Heads up on the 7 best golf travel bags to keep your sticks safe…and scroll down for a travel golf story.
After Husband’s golf clubs were destroyed by an airline, I went on the hunt for a quality travel case that would hold his everyday golf bag, a set of clubs, golf togs and shoes, and a few accessories. I soon discovered there were a LOT of options, plus some decisions to make, including the main one: whether to choose a hard- or soft-sided travel bag.
Hard cases are typically more durable and offer the most protection, but they can be hard to fit into a small rental car (or Uber to the airport). Soft cases are convenient because they’re lightweight and easy to store when not in use—still, if you choose this option, you may want to purchase a backbone ($20) to protect your clubs from getting damaged.
Extra padding (especially at the top near the club heads) can give you peace of mind, while multiple handles and wheels make lugging your golf gear through the airport significantly easier. If storage space is important to you, your golf travel bag should have plenty of additional pockets to store your shoes, balls, and other accessories.
I ended up ordering about half a dozen from which Husband made his decision. From wheeled golf bags to hard travel cases, here are the picks for best travel golf bags:
Best Overall: CaddyDaddy Golf Constrictor 2 Travel Cover
Best Value: Himal Soft-sided Golf Travel Bag
Best Hard Case: Samsonite Golf Hard-sided Travel Cover Case
Best Soft Case: OutdoorMaster Padded Golf Club Travel Bag
Best Hybrid: Founders Club Golf Travel Cover Luggage
Best w/Wheels: Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian
Most Durable: SKB Cases ATA Deluxe Standard Hard Travel Golf Bag
Best Overall: CaddyDaddy Golf Constrictor 2 Travel Cover ($100)
The CaddyDaddy Golf Constrictor 2 has everything you need in a golf travel bag: roomy interior, lightweight yet durable construction, and plenty of pockets (with locking zippers), all at a reasonable price. It’s made of thick nylon with a protective layer of padding on top to keep your clubs safe, and can fit up to 10-inch cart bags. Other features include two sets of adjustable straps to keep your gear in place and in-line skate wheels that make the bag easy to move around. I like that it comes with a one-year warranty covering any damage caused by an airline.
Best Value: Himal Soft-sided Golf Travel Bag ($46)
At less than $50, this bag can either lay flat or stand up straight, and it has two sets of handles and smooth wheels so you have options how to carry it. There’s an exterior pouch that will fit things like your cell phone, wallet, and keys, while the rest of the bag has room for golf balls and shoes.
Best Hard Case: Samsonite Golf Hard-sided Travel Cover Case ($199)
Made by the famous luggage brand, this case is especially good at protecting your clubs while flying. The inside of the bag is padded, and there’s an extra layer of foam cushioning on the top to keep club heads safe. It can accommodate 10.5-inch golf bags and clubs up to 48-inches long. The bag comes with six wheels in total: four spinner wheels that move in every direction and two skate wheels for when you want to push or pull the bag.
Best Soft Case: OutdoorMaster Padded Golf Club Travel Bag ($60)
This #1-selling golf bag on Amazon is a great option if you’re looking for something that’s easier to carry around than a hard-sided bag. It’s lightweight (about six pounds) and comes with skate wheels attached to a rubber base. It has a spacious main compartment, separated section for golf shoes, and a shoulder strap/multiple handles.
Best Hybrid: Founders Club Golf Travel Cover Luggage ($170)
This hybrid golf travel bag combines hard and soft materials so you get the best of both worlds. To protect the heads of your clubs, the top half of the bag is made with a plastic described as “crush-proof,” while the bottom is made out of tough polyester. The two exterior pockets are big enough for golf shoes, while the main compartment fits clubs up to 50 inches long. The soft section folds up into the hard shell to save storage space when not in use, and there are handles on three different parts of the bag so you have options on how to carry it.
Best With Wheels: Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian ($299)
Even though a few of the golf travel bags on this list have wheels, none of them are quite like the Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian. The difference is Its extendable wheeled legs, which make it really easy to maneuver. And as the extra wheels put the bag at an angle, you don’t have to get down on the ground every time you load and unload your golf supplies. The bag also has full-length two-way zippers that make it easy to get your clubs in and out.
Most Durable: SKB Cases ATA Deluxe Standard Hard Travel Golf Bag ($299)
This hard-sided golf travel bag from SKB was one of the most durable options. It’s made with tough polyethylene that keeps out dirt, dust, and moisture, and it comes with TSA locks and industrial-strength latches to ensure your golf equipment is always safe. The case’s contoured design gives your bag a snug and secure fit, and it accommodates drivers up to 48 inches.
Twist’s Take: Protect your precious sticks with one of these seven golf travel bags.
Before I go…
Husband is the golfer; I am not. Still, he’s always happy to have me join him, like on this visit to a short course in the middle of Edinburgh, Scotland. You can rent clubs from the local pub—one that’s been in business since 1456 and is the oldest golf tavern in the world.
We practiced putting first, where I perfected my shoot!-that-just-missed-the-hole pose. (Yes, I’m wearing street clothes and shoes. I know—shameful.)
Then it was on to play twelve holes. While Husband is a good golfer, I’m adept at the other sport in which you hit a small white ball with a long stick on grass—from the back of a galloping horse. Golf has always seemed a tad too slow and quiet for me, so I decided to bring a little polo to that day’s game.
Despite having his swing hooked, being bumped from behind, and hearing a lot of trash talk, Husband nevertheless won and claimed the winner’s cup.
