Budget Travel Bag Advice Needed

[theboypinoy]

5 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

I have traveled a few times with clubs.

 

One thing to remember in packing is balance. At one airport, someone's bag cover had torn because the person put four 12-packs of golf balls up at the top end, and the weight and "hard surface" led to a break.

 

Hint on airlines: If you travel Southwest Airlines, they will count a golf carrier bag as one of your two free pieces of checked luggage. Just make sure the golf bag carrier weighs less than 40 lbs. (?). This was the rules 14 months ago, pre-COVID, so double-check on current rules.
 

 

It's 50 pounds for weight on Southwest and other airlines typically. 🙂

[theboypinoy]

I've traveled for years with a Club Glove. It's never failed me. I make sure to use the stiff arm and plenty of padding. 

I read here once that giving your clubs a good cleaning before packing them helps prevent TSA checks, as dirt could set off their sensors or something. I have no idea if that's true or not, but since then, I haven't had one check in many travels.

 

I would have occasional checks before, but since cleaning them each time before packing, it's been flawless.

 

 

[DFW Snowman]

I use a Club Glove with a stiff arm. It's made it through all my flights so far. I take the heads off the woods and stow them in carry on as others have mentioned.  It's been dropped and dragged by the airlines but everything inside has stayed safe. 

 

A couple things I like are that 1) the wheels are really good on the bag which makes wheeling it around the airport or to a rental car nice and easy and 2) it's not as massive as a hard case, so I can fit it into virtually any rental car or friend's car easily. If it's too big, then I can take everything out and fold the bag up a bit. 

[ChipNRun]

3 hours ago, theboypinoy said:

It's 50 pounds for weight on Southwest and other airlines typically. 🙂

 

Thanks. I wanted someone to check... my first trip I was 2 pounds overweight on bag carrier and had to rearrange luggage items at mid-terminal.😬

[Zac1321]

11 hours ago, theboypinoy said:

I've traveled for years with a Club Glove. It's never failed me. I make sure to use the stiff arm and plenty of padding. 

I read here once that giving your clubs a good cleaning before packing them helps prevent TSA checks, as dirt could set off their sensors or something. I have no idea if that's true or not, but since then, I haven't had one check in many travels.

 

I would have occasional checks before, but since cleaning them each time before packing, it's been flawless.

 

 

not sure about domestic flights but wouldnt be surprised with how much fertilizers courses use.

 

This is definitely true for certain international travel. Pre-covid i would go to australia twice a year for work an they are pretty big sticklers about dirt and organic material being brought in

[plim123]

12 hours ago, theboypinoy said:

I've traveled for years with a Club Glove. It's never failed me. I make sure to use the stiff arm and plenty of padding. 

I read here once that giving your clubs a good cleaning before packing them helps prevent TSA checks, as dirt could set off their sensors or something. I have no idea if that's true or not, but since then, I haven't had one check in many travels.

 

I would have occasional checks before, but since cleaning them each time before packing, it's been flawless.

 

 

That's not the grass you're looking for, officer

[ReidThompson]

Hard sided.  I bought thinking was going to use once and have used many times.  It puts a true Golfwrxer at ease and I have lent out 100 times for beers and burgers. "buy me dinner and I'll lend it to you". Win/Win. 

[steeletaylor]

I bought a hard case a year or two ago and it has held up well. The only problem I have run into was it not fitting into a smaller rental car when it was just me and my wife traveling. Just something to think about when getting a hard case vs. a soft case.

[Jifmoli]

Was looking at travel bags myself a few weeks ago but with a different idea in mind: I tend to bring half sets with me on trips, not the full bag with the best clubs anymore (always quite worried when using normal bag albeit with the heads down). I use this pencil bag, which is pretty solid on the outside all the way to the top (and so far so good after years of travelling with it). That itself is another strategy: half set + firm pencil bag.

 

The reason I was looking at bigger travel bags is to reduce the number of things to carry - the pencil bag goes in the big travel bag with my other stuff (clothes etc.) stuffed on the side - so no separate suitcase. I often bring a guitar as well plus cabin bag of course - too many things to drag around. Only thing with these pencil bags on the course - a driver really blocks access to the other clubs in there so I do not bring it (don't care really, posted here a comment recently on "3w instead of driver" thread that I recently sold my driver for a 3w).

 

All the stories about cracked hard shell cases has led me to decide on a soft(er) bag. Good luck finding one.

 

[be0972]

I have no ideas how many miles I’ve travelled in my career, but it’s a lot!  My oldest piece of golf equipment was with me probably 50% of the time.  The Club Glove I purchased back in 1997 may look like hell, but it still rolls like it’s new and does an excellent job of protecting my clubs.  I won’t even think twice about buying another one if/when this one finally gives out.  I also bought some Club Glove headcovers when I bought the bag and even though they are almost dry rotted they still keep my irons from banging around (the iron covers live in the Club Glove and have never seen the light of day outside the Club Glove BTW) 

 

I had one other golf travel bag before the Club Glove, I don’t remember the name, all I remember was that it got shredded the first time I used it.  Edwin Watts was going to replace it under warranty but I opted for store credit and I sucked it up and bought the Club Glove right then and there.

 

I don’t know whether it was Club Glove’s tag line or the name of my bag, but “The Last Bag” has got to be the best description because it very well could be the last travel bag I ever need.

[Newbie15]

Thanks for all the responses. I am searching CL and FB marketplace for quality used bags.

[Go_Blue!]

CG Collegiate Last Bag here. Had it for 5 years now. Travel at least 3-4x per year with it. Love this bag. The extra padded top area, along with some additional towels, provide a great snug fit. I remove the heads of my woods and carry on as well. Cant imagine traveling with any other bad. Best in the business, imo.

[YourAverageDad]

Like others have said, I would just scout the used market (Craigslist, FB Marketplace, garage sales). I picked up a hard case travel for $20 at a garage sale last year and it has been great. Yeah it has some wear and tear but who cares, it still gets the job done. I would also check with you local golf shop, mine rents out hardcase travel bags for $20 a week

[@_the_crook]

another vote for ClubGlove here.

the Collegiate size works fine for either a stand bag or slimmer cart bag.

 

get a good travel bag. use sturdy luggage.

I've seen damaged items rolling around the claim area at O'Hare Field.

golf bags are not supposed to look like a reverse C at rest.