Stylish and functional: discover the best women’s golf bags
Women’s golf bags, unfortunately, are rarely built for women. They’re usually the same bags built for — and marketed toward — men but with pastel colors. Lots of pink. But there have been exceptions in recent years, with some manufacturers building golf bags that are exclusively for women, and some companies, like Titleist, don’t even list bags specifically for women. They just offer a slew of colors in their traditional lineup.
Absent “a bag for women,” this seems the better tactic and a bit more honest. The best bags for women follow many of the same principles that a bag for men would follow, with the notable exception that you might want your bag lighter and shorter than a traditional men’s bag. You might also want more pockets to hold extra items.
A quality golf bag needs to do three things aside from holding your clubs: It should be easy to operate (easy access to your clubs), it should hold a rain jacket or sweater for inclement weather, and it should have a comfortable strap system. Here’s our rundown of the best women’s golf bags on the market.
Top women’s golf bags
Staff favorite: Sun Mountain 2023 Women’s 2.5+ Stand Bag
Best for walking: Titleist Players 4 Carbon
Best hybrid: Titleist Players 5
Best cart: Sun Mountain Stellar Cart Bag
Best premium: Vessel VLX 2.0
Best budget: Datrek Carry Lite Stand Bag
Best Sunday: Stitch MIY SL1 Golf Bag Bundle
Best budget Sunday: Sunday Golf Loma Bag
Best designs: Ogio Woodē 8 Hybrid Bag
How we chose the best golf bags
We researched lightweight bags in all categories, trying to find ones that would suit avid players, who both walk and ride, as well as women who play less frequently. We also paid close attention to customer reviews on various sites. We sought out bags with innovative features and exciting color schemes since most players these days — men and women alike — want to show off a bit more personality with their equipment.
Staff favorite: Sun Mountain 2023 Women’s 2.5+ Stand Bag
Staff favorite: Sun Mountain 2023 Women’s 2.5+ Stand Bag
Benefits
— Lightweight
— Spacious opening and club organizer
— Ideal for walkers
Drawbacks
— Questionable durability
— Same height as a men’s bag
Sun Mountain invented the stand bag as we know it, simply a bag with a two-pronged kickstand. Stand bags are ideal for golfers who like to walk, as well as golfers who take caddies at private clubs and high-end resorts.
The 2.5+ Stand Bag is great because it’s exceptionally lightweight, features an ideal great club organizer, and has a wide 9-inch opening that allows for easy club access. The backpack strap system features high-density foam and is constructed to be wider at the top, where the straps will rest comfortably on the shoulders.
Pockets: 6 | Dividers: 4 | Colors: 4 | Weight: 2.9 lbs.
Best walking: Titleist Players 4 Carbon
Best walking: Titleist Players 4 Carbon
Benefits
— Carbon fiber legs for durability
— Generous ball pocket
— Exterior drink pocket
Drawbacks
— 8-in. opening restricts ease of use
The Players 4 Carbon is a superior bag whose lone drawback of having a smaller opening keeps it from the top spot in the category. Its carbon fiber legs add strength without adding weight, and its velour cuff atop the club dividers helps dampen sound as you walk.
The exterior water bottle pocket is helpful because it doesn’t infringe on storage space, as some models have recently done (essentially making an opening in an existing pocket from the outside). The bag comes in 15 different colorways and is a great choice for walking as well as riding, thanks to its light weight of under 3 pounds.
Pockets: 6 | Dividers: 4 | Colors: 15 | Weight: 2.9 lbs.
Best hybrid: Titleist Players 5
Best hybrid: Titleist Players 5
Benefits
— 9-in. opening
— Expandable apparel pocket
— Weighs less than 5 lbs.
Drawbacks
— Smaller opening than others in the category
— Only 5 full-length dividers
A hybrid bag is best for golfers who ride. Typically, this segment features bags with 14-way dividers — one slot for each club‚ but those bags are often heavier than the Players 5 (and can be prohibitive for carrying when walking).
Caddies also scorn those bags and will likely make you exchange them for one that’s lighter if you’re visiting a top resort. If you like having your own bag when a caddie carries but you often ride, the Players 5 is a better choice than one with 14 club slots, often weighing just over 6 pounds.
The Players 5 has a wide 9-inch opening, making it easy to take your clubs in and out without any issues. It also features abundant external storage space with high-quality zippered pockets. With premium double straps and weighing just under 5 pounds, we can confidently award this the Best Hybrid out there.
Pockets: 7 | Dividers: 5 | Colors: 10 | Weight: 4.3 lbs.
Best cart: Sun Mountain Stellar Cart Bag
Best cart: Sun Mountain Stellar Cart Bag
Benefits
— Weighs under 6 lbs.
— Water-resistant valuables pocket
— Slightly shorter than a men’s bag
Drawbacks
— Lacks storage compared to others
The Stellar is a great choice in this segment because it’s lightweight with plenty of storage, though a bit less than others listed here. You could spend more on a more expensive bag that will have two full-length apparel pockets and more waterproofing elements, but for price and features, this bag is a clear winner with the added benefit of easy maneuverability.
A nifty feature of all Sun Mountain bags is that the brand makes the pockets front-facing for easy access when strapped to a cart. The large 10-inch opening makes pulling and replacing your clubs simple and prevents them from feeling crowded.
Pockets: 11 | Dividers: 14 | Colors: 6 | Weight: 5.6 lbs.
Best premium: Vessel VLX 2.0
Best premium: Vessel VLX 2.0
Benefits
— Self-adjusting straps
— Large pockets with internal organization
— Magnetic rangefinder pocket
Drawbacks
— Heavy if used exclusively as a carry bag
The VLX 2.0 is billed as a “crossover” bag, meaning it’s a hybrid. The brand has lighter bags in its lineup, but the premium fabric of this bag, as well as its leather touchpoints, put it in the premium market. It has a luxe feel, which makes it easy to wipe down after rounds if it gets dirty.
Waterproof zippers and an antimicrobial lining set the bag apart from traditional golf bags and give it a tour-quality feel while still being nimble enough to carry. The bag also features dual garment pockets and an external ball pocket, making everything you need easily accessible and easy to store.
Pockets: 3 external zip pockets, 1 internal lock pocket | Dividers: 4-way top with 3 full-length dividers | Colors: 4 | Weight: 5.2 lbs.
Best budget: Datrek Carry Lite Stand Bag
Best budget: Datrek Carry Lite Stand Bag
Benefits
— Weighs under 4 lbs.
— Plenty of storage
— Affordable
Drawbacks
— Muted color schemes
The Carry Lite Stand Bag is an excellent and affordable choice. Coming in six different color options, it has a four-way divider cuff and full-length dividers for your clubs. It’s a quality bag with excellent durability that should last more than one season. The five zippered pockets include a ball storage compartment with easy access if the bag is carried or strapped to the cart.
Pockets: 5 | Dividers: 4 full-length dividers | Colors: 6 | Weight: 3.9 lbs.
Best Sunday: Stitch MIY SL1 Golf Bag Bundle
Best Sunday: Stitch MIY SL1 Golf Bag Bundle
Benefits
— Customizable
— Removable saddle pockets
— Carries a full set of clubs
Drawbacks
— Heaver than most Sunday bags
— Single strap
Sunday bags are a growing segment meant for walking rounds where you won’t need or want a full set of 14 clubs. Many resorts and even some private clubs have installed par-3 courses, where only wedges and a putter are needed, and these bags are perfect for that. The Stitch MIY SL1 is designed for a full set of clubs but works well in this segment because customers can remove its saddle to decrease its capacity and weight.
Stitch bags offer a premium-grade material that feels more satisfying than nylon. When using the SL1 to carry a full set, it can be hard to pull the club from the bag with its tight construction, and the single strap may not be as comfortable when using it as a regular bag. That said, its dual use and customization feature makes it a great premium pick.
The best part? You can remove and add saddles as you please, allowing you to increase and decrease its weight.
Pockets: 2 (with saddle) | Dividers: 1 | Colors: 2 | Weight: 3.6 lbs.
Best budget Sunday: Sunday Golf Loma Bag
Best budget Sunday: Sunday Golf Loma Bag
Benefits
— Lightest option on this list
— Stylish and affordable
— Easy handle for maneuvering
Drawbacks
— Can become unbalanced with too many clubs
Sunday Golf has capitalized on the proliferation of par-3 courses and players who like to use half sets of their clubs, holding up to six. The lightweight bag is a great alternative to a traditional golf bag for those engaged in the latter, requiring more shotmaking skills and imagination.
The Loma offers plenty of pockets for storage, including an insulated cooler pocket and elastic slots for tees and a pencil. The bag can become unbalanced with too much weight, so be careful about overloading it.
Pockets: 4 | Dividers: 1 | Colors: 11 | Weight: <2 lbs.
Best designs: Ogio Woodē 8 Hybrid Bag
Best designs: Ogio Woodē 8 Hybrid Bag
Benefits
— Funky and colorful designs
— Rain cover included
— More durable material than its predecessor
Drawbacks
— Heavy to carry
The Woodē 8 Hybrid Bag has plenty of storage space, with nine front-facing pockets and eight dividers to separate your woods from your irons. But best of all, it comes in 12 different funky colors and designs, from “Purple Passion,” a purple-ish-pink, yellow, and orange combo, to “Bananarama,” a bright turquoise with yellow banana graphics.
If you’re looking for something a little more subtle, you can find satisfaction in the dark blue and navy pattern, the solid black color, or the grayish-brown combo. Whatever your taste, Ogio has a bag for you.
At 5.6 pounds, it’s definitely on the heavier side compared to the other bags on our list, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck with the included rain cover, umbrella holder, velcro glove patch, towel loop, pen holder, and more. Not to mention, it features a closed-cell foam molded double strap with a self-balancing strap system to make carrying a tad bit more manageable.
Pockets: 9 | Dividers: 8 | Colors: 12 | Weight: 5.6 lbs.
The best golf bags aren’t made for a gender
Golf bags can be very personal choices, depending on your needs and style preferences. We leaned on lighter bags for this roundup, but many people utilize golf carts, and if you’re a rider, a heavier bag may be better. For walkers, though, the lighter weight makes a big difference when finishing up those last three holes on a summer afternoon.
Bags without legs have enjoyed a popular renaissance in some circles, but caddies often dislike them, so if you’re playing a nice club or resort and taking a caddie, give them a bag with legs. Garment pockets are important in potentially bad weather or early morning rounds where you’re wearing extra. You don’t want your bag to feel overstuffed, making it hard to get anything from it, including your clubs. If you don’t need all 14 clubs, don’t carry 14.
How to pick the right bag for you
First, assess how much you walk versus how much you ride. Then, consider how often you want to pay and if the bag’s style is important to you. You want a bag that’s easy to get your clubs in and out of, as smaller openings can be harder to manage. Here are the essential factors to consider.
Price
Golf bags feature many more features and better materials these days, and the high cost of bags reflect this. If you’re an avid golfer, purchase a bag with more durable material like high-grade nylon or ripstop fabric. Premium bags, like those from Vessel and Stitch, are also made from water- and tear-resistant fabric.
Comfort
Even if you’re not carrying your bag for 18 holes, it needs to be comfortable. The straps shouldn’t dig into your shoulders. A good rule of thumb to abide by is the wider the straps are, the more they’ll evenly distribute the weight on your bag. Even a heavier bag with wide shoulder straps will feel better than a lighter bag with narrow straps.
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