The 11 Best Golf Bags Our Gear Editors Have Tested
It's time to retire your ancient, beat up golf bag once and for all.

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WHILE YOU MAY not think about it, in many ways a golf bag can help make or break your golf game. Sure it doesn't have any real performance value like a set of golf clubs or golf shoes do, but what makes a golf bag so important is its ability to help you carry your gear from point A to point B, with as little energy exerted as possible. And, if you’ve ever walked a full round of 18 with a crummy bag, then you’ll know exactly how it can have a toll on your game.
But, the best golf bag is going to be one you hardly notice. Confusing? Think about how a bad golf bag can impact your play. Maybe the shoulder strap always digs into your neck when carrying. Or perhaps your bag is too thin and flimsy, so you have wrangle the heck out of it so it will stay put on the back of the cart. Poorly made kick stand or clubs don't go in and out smoothly? Not enough storage capacity to carry all your gear like range finders, your phone, and everything in between. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Best Golf Bags
- Best Overall Golf Bag: Callaway Fairway C Stand Bag
- Best Value Golf Bag: Sunday Golf Loma XL Bag
- Best Stand Bag: Ping Hoofer Stand Bag
- Best Classic Golf Bag: Titleist Players 5 Stand Bag
- Best Amazon Golf Bag: GoHimal 14-Way Golf Stand Bag
- Most Underrated Golf Bag: Vessel Lux Stand Bag
From an aesthetic perspective, you’ll want to opt for a golf bag that fits your stylistic choice, and on today’s market, there’s an option for every personality. Plus, thanks to the boom of golf in the last few years, finding a golf bag with style points is not a problem, especially as more and more brands emerge with an emphasis on visuals and aesthetics. We're seeing some truly standout designs from brands we absolutely love. Ahead, we've pulled together our latest guide to the best golf bags based on years of testing we've been doing on the course and at the range.
What to Consider
Cart Bag Vs. Stand Bag
Golf bags essentially fall into two categories: cart bags and stand bags.
A cart bag is meant for cart use, which means they're designed for carrying on the back of a golf cart or on a hand (or roller) cart when walking the course. Cart bags are usually larger and contain more organizational space. The downside is they're heavier and, hence the name, you need to rent a cart (or prepare for some serious energy exertion when carrying around a course, which we don't recommend).
A stand bag is meant for carrying on your back. They typically have better strap designs (double straps) and are more lightweight. They also have a kickstand for keeping the bag upright when setting the bag down to pull out your clubs. The downside to a stand bag is less club space (the bag has to accommodate a kickstand placement) and less pocket space. It should also be noted that stand bags can be used when riding in a cart or using a hand cart. These are the most common bags amateur golfers use and are our recommended choice for the versatility they offer.
Number of Dividers
The number of dividers on your golf bag depends on how many clubs you like to play with. If you play with a full set of 14 clubs (which is what most golfers typically do), a 14-way divider is not necessarily the way to go—this requires a more precise in-and-out grabbing of clubs as each divider can only house one club. This means you can't just toss a club in the bag and keep moving, which can slow things down and even frustrate at times.
The most common divider types are four- and five-way. A common theory to organizing your clubs easily utilizes this layout: woods in the big compartment, long and mid irons together, short irons and wedges together, and the flat stick (aka putter) in a slot on its own. While this is by no means a rule, grouping like clubs together is a simple way to make use of your bag's space.
Waterproof Features
It's worth mentioning waterproofing because this characteristic can raise or lower the overall price of a golf bag. If you're golfing a lot or have an expensive set of clubs, then it's probably worth investing in a waterproof bag (and certain one with a rain hood). Some waterproof bags are better than others, with seam-taped zippers and waterproof pockets. Other bags usually just have water-resistant shells.
If you aren't golfing a lot or if you have a more inexpensive club set, then waterproof features might not be that important. You can save some money by opting for a golf bag that's not fully waterproof, then if you're caught in the rain while playing you can simply put a plastic poncho over your clubs or buy some sort of rain hood to help protect the clubs.
How We Selected
While I may not be the most avid golf on our MH staff, the one thing I do ensure I am consistent with is staying up on golf trends and style, which also means knowing the latest gear and brands. This serves as an excellent baseline for my research to ensure each pick not only looks fantastic on the course, but will perform to the standards you need them to.
I also partnered with our Senior Gear and Reviews Editor Ryan Brower, who is an avid golfer, and a not-too shabby mid-handicapper. Along with a few other golfers at Men's Health, we tested golf bags while walking 18, on 72-hole golf trips across the country, riding in carts, and playing pitch and putts.
We started with the golf bags we've been using and testing throughout the years, and then researched and got our hands on some new models as well as ones that we have yet to try out. We evaluated well over a dozen golf bags for this year's iteration of this guide based on comfort, durability, performance, and price point. Then we narrowed it down to the 11 best golf bags to satisfy any golfer's demands.
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear and tech. Baseball, surfing, and camping occupied most of his time growing up. He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He is also a Certified Beer Server and previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
Jeff Turbett is a fitness and wellness writer who's based in Miami, FL. His work has been featured in The Manual and FightCamp.

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