Last Updated:
Golf bags are made with a single function in mind: to keep your clubs while you play. However, bags that are well designed and imagined are made to perform much more. They can help make playing less stressful while also adding a touch of style to your game. If your bag is broken or you simply want a change, remember that the key to choosing your ideal bag is to think about how you play and what you need on the course.
What is a stand bag?
Golf stand bags have a built-in stand mechanism and are meant for players who prefer to walk the course while carrying their clubs. Stand bags are the most adaptable of all golf bags, weighing anywhere between 3 and 7 pounds depending on their features.
Why choose a stand bag?
A well-balanced bag on your back is essential for comfort and fatigue reduction. Stand bags are designed with ergonomic and curved twin shoulder straps that look like a backpack and a padded part where the bag lies on your back. When opposed to a single shoulder strap, a dual shoulder strap system evenly distributes the weight of a bag across both sides of your body.
Because most stand bags contain clips or a strap that lock in the legs, manufacturers recognize that carrying your clubs isn’t always possible. This is an often underestimated and overlooked feature of these bags. A pass through for a cart strap that rests beneath the valuables compartment is a wonderful accessibility design detail. Lightweight stand bags reduce a player’s overall weight, but they have less storage space and are composed of lighter (and sometimes less durable) fabrics and materials.
What is the difference between a stand bag and a cart bag?
The main distinction between a stand bag and cart bag is that stand bags can be placed on the ground easily. Made for those who play golf while walking, this type of bag comes with a stand and commonly has two shoulder straps to enable the user to carry the bag comfortably. A cart bag, on the other hand, is usually larger and does not have a stand or a second strap. As you can imagine, carrying a single strap golf bag over 18 holes is not a pleasant experience
- The stand bag is designed to allow the golfer to hold his/her bag while on the course. Stand bags are therefore often smaller and lighter, with features such as a stand and a double strap to make walking 18 holes and carrying your clubs easier.
- The cart bag is designed to be used with some form of cart. It makes no difference whether the cart is a power cart, a push cart, or a pull cart. Rain coats, extra towels, munchies, and other goods that golfers commonly bring with them on a round of golf are normally stored in the bag, which is usually larger in size.
If you carry your luggage on a regular basis and want a bag that isn’t too bulky, this is the bag for you. There are more storage options in a stand bag than in a cart bag, but not as many as in a cart bag. If you need to carry a lot of extra items during a round and don’t want to carry your bag, a cart bag is the ideal bag for you. GolfTamers has prepared a review of the best golf cart bags for you!
Stand bag features that matter
In terms of stand bag specifications and golf equipment, strong legs that expand and collapse reliably, comfortable dual straps, six dividers to keep your clubs organized, and enough compartments to carry a full set of clubs, water bottles, umbrellas, golf balls, tees, and rain gear are all features of great golf stand bags.
The best stand bags of 2022
TaylorMade FlexTech Lite Stand Bag
Club congestion is an issue for any golf player but the smooth release technology and collapsible base from the TaylorMade FlexTech Lite Stand bag is perfectly designed to avoid this. A self-adjusting strap is included with the FlexTech Lite Stand Bag, providing for a secure and comfortable carry.
Features:
- 4-way top with full-length divisions
- 7 pockets
- Storage pocket with easy access at the top
- Stand with anti-split system
- For enhanced comfort, the hip pad has been extended
- Self-strap system
- Constructed with lightweight materials
- System of flextech stands
Titleist Players 4 StaDry Stand Bag
The Players 4 StaDry Stand Bag features a lightweight design with excellent waterproof materials and ample storage, including a full-length garment compartment.
Features:
- 4-way top cuff with full-length divisions in a lightweight, low-profile design
- Waterproof structure with zippers that are seam-sealed
- New dual strap premium
- Total of 7 Pockets
- Magnetic accessory pocket with quick access
- Best-in-class stability thanks to high-grade aluminum legs and a sophisticated hinged bottom
- External water bottle pocket is a player’s favorite
- A large full-length clothing pocket
Titleist Players 4 Stand Bag
Golf bags have never been so easy nor comfortable to carry. The Players 4 Stand Bag is a game changer! This is achieved through the lightweight base that is accompanied with a double strap and aluminum legs, all of which are produced with high-quality materials.
Features:
- New dual strap premium
- Total of 7 Pockets
- Magnetic accessory pocket with quick access
- External water bottle pocket
- Best-in-class stability thanks to high-grade aluminum legs and a sophisticated hinged bottom
- Golf ball pockets
- 4 full-length dividers in a lightweight, low-profile 4-way top cuff
Callaway Golf 2021 Fairway 14 Stand Bag
The Fairway 14 combines the organization and capacity of a cart bag with the portability of a stand bag, and it now readily integrates with most pushcarts.
Features:
- Top has a 14-way lowrider* design with a rubber overmold putter well and grip blocks (pushcart friendly)
- Full-length partitions for each person
- Zip pulls made of metal
- Towel ring made of alloy
- Fabric that is tough and long-lasting
- Pass-through for the cart strap
- Only a double-strap version is available
- Weighs 6 pounds
Callaway Golf 2021 Hyperlite Zero Stand Bag
The Hyperlite Zero is the gold standard in ultra-lightweight carry bags, combining Callaway’s most technologically advanced materials, such as carbon fiber legs, with the most comfortable strap to create the greatest carry bag Callaway has ever manufactured.
Features:
- 4-way compact top with full-length divisions
- There are seven pockets in all, including a velour-lined valuables pocket with a waterproof zipper and a cell phone sleeve
- Weighs under 3 lbs
- Legs made of carbon fiber that are both strong and light
- The padded OptiFit comfort strap adjusts to your shoulders’ contour
- The X-Act Fit strap system is self-balancing
- The new OptiFit comfort hip pad provides exceptional comfort
- Catch and cinch umbrellas
Callaway Men’s X-Series Stand Bag Golf
The X Series Stand bag offers lightweight performance with plenty of storage, with a 6-way top with full-length dividers and a clean modern style.
Features:
- Dividers run the length of the top in a 6-way configuration
- 6 compartments
- Ergonomic strap for comfort and balance
- A lightweight high-mount automatic stand system
- Weighs 4.4 lbs
Cobra Golf Ultralight Sunday Bag
With a weight of about 3.8 pounds, the Ultralight Sunday Bag is designed to be carried. It comes with an enlarged apparel pocket, a fleece-lined valuables pocket, a mesh beverage pocket, and a ball pocket that can be customized. This bag is especially well equipped for its size.
Features:
- Three-way top with full-length club dividers and a top grab handle
- Pocket for oversized clothing
- Valuables pocket with fleece lining
- Pocket for beverages made of mesh
- Weighs 3.8 pound
Cobra Golf 2020 Ultralight Stand Bag
The Ultralight Stand Bag is perfectly designed to be carried. It is very light at only 4.5 lbs, and the COOLFlow hip pad enables breathability which gives the user a lot of comfort when walking between holes.
Features:
- 5-way top with full-length club dividers and a grab handle at the top
- Key clip and oversized apparel pocket
- 8 pockets, including a fleece-lined pocket for valuables
- A large water bottle fits in the insulated beverage compartment.
- COOLFLOW foam shoulder straps and hip pad with quick-release buckles
- For maximum ground contact, use the EasyFlex base
- Ball pocket that can be customized
- A hundred percent polyester
- Weighs 4.5 pounds
Cleveland Golf Stand Bag
Cleveland’s new Stand Bag is light, useful, and fashionable, with a variety of color schemes to fit everyone’s preferences. The Saturday stand combines a padded back support with ergonomic carrying straps for fatigue-free carries so you can concentrate on your game.
Features:
- At 2.7 kg, it’s a featherweight
- Top divider system with 14 ways
- Six zipped pockets
- Ergonomic carrying straps and padded shoulder support
- For convenient handling, there are three top grips
- Carabiner for a towel
- Holder for your golf balls
- Holder for a pencil
Izzo Ultra Lite Stand
The Ultra-Lite Stand Bag is the ideal bag to bring on the course with you. It is easy to carry and transport, weighing only 3.2 pounds. Our bags are made of high-strength polyester and are designed to last a long time. Exclusive features include a waterproof valuables pocket, a ball pocket that can be customized, a dual strap carry system, and an integrated SmartGRIP handle. With four distinct color themes to choose from, you’ll be able to pick the perfect bag to match your style and golf demands.
Features:
- 3.2 pound weight
- Four-way top
- Ball pocket that can be customized
- Rain hood, umbrella holder, integrated smartGRIP handle and dual strap
- Fabric with a high tensile strength 4200 polyester
How to pick the best golf stand bag for you
When it comes to selecting a golf bag, there are numerous factors to consider such as the number of partitions, the number of pockets or storage options, the weight of the bag, the comfort of the straps, and the stability of the stand legs.
What to consider when buying a stand bag?
Number of Dividers
When selecting a golf stand bag, consider the number of dividers that will separate your golf clubs. Some stand bags a five-way top while others have up to 14 dividers so each club has its own section, but more divisions isn’t necessarily better. Remember that dividers add weight to your golf bag, which is undesirable if you’re carrying it. On the other hand, more divisions can avoid the annoying sound of golf clubs knocking each other when you walk. All is a question of balance!
Number of Pockets
After that, you’ll want to think about storage. At the best of times, the weather is unpredictable, and with a round of golf taking roughly 4 hours, you don’t want to be caught out in the rain without any protection. To avoid this, a good golf carry bag should have adequate storage or pockets to ensure that you can carry the essentials.
While the number of pockets on a golf stand bag is a fair indicator of the quantity of storage available, make sure the pockets are well designed and easily accessible. It’s pointless to have a lot of pockets if they all stack on top of each other, making it impossible to fill them with the items you’ll need for your round.
Weight
The bag’s weight is obviously a matter to consider, as lighter bags are easier to carry and more comfortable. It’ll also save you that extra bit of energy that could spell the difference between getting money from your playing partners and having to pay up. While the weight difference between each stand bag may not appear to be significant, using lightweight golf bags mounts up over the course of 18 holes.
Waterproofing
People that carry their bag on their backs are exposing it to the elements, and if rain starts, you better hope that the bag is waterproof! Since you can’t protect it under a cart, the use of water resistant materials is important, as well as zippered pockets and insulated pockets that can keep your valuables dry. You don’t want your golf gear to get wet: losing expensive and important golf accessories such as a golf rangefinder is not fun!
Comfort
The comfort of the straps is linked to the weight. It’s rare to come across a carry bag with only one strap, so having two is a given. The straps are usually quite similar across most bags, and the distinctions are found in the adjustability and if the bag has padded shoulder straps. Make sure the bag can be adjusted properly. If you’ve ever picked up one of your playing partners’ golf bags, you’ll notice that they all carry their bags differently.
Leg Stability
The stability of the stand legs is the last factor to consider. While golf bags are generally light, when filled with clubs, they may become very heavy, so you’ll want a bag with solid legs. For that reason, a larger base is better, as it prevents the bag from falling over in the wind or on hillier golf courses.
What is a Sunday golf bag?
A Sunday bag is a smaller carry bag that will often come with a stand. Although some of them are big enough to carry full golf club sets, you’ll probably be carrying fewer than 10 clubs when using this type of bag. Some of these bags will further reduce the bag’s weight by removing extra pockets or dividers for your clubs!