2023 Golf Stand Bag Buyer’s Guide
Your choice of a golf stand bag could be the difference between shooting your personal best or heading home with a sore back and aching shoulders.
Golf is hard enough. One of the few variables you have full control over is your golf bag. This year we tested 42 stand bags with you, the golfer, in mind. We put each bag through a rigorous test to ensure your hard-earned money is being spent on something that delivers what it promises.
Let’s find you a new stand bag.
Winner – PING Hoofer
Who is it for?
- Those who walk more than they ride
- Someone who needs ample storage
- The golfer who values functionality over fashion
The Best Golf Stand Bags of 2023 – What to Look For
Storage
If you’re looking for a new stand bag, obviously you would rather walk than ride. In any case, it’s important to find a bag with ample storage. You shouldn’t have to decide which accessories to bring to the course.
Not only does the amount of storage matter but the usability does, too. Don’t let looks fool you—some bags hold a lot more than meets the eye while others punch well below their weight in this category. If maximum storage is important to you, you’ll enjoy the spacious real estate in the PING Hoofer or Vessel Player IV.
While some golf bags include gimmicky pockets, we found the best storage to be the most simple. Take, for example, the COBRA Ultralight Pro. Its water bottle holder is simple but functional. It sits at the perfect angle for easy access while the bag is on your back and makes placing or removing a bottle a one-handed experience. Other golf bags require the use of both hands which made it nearly impossible to retrieve a water bottle without setting the bag down.
Best Stand Bag for Storage – Ping Hoofer
The Ping Hoofer is the king of storage. This bad boy can hold everything you need and then some. Need to bring some extra balls? Can’t make it through your round without snacks? The Ping Hoofer has room for all of the above.
Dividers
While a 14-way divider provides the most protection against bag chatter, this often makes for a less smooth club pull. The best dividers ensure that your clubs go in and out of the bag easily. Some stand bags also feature shortened dividers that don’t extend to the bottom of the bag. This can result in your bag becoming a jumbled mess with grips and shafts pointing every which way.
We found that the four-way divider on the Mizuno BR-D3 and the five-way divider on the PING Hoofer provide the best separation and organization without sacrificing smoothness.
Comfort
A good stand bag MUST be comfortable to carry. Good luck shooting your personal best with an uncomfortable strap or poorly placed support beam digging into your shoulder for 18 holes.
The PING Hoofer Lite and Sunday Golf Ryder 23 provide excellent comfort and straps that mold to your shoulder.
Weight
Another significant factor in the overall comfort of a stand bag is weight. While it may not seem like much on the first hole, an extra pound or two can take a toll on your body over an entire round.
Golfers looking for the lightest stand bag should opt for the Mizuno K1-L0 or Maxfli Air, which are lightweight yet durable.
Did you know?
Sun Mountain is doing its part to reduce plastic waste with their exciting new Repreve fabric. Approximately 25 plastic water bottles were recycled and repurposed to create the fabric for the Sun Mountain Eco-Lite stand bag.
Stand Leg Stability
The stand mechanism should be both durable and stable. Without a good stand, your golf bag could collapse and damage your precious sticks. Not only should the stand be stable but it should deploy and close with ease when the bag is fully loaded.
Best Walking Stand Bag – Ping Hoofer Lite
Ping’s Hoofer Lite is the best walking stand bag in 2023. The comfortable carry straps and lightweight design make it a joy to carry.
EXPERT TIP – Zippers Matter
A good stand bag should make your life easier, right down to the zippers. Digging through the pockets on your bag to grab your rangefinder or an extra ball should be seamless. The best stand bags nail this detail, and have buttery smooth zippers for easy open and close.
More Tips
- Do you carry a GPS or rangefinder? Look for a golf bag with an accessible rangefinder pocket. We found the magnetic rangefinder pocket on the PING Hoofer and Vessel Player IV particularly easy to use. Chances are you’ll use this pocket 70 to 80 times per round, making it one of (if not the most) important pockets on your bag.
- Need a waterproof bag for those rainy rounds? Keep in mind that waterproofing has its tradeoffs. Often this makes the zippers more stubborn and pockets harder to access. The Motocaddy Hydroflex strikes the right chord with a waterproof design and decent zippers.
- Some stand/carry bags also provide cart pass-throughs for those days when you just don’t feel like walking. One stand bag that features a great cart pass-through system is the PXG Hybrid bag.
- Lighter isn’t always better but if your biggest concern is the weight of your bag, there are plenty of lightweight options that make carrying a breeze.
- While it shouldn’t be the sole factor, the style of a bag is important to any purchasing decision. Luckily, most manufacturers offer multiple styles and colors, making it easy to find one that suits your taste.
- More pockets don’t always make for a better bag. The DNA of any good stand bag takes into account the function of pockets, not just the number. Useless pockets add extra weight, making the bag less walkable, while useable pockets add to the overall positive carrying experience.
How We Test
We’re here to help you find the perfect stand bag to fit your needs.
To do that, we employ a thorough and fully independent testing process that leaves no feature unexplored, no detail unchecked, and no stone unturned.
Our Metrics
Stand Bags are tested head to head using rigorous protocols.
The metrics we consider when rating stand bags include Storage, Walkability, Weight, Features, and Dividers.
EXPERT TIP – The Great Divide
While the idea of a 14-way divider might sound great, the bags with the best functionality often feature 4-6 dividers. But, if you’re really looking to keep your clubs separated, the OGIO Woode 8 Hybrid has a unique design to keep your clubs from mingling with one another.
The Best Stand Bags of 2022 – FAQ
Q: Do I need an insulated pocket?
A: Keeping your drinks cool on a hot day is a must. Most stand bags have an insulated pocket to ensure your beverage of choice stays chilled.
Q: What is a “hybrid” golf bag?
A: A true hybrid golf bag is half stand bag, half cart bag. The versatility to walk one day and ride the next without having to switch bags should not be overlooked.
Q: Can I use my stand bag on a cart or push cart?
A: While most aren’t designed to fit on a cart or push cart, you should be able to use your stand bag on a cart. Some bags offer a cart strap pass-through which helps to hide the strap and avoid blocking access to the pockets. Other stand bags may not have a dedicated cart strap pass-through. In this case, the strap can generally be threaded through a carry handle. Push carts are a different story. If your push cart offers a stand lock-in design, opting for a stand bag shouldn’t be an issue at all. Motocaddy’s stand bags are designed to fit perfectly onto their push carts.
Q: How much does the carry strap matter?
A: That depends on whether you like a strap digging into your shoulder all round. If you want to play your best, you need to feel your best. A comfortable carry strap will send you well on your way to a pain-free round.
Q: What is a “Sunday” bag?
A: Sunday bags are lighter and smaller than standard carry/stand bags. The compact design and light weight make them ideal for par-3 courses or a quick nine.
Q: Which divider setup is right for me?
A: As a general rule, fewer dividers make it easier to get your clubs in and out of the bag. If this is important to you, opt for a four-way or five-way divider. For those who like to keep all of their clubs organized and separate, a 14-way top is the ideal setup.
Q: How much should I spend on a bag?
A: The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for in a stand bag. However, our winner for the Best Stand Bag of 2023 and our other top choices all hover around the $250 mark.
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