If you’re like me, you prefer carrying your golf bag around the course as it offers more freedom. 

There’s no need to follow buggy paths or walk around the greens like you need to do if using a golf trolley. No, if you’re using a carry golf bag in most cases you can simply walk up to your ball and play it.

But, picking a good stand bag is crucial to enjoying walking the golf course.

There’s lots to consider when choosing a stand bag and an incredible number of designs on the market so which one is best? Well, we’ve done a run-through of what we think are the best golf stand bags on the market at the moment, split by budget.

Best Value Stand Bags

Taylormade is a name that golfers trust, giving decent quality without the hefty price tag. This is another well-balanced bag which features a four-point harness and won’t cripple your back even with a full 18 holes.

The stand system is lightweight but stable and keeps it secure while you’re playing the shot. The matching topcover protects it from the worst of the weather and there are handy grab handles on both the spine and the top.

It comes with six pockets, just like the Wilson Staff XSO but as they’re integrated into the body the overall effect is a streamlined profile. Full-length dividers split 7 ways provides convenience and aids organisation.

Summary: Very similar to the Wilson Staff XSO, the Taylormade offers a more streamlined design.

Although it’s one of the stand bags in the budget range, this bag is packed full of features that every golfer is going to appreciate. 

At just 2.3kg it’s not going to break your back when you’re carrying it around the course but it’s still sturdy and well-made. The padded airflow strap, four-point harness and pads on the hip and back mean that it’s comfy too and the overall design feels well-balanced.

There are six pockets which are easily accessible, and they’re of varying sizes. Included in these is a DryTech pocket for your valuables and a full-length garment pocket. 

Summary: A great budget bag and when it comes to comfort, it’s hard to beat for the price.

This is the lightest out of the budget bags we’ve picked, so if this is a priority then the Big Max Heaven Seven is worth serious consideration.

There’s a 4-way divider and four pockets and refrigerated water compartment which is slightly less than other bags, but for most golfers will be plenty. However, if you’re looking for a bag with more room for accessories and superior organisation, you may prefer one of the other budget picks.

The stand mechanism is top-mounted which means it stays stable even on uneven ground. When moving between holes a double-point harness help keep the bag balanced on your back.

Summary: A great weather system gives this bag brownie points but it’s smaller and with less room for accessories so much depends on personal preference.

Best Mid-Range Stand Bags

One of the slimer light options in our list, the Titleist Players 4 Stand Bag has a minimalistic design which keeps the weight around 1.7kgs. 

Despite being lightweight, you still get a decent amount of storage options with six pockets in a variety of sizes including an easily accessible drinks pocket.

However, in all honesty most of the other bags on the list offer more space, so if you are someone that carries a lot of gear on the golf course, you may want to opt for a bag with more storage space.

The bag has a premium material construction and whilst not waterproof, it will support some light drizzle. The 4-way top divider is enough to sort your clubs in an organised fashion and the stand is ergonomically designed and won’t topple over.

Summary: Lightweight and slim design which will appeal to some. Not for the golfer who wants lots of storage but a good choice for everyone else. One of the better looking bags on the market.

This is the baby brother to the bigger Ping Hoofer but you’d never know as it’s packed full of clever features that golfers will appreciate. The 4-way divider on the top helps keep the bag light (it weighs in at just 2.3kg).

Similar to the 2021 version, the 2022 version comes with 7 pockets including a zip-off ball pocket, a valuables pocket and a range-finder pocket. The integrated umbrella sleeve means that if you get caught in a sudden downpour, your trusty brolly won’t be far away. The apparel compartment is aso full length, meaning you can fit in all your waterproofs.

An ergonomic harness system helps it stand out from the crowd, as the clips allow the bag to be adjusted and carried in different ways including a single strap carry. A nice addition this year is the cart-strap channel making it easier to mount on a golf trolley if you fancy doing so. 

Summary: Comfort is one of the stand-out features for this bag, but with a secure stand and 19 litres of storage it’s an excellent all-rounder.

Another stand bag which is very lightweight, the Ogio Shadow Fuse is just as practical as it is stylish. The polyester outer is hardwearing and has anti-abrasion qualities while simultaneously repelling water.

Slip the straps on your shoulders and you’ll fall in love with the clever disc system which has been designed to distribute the weight more evenly for maximum comfort. If you need something from the pockets, you’ll find they are readily accessible courtesy of a quick-stash design that lets you reach your mobile phone, range-finder or water bottle when you want.

The main compartment is roomy and with an integrated grab handle, the whole unit feels secure but very light. The top-mounted stand mechanism will keep your bag feeling sturdy while in use but lock away snugly when retracted.

Summary: The lightweight and technologically advanced fabric are huge selling points for this golf bag but there’s plenty of other standout features too, such as the practical layout of the pockets and locking leg stand mechanism.

Best Premium Stand Bags

This premium bag is extremely versatile and is actually a crossover between a stand bag and a cart bag. 

It features a 14 way top divider (one section for every club) alongside 9 pockets, which is more than enough to carry everything you need on the course. A nice addition is the double apparel pockets meaning you’re never caught short whatever the weather!

The beauty of the hybrid design means that it looks just as good on a golf trolley as it does on your back. All that, and the weight comes in just slightly heavier than our other premium golf bag picks – well worth it in our opinion!

Summary: Secure on the stand and on a trolley with plenty of pockets for all your gear. Ideal for the golfer who carries and occasionally uses a trolley.

The bigger brother to the Lite model, the Ping Hoofer is bigger all round. Weighing in at 2.5kg, it’s slightly heavier but still lightweight enough to be able to comfortably carry around the course. 

However, where this stand bag steps up a notch is with the storage on offer. It’s only 2 litres more than the Lite version but it has a magnificent 11 pockets. If you like to keep your accessories organised, having more pockets is a big help. 

The dividers are also split into 5 too, an extra compartment inside compared to most other bags. While you’re strolling from one hole to another, you won’t have to put the bag down to grab your water bottle as the pocket for this is strategically located for convenient access.

Summary: Whether you go for the Lite version or upgrade to the premium depends on how much storage you like. The extra number of pockets are extremely useful and with a cart strap channel too, this design is extremely versatile.

This bag is a bit of a Marmite pick, with design features that you’ll either love or you loathe. The G-belt harness system is the perfect example of this, providing golfers with the option of clipping the bag to a special belt. This offers the benefit of moving the weight off the shoulders and distributing it more evenly. It may sound like a bonkers idea but try it for yourself and you might be a convert!

The 14-way divider system also sets it apart from all the other bags on our list and provides the very best protection for your clubs while not in use. When zipped up the construction of the bag is completely waterproof which for a top-level bag is more or less an essential requirement.

Clever design elements include a flared mouth for easy club removal and a leg locking system for easy transportation on carts and golf trolleys.

Summary: With some stand-out features which are different from other golf bags, the Sun Mountain is a unique pick. Smart features and superior organisation for both clubs and accessories make it an essential for a rundown of the best stand bags around.

What should you look out for when buying a golf stand bag?

There’s lots to consider when choosing a golf bag. 

You’ll want to pay special attention to the number of dividers, the number of pockets or storage available, the weight of the bag, comfort of the straps and the stability of the stand legs.

We’ll run through each one in more detail below.

Number of dividers

When choosing a golf stand bag you’ll want to keep in mind the number of dividers that separate your clubs. Some bags will offer up to 14 dividers so there’s a seperate section for each club, but more dividers isn’t always better!

Bear in mind that dividers will add weight to your golf bag, not ideal if you’re carrying it. Personally I prefer a stand bag with 4 top dividers which allows me to seperate my wedges, mid irons, long irons and woods into 4 nice compartments. It means my bag is nice and organised whilst stopping the clubs catching against one another when taking them out.

Be aware of the type of clubs or grips you have too. I use oversized thick golf grips so I don’t want a bag with too many dividers. I also had a couple of years where I used a TwoThumb putter grip (which was the main reason I went to a bag with 4 dividers) which meant I couldn’t use bags that had separate putting wells as the grip didn’t fit.

Number of Pockets or Storage

Next you’ll want to consider the storage. The UK weather is unpredictable at the best of times, and given it takes around 4 hours to play a round of golf, you don’t want to be caught in the rain without any protection.

A decent golf carry bag should have enough storage or pockets to ensure you can carry the essentials to avoid this happening. And whilst the number of pockets is a good indicator of the amount of storage available on a golf stand bag, make sure the pockets are well designed and accessible. It’s no good having loads of pockets if they all layer on top of one another meaning you can’t fill them with the things you need for your round.

An umbrella holder and towel holder are the basics on all bags. Most will also come with one full-sized pocket which should be big enough to carry your golf waterproofs and winter gear in the colder months.

Outside of that, a decent sized golf ball pocket (especially if you’re prone to losing the odd ball) is a must. Here I generally store my golf balls (of course) plus extra golf gloves, golf rain gloves, tee pegs and spare batteries for my rangefinder. An accessible water / bottle cooler pocket is another good thing to look out for, useful for those rare warmer days. And a well-protected valuables pocket is the last essential for me.

It’s also worth keeping an eye out to see whether the bag has waterproof lined zips which typically feature on the more premium bags like the Titleist Players 4 Plus StaDry. They add a little bit of extra protection, particularly important for your valuables if you leave your £1,000+ iPhone in there whilst playing golf.

Weight of the bag

The weight of the bag is an obvious consideration factor, with lighter bags being easier to carry and thus more comfortable. It’ll also conserve that little bit of energy that may mean the difference between taking the money off your playing partners or having to pay up! 

Whilst the difference in weight between each stand bag may not sound like a lot, it’ll all add up over the course of 18 holes. 

There was a time where lighter usually meant lower quality, but that’s certainly not the case anymore. Some bags now use higher tech materials which make them very durable but extremely light. Generally these materials are expensive and thus the lighter bags tend to fall into the more premium category. 

Overall, if you’re planning to carry your golf bag most of the time then it’s definitely worthwhile investing in a lighter bag. Your back will thank you later! But if you’re planning to occasionally carry and use a golf trolley most of the time, then I’d personally opt for storage space over the weight. 

If the weight of the bag is particularly important for you, we’ve created a separate list of the lightest golf bags which is worthwhile reading first.

Comfort of the straps

Linked to the weight is the comfort of the straps. It’s rare to find a carry bag that only has one strap, so two straps really goes without saying. The straps themselves are usually designed pretty similar across most bags and it’s usually the adjustability where there are more differences. 

Ensure the bag has suitable adjustments. If you’ve ever picked up a playing partner’s golf bag, you’ll notice that it feels strange as everyone carries their bags in different ways. 

Some prefer the bags to sit lower on their backs, some higher. Some golfers have the top of the bag high up whilst others keep the bag quite flat and horizontal. It doesn’t really matter how you choose to carry your bag, just make sure you can tailor the straps to your liking.

Stability of the legs

The final point to consider is the stability of the stand legs. Whilst the golf bags themselves are fairly light, when your bag is full of clubs it’ll weigh a fair bit, so you’ll want a bag with sturdy legs. 

A wider base for that reason is best and it helps prevent the bag falling over in the wind or on hillier golf courses. We’ve all been there on a windy day when there’s one playing partners bag in the group that keeps falling over when someone is ready to putt – don’t be that person!

If you’re going to use a golf trolley most of the time with your bag, it’s worth checking out the stand lock too. Most bags should have a velcro strap that locks them in place and stops the stands coming out when being used on a trolley. If the base of the bag has a trolley lock that’s an extra bonus too. That’ll stop the bag moving around or turning on the trolley and lock it in place.

Time to Tee Off!

That concludes our run-through of the best golf stand bags and there’s a handsome selection to pick from. Whatever your budget you’ll find a stand bag that offers comfort and storage, plus varying degrees of water protection to keep your clubs dry while out on the greens. Which one will you choose? It’s up to you – but we think the nine stand bags featured here would all be top of our leaderboard.