Ok everyone around the world, let's have your thoughts on PING carry bags.

What do you LIKE or DISLIKE about them ?

Your opinions COUNT..........................

I've had the Hoofer, and Hoofer 3. Ping is the only carry bag I will buy, my only complaint is that its hard to fit 14 clubs in them, but with the Hoofer Vantage, I shoudlnt have that problem because the dividers go all the way down.

Ping are the only carry bags to have 2 independent straps. They patented this. According to Ping this better and more evenly distibutes the weight of the bag equally across the shoulders. If you carry Ping is the only bag to have.

I had a Hoofer, Hoofer 2 and now carry a Hoofer 3. I love these bags, very durable (I walk an average of 3 rounds per week) and great performance. I think they have the best leg design and enough pockets to carry the essentials while keeping the weight at a tolerable level.

I haven't switched to the Vantage due to the fact that each person I've seen that has the new "generation" bag (either the extreme or vantage) have had trouble with the material tearing or the legs not collapsing fully. However, I do not see myself switching from the Ping line of carry bags.

Just my opinion and observations . . .

I've had a Hoofer Exteme since December. I have walked 8 rounds so far with it and here are my thoughts:
-straps are, by far, the best part of this bag. Comfort is an understatement.
-dividers are ok. Clubs sometimes still get tangled.
-legs are ok. A lot of people have complained about the legs, but I have had no problems.
-weight is very good.
-storage is adequate, but I could always use a few more.
Overall, this is an excellent bag.

I get mad about how all the PING bags I have had have the linning ripped and make a PW look longer than a 6 iron

But I love the bags and their customer service is excellent

My opinion is completely different. I had a Ping Hooferlight last year(I have heard that this wasn't a very good bag) But it sucked.

1.The stand wouldn't go alway the way down or up at all. I don't like how the thing that makes the legs go out is inside the bag.
2.I don't like the 2 separate straps. I like the 1 complete thing a lot more.
3.It was ment for about 7 clubs I think..not 14 so it made it extremely difficult to fit clubs in there.
4.It didn't have enough pockets(my fault for not realizing this when I bought it)

I did like the weight of the bag at 4lbs. And the material seemed to hold up quite well.

I played roughly 100 rounds last year.

I have a Hoofer Vantage. Here are my comments:
Good - looks sharp, very stable bag when standing, pockets are just right, straps are comfortable, back pad is nice, good weight for carrying, durable fabric
Bad - legs tend to hang down (although I only notice when I am looking for it), water bottle pocket could be a little bigger, not most stable bag on carts, clubs stick a little (but not too bad).

The Moon Lite is excellent in terms of a Sunday bag handling a full set. I would like to see an optional detachable saddle bag added to the basic design as a future upgrade to a fabulous product.

my pros and cons of the Hoofer Vantage are pretty much the same as pkshooter's.

I have been using a PING stand bag, of one type or another, since 1991 and I really like them. I tried a Titlesist (Sun Mtn), and just did not like the way it sat on the ground. It always looked like it was going to fall over, so I sold it. I am currently using a camp Ping Vantage and it rules!

I have had 3 Ping bags and loved them all. The newest one is the Craze Lite. The straps on this one are terrible though. They have adjusting clips, and they constantly change position and the straps never fit the same twice. I have fixed this with a little black duct tape,but they should work better for the money these bags cost. Other than that, the bag works great and is very light.

I third pk's comments........

I've owned lot's of carry bags over the years and am on my 4th Hoofer (original, 2, 3 and now Vantage). Even with the few "quirks", I still think Hoofers are the best. Most of the really annoying problems from the earlier models have been fixed (clubs sticking badly, top organizer not that great) and the design has been improved with the new retractable strap and the back pad. The organizer top is the best it's ever been, but I still think they either need to figure out how to put in a putter well or make the woods section larger. Most people put the putter in the top compartment with the woods and it's still tough to get 3 woods (or 2 woods and a hybrid) AND a putter in there. If Ping could fix that, they'd have the perfect carry bag.

Ping bags are the only bags I've owned for the last 12 years. In my opinion the newer bags suck the they have to many dividers and there to big. The L-8 and the J bag were both good bags. I just think that they have gotten way to big with to many pockets they actually make great light cart bags.

Lawrence

I have had a Hoofer 2 since 1999ish and walk 95% of the time. Nice bag, very durable material, straps are great BUT the clubs get tangled and the legs are hard to deploy at times (and always have been).

This yr, I switched to Nike Sasquatch tour bag and could not be happier. 14 indiv dividers, lots of pockets. Jury still out on durability. It is a little heavier.

PLEASE, just have 4 holes on top... like the old hoofers... I hate all the compartments...

I've used a Hoofer and what I think is a Hoofer2. Great bags. My only complaint, and it's a little one, is that the H2 doesn't have an umbrella loop. I end up sticking my umbrella in with the woods and it's a pain in the neck to get it out of there.

the only thing I can say is bring back the L-8...!!!

- straps are a disaster, I immediately cut them off and put on an Izzo-strap.
- leg system is a disaster, complete failure, does not work.
- bag is HEAVY (Hoofer Vantage).
- quality control is a disaster, bag ops now in Mexico.

here's another post I made in a similar topic about my recent experiences:

don't waste your money on a Ping Hoofer at any price/design, you'll only be disappointed.

I had a Hoofer 3 that the collar wore out on in 30 or so rounds...the internal bolsters that are part of the leg system also just totally disintegrated. (the old collars were heavy felt, starting with this bag they went to a light "mesh" collar)

they replaced it with a Hoofer Extreme, the collar on that one wore out in another 30 rounds, and to boot it had exposed jagged edge rivets in the slot where the graphite shafted woods are stored.

they replaced that one with a Hoofer Vantage, the collar situation is much better but the leg system is a COMPLETE DISASTER...and the bag weighs a TON. same jagged/exposed rivets in wood storage area.

I gave up and went down to the local shop and bought a really light Sun Mountain bag, my brand new Ping just sitting in the basement.

prior to this I've used Ping carry bags for over 20 years with no problems, the last 2 years have convinced me to NEVER buy another Ping bag.

as an FYI, Ping are now making their bags in Mexico and the quality has gone right into the sheetayre.

JD

PS...oh, I left out the part that my parents paid high dollar for the first bag at a major club (hence, the logo) and Ping screwed up the embroidery on two other bags in the course of this process (so that's 5 bags overall shipped back and forth!).

I have caddied for over 4 years and during that time I have carried every bag made. Ping is not the most comfortable. The stand sucks when compared to SunMountain and the wind always nocks them over (it is extremlly windy here on the Oregon coast. I would say that SunMountain is all around the best. With that said I use a Ping Hoofer extreme, because I could get it in white.

I have to disagree. I used to be a PING carry bag person through HS and college. With the L8 (i think that is the name: light weight carry bag, one strap) I put a second strap on it. One of those things you bought at the The Sports Authority and it was a great bag.

Move fwd to the Hoofer and the two strap system and it was horrible. Loved the legs of the bag and all that, but the straps drove me crazy. To teh point were I wanted tp pay the cart fee to ride rather then walk. After 2 years of trying to deal with them I switched over to Titleist. Their strap system is better.

This is a forum that always comes up in various forms....but I always read it because I am a bit too brand loyal and want to carry a Ping bag, but always end up buying something else.

The vantage looks great but I can't get over the strap system. People either love it or hate it. To me the Titleist system is better. It seems to have better balance and I can't seem to "find" the second strap once the bag is on one shoulder. Has anyone had this issue?

I want a white bag and Ping can do that. But yet....I am carrying a Titleist.

Next year is a new bag year (2 years and out). As always I am more confused than ever.

Ping or Sun Mountain/Titleist?

I have the hoofer vantage and with all my clubs mp 67 s300 and towel this is the heaviest bag I have ever had. It is my golf teams bag so I had to use it but its heavier than my taylormade staff bag.
Just my 3 cents

I have used various Ping bags for 11 years up until 3 months ago. I now have two Sun Mountain bags and couldn't be happier.

I am a Ping loyalist, but I've had nothing but issues with their carry bags. The biggest issue for me is that the clubs always get tangled and it is a HUGE source of frustration during a round.

Give Ogio bags a try. Lot of innovative features and they have full length dividers. Many even have separate compartments for a putter and your fairway woods/driver.

The Hoofer Extreme is the worst bag i have ever had! I wouldn't use it to haul rocks, let alone my clubs.

I've had a Hoofer 3 and now the Extreme....and I'm not going to buy a Ping bag again. I have never been more frustrated with clubs getting tangled than with this Extreme bag. I seriously want to throw it into a lake. The full length dividers have all begun to rip away (if not totally already) after only 1.5 seasons. I know there are a lot of Ping faithfuls but I have had nothing but absolute frustration and bad luck with these bags!

I'm a hardcore walker who will walk any course if given the chance. I enjoyed my Hoofer 3 and then switched to the Crazy-Lite last year and love it. No gimmicks, minimum of pockets (3), and simply light. Yes the straps take some getting used to but they work fine. The main thing, its light, like its meant to be. As for all of the separate dividers, just put the clubs in where they belong and you'll do fine. I love the lightness and simplicity.

i have been on and off with ping bags for years. currently i have an extreme and i do get a little frustrated with the legs sometimes. The only major complaint i have is the lining tearding on the bag. I have a 4 way divider so my clubs don't get stuck that often. I hope the next bag ping makes is a light weight under 4.2lbs with the pockets we all desire. Water bottle, ample storage and possilby a range finder pocket. the vantage is just to heavy....

The vantage water bottle holder seems like a cruel joke to me. It hardly holds a twelve oz. can, much less a small gatorade bottle. Now that I think about it, it's kind of heavy too. Certainly an impulse buy I wish I had back.

Anyone using the current Moon Lite bag? I've been considering a Sunday bag for quick 9's.

Never used a moon lite, but if you want a small bag, check out the Sun Mountain mini. I just picked one up to have a lighter bag for the extremely hot weather we get in SC and I'm amazed at how well it performs.