A Short Golf Stand Bag Buying Guide [Pick the Best Stand Stand Bag]

Throwing around a term like “the best stand golf bags” carries a lot of weight. There can really only be one of the best of anything, which is slightly limiting. However, there’s no shortage of golfers, and each one of them might have a favorite golf stand bag, which makes qualifying the “best” of them even more involved.

Stand bags, like all other forms of golfing equipment, introduce a measure of subjectivity into the picture because, like all golfing equipment, some players look for features specifically while some others might let them fall by the wayside. We can’t tell you what to like or what to use - so we can’t tell you what the best is - but we can help you find your favorite.

Here we’ve compiled a big list of features that some of the best stand golf bags have. If you can meet all of these requirements, you definitely have a good one, if not the best, as far as you’re concerned.

1.Consider the weight as a top priority

If there’s one thing you need to follow to qualify a stand golf bag as a quality model, consider the weight. These are the type of golf bags carried by golfers who walk the golf course. That could mean covering a distance of several miles in the course of a day. You won’t just be doing that, objectively, you’ll also be carrying along all of your gear with you.

Stand bags serve where cart bags would not be able to support your game effectively. When you play from the convenience of a golf cart, you can throw your cart bag and all of your equipment in the back of the cart and forget about it while the cart does all of the heavy work. You’d get tired pretty quickly if you tried to do that with a stand bag.

Stand bags are engineered to be really, really lightweight. Some models are so lightweight that they come in an under three pounds when they aren’t loaded, which is really impressive, to say the least. Especially considering the fact that many of them approach the capacity of some smaller cart bags, this lightweight feature is all the more striking.

Get the lightest bag you can find, all things considered because you’re going to need to carry it around on the course all day. The heavier the bag, the heavier the total outfit will weigh, and the more quickly you will become fatigued.

2.Ergonomic features matter

In addition to lightweight features, ergonomic features matter. Weight is only one component of the overall comfort that a stand bag can provide. If your stand bag is light but angular and uncomfortable, you might as well just pick a heavy one with comfortable features. You’ll get fatigued pretty quickly from a poorly designed stand bag. After all, you need to carry this thing around all day, every time you decide to play a round of golf. The size of the course notwithstanding, a comfortable, well-designed golf stand bag is worth the asking price, all else being equal.

-Some models have thick, comfortable padded shoulder straps

One of the most commonly provided ergonomic features of many golf stand bags is a set of comfortable shoulder straps. Shoulder straps aren’t all made the same. There are comfortable shoulder pads and straps, and then, on the other end of the spectrum, there are decidedly uncomfortable shoulder straps.

Some shoulder straps are oriented in a comfortable fashion, crossing each other in order to provide even, comfortable weight distribution. Others are designed with wide surfaces for the same purpose, as well as high-density foam fillers that form to your features to disperse the weight and pressure more evenly. These higher quality, dense foams will last longer because they are less likely to take a set or become compressed through fatigue.

All other things being equal, wide shoulder straps with dense foam are some of the best performers and will keep you comfortable for longer. They are, however, not the only features to look for in terms of ergonomics and comfort.

-Others have cushioned hip pads (some have both!)

In addition to comfortable shoulder pads, many stand bags have very comfortable, plush hip pads that are cushioned with similar high-density foam. Despite the idiom, when you shoulder a loaded golf stand bag, your shoulders aren’t the only part of you that will carry the weight. A lot of it will be transferred to your hips. In fact, the mark of a quality bag comes from how evenly it distributes the weight across your frame - and that specifically means diverting some of the force away from your shoulders and back.

As a result, your waist and hips will take on some of the load, and a stand bag that lacks comfort-enhancing features such as well-cushioned, fatigue-resistant hip pads will be lacking. Keep in mind that the foam used matters, too. Light, cheap foam, or padding that gets compressed will partially fail to distribute the weight, creating pressure points that will get sore after a while from carrying the bag.

3.It needs to have strong, lightweight, folding legs

In addition to being lightweight and having comfort-enhancing features, any stand bag that you call “the best” better have folding legs that are lightweight and strong. The functional reasons for this are more than one.

For one thing, you need legs on a stand bag because that is the central feature. A stand bag without legs cannot stand. You need this feature in the event you are golfing a course alone or without a caddy. You can’t take a swing with a bag on your shoulders, and you can’t lay your precious golf clubs on the ground!

That explains the necessity for legs to be a part of the design of the best stand golf bags. A high-quality model will have folding legs that are lightweight as well. They’ll fold out of your way while you’re carrying the bag but will still remain easily accessible when you need them. Many models have very lightweight carbon fiber legs that are still very strong.

4.Weight vs. storage space capacity: balance is important

While you will want to invest in the lightest stand bag that you reasonably can, it is important to balance size and weight with capacity. A stand bag that doesn’t have enough space for your essentials really isn’t worth very much.

Many stand bags still have plenty of room, some of them with 4-way tops that can accommodate as many clubs. They might not have the 14-way tops of some cart bags, but there’s usually plenty of room for the clubs you need for a day on the course. In addition, plenty of them have adequate pocket space for everything you’ll need for a day on the golf course, with room for golf balls, towels, gloves, range finders, and other essentials. However, when you’re searching for a new stand bag, it’s a nice feature if you can find one that has room for more than the essentials.

5.Specialized pockets are a bonus

Golf bags, including stand bags and cart bags, need to have plenty of room for storing essentials. However, it’s nice to have more than just a ball pocket for spare golf balls and tees and if you’re lucky, a pad and a pencil.

The good news is that some golf stand bags have some specialized pockets that provide more than just additional space - they provide additional, value-added features.

-Some of the best stand golf bags have lined valuables pockets

When you go golfing, you won’t just bring along your drivers, irons, putters, golf balls, and tees, right? You’ll also bring along your keys, wallet, and phone, won’t you? Well, you might have space for those things in your pocket - but that also might get in the way of your swing. That leaves you with another option - to put them in your golf bag - but does your golf bag have space for them?

You wouldn’t just throw them in any old pocket to get lost or damaged, would you? Well, you won’t have to if you get a stand bag that has a specially designed valuables pocket. Many have them, and some of them are even velour-lined!

-Others have cooler pockets to keep your refreshments just that - fresh

When you pick up a stand bag that has a special cooler sleeve or cooler pocket, you can do more than keep your water bottle cool and fresh. You can bring along lunch and make sure it stays nice and cool. Whether you pack a lunch for yourself or just want to keep some liquid refreshment nice and cold for those particularly hot days, a cooler pocket is just the ticket, and luckily you won’t need to look too far.

-Some stand bags even have apparel pockets for changes of clothes

In addition to these specialized pockets, some golf stand bags also have pockets that are reserved for additional clothing. If you’re out and away from home, a change of clothing is a nice thing to keep with you, and the right stand bag will provide you with space to carry along everything you need.

Of course, there are times when you’ll get caught out in the rain, which means it’s nice to be prepared with a change of clothing whether or not you expect to need it. Being prepared requires you to expect the unexpected.

6.Don’t forget rain protection

Speaking of getting caught in the rain, a stand bag shouldn’t just give you the space to carry along a change of clothing. Actually, thinking of that, if the stand bag doesn’t protect itself from the rain, your change of clothing will be wet anyway. That means that, all things being equal, a stand bag that provides protection from the rain to itself and its contents is highly valuable.

Many stand bags come with a rain fly which usually matches the rest of the bag, which is a nice touch. It’s important to have rain protection to keep everything dry, including your change of clothes, if you plan to bring one along.

7.Does it have full-length shaft dividers?

Another nice feature to look for is a stand bag that has full-length shaft dividers, as these will help to keep your golf clubs well arranged and in good order. Without full-length dividers, your shafts will be prone to migrating and getting “tangled up.” Most of the time this presents nothing more than a mild headache, but allowing your shafts to clatter together also has the potential to damage them, so it’s something that’s best avoided.

-Look for a putter well while you’re at it

In addition to full-length shaft dividers, another nice feature to pick up if you can is a putter well, which will keep your putter safe. Considering the fact that your putter should be one of the most precious pieces of equipment in your arsenal, you should afford it all the protection that you reasonably can.

8.Lift straps and carry handles round out the package

Finally, despite the fact that a stand bag must be able to stand effectively and sturdily on its own, one of the most important features it can have is a good pair of lift or carry handles. You won’t always be carrying the stand bag on your shoulders, and you’ll need to move it from place to place, out of carts and trucks, which will be a lot easier via the aid of ergonomic straps or lift or carry handles.

From a high level, these are some of the best features that can be used to qualify what it means to be one of the best stand golf bags out there. If you’re looking for a new model and can balance out all of these features, you’ve found a winner. Take a look through our collection of stand bags via the link above (we have highlights from Sun Mountain, Titleist, Datrek, and others), and if you have any questions, remember that you can always tap into the experience of our team of professionals by phone - you don’t need to be in Dallas, where we are!

Give us a call at 800-955-9550 anytime you need a little guidance and one of our professional staff members will be more than happy to assist with anything you need. We’ll even make recommendations!