Best Golf Travel Bags 2025

Playing golf in foreign countries is a true joy, but it involves successfully getting your clubs (and yourself) there in one piece. It doesn't sound too difficult, but once your bag hits that conveyer and leaves your vision the rest is out of your control... or is it? Getting a travel bag you know will give your clubs the best chance of arrived at your desired destination in one piece is far from the sexiest golfing purchase, but it could be one of the most important you ever make.

Lots of things can go wrong during travels - your bag could get mishandled and lead to clubs being damaged. It could end up in the wrong airport or worse, your airline could completely lose track of your bag. It's easy to think "yeah, that won't happen to me"... until it does. Golf Monthly staff member Conor Keenan caddied for over a decade at Royal County Down and as I wrote this piece he told me that "if I had £1 for every visitor who turned up with no luggage, I'd be a rich man".

The best golf travel bags offer some reassurance that your clubs will arrive at your destination safely. But what makes a good bag?

Naturally they need to be robust enough to protect your clubs from the rigors of travel, whether it's by aeroplane, train or car. Look for strong and durable materials as well as a solid construction and enough padding to keep your new TaylorMade Qi35 driver or favorite Scotty Cameron putter safe from harm.

An effective golf travel bag or cover also needs to be portable, with good maneuverability so you can navigate the airport or train station without pulling your hair out or straining your back. Strong, well-positioned wheels are the best way to ensure the bag is easy to move around, while carry handles are also an area that shouldn’t be overlooked. Overall weight is important too, as your golf bag might already be fairly heavy and you don’t want the travel cover to be adding too many additional grams or ounces to the mix.

We’ve tested a range of travel bags, taking them on golfing trips both long and short, to assess whether they are up to the task. We’ve chosen our favorites here, selected for a range of factors that should help you to make an informed choice about the right bag for you.

The Quick List

Best Golf Travel Bags

Top pick

The VIP II Premium cover from MacGregor gets our vote as the best all-rounder due to it comfortably ticking all the boxes. Firstly it’s just well-made, using durable fabrics throughout. Then there’s the high level of protection it offers, including additional padding at the top of the cover, which helps to keep the club heads particularly safe. We also appreciated the internal support strap that keeps your bag in place - a bag that can move around inside the travel cover is more prone to result in damaged clubs than one that’s held secure.

The features continue, and again we appreciated the inclusion of some external straps that essentially ensure that the cover can’t open during transit. There’s also a lockable dual zipper too for further peace of mind.

A functional travel bag needs to offer plenty of room, too. And the VIP II does just that. We could comfortably fit not just our golf bag inside but also clothing and shoes too. Not only does it mean you’ll have more room in your suitcase, but given the cost of many of the best golf shoes, it’s reassuring to know that they are being well-looked after alongside your clubs. And the icing on the cake? This Macgregor bag is far from the most expensive reviewed here.

• Read our full MacGregor VIP II Travel Cover Review

Best with wheels

As the name suggests, the ClubGlider from golf bag stalwarts Sun Mountain is aimed at making navigating airports just a little easier. It boasts a clever integrated leg that simply pops out to give the bag additional support - ideal if you're also carrying a suitcase and backpack. Together with the two wheels fitted to the base of the bag, you have a four-wheeled cover that can ‘glide’ around with relative ease.

And in practice it works well. We appreciated just how easy the bag was to pull as well as the sturdiness of the wheels. They are areas that are prone to damage but both the fixed and retractable wheels look sturdy enough. Similarly the padding used is also of a reassuringly good quality. We like how it was particularly thick at the top of the bag, helping to protect the club heads from damage.

We found there was plenty of room in the bag, and there’s the added bonus of two internal support straps to keep all the contents in place. Additionally there are two large outside pockets located on either side of the bag, spacious enough to hold rainwear, golf shoes and accessories.

• Read our full Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover Review

Best premium

There is plenty to love about Vessel's 2.0 travel case, but I will try my best to summarize as precisely as I can.

Firstly, it does the job it's supposed to do, and some. Golf trips can be ruined instantly when you see your bag has broken, ripped or the clubs inside have been damaged during travel. Not only does this case do the basics, such as giving your clubs very good protection – it makes a powerful statement as you glide through the airport and hotel lobby. You can be sure that your clubs aren’t going to get damaged with a 360-degree, thick-padded top and a reinforced protective panel looking after them.

The ballistic nylon material used for this bag makes blemishes and any wear and tear on your bag barely noticeable, which is especially impressive considering how poorly some baggage is treated at airports.

The wheel system used here is also second-to-none and makes maneuvering through airports a piece of cake. The three leather-lined grab handles, compression straps and buckles all fulfill a job and help reduce unnecessary bulk, but they also look very smart. Lastly, the storage on offer here is superb and we doubt even the heaviest of packers will be struggling to fit their luggage in here. The quality is reflected in the price - this bag will set you back $399, but can you put a price on the peace of mind knowing your clubs are protected as you travel?

• Read our full Vessel Golf Travel Case 2.0 Review

Best padding

You’ll likely know Motocaddy as makers of some of the best electric golf trolleys and best golf cart bags. We’ve always rated them highly so had high expectations for its Flightsafe cover.

And it delivered. The level of protection is among the best we’ve seen, using a combination of hard wearing nylon fabrics and ample padding, located in all the right areas. Then there’s the inclusion of six wheels, all fitted to the base. We found that they made it a breeze to move the bag around, even in a busy airport.

Perhaps its best feature though is the overall size of the bag. It finds the sweet spot between being too big and unwieldy and too small to hold a full-size golf bag - and we found we still had room for some extras, like clothing and shoes. Once you’ve placed your bag inside the Motocaddy cover there are two adjustable internal straps to help prevent it from moving around in transit, and further external straps for a proper ‘belt and braces’ approach to club security. It also packs away easily too, making for easy storage when not in use.

The only possible downside to the Flightsafe cover is that it’s only available in black. While this looks classy it does make spotting it on the airport carousel a little tricky.

• Read our full Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover Review

Best for airlines

If you’re flying regularly with your clubs, then T-660 from BagBoy would be our recommendation.

It’s such a practical bag for frequent travelers, starting with the full wraparound zipper that enables the front of the case to open entirely - from here you just place your golf bag inside, with no faff or fuss. Similarly, once you’re at your destination it’s a cinch to remove your golf bag from the travel cover. And it has the added advantage of being packable, meaning that it doesn’t take up too much space when it's not in use.

There’s more to like, too. We appreciated the attention to detail that features across the bag, from the reinforced corners to the skid bars and plate. Combined with the quality construction and materials, it adds up to plenty of protection, giving you peace of mind that your clubs will arrive without damage.

The bag is easy to maneuver thanks to a set of inline wheels, while there’s also a spacious front pocket that can be used to hold your rain jacket and trousers, as well as additional clothing and shoes. The fact that it won’t break the bank only makes the BagBoy more appealing.

• Read our full Bag Boy T-660 Travel Cover Review

Best hard case

If you’ve played golf for a while there’s a good chance you’ll have owned or at least come in contact with one of the best Sun Mountain golf bags . Their popularity is well-earned and so it came with little surprise that the Kube travel cover performed so well.

It’s certainly an interesting and innovative design. Based around a hard-case shell that can be folded away, it delivers great protection for your clubs while still being easy to store when it’s not being used. Alongside the case there's a reinforced padded area at the top of the bag as well as both internal and external straps to prevent the bag from moving around and inadvertently damaging your clubs.

The bag benefits from having external wheels and we found this really made the bag easy to maneuver, aided by the fact that at 3.08kg/6.6lbs it’s one of the lighter bags reviewed here. Add in a sturdy carrying handle and you have a well-designed and robust bag that’s certainly fit for purpose.

Best budget

If you travel with your clubs on just the odd occasion it’s unlikely that you want to spend a fortune on a travel bag. If that’s the case, this affordable offering from Ram is likely a good fit for your needs.

But despite the lower cost, the quality remains high. The cover is made largely of a ripstop fabric that proved to be sturdy during our travels. There’s also a good level of protection here too, with additional passing around the club head alongside an internal strap that secures your golf bag in place.

We were left equally impressed by the amount of storage on offer. While the main compartment is spacious enough to house a range of golf bag sizes, there are also external pockets that can be used to hold clothing, shoes and other on-course accessories, helping to keep all your golf gear in one place and make a little extra room in your suitcase or carry-on bag.

• Read our full Ram FX Golf Travel Cover Review

Best durability

The Players Travel Cover from Titleist proved to be a great travel companion. We appreciated how easy it was to move around. Equipped with a large carry handle and two wheels located on the base, it was straightforward to lift in and out of a taxi and well as onto a carousel, while navigating the airport terminal was just as simple.

We found that it stood up to the rigors of travel well, too. Invariably a travel cover will take a bit of bashing, even if you and the baggage handlers are being careful. After a few trips our bag remained intact, largely thanks to the robust outer fabric. The internal protection is ample, further aided by a strap to secure your golf bag in place. The overall dimension means that this cover will hold larger bags, such as one of the best golf cart bags, without issues, while providing plenty of additional space if you're using a smaller carry bag.

Finally the classic looks should appeal to many, especially if you play with some of the best Titleist irons.

• Read our full Titleist Players Travel Cover Review

Best color choice

Ogio golf bags are known for being colorful, with an array of shades and patterns on offer. And its Alpha Travel Cover is no different. Our review bag came in an eye-catching blue striped colorway, called ‘Warp Speed’ that made it impossible not to spot at the luggage carousel.

But of course a functional travel bag needs to be more than just striking in looks. And fortunately the Ogio proved to be an impressive performer. Despite it being one of the heavier bags we’ve reviewed in practice it didn;t feel this way in use. We took multiple trip with the bag and each time found it easy to lift and to maneuver. The latter is aided by two well-placed wheels and a sturdy strap that allows you to pull it around without issue. Durability is improved thanks to the inclusion of a skid plate that protects the base of the bag.

As for your clubs, they are well looked after too, with a decent amount of internal padding around the club heads and a couple of straps to hold the bag in place.

• Read our full Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid Review

Specifications table

How we test

To test golf travel bags we ensure that we take them on some actual trips, allowing us to see how they stand up to the rigors of real world travel. We evaluate them for quality, ease of use and other factors such as size and additional pockets.

At Golf Monthly we're fortunate to be able to jet off around the world on press trips and thus get the chance to throughly test out each bag in this guide. Because the fact the vast majority of us are golf-mad, we also take said bags on pleasure trips as opposed to solely work trips!

It’s a comprehensive approach that we apply to all our reviews. Whether it’s clubs, tech or clothing, we test them over time, trying them in different conditions so we can best assess their performance. And we should point out that brands can never pay for a good review, rather our conclusions are based on our own testing and experiences, which makes us a trusted source when it comes time for you to start shopping for some new golf equipment.

How to travel with golf clubs

Traveling can be a stressful experience, and that even without lugging your precious golf clubs around with you! Here are a few tips to make your travels (hopefully) that little bit easier...

1. Get a good travel bag

There are tips on how to pick the right travel bag for your adventures below, but we'd implore you not to try and skip corners. I saw a man carrying his golf clubs in a cardboard box to the airport not so long ago and I'm not joking. As you can imagine, his three friends had confused looks on their faces as they held their travel bags behind them. Getting a cheap travel bag or opting for a makeshift option only heightens the chances of your clubs getting damaged or broken which could ruin your trip. Don't cut corners and look after your clubs!

2. Make your bag recognizable

I'm lucky that I have my golf club crest etched onto the side of my travel bag so I know how to identify it. If you're bag is a generic black one, don't fear - it's easy to make it stand out from the crowd. Add a bright piece of ribbon or string to the handle to differentiate it from other bags on the conveyer belt, like a pink or yellow bow.

3. Add your contact information to the bag

With most golf travel bags there will be a little slip where you can insert a piece of paper. Add your name, phone number and email address to said paper and slide it in so you can be contacted if, god forbid, your bag ends up in the wrong place.

4. Protect your golf clubs

This sounds relatively simple but there are easy ways to give your clubs the best chance on making it through the airport unscathed. Firstly, make sure every club has been inserted into your golf bag. Some of us like to chop and change our golf clubs and could well bring more than 14 clubs with us on our trip, don't leave the spare clubs on the outside of the bag or they'll be more likely to be damaged than those inside it.

I'd also recommend using clothing, towels, or similar to wrap tightly around the clubheads, keeping them in place within the flight bag. Yes, the best travel bags have natural padding around the areas where the heads of your longer clubs will be, but you can never give them too much protection.

5. Give yourself plenty of time to check them in

Travel becomes a hell of a lot more stressful when you're tight for time. Due to the fact you're checking in your travel case and they're a rather large bag, it will likely have to be sent to the oversized baggage rather than going straight through with regular luggage.Give yourself at least an extra 10 minutes or so for this.

6. Get a tracking device for your travel bag

I think this one can apply to any sort of travel, whether your jetting off for sun, snow or golf, having a tracking device in your bag and being able to see exactly where it is can prove invaluable if the worst was to happen and the airline lose track of your bag. Getting off the plane at your desired destination and checking your phone to see that your baggage did indeed make it with you is the ultimate stress reliever.

How to choose a golf travel bag

To help you choose the right cover for your needs, we've outlined some things for you to think about before you buy.

1. Strength/durability/materials

Travel bags can take a real beating, especially over time. They also need to continue to protect your clubs. Both factors mean that the choice of material, the bag’s construction and the thickness and placement of the foam padding is vital. We’d also advise to look for extras, such as external and internal straps that hold your golf bag in place, skid plates for added protection and wheels that look like they can stand up to be dragged around an airport.

2. Maneuverability

Those aforementioned wheels are crucial to just how easy the bag will be to maneuver. If you know you’ll be navigating one airport after another, look for a bag with three or even for wheels. If you’re traveling less frequently on shorter journeys by train or car, then the two-wheel options should suffice.

3. Weight

The best travel bags are light enough to ensure you can move and carry them comfortably without sacrificing on strength. If you’re worried about the overall weight, it might be worth investing in one of the best lightweight golf bags to pair with your new travel cover.

4. Warranty

This is definitely a factor to consider if, god forbid, your clubs and golf gear are damaged or broken. We would recommend checking with retailers and manufacturers themselves to see how long they offer on warranties. Obviously the longer the warranty the better!

5. Budget

This can be a tricky one so you should think long and hard about how much you want to spend on a golf travel bag. You may not want to spend much as it's not something you will use very often, but we do not think this is an area to compromise on given how important it is to prevent your clubs getting damaged. Nevertheless, there are good models that don't have to cost an arm and a leg as you can see above. For more advice on the best golf bags on the market, take a look at our guides to the best golf travel bags for under $100, best golf pencil bags and best golf cart bags.

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