Purchasing a travel bag - any suggestions?

[Showboat12]

I am in the market for my first travel bag and I'm looking for suggestions based on your experiences. I am not brand loyal and the budget is about $200 or less.

[gregsandiego]

I'm on my 2nd one so I can advise what NOT to get.

Despite the warnings from airlines don't get a hard case. They end up being too big for almost every average  trunk.

I travel a lot and take Uber a lot. It's a total pain that these have to go in the back seat and you'll have to sit up with the Uber driver,

[newtogolf]

If you don't get a hard case make sure you get a club protector like the Bag Boy Backbone or Club Glove Stiff Arm.  Airlines are rough with clubs and if your bag comes down the ramp upside down, it could snap your driver.  

[wannabe]

For a non-frequent traveler, I love this one. Golf Travel Bags Caravan.  Turned out to be nearly as cheap as the clubs I was going to have to rent if I didn't travel with mine, so I got a win-win: a travel bag, and use of my personal set.

As above, pack in some kind of rod to take any pressure off your driver.  Buy one of the ones suggested, or, for a cheapskate like me, use an old broom handle.

I always also weave a beach towel in and around the club heads for an extra layer of protection and to eliminate jiggling.

[kpaulhus]

40 minutes ago, wannabe said:

For a non-frequent traveler, I love this one. Golf Travel Bags Caravan.  Turned out to be nearly as cheap as the clubs I was going to have to rent if I didn't travel with mine, so I got a win-win: a travel bag, and use of my personal set.

As above, pack in some kind of rod to take any pressure off your driver.  Buy one of the ones suggested, or, for a cheapskate like me, use an old broom handle.

I always also weave a beach towel in and around the club heads for an extra layer of protection and to eliminate jiggling.

I've found that with today's woods most are removable heads. I end up taking the heads off my driver and 3w and putting them in a pocket to avoid this issue. Any soft bag with a tough/water proof outter material is good. I recommend one with wheels. I got mine from caddydaddy.com and fly about 3-5x a year with my clubs. 

[DaveP043]

I use the Club Glove Burstproof, and its taken care of my clubs for a bunch of trips.  Its just a little over your budget of $200, but its a really sturdy bag.  My wife has the slightly larger version, the Last Bag.  One good feature is wheels, so you can roll it through an airport instead of carrying it.

[David in FL]

14 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I use the Club Glove Burstproof, and its taken care of my clubs for a bunch of trips.  Its just a little over your budget of $200, but its a really sturdy bag.  My wife has the slightly larger version, the Last Bag.  One good feature is wheels, so you can roll it through an airport instead of carrying it.

This.  It'll last a lifetime.

[mchepp]

Here is my recommendation. 

http://www.tgw.com/sun-mountain-clubglider-journey-wheeled-travel-covers?SITE_ID=A2004&CID=PLA&gclid=COOole-Cyc4CFVdZhgodgLgIYg

Finding something under $200 is a lost cause if you want something useful. You can spend less and find something that doesn't have wheels but when I glide buy you in the airport because you got one bag on your shoulder and you are trying to drag your other suitcase don't give me a dirty look. 

The only trouble I have with the Sun Mountain is it is really close to the 50lbs limit when I have my bag, shoes, and stuff in it. Some staff at Southwest like to penalize me for this. Others are friendly and don't bother me. 

[DaveP043]

25 minutes ago, mchepp said:

The only trouble I have with the Sun Mountain is it is really close to the 50lbs limit when I have my bag, shoes, and stuff in it. Some staff at Southwest like to penalize me for this. Others are friendly and don't bother me. 

I don't know how the Sun Mountain weight compares with my ClubGlove, but its definitely easy to exceed the 50 pound limit with golf gear.  We bought a small luggage scale a few years ago, and its more than paid for itself over that time.  Its small enough to slip into the luggage, so we can balance weights between different bags on the way home from a journey.

 

[mchepp]

2 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I don't know how the Sun Mountain weight compares with my ClubGlove, but its definitely easy to exceed the 50 pound limit with golf gear.  We bought a small luggage scale a few years ago, and its more than paid for itself over that time.  Its small enough to slip into the luggage, so we can balance weights between different bags on the way home from a journey.

 

Can you post a link on where to get it? Sounds like a good buy.

[nevets88]

5 minutes ago, mchepp said:

Can you post a link on where to get it? Sounds like a good buy.

There's digital and analog.

[chilepepper]

I use the Caddy Daddy copilot. It works great. I have the standard size and it just fits 14 clubs. They do make a larger size. The standard is pretty easy to maneuver around and fits most taxis depending on how much other stuff you have. I looked at the hard shell cases and they are just too bulky. I imagine the airline ramp crews despise them

[DaveP043]

31 minutes ago, mchepp said:

Can you post a link on where to get it? Sounds like a good buy.

This is kind of like what we have.  Its really cheap, but worth it.

https://www.steinmart.com/product/stop+and+lock+luggage+scale+500958665.do?gdffi=288466fb46db4ce6bd5b488f591c4ba7&gdfms=AF7D0F9CD9BB43AE9412A6036875B6CD&kid=08c59c34-e7b0-443a-a1b7-659af814566a&utm_medium=&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=&camp=ppc:google:PLA|CatchAll:Non-Brand:All:all\other&gclid=CM2I4rq2yc4CFcVbhgodLysC7Q

It'll have a little indicator to show the weight after you set the bag down, so you don't sprain your back trying to hold the bag up and still see the dial.  I kind of prefer analog, it works even when the batteries are dead.

[ev780]

Buy once, cry once.

Club Glove.

[Showboat12]

I appreciate all of the responses. I went with the Club Glove BurstProof II and it came with a stiff arm totaling to $250.

[Club Rat]

On ‎8‎/‎16‎/‎2016 at 11:15 PM, kpaulhus said:

I got mine from caddydaddy.com

I second this choice, although the OP has already made his choice.

[mchepp]

On August 16, 2016 at 9:15 PM, kpaulhus said:

I've found that with today's woods most are removable heads. I end up taking the heads off my driver and 3w and putting them in a pocket to avoid this issue. Any soft bag with a tough/water proof outter material is good. I recommend one with wheels. I got mine from caddydaddy.com and fly about 3-5x a year with my clubs. 

I think you meant caddydaddygolf.com, unless you really want parts for your Cadillac. 

[Showboat12]

What is the difference between the BurstProof II and Last Bag Collegiate? I ordered the BurstProof II and received a Last Bag Collegiate...