Conor Keenan
Staying fresh and focused during a round can really help your scores. One of the best ways to conserve energy out on the course is to use a golf trolley. They eliminate the need to carry your bag, something your back and legs will likely thank you for. If you’ve decided to use this option, you’ll also need a suitable golf bag.
So what should I look for when choosing one of the best golf bags? It definitely needs to be a good fit with your chosen trolley. It should also have ample storage, not just for your clubs but also for golf balls, tees, gloves and depending on the season, your wet weather clothing too. And speaking of the weather, if you live in a country or area that sees plenty of rain it’s probably a good idea that the bag is waterproof.
To assist you in your selection, we’ve tested a number of the best golf trolley bags, and have listed our favorites below, based on how they performed out on the course.
However, if you decide that you’re in the market for something different, we also have comprehensive guides for golf push cart bags, best golf stand bags, or the best lightweight golf bags.
The Quick List
A well-designed, thoughtful cart bag with a unique, noise-reducing divider that gives each club in your bag a protected home. The materials are all high quality and the storage solutions are excellent. It's one of the most practical cart bags we've ever tested.
Yes, you want your golf bag to have all the features and space you require, but you also want it to look good given the price you’re paying, and this PowaKaddy Dri Tech cart bag delivers on both fronts.
The Sun Mountain C-130 has been one of the best and most popular cart bags in golf for nearly two decades, and that reputation will remain firmly intact following the release of its latest iteration. Designed for golfers who ride when they play, it delivers everything you could ever want in a cart bag.
The quality and functionality of this cart bag is something else, with additional room for anything that you might need out on the course. If you think of what irritates you on a cart bag then Ogio have thought of the solution. And if you're looking to add a bit of color and style to your golf then this is perfect.
The Vessel Prime 2.0 Staff bag is absolutely outstanding. The materials used, clever design, and stunning aesthetic all go into making up one of the most luxurious golf bags imaginable.
A highly functional cart bag, the Nero offers a premium finish and maintains the high-quality performance we have experienced with the brands golf carts.
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Very much a bag for the golfer who errs on the side of caution over what they take with them out on the course. There really is space for everything and it's waterproof too.
This cart bag is really impressive. Lightweight and easy to hook in and out of the car, it is extremely practical when it comes to pocket formation and the organising of your kit. You’d be hard pushed to find a bag that performs better than this.
Best Golf Trolley Bags
Best overall
If you’re after a stylish, lightweight cart bag then Motocaddy’s Protekta is well with your consideration. At just 6.8lbs, it cuts a sleek silhouette, with the waterproof fabric giving it a quality, premium look and feel. Out on the course I was hugely impressed with just how practical the bag is. The 15-way top with its nine iron slots really works. My clubs were nice and secure throughout the round and there was little rattling going on, even when I was traversing bumpy ground.
But the Protetka’s functionality doesn’t stop there. The bag features nine pockets in total, with two full-length side pockets, two more for your valuables and a cooler pocket for a drinks bottle. We were able to store our waterproofs with ease alongside the usual essentials. It’s worth noting that the zippers are really high-quality, which given how much they are used can really make - or break - a bag.
On top of this, it features well-placed grab handles, an internal umbrella sleeve and an easy-to-access scorecard holder. The attention to detail that’s apparent across the bag is typified by touches like the groove cleaner on the towel hook.
Combine these details with the quality fabrics and construction and it’s no surprise that this bag received a five-star review.
- Read our full Motocaddy Protekta Cart Bag Review
Best waterproof
The Dri Tech bag from PowaKaddy is a worthy inclusion on this list for a variety of performance-based reasons. First it's incredibly lightweight for a cart bag at 5.1lbs, and the waterproof materials are up there with the very best. As the Dri Tech name suggests it's designed to keep your clubs and gear dry; it achieves this thanks to a hydrostatic rating of over 10,000mm. This really is one of the best waterproof golf bags available, and a smart choice if you play in the rain regularly.
The 14-way divider was spacious for all of my clubs and there's also plenty of space in the bag's nine pockets. It has two full-length apparel pockets as well as a velour-lined valuables pocket and a dedicated insulated cooler pocket, to name a few.
A new feature across all PowaKaddy cart bags is Mag-Lok. This technology utilizes a magnet on the bottom of any new PowaKaddy trolley to securely lock the base of the bag into the base of the trolley without the need for a bottom bungee strap. Therefore I found it to be very secure indeed although it is worth acknowledging that this feature only works with corresponding PowaKaddy trolleys.
However if you have a PowaKaddy trolley, I see no reason whatsoever not to also invest in a PowaKaddy bag that allows you to benefit from this new technology.
- Read our full PowaKaddy 2025 Dri Tech Cart Bag Review
Best storage
This is one of the best Sun Mountain golf bags out there and the fact that it’s still being made two decades on from its launch speaks volumes. So what makes this bag so popular?
Well the first significant thing to mention is the storage. The C-130 really differentiates itself from the competition thanks to 13 different pockets, including two just for wet-weather gear and other clothing. The total capacity is so great it’s hard to imagine any golfer running out of space and I was seriously impressed with just how much stuff is could carry, and that includes 14 club dividers and a putter compartment.
Next up is the wide range of colors on offer. This has been a hallmark of Sun Mountain’s success as golf bag designer, and the C-130 is no different with 11 different options.
The bag is designed for cart use, so it’s a little heavier than some of the bags reviewed here. However, we found that it still fits nicely on a trolley. There are three utility handles as well that really help when you need to lift it from or into your car as well as onto the trolley. The brand’s Smart Strap system is also in play here, which does a good job of keeping the bag securely in place.
- Read our full Sun Mountain C-130 Cart Bag Review
Best color choice
While many of the bags here are pretty traditional in their appearance, the Ogio All Elements opts for a more colorful approach. Understandably the bag’s eye-catching aesthetic won’t appeal to all, but its impressive range of features surely will.
Ogio has opted to fit the bag with 15 spacious club dividers, which means you carry your alignment rods with ease. It’s a minor detail perhaps, but does add to the versatility of this bag. As does the choice of 11 different pockets.
You get two spacious side pockets for larger items such as waterproof or an extra sweater. A selection of smaller pockets take care of essentials such as balls, tees and gloves as well as valuables like your phone or watch. There’s also an insulated cooler pocket, which is large enough to store. food and water, and a dedicated umbrella holder.
Given the bag’s name, you’d expect it to handle inclement weather. And during my testing it did. I played in some pretty challenging conditions and our clubs and gear all remained dry. In short I think it's one of the best Ogio golf bags on the market.
- Read our full Ogio All Elements Cart Bag Review
Best Tour model
I couldn't have a trolley bag guide without including a model from Vessel, a brand I have become familiar with after testing a number of models from them. The top of the tree is the Vessel Prime 2.0 Staff bag which just so happens to be the bag Tiger Woods uses.
This is arguably the coolest bag I've ever tested and you'll look like a PGA Tour pro in your local Sunday handicap sweep with your clubs in this bag. The look is clean and not boastful, rather sleek but premium. The synthetic leather is soft and smooth to the touch and handling the bag gives you the same kind of feel as when you step into a high-end premium car.
In my testing I put it to the test in different conditions and when the heavens opened it performed just how I expected it to. The waterproof zippers held up excellently whilst the waterproof construction protected my clubs as well as my valuables. Speaking of which the valuables pocket is lined with a beautifully soft antimicrobial material that not only feels great but keeps things hygienic. With details like that, it is a deserving five-star model.
- Read our full Vessel Prime 2.0 Tour Bag Review
Best functionality
Stewart Golf has been making some of the best remote electric trolleys and best push carts for the best part of a decade now, and the new represents the first premium cart bag offering from the brand.
Immediately I was struck by the strong looks on offer here - the all black design is a cool one and compliments the Stewart trolley I tested it alongside very well. The design is also durable and I didn't notice any marks or scratches even in poorer weather. This is thanks to the Tour-grade synthetic leather used in the construction which has a premium look, soft feel, and is easy to clean as well.
Nine pockets in total include a large insulated front pocket, two plush velour-lined valuables pockets and a magnetic front pocket which is ideal for a rangefinder. Having tested many of these cart bags over the years, I've found far too many neglect the cooler pocket - I'm happy to say this is not the case with this bag and my cold drinks stayed chilled and refreshing during multiple rounds of golf.
- Read our full Stewart Golf Nero Cart Bag Review
Best lightweight
With so much size and storage, some cart bags can become rather heavy and difficult to maneuver as a result. Big Max have addressed this concern with the Aqua Sport 360 bag which provides lightweight, easily maneuverable transportation of your clubs. Speaking of lightweight, it comes in at 5.3 pounds or so, which technically is a little more than the PowaKaddy model above, but with clubs and other accessories put into the bag, it felt lighter to maneuver, hence its 'best lightweight' label above.
As the name suggests, it's also waterproof. I took so much of a soaking during one of our testing rounds that I'd happily consider it one of the best waterproof golf bags thanks to the terrific all round performance.
On the right push cart or electric trolley, where the bag sits away from the support frame, some of these rear pockets are still accessible – certainly on the Big Max trolley I used in testing. I held two bottles of water and a number of snacks for my rounds of 18 holes which was pleasing whilst finding the double grab handle was very useful in preparing for my round and putting my clubs away after the round in the club car park.
There is also an oversized putter well that fits larger grips and the 14-way divider is covered in soft, protective materials to prevent club crowding.
- Read our full Big Max Aqua Sport 360 Cart Bag Review
Best value
This is another bag that falls firmly in the lightweight category. Combined with its two handles, situated on the top of the bag, and a padded strap it’s a breeze to carry and adjust when fitting it to the trolley.
But its functionality doesn't stop there. It’s made from a showerproof fabric, with water-resistant zippers throughout and a rain hood. While it might not survive a five-hour round in heavy rain, it’s able to shrug off a few downpours with aplomb.
Those zippers are fitted to nine pockets that are well designed to help you organize all you’ll need for 18 holes. There are larger side pockets as well as smaller ones specifically designed for valuables and balls. There’s an insulated cooler pocket too as well as storage solutions for a towel and umbrella, a pencil slot and velcro patch to hold a glove when not in use. Macgregor has even placed symbols by the pockets to let you know their intended purpose.
The clever organization continues with the 15 full-length dividers, which are lined to protect the club shafts. SImilarly the ‘putter pit’ is rubberized. All in all, this is a super light, practical bag at an attractive price point.
- Read our full MacGregor 15-Series Water Resistant Cart Bag Review
How we test
As with all our reviews, the best golf trolley bags were put through their paces by the Golf Monthly test team. Our testing process is comprehensive so that we can really test how a bag performs, and also test against manufacturer claims. With bags that means that waterproofing was tested, whether in an actual shower or by pouring water on the pockets. We also test for durability, usability, convenience and other factors by using the bag a lot. This usually takes place over a number of rounds and in different conditions.
It’s vital that our opinions are unbiased, so you can trust that the review is born only from experiences during testing and our knowledge of comparable products . Simply put, brands cannot pay for a good review. Our specific bag testing is overseen by Staff Writer Dan Parker, who has been testing bags for a number of years now, but he does also utilize the rest of the Golf Monthly team, all of which are regular golfers with testing experience.
Dan Parker has been working for Golf Monthly since 2021 and currently oversees golf bag and golf shoe testing. He has fast become an expert in both categories and has a comprehensive process for bag testing in particular. This involves using bags for a number of rounds which gives an idea how a model performs day to day. For example how light is the bag and how easy is it to use, how durable is it when out on the course, is it waterproof, and so on.
How to choose a golf bag
Before you part with your hard earned money, it’s worth considering what you want and expect from a golf trolley bag. Here are some of the key factors to help you choose the best option for you.
Trolley/Cart - Many of the models we’ve featured here are designed specifically for modern trolleys and carts. If your trolley has seen better days, before you choose a bag, it’s worth taking a look at our best electric golf trolleys, and best push carts guides.
Features - All of the bags reviewed here are heavy on features. But you should consider which of these you value the most. Do you like to carry lots of extra clothing, spare balls and other bits of kit with you? If so, then paying attention to the number, size and position of the bag’s pockets is a good idea. Similarly, if you know that you regularly play in the rain then a waterproof bag, with quality zippers and rain hood will be a sound investment.
Ease of Use - Once loaded with clubs and gear, a golf bag can become pretty heavy. If you need something that’s easy to carry to and from your car as well as to the trolley then look at the bag’s overall weight as well as the handles. In this guide there are several lightweight options that we found to be easy to ‘cart’ about. ‘Easy to use’ also means a bag that secures to the trolley in a straightforward fashion, without compromising access to the pockets.
Price - Naturally, your choices will be dictated to some degree by your budget. Fortunately, as this guide shows, there are plenty of ‘budget’ models that still performed well during our testing. Our advice would always be to check the bag out in person, to see if the quality of the fabrics and the general construction match your expectations.
FAQs
Can any golf bag go on a golf trolley?
Technically, yes. However, a cart and tour bag will always fit more snug on a trolley than a golf stand bag for example. This is because cart and tour bags are designed to be more bulky, therefore they fit more securely on a trolley. There is nothing wrong with having a stand bag on a trolley, but be wary it is more likely to twist and cause irritation.
Do Motocaddy bags fit all trolleys?
All Motocaddy golf bags fit onto Motocaddy trolleys and they fit best because they have been designed to do so. From our experience Motocaddy bags do often fit onto trolleys from other brands, but the fit isn't as seamless.
What is the difference between a stand bag and a trolley bag?
Stand bags look similar to trolley bags, but they come with built-in legs that allow them to stand upright on the green. They also come with shoulder straps, so you can carry it around the course as you play. If you're using electric or push carts, then a trolley bag fits more comfortably.
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