2011 Sun Mountain 4.5 Quick Review

[tigerfan23]

Legit Bag.....

Picked up a 4.5 last week, the 2011 Model.

A few quick notes:

Bag looks great. Same as the older models.

Bag is light, Actually Seems a bit lighter than the previous 4.5 I owned.

The Straps are lighter and seem fatter if that makes sense. Lots of padding and not as flat as the previous model.

The new Base is excellent. Today we rode and it fit perfect both sideways (The way I like to place it in a cart) and facing the front. The bag also fits better on my Sun Mountain V1 Speed Cart as the stand mechanism is not pushing against the lower bars. The Stand Mechanism as doesn't cross over the middle section of a riding cart.

Overall this is pretty much the perfect bag for both riding and walking. I'm sure It may be annoying putting the clubs back in the individual slots after a bad shot but that's a minor tradeoff.

So I found my bag for next year. Today was the last round.

[generalpatton]

+1

I wanted a 4.5 last year but didn't get one because I knew it wouldn't work on my V1 Speed Cart. When I found out they fixed the bottom I went and got one as soon as my Edwin Watts got them in. I had it out yesterday for the first time and it worked perfectly on my cart and I didn't even have to fool with the leg lock strap. The bag didn't twist once and I had no problems with the cart handle getting in the way of any of the irons, even my wedges and putter which I have in the very bottom 3 slots. I'm real happy with the pick-up and hope the bag holds up. I don't beat my gear up but the material they use is pretty lightweight - hopefully it's equally as strong.

I have only 2 things I'd change and the 2011 4.5 would be the perfect bag. Neither are a big deal but they would be small tweaks that would be a huge plus - I'd make the valuables pocket waterproof and the extra pocket below the valuables pocket outside the main clothing pocket needs to be bigger - I have a Bushnell 1600 and the unit in the case is too big to fit in that pocket. because of that I have to keep it in the main clothing pocket and keep something else in the secondary pocket. I don't carry much extra in the way of clothing, only a packable rain jacket but if I did want to throw a some extra gear I wouldn't get a lot more stuff in there because my range finder takes up a good bit of the pocket.

All in all a great bag though and a keeper for sure.

[nitram]

I changed over from a C-130 to a Four.5 yesterday and walked 18 for the first time in about ten years. Lightweight, excellent straps, and leg mechanism, and the individual club dividers eliminate club chatter. Today I rode 18 and it takes half the room of the C-130 and there were no issues that people complained about with the prior models. Between my kids and I, I've been exposed to a dozen carry-type golf bags in the past two decades. This bag tops them all by far. Sun Mountain makes excellent gear and the 2011 Four.5 is one of their best.

[Sakman]

Pics?

[nitram]

[attachment=686631:004.JPG][attachment=686632:009.JPG]

The best I can do on short notice Sak and the weiner ain't fer sale.

[tigerfan23]

im going to set mine up like an ogio with the driver top left, followed by the 3 and 5 woods on the left and putter on teh bottom left with the irons going 3-4; 5-7; 8-pw and the wedges on the bottom with the putter

[nitram]

This works better in a cart with the longer clubs in the back but I certainly understand where you're coming from.

[jerryo]

Well, after going back forth between the 2011 3.5 and 4.5 I ended up with a 4.5. Great bag. Got the navy blue with red trim. I use a micro cart and when testing the 4.5 on it the pockets came very close to the front wheels. It turns out the micro cart front wheels are adjustable laterally to accommodate bags with lower pockets.

[tigerfan23]

I put my bag on my V1 cart yesterday (In my basement! Seasons over) and everything was perfect. The first round I carried and tried with a power cart. This bag is 3/3.

[alittleoverpar]

I have a 2010 4.5 and I love it. I walk 95% of the time and carry so whether or not it fits in a riding or push cart is not that important to me. This is the ultimate carry bag in my opinion. I would buy a 2011 model if I didn't already have the 2010. For me the small improvements for the new year would not be worth the cost of replacing it.

After using mine for nearly a year I can say that it has held up wonderfully. All straps, zippers, etc are completely functional as they were when new. The stand mechanism works great and when standing the bag is very stable. Once in a while my towel will get caught in the legs when I pick up the bag and they retract, but this is very minor and happens with every stand bag I've every owned.

If you like to walk and carry this thing is a winner!

[Sakman]

[quote name='nitram' timestamp='1290305318' post='2800435']
[attachment=686631:004.JPG][attachment=686632:009.JPG]

The best I can do on short notice Sak and the weiner ain't fer sale.
[/quote]

Thanks for the pics. Sun Mountain bags IMO are still the best of the best.

[canucks1970]

I have the 2010 Four 5 and will probably be getting the 2011 or the Titleist version pretty soon, even though I mostly walk. I ride in a cart enough times a year for the bag I have now to be a nuisance.

For next years version, I would like to see them make a waterproof version of the Four 5, like the h2no bag.

IMO that's all that's missing from the 2011 version.