Golf travel bag quick picks
Hard-case golf travel bags: SKB Cases ATA Deluxe Standard Hard Plastic Storage Wheeled Golf Bag
Soft-sided golf travel bags: Club Glove College Traveler Travel Bag
Stiff arms: Bag Boy Backbone Travel Cover Support System
Golf is an expensive sport, but it’s actually worth spending extra money on the best golf travel bags, if only to protect your pricey clubs. As anyone who has ever checked any sort of specialty luggage on an airplane will tell you, even the most high-quality standard bags may not stand a chance against the cargo hold and baggage carousel.
So, if you’re planning a golf vacation that requires air travel — and checking your clubs — you’ll want to invest in a travel-specific golf bag or a durable cover that will protect your clubs and golf bag from the inevitable wear and tear of the checked baggage process. Protecting your clubs is important even if you’re planning a road trip, since having a dedicated space for storing your golf bag can go a long way to ensuring safety in transit.
We spoke to an expert and compiled a comprehensive guide on what to look for in a quality travel golf bag, and we’ve recommended some of our favorites that fit the bill.
What to look for in a golf travel bag
Protection
“The most important thing you’ll want to think about is finding a travel bag that will keep your clubs safe from damage,” says Will McNaughton, accessories merchant at PGA TOUR Superstore.
That’s especially true given that baggage gets handled a lot during travel, he adds. Of course, the difference between a typical checked bag and your clubs is that the latter are breakable and expensive.
Size
It’s easy to find the right golf bag, whether you need a full-size golf bag that’ll fit all your clubs or a smaller bag good for a single driver. Note that smaller golf bags might be easier to fit in a taxi trunk, but both small and large golf bags will almost always cost the same to check at the airport (unless you’re successfully avoiding checked baggage fees).
Wheels and maneuverability
Keep in mind that you’ll probably have other luggage to look after besides just your clubs, so you’ll want your golf bag to be as maneuverable as possible if you want to get through the airport efficiently. A crossbody strap is great, but high-quality wheels will be well worth the investment.
Golf bag vs. golf bag cover
Travel golf bags are a great option if you really don’t want to muck up your normal golf bag while in transit. But if you want to have access to your golf bag while traveling, a high-quality golf bag cover will protect the whole package, ensuring your clubs and golf bag arrive relatively safely.
Soft shell vs. hard shell
Much like standard luggage, there are two main types of golf travel bags: soft shell and hard shell. Which one you chose will depend on personal preference, McNaughton says.
“Soft travel bags can provide plenty of protection. One thing that can add extra protection for your soft travel bag is a Backbone. You put this over your tallest club — typically your driver — to keep the bag upright and protect the club from unnecessary impact.
Soft-shell bags are also much easier to sling over your shoulder or throw into the back seat of a taxi, while hard-shell bags — typically heavier and more expensive — tend to be more durable and longer-lasting.
Whether you’re planning a domestic trip the next state over or you’re embarking on an international golf vacation that requires a fair bit of travel, we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite golf travel bags to ensure your clubs arrive intact and ready for the course.
Hard-case golf travel bags
This hhard-shell golf bag case reigns supreme when it comes to heavy-duty protection. It fits most standard golf bags, is made of an extremely durable polyethylene material and has a TSA-approved locking system with SKB’s patent-pending industrial-strength latches for added peace of mind. The trade-off is that it's heavy, with the small size starting at just over 15 pounds.
The Samsonite Hard-Side Golf Bag is a great option for anyone looking for a high-quality bag that won’t weigh them down while cruising through the airport: It weighs just 5 pounds empty. While it’s quite large compared to other bags and covers on this list, it fits both your clubs and your regular golf bag, and it comes in seven colors. Plus, it’s easy to maneuver, with four spinner wheels, two in-line skate wheels and handles at the top and side.
Soft-sided golf travel bags
If you want to travel like the pros, McNaughton recommends the Club Glove College Traveler, one of his top picks. While it is expensive, the 8-pound bag comes with a stiff arm for extra protection and boasts other features like durable wheels thick and water-resistant fabric. Colors are plentiful too.
Featuring smooth in-line skate wheels, this lightweight padded golf bag by OutdoorMaster is a fan favorite for its affordable price point. The convenient travel golf bag features waterproof and rip-resistant fabric, a U-shaped zipper for easy access and a separate compartment for golf shoes. If you’d rather carry your clubs than wheel them, this bag has a shoulder strap as well as multiple padded handles at the top, at the bottom and around the sides of the bag. It's available in four colors.
Bag Boy's Freestyle Travel Cover is the king of maneuverability, earning praise from McNaughton for how easily it rolls through airports upright. That's thanks to its six-wheel base and relatively lightweight 9.5-pound construction.
At just 11.3 pounds, the Sun Mountain Golf ClubGlider Meridian Club Cover Travel Bag is an excellent lightweight option, with dense foam padding to protect your clubs and retractable legs to keep the bag semi-upright. The heavy-duty bag fits a full set of clubs but also has storage pockets that many reviewers note are spacious enough to fit enough clothes and gear for a weekend trip.
The Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover — another McNaughton favorite — can be packed down into a small cube for easy storage. That's great for when you're not on the road. And when the bag is extended, it provides plenty of protection for your clubs and has two smooth-rolling wheels for easy maneuverability. Plus, it’s lightweight at just 6.8 pounds, making this a great option for your next golf vacation.
This compact golf bag weighs just 3.5 pounds, and while it might not be large enough to fit your whole set, it can fit up to nine clubs — enough drivers or wedges to get by for a trip where you’ll only be hitting a few rounds. The durable bag has plenty of padding to protect your wedges and separate pockets for towels, gloves and golf balls. It can even fit a pair of shoes.
Samsonite is one of the best in the luggage and bags business when it comes to durability and reliability, and this affordable three-piece travel set — a golf bag, duffel and shoe bag — is built with high-quality 600-denier polyester to withstand the wear and tear of air travel. It comes in two colors and features in-line skate wheels for easy pushing or pulling.
The Club Glove Last Bag Collegiate Travel Cover is crafted with Invista Cordura 1,000-denier waterproof nylon and includes the company's Stiff Arm support to keep the bag from folding or being crushed in transit. It’s got two exterior shoe or storage compartments for easy packing for all your golf equipment.
Callaway knows a thing or two about what golfers need, and OGIO knows a lot about luggage — and the OGIO Alpha Travel Cover brings it all together. Crafted from a durable 900-denier polyester body fabric with a built-in skid plate for abrasion protection, the generously sized travel cover will easily fit both your golf bag and enough clothing for a weekend getaway. You’ll have added peace of mind knowing your clubs will arrive protected, thanks to both external and internal compression straps that reduce movement. Plus, a dense foam around the club heads gives you that extra bit of protection.
Looking for a budget-friendly golf travel cover that’ll easily fit your clubs and bag? The Bag Boy T-750 is compact in size but will fit most standard golf bags. It’s made with reinforced corners and a four-sided padded top, meaning your clubs will have the protection they need in transit. Plus, it’s got in-line skate-style wheels for easy rolling through the airport.
The CaddyDaddy Constrictor offers serious padding and structure, thanks to the 1,800-denier fabric construction, making it a great option if you’re worried about hairline scratches that might occur from your clubs banging together in transit. The budget-friendly bag also comes with a one-year warranty for added peace of mind. Reviewers rave about this bag’s value for money, detailing that it exceeded their expectations in terms of protection.
This basic golf travel bag by Athletico offers a no-frills and incognito alternative to more flashy or premium-priced travel golf bags. The design features 5 millimeters of padding that will protect your clubs and golf bag while the variety of built-in straps let you carry your clubs either handheld or as a crossbody bag. The hard vinyl base means that it’s protected from the elements on the ground too. The construction is lightweight, so this one may be a better fit for taking your clubs on a road trip where you can oversee its handling.
The wheeled Partage Golf Travel Bag is one of the top-rated options on this list, thanks to its lightweight design and affordable price point. The bag is heavily padded inside and has both internal and external straps to ensure your clubs don’t slide around while in transit. It also comes with built-in wheels to make navigating through the airport a breeze. As an added feature, it’s also got three pockets where you can store your golf shoes and any extra golf equipment. This bag is also available with an optional support system to help keep your bag in shape and protect your clubs from any dings.
This top-rated golf travel bag from Himal is made from heavy-duty polyester to protect your clubs from nicks and dings, and has soft cushioning and interior straps to minimize movement for your clubs and make the bag more comfortable to carry. Top and side handles and two wheels let you roll or carry the bag.
Stiff arms
McNaughton recommends adding a stiff arm like this one over your tallest club to add shape to the bag and protect your cargo. Bag Boy's Freestyle Travel Cover comes with this stiff arm included, but you can also add it to other soft-shell cases. Just be sure to check the dimensions.
At the same price point, TourTrek offers a similar stiff arm that's a favorite among reviewers. Like the Backbone, it's lightweight so won't add too much weight to your bag.