Ryan EvansIn this article we will be reviewing the best golf travel bags available on the market in 2022.
Every golfer has a different requirement depending on how far they are traveling and what their budget is. Hopefully we can help guide you towards the perfect golf travel bag to suit your needs.
Many golf fans have a bucket list of golf courses they want to play all around the world. That might include Torrey Pines or Augusta National, but it also might mean international travel to play to traditional links in Scotland or new floodlit golf in Dubai.
Whatever your destination, you have two likely options for clubs. You can take your clubs with you, or you can rent clubs. Many golfers like to have their own clubs with them wherever they travel. You can then get full enjoyment of your golfing holiday without worrying about the standard of hire clubs available and whether you will be able to use them.
Airlines don’t mind having golf bags as luggage. Many airlines don’t even have an additional charge provided you are within the weight limits of the normal checked baggage allowance. As well as your golf equipment and general packing, it is worthwhile considering the weight of the travel bag you want to choose.
Are you willing to sacrifice some padding for a lightweight option? Do you prefer a hard case or soft-sided travel bag? How much are you willing to spend on a more premium travel bag?
Some of you may be first time buyers for a travel bag or travel case, and some of you may be looking to replace what you have. Whatever your situation, hopefully this article will help.
These are the best golf travel bags to buy in 2022:
1. Callaway Clubhouse
For golfers that like a “named brand”
In all honesty, we could have added a TaylorMade, Ping, Cobra or Titleist travel cover in this review. All of these have very similar offerings to the Callaway Clubhouse travel cover. If you have a preferred brand or want your bag to match your golf clubs, then you could easily buy any of the aforementioned branded covers.
The Callaway Clubhouse comes with all the functionality you would expect from a golf travel cover in 2022. There is sufficient padding, a strong reinforced wheelbase and exterior buckle straps for improved golf bag security.
There is nothing special about this product, but as you expect with Callaway it is a well-made product and it does the basics well. There are potentially better options at the $200 price point, but fans of Callaway are still likely to enjoy this travel cover.
- Callaway is brand every golfer knows.
- Reliable and durable.
- Modern and simple appearance.
- Internal shoe pocket is a nice bonus feature.
- There is probably better value for money elsewhere on this list.
- Other options offer more padding and overall protection.
2. Porterline 901
Unique hybrid travel bag
Porterline is a specific golf travel bag company. Lesser known in the US, Porterline is known for producing high-quality products in Asia for over 20 years.
They now also ship around Europe, but sadly getting a Porterline travel bag in the US is a little more costly. Once you add tax and shipping, the Porterline 901 hybrid golf travel bag will likely cost around $400. Certainly not unreasonable, but it could be cheaper elsewhere in the world.
What you get for your investment though is a durable and clever product that will offer plenty of protection for your clubs. The bag itself is heavy-duty and made from materials including Polyurethane, designed to be tear-resistant and easy to clean. The hard cover is crush-proof and lockable to keep your clubs completely safe during transport.
As a hybrid golf travel bag, it is also a direct replacement for your normal golf bag. This makes the Porterline 901 a cost-effective option if you are also in the market for a new trolley bag. The bag comes with skate wheels and internal extendable pull handle for mobility around the airport. However, simply push the handle back into the bag, remove the hardtop and travel cover, and you are ready for the golf course.
- Hybrid design is clever for dual use.
- Excellent quality of workmanship in the design.
- Provides more than sufficient protection during travel.
- Wheels and handle offer good maneuverability.
- Weighing around 18 lbs it is one the heavier bags reviewed.
- Expensive and not the easiest to get in the US.
3. Samsonite 6850
The best hard-sided travel cover
Samsonite is well renowned for its suitcases and travel bags. Many golfers will be excited to try this hard-sided golf travel case from a company they know for producing quality.
There are 4 spinner wheels and 2 inline wheels, so dragging this case around is easy whether you prefer to stand it up or drag it behind you. The hard ABS Shell exterior is lightweight and provides the superior protection you expect from a hard case. A padded and foam cushioned interior adds extra protection for your club heads as well.
The case is designed to accommodate larger golf bags and longer clubs too. The only issue with the Samsonite 6850 golf cover is space. This is not an issue specific to this model, but one that remains with all hard-sided covers. The case is 54 inches long, so be sure you have room in a rental car and at your home for storage.
- One of the best available for overall protection.
- Multi-directional and skate wheels allow for good movement.
- Trusted luggage brand.
- Lightweight and durable.
- Required significant storage space.
- Not the most fashionable.
4. Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian
The overall best golf travel bag
This soft-sided golf travel bag gets our vote as the best overall golf travel bag. It is easy to be skeptical of a 100% soft shell exterior. However, thanks to dense foam padding and reinforced areas the ClubGlider Meridian offers as much, if not more, protection than most hard-sided travel bags. Sun Mountain is also a brand that many golfers will be familiar with for their excellent carry golf bags.
The standout feature isn’t the protection of the clubs, but the ease of moving it around. There are retractable, extended wheeled legs that hold the bag at around a 45-degree angle. Anyone could wheel this bag around an airport with complete ease. If you do a lot of long walking on your travels or if you are a more senior golfer, this bag would be perfect for you.
Internal storage is aplenty for both your golf clubs, shoes and even some extra gear. Plus there are two additional external pockets for easy access as well. Available around $300 it is not the most budget-friendly option, but in our opinion it is worth every penny.
- Innovative wheeled legs make moving around a breeze.
- One of the most padded soft sided travel bags.
- Sun Mountain brand will be familiar to many golfers.
- High-quality and durable design with multiple color options.
- Price will inhibit some golfers, but it is actually great value compared with other options.
5. Club Glove Last Bag XL Pro Tour
The best travel bag for Tour Staff owners
Tour Staff bag owners, this is the travel bag for you. Any normally sized golf bag and clubs look tiny sitting in this monster! The Club Glove Last Bag XL Pro Tour is sturdy and well made from high-quality Cordura fabric. For a soft-sided travel bag there is also supreme protection throughout thanks to extra-thick foam padding.
This bag is entirely made in the U.S. and comes with two individual shoe pouches and an extra-strong integrated handle. Club Glove claims that the Last Bag is used by more Tour golf professionals than any other product in golf, which highlights how impressive this product is. If anyone knows how to pick out the best travel bag, it will be Tour pros traveling every week.
Okay, here comes the one downside. This is one of the most expensive options on our list. Depending on what website you look on, prices range from $400-600 for the XL model. Although, if you do not need as much space or only have a carry bag, then we recommend checking out the Last Bag Collegiate (see on Amazon) and Large (see on Amazon) models instead. These are more compact versions of the same travel bag.
To add extra value and highlight their confidence in their product, Club Glove travel bags come with a limited lifetime warranty or you can even upgrade to unconditional warranty. So, when it comes to the Last Bag XL Pro Tour, you definitely get what you pay for.
- High-quality product from the durable fabric to the stable wheels.
- Extra-thick foam padding for excellent protection.
- Limited lifetime warranty or upgradeable unconditional warranty.
- Available in more than 15 color choices.
- Very expensive option.
- For a soft-sided travel bag it is not the most collapsible for storage.
6. Amazon Basics Soft-Sided Bag
The best travel bag on a budget
A rather strange foray into golf travel for Amazon here, but this bag is actually decent value for money and a great option for golfers shopping on a tighter budget.
This soft-sided bag has no trouble with a stand or cart bag and easily fits a standard driver. There are multiple external pockets that provide good extra storage and decent padding to protect the club heads. This travel bag weighs less than 9 lbs and has inline-skate wheels to provide good mobility and easy transportation.
There are more expensive options in this article that provide greater overall protection and use more premium durable materials. However, if you are looking for a cheaper option or just want something for shorter travel then the Amazon Basics soft-sided travel bag will perform the job adequately.
- Budget-friendly at less than $60.
- Lightweight and storage friendly.
- Plenty of storage.
- Good padding by the club head area of the bag.
- Product quality is not as durable as higher priced alternatives.
- Not as much padding by the center/bottom of the bag, especially for air travel.
7. Ogio Alpha Travel Cover
Great all-rounder and good value for money
Ogio is a well-known brand when it comes to golf travel bags, but what some of you may not know is they are actually now owned by Callaway. When compared with the Callaway Clubhouse reviewed earlier on this list, the Ogio Alpha definitely offers better value at a very similar price.
This travel cover’s best feature is possibly its generous sizing. It is designed to be able to fit your golf clubs and shoes, but also allows for extra room for clothing and accessories. Golfers that like to pack generously will definitely like this bag. A wide D-shaped opening is a clever design to allow for easy-loading and access. Plus, despite the larger sizing this is one of the lightest bags on the list, weighing a mere 6.3 lbs.
External and internal compression straps are designed to reduce movement and dense foam offers good protection. A skid plate on the bottom side of the bag offers additional protection from abrasions and 900D polyester has decent durability. The Ogio Alpha might not stand out from the crowd as exceptional, but given there are plenty of more expensive options on this list, it performs up there with the best.
- Spacious sizing to fit plenty of extras.
- Provides a good level of protection given how light it is.
- A trusted golf renowned brand.
- Good value for money versus competitors.
- Golfers that want more padding and durability should check out the Alpha MAX/MID.
Conclusion
We really hope this guide helps you to make your buying decision. In addition to using this guide, reach out to your local golf pro and ask golfing friends about their experiences with products.
Just because one product is good for one person, doesn’t mean it is the best for you though. So, make sure you do your own research and test out a few different options. We have reviewed what we consider the best golf travel bags in this article, but there are so many great options available.
