more pockets, making them difficult to access or even useless.
Another great feature is the fact that the Hoofer bag has two valuables pockets. One is velour-lined, which is great for a cell phone, watch, or other jewelry you might want to protect. The other is larger, so there's plenty of room for your keys, wallet, and all kinds of stuff. The latest Hoofer bag also has a magnetic pocket above the ball pocket, perfect for the range finder — this is crucial for walkers, who won't want to fumble with zippers gaining access to and putting away their distance measuring devices. It's also very secure, so the rangefinder won't drop out like it could from some bags that have zippers.
Overall, with 11 pockets covering 22 liters of volume, there's a lot of places to store all your stuff, including rain gear, extra jackets or towels, or even a sandwich or two. A pocket for a water bottle is extra large on the lower left side, so you can carry two-water balls there or even a quart-size container of your favorite beverage. It's also easy to reach if you're carrying. Another thoughtful feature is that the rain hood is stored under the comfort pad on the side of the bag to provide additional cushioning for walkers. The Hoofer also has a spot for a sharpie or pencil, a small towel ring, and a velcro patch to put your golf glove, although many golfers may still feel more comfortable hooking their golf glove around one of the straps. And speaking of straps, the double-strap system is among the most comfortable of carry bags and can be easily converted into a single strap for use by a caddie who might be double bagging.
The only possible knock regarding the Hoofer is that some golfers report that clubs can be difficult to get in and out of the bag at times. But that's a common concern for all carry bags, often alleviated by standing the bag straight up to create a little more room. This brings us to another point: The base of the bag moves with the stand mechanism. When the legs aren't extended, it sits perfectly flat on the ground when upright.
Best golf bags for value
2. Maxfli Honors stand bag
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The Maxfli Honors stand bag is a great choice if you're looking for value. It retails for under $200, which is a great deal for what it offers.
First off, it's lightweight at just five pounds, and the easy-to-adjust dual strap system makes this a very comfortable carry bag. It's constructed with a water-resistant material, so it's a good choice for any trip to Bandon Dunes or the British Isles for playing in the rain. And there are plenty of pockets with lots of storage space, so you can easily pack rain gear, extra towels, and plenty of balls and other accessories.
One nice feature is that the insulated bottle pocket is at an angle to keep your drink mostly upright while you are carrying it for easy access. There's also a slot for a scorecard, which you don't see on all bags but is particularly useful on a carry bag. There are slots for a pencil or sharpie, and the valuables pouch has plenty of room for your wallet, keys, and cell phone.
With all that said, this bag also works well for golfers who don't want to carry. It fits well on a push cart or powered golf cart, though it doesn't have a pass-through for a strap underneath the pockets, which are fortunately positioned beneath the strapline, so they're easily accessible anyway. The stand mechanism is easy to open and close, and the handles are at the top and the bottom, so you can easily get it out of the trunk of your car. The 14-way top is another nice feature, making it easy to organize your clubs, each with its slot.
Best golf bags for players
3. Titleist Players 4 Plus
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Certainly one of the most popular bags in America, Titleist's stand bags make for a solid choice that's not only highly functional but honestly, says something about the golfer. It's like playing Titleist Pro V1s; if you have a Titleist golf bag — even if you're not playing Titleist clubs — it tells other players that you're serious about your game. It's a classic look combined with great functionality.
But looks aren't everything, and fortunately, the Titleist Players 4 Plus backs up those looks with lots of great features. While it doesn't have some of the latest gadgets like magnetic pockets, this is still a bag that's highly functional. One of the features we like the best is the deep, waterproof valuables pocket, which gives you plenty of room for keys, wallet, cell phone and anything else you want to protect without fear of it falling out, even if you left it unzipped. It also has two water bottle pockets, which is great for anyone walking, but one of the pockets could be used for a rangefinder if you wanted easy access instead of having to zip and unzip another pocket. In total, there are eight pockets on this bag, including a large ball pocket and expandable full-length apparel pocket.
The Titleist Players 4 is also very lightweight at just 4.3 pounds. This stand bag features two high-grade aluminum legs and a hinged bottom to provide stability whether you're got the bag vertical or the legs extended. And the premium double strap is cushioned and distributes weight evenly, making it a very good walking bag. It works fairly well on a push cart or powered cart, too. The bag also has an ample towel ring that will accommodate most sizes. And the tour-like handle on top combined with the loop under the ball pocket makes this an easy bag to get in and out of the car. The Titleist Players 4 Plus also features two velcro glove patches, a slot for a sharpie or pencil, and it comes in 11 color combinations, including a Navy/white/red colorway that features an American flag embroidered on the side saddle pocket.
Best golf bags for hybrid cart-stand
4. Callaway Fairway 14
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The Fairway 14 bag from Callaway is the answer for anyone who either uses a push cart or a powered golf cart most of the time. With a new 14-way divider "Low-Rider" top with a rubber "overmold" putter well, and plenty of space both inside and in the pockets, you can put everything you want in this large and well-thought-out stand bag that works well on both push carts and powered golf carts.
The 14-way dividers aren't for everyone, but this one works well. The trick when using one is to basically memorize where each club goes so you don't find yourself searching for the empty spot when replacing a club during a round. That simply comes with playing with the bag for a while and developing your own system of consistently delegating each club to a corresponding slot. With that said, once you are comfortable with your club assignments, having a 14-way divider is very beneficial because the clubs never get stuck while trying to remove or replace one.
A pass-through for the cart strap is another great bonus for anyone who uses a powered cart (or a push cart that has straps) because it gives you unlimited access to all your pockets because the strap isn't covering any of them. If you take a lot of golf balls on the course, or you're a collector of found balls, this bag's ball pocket easily stores more than two dozen golf balls, plus the other five pockets are also very large, including the lined valuables pocket, which includes a clasp for your keys.
Although this isn't a bag you're likely to carry, the stand is still pretty important because it allows you to take it to the range or around the putting green and have it stand up on its own, which is especially helpful if the range doesn't have racks for bags. There's also a magnetic pocket for quick access to a rangefinder or GPS device, which is also a great feature if you're using a push cart with the bag. Eleven color combinations, removable straps, new metal zip pulls on the pockets, a new alloy towel ring, and improved, durable fabric are also part of the package that makes the Callaway Fairway 14 a solid choice.
Best golf bags for carry
5. Vessel VLS stand bag
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If you haven't heard of Vessel, it's definitely a bag you should check out, whether it's this outstanding carry bag, one of the company's cart bags or a tour bag, which Vessel makes for several touring professionals, including USA Solheim Cup teams. For this report, however, we're focusing on the Vessel VLS Golf stand bag, which is ideal for anyone who does a lot of walking and carrying their bag or for anyone who simply wants a compact, high-quality product that's easy to get in and out of the trunk and onto the course.
Being a luxury brand, Vessel is priced higher than most other golf bags on the market.(The Carlsbad, Calif., company also produces outstanding tennis bags as well as backpacks and other pieces of luggage.) This is certainly a great example of you getting what you pay for. The VLS Golf stand bag, which retails just north of $300, has all kinds of great features, not the least of which is its outstanding craftsmanship and materials. These handmade bags are well-thought-out, especially for the golfer who carries them. Of the 10 bags we tried, none was more comfortable. As long as you don't overload it, it's almost as effortless to carry this bag — and in the case of a hilly course, less effort — than it takes to use a push cart. And while this bag would certainly work on a push cart, it's best designed for carrying with an ultra-comfortable and flexible "EQZ" strap system, nice cushioning for your back, and pockets that don't protrude so they never rub you the wrong way.
The six pockets are highly-functional with a valuables pouch that has ample space for a wallet, cell phone, and keys. Over the ball pocket, there's also a magnetic pocket, which provides easy access to your rangefinder. And while the pocket that contains the rain hood isn't particularly large, it has enough space for outerwear that you might need to store. The rain hood, by the way, is more substantial than you'll find with most bags and fairly easy to attach.
The Vessel VLS Golf Bag comes with a four-way top, and despite its compact size, we found that clubs seem to go in and out of it fairly easily, even with legs extended. The bag also has an innovative base that moves with the stand mechanism, meaning it can stand straight up on a flat surface when needed, certainly making it adaptable for those who use the bag occasionally when taking a powered golf cart or a push cart.
Best golf bags for innovative features
6. OGIO WOODĒ 8 Hybrid
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Certainly one of the most versatile golf bags on the market, the OGIO WOODĒ 8 Hybrid is also one of the most innovative with several ideas that set it apart from others on the market. OGIO, which is now owned by Carlsbad, Calif.-based Callaway Golf, is also known for its distinctive backpacks and durable luggage. Its golf bags are very much inline with those products.
The WOODĒ top is one of OGIO's coolest innovations. Unlike traditional golf bags that typically put the woods at the top of the bag, the WOODĒ system lines them up on the side for easy access. Each of those four slots (one could be used for a putter if you only have three woods) has a corresponding row to the side for the irons, wedges, and other clubs, making them easy to see and very easy to remove and replace. It's hardly the only trait, though, that really stands out on this bag.
Despite its size, the OGIO WOODĒ 8 Hybrid is a bag you could carry if you wanted to, though it's probably best on a push cart or powered golf cart. Still, the stand system is solid, and the Fit Disc Self Balancing strap system works well for anyone who wants to carry. At 6.5 pounds, if you don't overload it, it's actually fairly comfortable to carry.
But really, it's all about storage and looks with this bag. This rig has six outer pockets plus a pouch for a large water bottle and another large pouch that could work for a variety of things you might want to stuff in there, like a hoodie, for example. Two of the pockets use snap-back fasteners, so they are very easy to access. The lower of the two snap-backs would be good for a rangefinder if you're walking, while the higher and larger snap-back pocket is great for valuables and even includes a clasp to securely fasten to your keys so you can't lose them. There's also a nifty three-ball "low-profile ball silo" receptacle just under the handle of the bag, so you can put a sleeve of balls in plain view. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the color schemes — in addition to basic colors like black and blue, there are stunning patterns like Aloha Palms, Hyper Camo, Warp Speed, or We Trust, for example. Those bags look pretty wild, and you'll never have trouble finding yours at the bag drop after a round.
Best golf bags for Sunday
7. Sunday Golf The Loma Standbag
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If you're a serious golfer, you need a Sunday bag. But not all Sunday bags are created equal. Many of them are quite flimsy, don't have much in the way in pockets and often don't come with a stand. The Sunday bag from Sunday Bag called The Loma isn't one of those bags.
Now granted, this probably wouldn't work if it was your only bag. Its specs say that it can hold eight clubs, but it's really more like seven, so unless you're Seve Ballesteros and can hit greenside bunker shots with a long iron, you're going to want a bag where you can hold close to the 14-club limit for everyday play. But a Sunday bag, as its name would imply, is great for late Sunday rounds, walking nine holes casually with friends. It's also great for par-3 courses, taking a few clubs out to the range or the short-game area for practice or any other time when just a few clubs will do.
What sets this bag apart is all the features. Plus at less than 2 pounds, it might be the lightest on the market. We also really like that it has a stand, as so many other Sunday bags just lay on the ground when you're not carrying them. The quality of construction and appearance also make it stand apart with a cool logo, a great carry handle, and five pockets. The pockets aren't large, so you can't carry a whole lot, but you could put a half dozen balls in there as well as a cold drink in the insulated pocket. There's also a lined valuables pocket and a side pocket that's large enough for a very light jacket. An additional netted pocket would work for another water bottle or even a rangefinder. There's also a receptacle for six tees and a velcro strip that could hold two or more golf gloves.
The only knock with The Loma Sunday Bag is the single strap, which in itself is fine and can be fashioned for right-handers or left-handers. But the way it's attached — from the top to less than halfway down — puts the bag in an awkward position for the carrier. The bottom portion needs to be lower so the bag can be carried a bit more horizontally instead of hanging down by the feet. But you could also just carry it using the very sturdy and grip-friendly handle at the top.
Best golf bags for lightweight
8. IZZO Ultra-Lite Cart bag
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Truth in a name certainly applies here with the Izzo Golf Ultra-Lite Cart Bag. At 3.8 pounds, it's lighter than most carry bags, and most cart bags are much heavier than the Izzo Ultra-Lite. If you don't put a ton of stuff in the Ultra-Light Cart Bag, it's incredibly easy to transport, especially with a sturdy handle on top and another at the bottom.
It's also a great value at $150 suggested retail (and you can probably find it for less at several websites). If you don't plan to carry your own bag, this is a great choice for the money. It fits great on a push cart as well as a powered golf cart. One of the features that make it perfect for that chore is the single strap is hidden behind the bag when you mount it on a cart, which means you'll have easy access to every pocket,
The 14-way divider top is great for golfers who like to have individual slots for their clubs, but, of course, it's important to stay organized so you're not hunting and pecking for open spots when returning a club after use. The advantage, of course, is that with the full-length dividers the clubs don't get jammed with other clubs, helping to protect them as they are physically easier to get in and out. And while we don't recommend this as a carry bag, it isn't exactly impossible to carry with a single strap. In fact, if you're in a situation where you are using caddies who are double bagging, they might even prefer it since they can only use one strap at a time anyway when carrying two bags. But they will have to lay the bag on the ground while on the course because there is no stand (however, the lack of stand makes it that much more stable on a push cart or golf cart).
Most of all, the Izzo Ultra-Lite Cart Bag is a no-frills, no-nonsense solution for any golfer using a cart. There aren't any velcro glove holders — you'll just have to fashion them around the handle — there's no large towel ring (a clip-on towel works best), and there are no magnetic pockets. But you can put everything except the kitchen sink in this bag if you want, and it will hold it comfortably with huge pockets on both sides.
How to choose the best golf bags for you
When it comes to choosing the best golf bag for you, there are a few things you need to consider.
Do you like to ride or walk?
If you do both, a hybrid bag that works on a cart just as well as a carry bag or certainly on a pushcart, is probably the right choice for you.
What kind of budget are you on?
If money isn't really a factor, don't skimp. Like everything else, with golf bags, you generally get what you pay for, so there is a difference in quality, depending on the price. Vessel, for example, is considered a luxury brand, both in tennis and golf, and if you have a Vessel bag, you're going to be happy with the quality of materials and craftsmanship.
Like apparel (check out the best golf shoes and the best golf gloves here) and even equipment, how the bag looks is also important. One of the reasons Titleist bags sell so well is that they say so much about the golfer. They're also great bags, so it's an easy combination to like.
What about your climate?
If you play most of your golf in an environment where it's cool and it rains a lot, a waterproof bag like the Sun Mountain H2NO might be the ticket.
What features are important to you?
If you need constant access to your rangefinder (if it's not in the powered golf cart), you're going to want easy access to that with a magnetic or snap-back pocket. If you like to play tunes on the course, then maybe the new MNML bag is the right choice for you.
What is a stand golf bag?
If you enjoy carrying your bag with you during a round, stand bags are the model for you. The best way to identify them is legs that unfold to stand your bag upright. The best stand bags are light enough to carry around comfortably.
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Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.