In my months long search for the perfect golf bag, I was disappointed to realize that there is no perfect bag. I narrowed my search to the Sun Mountain MPB, Sun Mountain Four 5, and Nike Sasquatch Tour but none of them had all the features I wanted. If it were up to you, what features would you have on your perfect golf bag? Sky's the limit here...

For me:
- 14-way top with full length divider system
- Stand
- Separate putter well
- Handle at the top of the bag (a la Sun Mountain)
- Retractable strap (a la Ping bags)
- Plenty of pockets
- Insulated cooler pocket that can fit at least two 20-oz gatorades
- Durable materials/construction but still reasonably lightweight

FYI, I finally settled on a Sun Mountain Four 5 but it is far from being the perfect bag (for me at least)...

I would add to that a trunk handle in the middle of the bag.

Yep, forgot about that one - we can so easily take that handle for granted.. until it's taken away from you (e.g. Sun Mountain MPB).

+1

I'd love to find one...

For me, there is no perfect bag as what makes a great cart bag (rigidity, stableness, and a secret feature yet to be marketed), makes for a lousy stand bag.

I will add to the features that have been posted, that it be easy to clean (materials that can be wiped down with a wet cloth and will not easily embed dirt in the fabric or a bunch of nooks and crannies).

Cooler pockets are useless to me as I freeze (or partially freeze) my beverages before the round.

My home course is quite mountainous and doesn't even allow walking, nor could I walk it if they did, so the perfect cart bag would be my number one choice, and I'd love to see that secret feature (mentioned earlier) implemented but do not have the funds to bring it to market myself.

My favorite to date is the (now discontinued) TM Monaco Cart Bag.

How about a cart bag with a stand? That's what I want. Sun Mountain had the right idea with the MPB but in my opinion, it's poorly executed.

I'm going through the exact same search at the moment and have gotten it down to the same three. I almost always ride when playing but go to the range at least twice a week so a stand bag that fits a cart well is my goal. I like the MPB except for the fact that the putter tube goes right through the two front pockets. Oh, and the color options are pretty bland.

For looks alone, I like the Cobra GT white/yellow or the custom shop white Ping Hoofer but both lack a lot in the way of features.

I'm almost considering getting a cart bag and keeping my old Wilson stand bag for the range sessions.

I originally purchased the MPB but later exchanged it for the Four 5. I HATED how the putter tube took up practically all the space of the two front pockets, rendering one of them practically useless. I also hated the lack of a trunk handle - made it very difficult to load in and out of the car. And lastly, both Sun Mountain bags need to be maneuvered a bit (and in some cases, a lot) for it to fit on a riding cart the "right" way. The last point I don't mind so much which is why I finally decided on the Four 5. The design of the Nike Sasquatch Tour was just too flashy for me.

On a side note, I think the Cleveland CEO cart bag looks really nice. If only they put legs on that thing...

14 way dividers and a putter well add so much unnecessary bulk. I really don't understand why so many people want this in a bag. Perhaps someone could educate me?

I didn't think I'd be a fan of the 14-way top until I tried it. You eliminate grip tangle by having this system. The Four5 despite having this divider system is still very light (4.5 pounds). The reason i want a putter well is that my putter cover kind of 'sits' on one of the slots (rather than fall all the way through). Also, since I use a Jumbo Winn grip, my putter can only fit in two of the 14 slots (at least on the Sun Mountain bags).

I really like the putter well on the Titleist premium bags which is incorporated into the main bag (rather than having an isolated putter well that is attached to the outside of the bag like the MPB).

I'm pretty particular about the features that I like and I've come to realize that there is no perfect bag out there for everyone. Each of us have our individual preferences that suit our playing habits and equipment..

My stand bag is only 3 pounds... just a nylon shell around a bottom and a six-way top, connected by a couple of fiberglass rods. It doesn't have the structural rigidity nor the stable bottom to be a good cart bag. That's why I have two. IMHO, you will not find a bag that walks and rides as well as either one of them should.

What are y'all putting in the 14th divider if you are also using the putter well?

I think that 6 full length dividers would be almost ideal. Less weight and 2-3 clubs per opening should equal minimal grip tangle. Also, I don't think a cooler pocket would be ideal, it would just make me carry more water/gatorade which would in turn make the bag heavier. I would just rather refill my water bottle on the course every 3-4 holes.

For the brief period I owned the SM MPB, I kept my driveway marker sticks (alignment aids) in there. But I've heard people use it to carry.. ahem... an extra club.

Good point on the cooler pocket. But for those that ride more often than they walk, a cooler pocket comes in pretty handy. I personally freeze 2-3 gatorades before each round and use the apparel pocket to store them. This results in my pullover getting wet due to the sweat from the frozen bottles.

I love my grip lok bag boy. No club rattles ever. Too bad they quit making them, the clip lok is a poor substitute. I guess they got tired of replacing the tops.

I will try a Bennington organizer next.

I've never seen that. Let us know what you think.

I'd like to know if the newer clip loks work better than the original model. My grip lok doesn't allow clubs to move, even in the trunk, it is a bit hard on the butt of the grips though. My wife's clip lok doesn't hold the clubs firmly enough to prevent rattles. Bennington looks like it would work on a cart but not at all in the trunk.

This bag is still inline for TaylorMade. They have changes the material a bit to make it lighter and cheaper. It is called the Monaco SL.

I have 3 bags at home and all are close but alas non are perfect.

Nike Tour sasquatch -looks the best, sturdy, tons of pockts, nice straps, ..... Too heavy and putter doesnt fit right in one of the slots. Biggest flaw - no handle on top - what a pain in the a** trying to take it off your back with no handle.

Titlesit Premium Bag - Great bag. Nice material, hate the top ... Give me a putter well or atleast 14 dividers and its perfect. HANDLE on top !!

Sun Mountain 4.5 - Almost perfect - light but the material sucks. Doesn't look as "Classy" as the Titleist. 14 divider system is better than the nikes. - Handle on TOp!

Give me the following - The looks of the Titlesit Bag, The top of the sunmoutain bag (but with a bigger and HIGHER well for the putter) and the sturdyness of the NIke Bag and I'll pay 300 bucks for it.

++1 Exactly! Why is that so hard?!

I agree, but be sure and shorten that flange at the bottom so us riders can fit it into the cart properly!

That's another confounding thing about the Sun Mountain (and Titleist) stand bag design. Even if you prefer to walk most of the time, some courses will require you to ride and it is beyond me why they would devise a flange that doesn't fit on a cart.

got the sunmountain 4-5. 1 thing missing... strap over thing to hold a towel or jacket on the outside of the bag instead of having to put it in a pocket. old nikent bag had it, really liked it.

That's the thing...we all have our different needs in a golf bag.

I am an 80% walker, 10% Push Cart (when temps are over 90%), 10% Riding Cart (when I am forced to).

I have a walking bag (Sun Mountain Swift X) that I love on my back, but is awful when riding. I purchased a Ping Freestyle in White for when I push or ride. Light enough to get in and out of the car (as opposed to my White Ping Staff Bag), but sturdy enough to hold up on the cart and keep clubs separated.

Unless you ride 100%, there is no correct answer.

FWIW
Patrick

My perfect bag would be to bring back the Ping "J" bag they made in the early 2000's. The one with the velour dividers. That was one great bag, and the price was reasonable. Now Ping is in to all of this goofy retractable strap crap, narrower "stance" on the legs, dividers that aren't soft and chew at graphite shafts, etc.

If they still made those, in up-to-date colors, I'd pay $175-$200 for one.

the TM TMX stand bag is pretty solid but when you have a full arsenal of your 14 clubs in it, it can be quite the load if you walk.

Looking for perfection in just about any item is a waste of time. Perfection evolves around idealistic desires that have nothing to do with production and marketing costs or the limited market perfection addresses which increases price.

My current Titleist X-67 bags (I have two) are about as close to perfect as they get... while being tough as nails.

what the hell are you talking about?

Could you possibly post pictures of your Swift X and how you arrange it? I just ordered a white one to replace the Titleist Sunday bag I had for one round. I'm thinking it'll be awesome for walking.

I'm going to try the bagboy revolver pro. It has everything you describe except the stand. I'm a push/pull cart guy. The cooler even comes off of the front. The 14 individual dividers clip loc your clubs, and the top rotates for easy access to the clubs. It even has two putter well sleeves.

I found it...maybe a little heavy, but I think I found it. If they will put a stand on the Sun Mountain LCB (not their standard flange mechanism stand), it would be perfect!

Yep, I agree. My buddy has the Titliest lightweight cart bag which looks pretty identical to the SM LCB and I thought that if they added a cart-friendly stand on that thing, it would be PERFECT.

I think I have just solved this dilemna. I bought a Sun Mountain four5 for carrying and vacations and I today bought the new POWAKADDY DELUXE II cart bag which is awesome:

link: http://www.powakaddy.co.uk/products/golf-bags/

i'm really picky about bags as well and i've found the perfect one....only problem, hard to find.
i really like the black bennington Light quiet organizer 2009.
i have the 2008 and my only two complaints were, stand was crappy and no putter scabbard.
the 2009 fixed both. now all i got to do is find a black one.

Aston,

What is the Powacaddy(sp?) bag made of? Is it cloth or is it similar to staff bags. I am wondering because I currently have a Sun Mountain C-130 bag which I use on a V2 push cart. That bag really seems like it would be better than my C-130.

my perfect bag would weigh about 2 lbs and had only 3 pockets, but it would still be full sized with 2 straps and a little cooler. this would be perfect for all my jr. tourneys.

I have the Ogio Grom, thinking that it would be perfect for both walking and riding.

It's a nice bag, but heavier than I'd like for walking, and while the 'woods organizer' is nice, the other clubs still get jumbled, in their respective dividers, and the putter tube seems unnecessarily large.

I don't see how one can get around owning 2 bags.

Use a cart bag with a push cart for walking...the only time I do not use my cart bag is for traveling...I have a carry bag for that because sometimes I do walk on vacation

Sun Mountain MPB

I still use the PING L8 bag from my junior golf days (I'm 29 now). I haven't payed much attention to golf bag evolution since then and I'm kinda surprised that PING doesn't seem to be getting much love. I guess I'm a little behind the times b/c I've always liked the way the PING Hoofer looks.

Ryan

Do you live in the U.S.? How much did this bag set you back? And how is the external putter bay on this bag?

just got the sun mountain h2o tech. 6 way top superlite and water proof.

hacker1...I was wondering the same thing. I have been looking for this bag in the US and I cannot find it. I really would like to find more info about it.

Give me a combination of the Ogio Grom and SM 4.5 and it would be perfect for me (carry 90% of time).

Ogio club management: I carry a 3 wood and 2 hybrids. I also have a jumbo putter grip. So the top is perfect!
Other Grom niceties: scorecard and pencil holder, zipperless ball pocket, lift handle, bungee towel holder, torq strap for cart use, bombproof build

Add the following SM 4.5 features:
The lighter Weight!: one thing I would get rid of on the Ogio to save weight is the external ball dispenser
Top handle (I know the Grom has one also, but SM's is better)
SM Legs and feet (better than Ogio)
Carrying strap (again, the Grom's is ok, but the SM one is better)

Has anyone out there hard of the Powakaddy golf bag? Still trying to find out any info. Currently using the C-130 by Sun Mountain...very good bag but not even water resistant. The Powa kaddy bag looks like it is made of a more rigid material according to the pics on their web site www.powakaddy.com , but I still would like to know more about the bag from someone who either has one or seen one....

Thanks....

This is the only store in the U.S. that I could find having anything to do with a Powakaddy. Here is the contact info. Maybe they can enlighten you. It will be a while before I can get another bag, but please post what you find out about the Powakaddy.
Great Golf Deals, Inc.
Telephone/Internet Sales Dept.
5836 Lakeview Dr. Suite 100
Orchard Lake, MI 48323
866-524-0393 - 248-706-3032 - Fax 248-706-3034

The 14th pocket is for your ball retriever, of course!

The PERFECT bag...and the ONLY one you'll ever need
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pm sent.

Try the Cleveland V14 Cart Bag. Had mine a month and can not fault it.

Big
Stands on its own(no need for stand)
External Putter
Million big pockets
Great material
Classy look
14 Divider(use spare slot for ball retriever!)
Trunk carry handle

Real user friendly.