Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid Review

Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid Review

Having never taken my golf clubs abroad before and hearing many a horror story about broken clubheads, shafts and such, I recently jumped at the chance to test the new Alpha Travel Cover Mid from Ogio. For me, the best golf travel bags need to do several things; first they have to be strong and able to deal with the trials and tribulations of travel in planes, trains and automobiles. This means strong materials that can deal with the roughest of handlers, tear resistant fabrics, padding, and the bag itself should be constructed in a way that you can trust it. The zips in particular have to feel sturdy. 

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. I also look to have a bag that stands out so nobody will mistake it for theirs at baggage claim, and you can spot it right away. Acknowledging all of this, how did the Ogio model perform? 

Well in pretty much every respect, the cover was excellent. It felt durable and tough whilst also offering a premium feel to it as well. My clubs arrived at two airports in excellent condition which is exactly what I was looking for, thanks to the padding around the clubheads, and the internal compression straps that really help hunker the golf bag down nicely. Admittedly, as solid as this performance was from a protection standpoint, I did also remove my wood clubheads and wrap them in bubble wrap as an extra layer of protection. I would recommend doing this whenever travelling with golf clubs so it is hard to knock the Alpha for this but I do think there are models out there that offer a touch more padding up top, such as the Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian. Regardless, the cover felt outstandingly well constructed with each component having a thickness and sturdiness that inspires confidence, without the weight. Additionally the skid plate on the bottom protects from abrasions and the zips are large and well made. 

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The cover was also incredibly easy to use, which I found to be very important when packing and at the airport. The D-shaped opening makes it easy to get your clubs in and out, and the storage on offer is top-notch too. Not only could I get my bag and golf accessories in but I also got some shoes, apparel and some merchandise from The Masters in as well. Despite all this, and the overall durability of the bag, it did not feel overly cumbersome or heavy which was useful when picking it up to put into cars and such. Part of the reason for this were the handles, because not only are there several on the cover itself, but they are exactly where you would want them to be. The final ease of use point I want to make is around the bags movement. Thanks to the wheels and overall lightness (when compared with other travel bags), it is very easy to move around and drag alongside you when walking. 

As I stated above, another thing I look for in a luggage bag is something easy to spot. This 'Warp Speed' design certainly does that and I thought it really looked good. You can also get it in colors called 'Terra Texture', 'Black', and 'Mid Haze'.