The Best Golf Bags for 2020

golf bag in middle of fairway

There are boundless options when it comes to choosing your next golf bag, however not all golf bags are created equally. 

A great golf bag is part of the foundation of your success in golf. If you’re thinking of upgrading, your current bag is most likely lacking in a key area and making your life on the course a bit more difficult than it needs to be. 

I’ve outlined a quick guide to help you make the best possible decision on your next bag!

Our Top Picks:

Best Golf Bag Overall: Titleist Players 4 Stand Bag

Best Lightweight Golf Bag: Ogio Shadow Fuse 304

Best Value: Wilson Staff EXO Carry Bag

Best Cart Bag: Ogio Alpha Convoy 514

Buyers Guide to Choosing a Golf Bag

Bag Types

It’s important to note there are a few different types of golf bags, based on how you typically play. You will find a few different types: Stand, Cart, and Tour. This article will focus on Stand and Cart bags, as those are the bags most people should be using. 

Stand Bag:

The Stand Bag (or “Carry Bag”) is the most lightweight golf bag option, and is the golf bag you’ll find most frequently on the course. A stand bag will still have plenty of storage, and is most comfortable and convenient for golfers who carry their bag. If you plan on walking while playing golf even just once in a while, this is probably the type of bag you should get.

Cart Bag: 

 Cart Bags are bigger and bulkier than Stand Bags, and offer optimal storage for those who only use golf carts when they play. These bags are a bit heavier than stand bags. If you find yourself strapping up to a cart every time you play, this option may be better for you. 

Tour Bag:

These bags are even bigger than cart bags, and are designed for tour players. They’re the best quality you can find, but in turn they are expensive. Most golfers don’t need this type of bag.  

Buying Criteria

A lot of this criteria will be personal to your needs; some golfers are looking for more storage in a particular area, while others are looking for a lighter, sleeker bag for their game. Here are a few things to look at when making your decision.  

Storage:

Storage is a pretty big factor when deciding on a golf bag purchase, but maximum storage isn’t always better. Maximum storage and more pockets will lead to a bit heavier of a bag, which isn’t as desirable for a Stand Bag. 

The type of storage you need is also worth considering. If you like to keep snacks and water in your bag, make sure you have ample water pockets and insulated pockets. If you play with a rangefinder or GPS, a dedicated pocket will help you avoid clipping it to the outside of your bag. 

Dividers:

If you use a Stand bag, a few high quality dividers will usually do the trick. You want dividers that are there to make it easy to organize and retrieve your clubs without difficulty. Cart bags will sometimes have up to 14 slots, which prove much more useful to a cart golfer than a carry golfer. 

Appearance:

This is completely subjective to the player. 95% of golfers will walk into a store and use the looks as their main criteria. While the looks are important, they are only one aspect of your perfect bag. 

That said, having a good looking bag will give you a little confidence boost on the course. Look good, feel good. 

Weight:

This is mostly relevant for a Stand Bag. Your bag weighing an extra pound or two on your back over 18 holes can be the difference between a strong finish and running out of steam on the last few holes. A cart bag won’t be carried around much at all, therefore the additional weight that comes with storage won’t be a big factor.  

Durability:

The last thing you want is to spend a couple hundred bucks on a golf bag for it to start falling apart after a few seasons. 

For those who opt for a carry bag, pay attention to the quality of the legs, as these will be most susceptible to damage. Cart bags don’t have the same issue, but nonetheless, make sure the material is high quality and won’t damage easily. 

Comfort:

Again, this is much more applicable for a Stand Bag. The shoulder straps should be well padded and sit well on your shoulders. Without ample padding, you’ll probably start to feel some shoulder and back discomfort. 

The Best Golf Bags for the 2020 Season

The Best Stand Bags: Our Picks

Our Top Pick: Titleist Players 4 Stand Bag

As always, Titleist delivers a top class product with this Players 4 Stand Bag. This bag has a timeless classic look available in multiple colors. 

At a Glance:

  • Features convenient and comfortable Self Balancing Convertible Strap system for maximum comfort 
  • Included high-grade aluminum legs for maximum durability and stability, as well as an advanced hinged bottom 
  • Includes both rangefinder pocket and dedicated water bottle pocket
  • Excellent storage featuring a full-length apparel pocket 

Best Lightweight Golf Bag: Ogio Shadow Fuse 304

Ogio is a brand dedicated to all things bags, so it’s no surprise they produce a stellar Stand Bag for golfers. This is a lightweight option designed for maximum comfort and mobility. 

At a Glance:

  • 12 different color options make this bag highly customizable to your preferences 
  • 4-way top with integrated handle for club organization
  • Made with premium lightweight fabric, also features aluminum legs
  • 5 pockets for storage, including quick access pockets

Best Value: Wilson Staff EXO Carry Bag

This is a great option coming in at a very reasonable price from Wilson. It is rare to see a high quality golf bag for under $180, yet this bag delivers. Simply put, this bag looks and feels really well built when using it. It has thick legs that are made to last, and thoughtful storage capabilities.

At a Glance:

  • 4 different color options available
  • Relatively lightweight carry bag considering it’s size and capacity, coming in just over 5lbs (empty)
  • Features a 5 Way top with integrated carry handles 
  • Includes 6 pockets, featuring a full length garment pocket, as well as a small DryTech valuables pocket
  • Slide 2-in-1 Self- Balancing Strap System for maximum comfort and adjustability 

More Great Options:

Cobra Ultralight Stand Bag 

One thing I find really useful about this bag is that the dividers are full-club length. It can be annoying when your grips catch each other and get a bit tougher to pull out, and this bag does a great job to eliminate that. This bag is sleek in design, and ultralight weight, coming in under 5 lbs.

At a Glance:

  • Insulated pocket fits large water bottle 
  • Tons of storage, including 8 total pockets for apparel, valuables etc 
  • 6 color options
  • Comfortable straps designed for breathability thanks to the COOLFLOW Hip Pad 
  • Flexible base allows for maximum ground contact 

Taylormade Flextech Stand Bag

The Taylormade Flextech gets its name from the Flextech Stand system with a collapsable base, making it easier to prop your bag. Taylormade delivers a well designed bag that has 12 different colorways. If you’re a fan of other Taylormade products, this one will be up your alley.

At a Glance:

  • 12 different colorways to pick from
  • 5 way top with full length dividers, completely eliminating club crowding in the bag
  • Features 11 pockets for maximum storage
  • Weighs 4.5 lbs, making this a lightweight and functional option

The Best Cart Bags: Our Picks

Best Overall: Ogio Alpha Convoy 514

The Ogio Alpha Convoy is a bag that is fully loaded with features to absolutely maximize your golf experience. Ogio built this bag with sustainable recycled materials, keeping durability and quality at the top of mind. If you’re looking for maximum storage in a cart bag built to last, this is a great pick.

At a Glance:

  • Features 10 zippered pockets and 2 mesh pockets for versatile storage capabilities 
  • Equipped with insulated cooler pockets and water bottle storage with drainage ports
  • 14 way top with an extra large putter slot
  • Includes a MOD hard case, and Ogio MOD webbing for customizable storage
  • 7 color options

Sun Mountain C-130 Cart Bag

Simply put, this is Sun Mountain’s best selling cart bag for a good reason. The C-130 is well built with the cart golfer in mind, with a reasonable price tag too. We found this one to be relatively a lightweight, given how sturdy it is. 

At a Glance:

  • Includes 10 pockets, with 2 full length apparel pockets and multiple lined pockets for valuable storage
  • 14 way top with full length dividers to prevent club crowding
  • Features a well positioned rangefinder pocket
  • Includes a rain cover
  • 10 color options 

TaylorMade Supreme Golf Cart Bag

The TaylorMade Supreme is a few pounds heavier than other bags weighing about 7 pounds empty, but that may be due to the heavy duty fabric. TaylorMade uses UV- Resistant fabric on this bag, to ensure the colors don’t fade over time and keeps the bag looking new.

At a Glance:

  • Features 5 front pockets for easy access, with a total of 10 pockets  
  • 15 way top featuring full length dividers made with “wear tough” mesh built to last 3x longer than competitors
  • Oversized cooler pocket with drainage
  • Push cart compatible base
  • 5 color options
  • Free monogram option for front zipper panel 

Wilson NFL Cart Golf Bag

Wilson delivers a real crowd pleaser with their NFL cart bags; as you might expect, there are 32 options, based on the team you support. While this bag reps your team, it happens to be highly functional with 11 pockets, 2 of which are full length garment pockets. Overall these bags are reasonably priced, hold up well, and provide plenty of storage.

At a Glance:

  • 32 NFL styles available
  • Features 14 way top with full length dividers
  • Tons of storage with 11 total pockets, and an oversized front cooler pocket 
  • Includes rain hood and umbrella holder 

Wrap Up

Choosing a golf bag is not a binary decision; there are likely certain things you’re looking for, and style is subjective.

If you plan to walk and carry your bag ever, the logical choice is to buy a carry bag. For me, the best bag is the Titleist Players 4; I love the way it looks, and it has every bit of function I’d like from a golf bag. If I were to go for a cart bag once I retire in Florida, I think the Ogio Alpha Convoy 514 stands out to me as the highest quality bag, and I love that it’s sustainably made.

Thanks for reading!

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