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? The best golf travel bags offer some reassurance that your clubs will arrive at your destination safely, and it could be argued it is one of the most important purchases a golfer could make, especially if you travel a lot.

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".

So we know these bags are important, 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.

Additionally, I am sure you have noticed that it is Amazon Prime Day right now and many of the models in this guide seem to be on offer. To make sure you don't miss out on any deals, stay up to date with our Amazon Prime Day golf deals live blog.

The Quick List

Best Golf Travel Bags

Top pick

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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 cover 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 value

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The VIP II Premium cover from MacGregor gets our vote as the best value model due to it comfortably ticking all the boxes, at a very attractive price. 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. I also appreciated the internal support strap that keeps the 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. I could comfortably fit not just my 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, and I must say, it really does set the standard for maneuverable performance in the golf travel bag market.

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. I 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. I really liked how it was particularly thick at the top of the bag, helping to protect the club heads from damage.

I also 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 padding

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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 I’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. I 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 I found I 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

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If you’re flying regularly with your clubs, then T-660 from BagBoy should definitely be a model you should consider.

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. I enjoyed 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

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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.

Much like the ClubGlider I tested above, the Kube is 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 only thing the Kube was lacking for me was some extra pockets. There are two small internal pockets that I used to carry belts and dirty washing, but in truth, they're not very large.

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.

• Read our full Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover Review

Best durability

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Ogio's new Renegade travel cover was built to try and meet all these criteria of what makes a good travel bag, and in a stylish package. And I must say, I do think it delivers, especially from a durability point of view.

Made from a recycled, but ultra-rugged, 1680D ballistic polyester, the exterior is ultra-durable and can deal with all the bashing it will receive through baggage claim. On the interior, 600D abrasion panels keep your golf bag from absorbing too much shock, while extra padding on the top half of the bag offers protection for the most prone area of your golf bag. I also want to mention the bottom of the bag, which features what Ogio calls SLED, which is a large plastic area that increases durability on the lower part of the bag when it is dragged about.

But wait there is more, the protection is bolstered by heavy-duty strapping inside and outside, with the former compression straps allowing you to strap the bag down tightly with no movement.

I also really liked the Renegade's large wheels which aid maneuverability. Don't get me wrong, the ClubGlider will always be the top of the tree in this regard, but for a design of this type, the Renegade really performs.

• Read our full Ogio Renegade Travel Cover 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! Specifically, the travel bag section is overseen by bag guru Dan Parker who has tested bags for many years now and goes on a lot of trips as well which means he regularly gets to test out travel bags exactly where they would be getting used - airports, train stations and so on.

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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