Best Golf Travel Bags
A quality travel bag is a must-have for the globetrotting golfer. Your clubs are your prized possessions and taking them away with you can always be a risk, so keep that risk as low as possible with these bags. There are several things to consider. First they have to be strong and able to deal with the trials and tribulations of travel in planes, trains and automobiles. Strong materials, padding, and excellent construction are all vital.
Additionally maneuverability is a huge benefit too because awkward travel bags make everything more difficult. Ones that move easily with strong wheels are hugely important. We also think it is good for travel bags to be easy to identify because you never know what can happen in an airport in terms of people accidentally taking your luggage or clubs. Finally we also recommend taking a look at some of our other guides too, such as the best golf luggage (opens in new tab), best golf bags (opens in new tab), and the best golf tops (opens in new tab).
Best Golf Travel Bags
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The superbly-innovative ClubGlider from Sun Mountain will be your best friend when on a golf trip, featuring an integrated leg set that retracts easily and supports all the weight of the bag for easy wheeling on all surfaces. Just like the name suggests, it simply glides around the airport and takes away any stress from your back, arms and wrists for when maneuvering it. The legs are very sturdy and the wheels roll excellently.
The padding around the top of the bag is very thick and should mean that there are no accidents with your driver and fairway woods. The bag also comes with two spacious outside pockets, one on either side, that can easily house jackets, coats, jumpers or anything else you see fit to put in there for easy access. Inside the bag, there are two straps to keep your golf bag secured and there’s enough room for plenty more too.
- Read our full Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover Review (opens in new tab)
The new Bag Boy T-660 features a wrap-around zipper that opens up the entire front of the travel cover. From there, you simply lay your golf bag in there and, unless it's oversized or severely overstuffed, it's pretty easy to get in and out of the bag.
What's more, when folded up and not in use, you can easily fit it into a small space behind the seat of your rental car when you're traveling, or put it in the corner of the trunk. The T-660 also weighs less than 6 pounds, so it's easy to maneuver when not in use and you can store it on a shelf at your house or in your garage without it taking up much space.
- Read our full Bag Boy T-660 Travel Cover Review (opens in new tab)
The VIP II Premium travel cover offers all the durable protection and ease of use of the Deluxe model, with a few extra features for added peace of mind - like additional padding around the top of the cover increases the layer of protection for the clubs, while an internal support strap keeps clubs secure during transit.
Three heavy duty external straps provide a fail safe seal on the cover and lockable dual zips add a final level of security that makes this travel cover very good value for money. There is also plenty of space to throw in the clothing and footwear that didn’t make it into your suitcase. And to give you an idea of how much space there is, there’s enough to accommodate a 49-inch driver
- Read our full MacGregor VIP II Travel Cover Review
We're big fans of the Kube. It's an excellent innovation that not only serves its main purpose of protecting your clubs well in transit, but also allows you to collapse it down to a neat size smaller than the average cabin bag (23 x 33 x 38) when not in use via its clever foldaway system.
It has a robust hard-case shell with two external and internal straps to keep everything secure on the inside. We also like the reinforced padded area at the clubhead end for added protection. The wheels glide well and the case is easy to move around thanks to the handle, not to mention it weighs just 3.08kg as well.
Right now there are several colors to choose from so if the orange and grey isn't for you, you can also get it in navy, green/black as well as a pink/graphite finish. Sun Mountain make many fantastic products, especially when it comes to bags which is why we created a best Sun Mountain golf bags guide too.
This Bag Boy cover is plenty functional with multiple handles, an easy-access lockable zip department and reinforced corners for added sturdiness. The wheels are smooth rolling, and the corners are strengthened for enhanced longevity. There's also an external pocket for things like shoes and it's made with weather and tear resistant premium 600D nylon. Superb value too although a small point is it can be quite tricky to spot it in busy areas so we would recommend putting a distinctive ribbon or something else to help you pick it out when travelling.
Featuring two premium skate wheels and a large carry handle, this Titleist travel cover is very functional and a safe home for your clubs. It features plenty of internal and external storage and is made with a a durable construction and premium metal hardware to ensure it lasts a long time. Also take a look at our best Titleist golf bags guide if you want to see the top models in the current range.
This is the chosen travel partner of the likes of Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and literally hundreds of other tour stars. There are no fewer than 18 different color options and this premium collapsible bag accommodates even a 47” driver and pretty much any bag – if you are on tour, you might want an XL.
In-line skate wheels mean you’ll be able to get around smoothly and quietly and there is an over-the-top zipper for easy loading. The three straps bring everything together and you should be able to pack plenty into this.
This rugged, abrasion-resistant travel bag will keep your clubs safe no matter what size your golf bag. It features an outside pocket and six handles to ensure that it's easy to carry when getting in and out of vehicles.
It has a strong polypropylene base with wheels for easy mobility and it is fitted with interlocking skid rails to help it roll smoothly over curbs. You also get a bag to store it and it folds down very small. If you want a matching Ping golf bag inside, check out the best Ping golf bags on the market right now.
The Ogio Alpha travel bag is a very roomy option that can store shoes, clothes, balls and still have space left over for a souvenir or two. With all of this equipment in it, the bag does not feel overly cumbersome or heavy, which makes it a fantastic lightweight option when lifting it into cars, or from an airport carousel.
That makes it a great cover for golfers looking to put as little strain on their backs as possible and it features two strong wheels that make this bag very easy to maneuver and pull behind you while you're out walking. It features a skid plate on the bottom which protects the bag from any abrasions but is also made of a durable material that is well padded around your club heads for additional protection and structure.
The D-shaped opening makes it easy to gain access to your clubs and the bag also features some handy compression straps which keep your clubs well secured inside the cover. The last thing to note is the eye-catching colors that the Ogio Alpha comes in. We tested out the Cover's 'Warp Speed' colorway and it was very easy to spot in the airport. But you can also get it in other colors like 'Terra Texture', 'Black', and 'Mid Haze'.
- Read our full Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid Review
The Callaway Clubhouse travel cover has all the functionality and room you need whilst transporting your clubs around the country and wider world. Buckle straps add security for your clubs and a reinforced wheel base ensures sturdy and reliable wheeling on all surfaces. If you are a fan of Callaway also take a look at our best Callaway golf bags (opens in new tab) guide too.
A lot of us might not want to spend hundreds on looking after our clubs and this is a small fraction of the price of others on the market.
This value option has two rear wheels and a thick and reinforced wall at clubhead level for extra protection. Neoprene carry handles and straps make it easy to shift while there are two plastic-coated rails and four protective studs on the part in contact with the ground for protection and durability. You can store it vertically too. In truth, it ticks a lot of boxes for the price.
How we test
Our testing for golf gear (opens in new tab) is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. Our team usually attend product launches and then when it comes to our actual testing, we test products over a period of time that we can gauge the performance. For travel bags we do our best to use them when travelling which admittedly has been tricky over the past couple of years, but doing this allows to gauge performance in scenarios that you might face as well.
It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the products themselves.
How to choose a golf travel bag
There are a variety of factors to consider when looking at travel bags and here we have discussed them. Let's start with protection.
Strength/durability
Above all else, a travel bag has to protect your golf clubs properly as well as be able to put up with general wear and tear of travel. As a result, the bag should be made from strong, tear-resistant fabrics, and they should also have some features to protect the clubs on the inside of the bag too like compression straps on the inside and outside, along with foam padding around the top of the bag. The wheels should also be strong and move properly.
Weight
Given you will be moving the bag around, weight is very important, especially if a model only has two wheels. Here a fine balance has to be made between lightness and strength because you don't want to compromise on either.
Maneuverability
Good models are also very easy to move around which means having wheels that slide well and can change direction properly. From a luggage perspective we would recommend four-wheels but with travel bags two-wheels work well because they can be laid on the ground easily.
Warranty
This is definitely a factor to consider if, god forbid, your clubs and golf gear are damaged or broken. We recommend checking with retailers and manufacturers themselves how long they offer on warranties.
Budget
Finally have a think about how much you want to spend on a golf travel bag. We think this is not an area to compromise on given they are designed to protect your golf clubs however we do think there are good models that don't have to cost an arm and a leg, as the above models show. Also take a look at our guide on the best golf travel bags under $100 (opens in new tab).
FAQ's
Is weight important for a travel bag?
Given you will be carrying the travel bag around, weight is very important, especially if a model only has two wheels. Here a fine balance has to be made between lightness and strength because you don't want to compromise on either.
Good models are very easy to move around which means having wheels that slide well and can change direction properly. There are several excellent models above with more than two wheels and these are usually the best in this factor, but some two-wheel options move well too, such as the Sun Mountain Kube.
What should you be looking for in a travel bag?
Strength and durability is your starting point. A good travel bag has to be strong and durable to put up with the general wear and tear of travel. This means being made of strong, tear-resistant fabrics, and also having some features to protect the clubs on the inside of the bag too like compression straps on the inside and outside, along with foam padding around the top of the bag. The wheels should also be strong and move properly.