Best Golf Travel Bags Under $100 2024

They say that travel helps broaden the mind. In the case of golf trips, it definitely expands your golfing experience - whether it's flying to Scotland to play some of the game’s most famed links courses or traveling around America, enjoying one of its many golfing meccas, like Pinehurst on the east coast or the Monterey Peninsula on the west.

But how do you best protect your golf clubs on the way to, and from, your destination?

It’s likely you’ve heard a few horror stories about clubs getting damaged during transit from one airport to the next. Of course, you could ‘play it safe’ and just rent a set of clubs when you arrive. However, this can be just as problematic, especially if you’ve invested time and money on ensuring your own set is a great fit for your game.

A better option is to buy a dedicated travel bag to protect your clubs. These are designed with plenty of padding and protection, so even if the baggage handler isn't the most careful, your pride and joy should remain unscathed.

Unfortunately many of the best golf travel bags are expensive. However, we’ve selected a few examples of golf travel bags under $100 that still boast some of the features you’ll find on premium travel bags.

You can read more about out picks below. And if you need more help before you travel, we’ve also got guides on both the best golf luggage, and what to pack for a golf trip.

The Quick List

Best Golf Travel Bags Under $100

Top pick

The VIP II Premium travel cover has plenty going for it. First up is its generous size. This cover is large enough to easily accommodate either a stand bag or a regular cart bag, with space for an additional shoe bag or similar . It’s even big enough to carry a tour bag - yes, we tried - although the additional weight doesn’t make these bags the best travel companion. Whichever style of golf bag you’re traveling with, it will be held in place internally with a single strap and externally with a further three straps. These are ‘click together’ and pretty sturdy in their construction.

As for padding, the MacGregor does offer a decent level of protection. We’d like to have seen more padding where the club heads sit, but considering the price it’s more than adequate.

Getting your golf bag in and out of the travel case is straightforward thanks to full-length double zipped closure. There’s also enough room on the zipper for a padlock - always a sensible choice when taking your bags on a flight. There’s also an additional external pocket, but the zipper here isn’t quite as robust, so we opted to place all our belongings inside the main compartment.

A golf travel bag isn’t just measured on the protection it affords your clubs. Given that you'll likely be taking it in and out of taxis as well as having to navigate airports with it in tow, it needs to be up to the task. Here MacGregor did a decent job. The built-in wheels are a great help, and they tuck away to avoid damage too. However, without the additional pop-out wheels at the front that many premium bags have, you are left dragging the bag around somewhat. Fortunately, we found that the well-positioned three handles - one at each end, plus another in the middle - meant that we could lift it with ease - a bonus when it comes to negotiating airport luggage carousels.

Ultimately, the price point makes this bag a winner. It’s got plenty of detail, the fabric is durable and tear resistant and the combination of the wheels and the handles make it easy when you’re moving around the airport.

• Read our full MacGregor VIP II Travel Cover Review

Best lightweight

Some of the premium travel bags, while offering superior protection, can be pretty heavy. This not only makes them more cumbersome, it also means they’re a little tricky to store away when not in use. Not the Bad Boy T-660.

This is a compact golf travel cover that weighs under six pounds and, unlike hard cover cases, can be folded down to a small size between trips. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s short in features.

The bag benefits from a wrap-around zipper that opens up the entire front of the cover. This makes it straightforward to place the bag inside, as well as to get it. There’s room here for a regular stand or cart bag, with an internal compression strap to hold everything in place during transit. The bag also features a large external pocket that can house shoes, gloves or a rain suit.

As for protection, it’s best described as adequate. This isn’t a criticism of the T-660, rather a reflection of its price. Bag Boy makes other more expensive models that have superior padding should you want it. If you’re using this bag though we’d suggest removing the head of your driver before your travel.

Like all travel bags and covers, it will need to withstand the rigors of the airport. Fortunately it has a few details to help you navigate this experience. The bag has reinforced corners and both skid plates and bars. There’s also a set of built-in wheels which allowed us to smoothly roll the bag through the terminal.

So who does this bag best suit? From our experience it's likely a good match for those who take the odd golf trip rather than the seasoned traveler. Here the competitive price and packable nature of the bag will outweigh the slight lack of protection.

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

Best budget

The first thing to note is this doesn’t look like a budget bag. It’s made from a sturdy ripstop fabric that would suggest durability. Then there’s the padding. While some cheaper travel bag covers can be a little lacking in this department, we were left feeling assured that our clubs would arrive undamaged; there’s protection in all the key areas, which gives you peace of mind.

The bag is a decent size too. While we only loaded it with a lightweight golf bag, the main compartment has enough room for either a larger stand bag or a cart bag. On top of this, there’s room for your other travel essentials, such as shoes, rain jacket, and more. However, should you wish to separate your golf gear, the bag boasts two external pockets. We found that a pair of the best golf shoes would fit nicely in the larger pocket, while the smaller one is ideally suited to socks, gloves and belts.

To ensure that everything is held in place the Ram FX has two external straps. There are also built-in wheels to help you navigate your journey with a little more ease, while the external handles - one at the top, one in the middle - meant that we could lift the bag comfortably as well as pull it around the airport. All these details do add up to a rather weighty bag however - the RAM FX is around 9 lbs before you’ve started packing.

• Read our full Ram FX Golf Travel Cover Review

How we test travel bags

We test for golf gear using a comprehensive process, undertaken by our knowledgeable Golf Monthly team. Our testing is always thorough and may include attending product launches before we put the gear through its paces.

When reviewing travel bags, we use them on a golfing trip whenever possible. This gives us real world feedback on just how well the bags perform, whether it's lifting the bags in and out of a car or navigating an airport terminal. From here we write our impartial reviews that are always born from our experiences only; a manufacturer can’t pay us for a good review.

How to choose a travel bag

There are a variety of factors to consider when looking at travel bags and here we When shopping for a golf travel bag, there are a number of factors to consider before you make your purchase.

Protection

The bag or cover’s primary duty is to protect your golf clubs. To do this it needs to both offer a degree of padding, ideally around the key areas, such as the club heads, and be robust enough to handle the rigors of travel.

We like golf bags that are made from durable fabrics that are resistant to tears, cuts and scuffs. It’s also advisable to select a bag that has additional protection on the bags corners, as well as skid plates. You’ll want the bag to have straps to hold your clubs in place - ideally these will be both internal and external.

Accessibility

You'll want to be able to pack your clubs with ease, as well as get them out the other end just as comfortably. We'd recommended choosing a travel bag with a full zipper that allows the bag to open up fully - especially if you travel with a larger golf bag. such as tour or cart model.

Weight

While you need your travel bag to be strong, it also needs to be light enough for you to move it around comfortably. Golf bags, complete with 14 clubs and items such as balls, gloves and rain gear, are heavy enough. You don’t want a travel cover that adds unnecessary weight.

Maneuverability

The best golf travel bags will have more than one set of wheels. However, the best golf bags under $100 are more likely to have just the one set. If this is the case, look for a bag that has a robust handle or handles.

Warranty

While a golf travel bag is designed to protect your clubs, it’s worth checking the manufacturer's warranty, just in case they are damaged during travel

Budget

In the same way you might spend more on a bicycle lock if the bike itself is expensive, it’s worth spending more on a gold travel bag if you’re traveling with a costly set of clubs. Bags like Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian Wheeled Travel Cover, or the Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid all fit the bill, offering premium protection, but at a price.

But that said, this guide shows that you still buy a decent golf travel bag for under $100 - and if your golfing trips are infrequent they may be all that you need.

FAQs

If you want more buying advice, why not take a look at our guides on the best golf net, or best golf mat as well.