I Tried It: What sets this ultra-luxe cart bag apart? The little things

Even though Arizona tends to be the land of cart golf, when I tried a push cart a few years ago, I liked it so much that I resolved to make walking a more regular part of my routine.

Fast-forward to the present day, though, and I’m playing the majority of my golf in the summer season, when prices are low and deals abound. Summer golf in Phoenix spans from May to October, which also means that temps are generally already in the 90s when you tee off. Needless to say, walking isn’t as alluring for me during this time of year.

Accessories

I tell you all this as an intro to the subject of bags — and cart bags, specifically. Designed especially for use on a cart, cart bags have never been priority category for me, which is ironic because I spend so much time riding in one. Maybe it’s a holdover from my junior golf days, when I really was walking all the time, but even as an adult, I always looked for carry bags with stands — despite the fact that it’s been nearly 20 years since I hefted a golf bag on my shoulder.

What could I gain from pivoting to a cart bag for my cart golf? I found out with an ultra-luxe model: The Vessel Lux Pro Carbon Cart.

The Lux Pro Carbon Cart and its sibling, the Player V Pro Carbon (a stand bag), were released earlier this year in celebration of Vessel’s 13th anniversary. The two bags looks just like their predecessors, the Lux Pro Cart and Player V Pro, save for one important distinction: the addition of Carbitex’s patented OmniFlex textile, which not only gives the bag a unique look and feel, but also lightweight durability meant to last for years. And at an eye-popping retail price of $1,999, that’s exactly what you’re buying into with the Lux Pro Carbon Cart: a bag that will last for decades.

Vessel Lux Pro Carbon Cart

A utility-driven cart bag mindfully crafted for optimal performance on a golf cart or trolley.

$1,999 from Vessel

Vessel Lux Pro Carbon Cart standout features

The bag is as beautiful as you would expect, with an attractive combination of Tour-grade synthetic leather and carbon fiber. It’s striking straight out of the box — heavy-ish, but not too unwieldy, at 8.4 lbs.

15-way top

The 15-way top includes a velour-lined putter well and full-length dividers — not a feature I thought I would like very much, and turns out I really, really do. There is minimal clanking, and an immediate visual of all your sticks in their rightful place. The putter well, especially, deserves recognition. I’ve tested several bags that swallow up my shorter-than-standard putter, resulting in me fishing around for the mallet head and trying to pry it out at every green. The Lux Pro Carbon Cart presented no such problems. The opening is wide, and the height is perfect, making my flatstick easily accessible throughout the round.

Cart strap pass-through

Other winning details include a cart strap pass-through tunnel, which enables the bag to fit snugly and securely to the back of the cart without the strap impeding on any pockets. It’s honestly amazing how much this helps. I’ve had plenty of bags tumble off the back of the cart over the years — and even watched it happen to the man playing as a single ahead of me during one of my test rounds. But between the strap tunnel and the bag’s base, this bag wasn’t budging. Special bracket straps also enable this bag to be used securely on a push cart or trolley.

Magnetic pockets

Magnetic pockets are simply some of the best inventions of all time. That’s a bit of hyperbole, but it’s true. Magnets trump zippers in my book. There are several incredibly roomy magnetic pockets on this bag, with a strong magnet that snaps easily in place but is also easily lifted. There’s also a magnetic pocket that fits over the cart strap tunnel — another thoughtful feature.

So many total pockets!

This bag is an organized golfer’s dream, with 15 total exterior pockets, including garment storage, a velour-lined accessories pocket and an insulated cooler pocket, complete with drainage.

This bag is designed with so many features I haven’t even used them all yet. But I have a deep appreciation for the thoughtfulness behind each one, and the bag’s careful construction. At this price point, it’s certainly not for everyone. But as an investment piece of equipment, the Lux Pro Carbon Cart possesses both form and function, and is a bag designed to be enjoyed for years.