Ok, I'm looking for opinions on a good travel bag. It will be a long flight from west to east US, than onward to Ireland. I don't want a hard case, because I need the flexibility to put the bag in a small rental car.

I'm currently looking at the Ogio Straight Jacket. Does anyone have any opinions or experiences with it, or can someone recommend something else?

Get a Club Glove Last Bag and be done with it.

I use a Mizuno TB-910M soft bag, and I LOVE it. The Club Gloves are schweeet, but this one is much less Expen$ive, and I've never had any club breakage, due to:

* Use a broomstick or PVC pipe at least 1-2" longer than your driver, for protection against shocks. The broomstick or PVC will take the shock before your shafts will.
* Stick the heads of your woods in the BOTTOM of the golfbag for protection. (grips sticking upward)
* Use ironcovers, if you have forged irons, to reduce the banging and bashing.
* Wrap a large towel (or bubblewrap) in/around your clubheads, to secure them in place.
* Carry a glove, some tees, and balls on your carryon luggage. In case your clubs get lost/stolen, you can still play golf (with rentals) without having to invest in more gloves or balls.

Here are my thoughts on features of travel bags:

* Hard vs. Soft bags - I used to have a hardbag (which does protect your clubs better), but I was VERY frustrated lugging it around, breaking handles/locks, and attempting to squeeze it into small rental cars. I much prefer softcases, which can be folded up if necessary, and are a lot easier to manipulate.
* Insurance - check with your insurance company. Sometimes your homeowner's insurance will insure your clubs, if the airlines won't.
* Color Choices - As with my normal luggage, if possible, I'd rather have a travel bag that is a different color that standard black. This will help you identify your bag easier, and hopefully prevent anyone else from picking up your generic black golf bag.
* Storage - I like softcases with at least 2-3 internal pockets for your accessories, and extras (raingear, shoes, etc.).
* Wheels - are a MUST.

regarding Club Glove.....would the Club Glove Stiff Arm be a worthwhile investment for about $25?

Do any of you folks carry insurance on your equipment? I assume my equipment is covered by my homeowners policy if they're stolen from my home...but what if they're stolen at the course? or from my car?

thanx

You must use a stiff arm.

Also, double check the finished packed weight of your travel bag. You may find yourself with a very expensive surcharge if the weight is over 50 pounds-- the limit used to be 75 pounds.

I use a Mizuno carry bag with the external frame; a Club Glove burstproof with wheels; a stiff arm; and the packing suggestions previously recommended and have had zero problems.

I use the mizuno bag with the straight arm. Both are great products

I use the SKB hardcase. It's just slightly larger than my Nike carry bag so it might be more difficult to get into the rental, but if you can get the carry bag in the hardcase should not be a problem. I'd rather have the clubs intact especially on a "trip of a lifetime." I just loaded it up as I'm leaving for Sun Valley, Idaho tomorrow. If it makes it through security and on to the plane they will likely be fine on arrival.

If I was going overseas I'd probably use FEDEX and take ALL the hassle out of it.


Just checked the Delta webpage re golf clubs.

The softcase requires you to limit the liability of the airline, while no such requirement for the hardcase.

You can take 14 clubs, 1 dozen balls, and 1 pair of shoes. There is no weight or size restrictions.

I might have to pack my cart bag!

Club Glove is the only way to go. About the stiff arm, I never use one, but that's because I wrap towels/hats/jackets...whatever...around the clubs at the top. So the top of the bag feels pretty stuffed/puffy. I can see that without wrapping, the stiff arm would be a must; baggage handlers don't give a F about anything. On my last trip International trip, got to Glasgow and coming out on the baggage carousel was half of someone's suitcase - half! Wide open for all to see was the person's clothes.

Agreed, with the stiff arm.

Looked at a hard case at Golfsmith. BagBoy THC-3 that comes apart in 3 sections that stack inside of themselves. You end up with something about the size of a pickle bucket. Comes in 2 sizes, staff bag size and the next one down. I only go to the East coast once a year and don't want to haul my cart bag so I just bought the BagBoy Hybrid Hcx (haven't traveled with it yet) which is a bag and a travel case. You take the clamshell top off and it's the size of a larger carry bag. I'm too paranoid to go with anything other than a hard case that really looks like it will stay closed.

Best thing ever was my Flambeau but I switched to a metal driver this year so it won't fit.

Club Glove Last Bag or Burst Proof with Wheels are the way to go.

What's the difference between these two bags?

Mizuno bag with stiff arm is my recipe. I have a CGLB, too, but prefer the Mizuno--it just seems to be put together better. Also, It's NOT BLACK and can be easily distinguished from the sea of black CG bags at baggage claim.

The size. The Last Bag is bigger and can hold a staff bag. The Burst Proof is smaller and will hold most stand bags, maybe a small cart bag. IMO is you're considering a Club Glove, go ahead and spend the extra $70 or $80 for the Last Bag. It has 2 shoes pockets with shoe bags. Even if you travel with a stand bag like I do, the Last Bag gives you extra room for accessories, dirty clothes, etc.

I had a couple of different travel bags before the Last Bag and they all pale in comparison IMO.

i'm a burstproof girl. i don't use the stiff arm.....there wasn't a ton of room at the top anyway. but i do wrap the irons with towels to keep the heads a bit safer.

wheels are most def. a must. the clubgloves also come in an infinite array of colors so you don't have to blend in at baggage claim.

and i lurv when it's all over...i can fold it up and toss it in the closet.


worth every penny.

Cant go wrong with the Last Bag with stiff arm. Go to their website and you can customize yours for easy ID!

Stiff arm isn't for club head protection per-se, it's actually to prevent compressive trauma. Say someone drops the bag clubheads first right into the ground (like they would fall off an unattended conveyor belt on a plane), they're going to hit the ground, the grips hit the bottom of the bag and something's got to give. Especially since the longest club in your bag has the longest, lightest, and weakest shaft.

For $30 it's a pretty cheap investment, it's light, and it collapses down for easy storage. I think it's silly not to use one. You may only need it once, but when you do it's well worth it.

I used a club gove last bag, worked perfectly lugging it from the US to London, London to Scotland and back. Another tip, load 1/2 your irons clubhead down (grips up). That keeps the center of gravity much lower and makes it much easier to lug through airports in addition to providing some more protection.

I was reading reviews and someone mentioned that recently the airlines won't cover any club breakage unless it's a complete hardcase? Any truth to that? Probably doesn't matter much if they're almost unbreakable to begin with but good to know. I got the separate article insurance policy anyway so it covers any loss any time.

Club glove will cover any damage by the airlines.

True, and true. Some airlines are sticklers for making you sign the release of liability. On my last two trips with clubs, Delta didn't make me sign anything, but Southwest did. It might also depend on the person checking your bags. If you check curbside and have a nice little tip in your hand when you check in, odds are the release won't be put in front of you to sign. I'm not sure of the legality of the airlines forgetting the release, but with the Club Glove guarantee, your clubs are covered either way.

I picked up the Club Glove Burst Proof and Stiff Arm from Discount Dan's after several recommendations here. I haven't used mine yet (poppin its cherry Labor Day weekend), but I know others who are very happy with the way theirs have held up on trips. When my golfing lady friends fly into town, I drag their clubs through the airport for them (being the gentleman that I am) and the wheels on the BP or smooth and roll really well.

I went with the Burst Proof over the Last Bag because the BP is smaller (If you've got anything other than a carry bag or a small cart bag, you'll need the LB). I didn't want to be hauling the bigger, heavier LB around. Harder to get in smaller trunks, rental cars, hotel closets, etc.

I also didn't want the "extra room" for packing other stuff because of the airline weight restictions for a single bag. (If you've ever been standing at the counter with your bag on an airline scale, which always seems to have their own idea of gravitational weight mesurement, and an agent demanding another $50-$100, you know what I mean.)

Is there an "official" source/link for this? The warranty card seems to imply otherwise. I hope you are right though since I picked up a Burst Proof with Wheels 2 yesterday.

Link to warranty: http://www.clubglove.com/user/warranty.htm

I didn't see anything to that effect either. I bought a BagBoy HCX hybrid and then got worried about the way the handle and hardware are attached (single rivet or bolt) and the velcro straps attachment for the top. Maybe unfounded but I rushed out and bought a Last Bag just before leaving for Myrtle Beach. I like it. Took my large cart bag. Used a stiff arm. I think you'd have to run over it with something to do damage. LOTS of black ones at baggage claim, 1 yellow one, and 1 red one (mine). I flew USAIR. Was not asked to sign a waiver.

I have a large cart bag which had all my usuall junk in it and a box and a half of balls. With my Nike rain suit wrapped around the clubs at the top it weighed 48.5 lbs on the bathroom scale. I had to put my 2 pairs of shoes in my checked bag.

Cadie V-767

Why its the best:
Basically 1/3 the price of a CG
1800 D Coated Nylon
Dual Layer armour plates
Cross bust proof system
20mm inline wheels with steel bearing featuring quite ride
Free TSA lock


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I almost forgot I made this post. Thanks all for responding. I went with the Ogio Monster. My clubs arrived in fine form. Still I had one of those darn homeland security stickers on it, and it was clear they had rummaged through my stuff. Still, thats hardly the fault of Ogio.

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i recomend the bag boy t-10. i bought mine 3 years ago and its made trips from dfw - dulles, dfw - cleveland, and dfw - charleston many many times. if i could get frequently flier miles for it, it would have a free flight. so far, no problems. the hard top protects the clubs really really well and because of the soft sides its light weight and compact. i can fold it to store easily. i have not had any club damage at all. i don't have a stiff arm, but i do need to get one - better safe than sorry. right now i wrap a couple of towels around the clubheads to soften any blows and help with bag chatter.

as for other tips, i recommend packing balls seperately. i got busted on my last flight for being 5 pounds over. i ended up taking some balls out to get under it. don't know how the bag weighted more on the way home then it did on the way out.

What are the dimensions on this one?

I was going to get this one (really liked the hard top design) until I got to the "max 10" bag". I think my cart bag is 10.5", so too tight.

I weighed mine on the bathroom scale before leaving. 3~4 pounds over... moved my 2 pairs of shoes to the check-in suitcase and got down to 48lbs. We did curb side check-in both times and I don't think they weighed the bag. If they did, it was somewhere else and after we were gone.

I was going to go with this one. I waffled too long and had to run to the local Golfsmith to get a Last Bag 2 days before leaving . Turns out they had a preffered player sale going so I signed up and got $50 off which removed the remorse. How fat is it compared to a Last Bag? The literature says it's balanced so it will always stand up. That's one thing about the Last Bag. If you have any weight in the front pockets or your bag oriented that way it won't stand up. At best it will stand up but is on the verge of falling forward.

I think what I really would have liked is the Ogio hard case they don't make any more and can't be found. It was a square shaped thing with a lid on the top. Clubs went into individual tubes with a club head rack at the top cradling each head (not sure if the max cc driver heads now would allow the lid to close). This left the center inside open for pockets and a lot of storage. My preference would be a hard case hybrid but they're either too small or the latches seem like they could pop open or the handles and hardware are mounted with single rivets, etc., etc. sigh...

Just an update. I've now made 2 trips with my BurstProof and Stiff Arm with no problems at all. It's so easy to travel with that I would probably take my clubs even if there was only a small chance that I would be playing golf on the trip

anyone do a comparison of the Club glove Last Bag XXL vs. the Ogio Monster? I'm deciding between those two. I can essentially spend $80 and get the Ogio, but is it worth $80 more to get the Club Glove XXL?

Seems like they both have about the same construction. CG has a self repairing zipper, while the Ogio doesn't. besides that, didn't see much difference in construction. Don't know about the extra pockets though.

I was trying to make the same decision. I was leaning towards the Ogio because it *looks* more padded but then I ran out of time before my trip and just went to the local GolfSmith and picked up a Last Bag (wasn't the XXL but the regular one). One small annoyance with the Last Bag is that it doesn't stand up really solidly. Has a tendency to fall over forward. Of course I loaded my bag with the front pockets towards the front instead of the towards one side as recommended so the center of gravity probably wasn't optimal. If I took my 2 pairs of shoes out of the pockets it would stand up but wasn't really stable. The Ogio literature says theirs is almost guaranteed to stand up? The Ogio looks fancier . and what they say is true... at Myrtle Beach over 2/3 of the bags at luggage pickup were black Last Bags. haha, mine was red with a "NOT YOURS" tag on it. Saw one other Last Bag that was yellow instead of black. A few Ogios but not the monster.

As luck would have it, I have owned both. After I decided my burstproof was too small, I went with the Monster due to its ENORMOUS size. While it protected the clubs fine, it showed serious signs of wear after 2 trips to/from Dallas. Luckily, they took it back under warranty.

I used the store credit to get the XXL and haven't been disappointed in the ClubGlove. Built like a tank.

The Ogio does not have the same construction quality at the seams.

good info...thank you. I went with the Last Bag XXL in green with my name and Club logo on it. Got it from our club. I was impressed with the durability as well.

I know there are a lot of Last Bag and Burst Proof fans out there. But does anyone have experience with the Cargo Golf X2 Hybrid Travel bag?? It has a ton of features and looks great on picture.

http://www.cargogolf.com/cargogolfhybrid.html

Ditto on the Mizuno, Got it free last year after buying a new set of MX-900's They had a deal for either the Travel bag, windbreaker (nice) or something else (can't rememeber). Had planned on getting burst prrof w/ wheels whenever I needed one but free is hard to beat.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I was wondering if a Sun Mountain "Flight" stand bag will fit inside the Club Glove Burst Proof II with wheels. Anyone have any experience with this combination?

Thanks,

Scott