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The Best Cart Bags of 2021
The Best Cart Bags of 2021
It’s hard to reinvent the wheel. Right?
Yes, you can tweak something here and there but you don’t mess with the basic concept. A car still needs wheels and a chassis, a house still needs walls and a roof and a golf club still needs a shaft, a head and a grip.
Just like the basic golf bag. While the concept remains the same—you have to put your clubs somewhere, right?—it is being continually refined and improved.
As a result, more and more bags are contending for this year’s No. 1 spot in our Best Cart Bags 2021 competition. Yes, there are some that are crap but there’s less mediocrity. There’s little in-between. It’s either good or it’s not. We’ve looked at the “good” and now we are telling you what we consider the “best.”
Whether you’re looking to buy the best cart bag today, seeking some buying advice or just want a closer look at what’s on the market right now, we’re here to help.
Best Waterproof Cart Bag
Its rare to find a waterproof bag that doesn't lose its overall structure. Motocaddy Dry Series cart bag however holds its own allowing the pockets to remain poised which results in easy access with one handed opening and closing system. Storage is substantial and its dividers provide no snagging.
Cart Bag Features That Matter
Storage
Some cart bags have multiple pockets but many of them may intrude into other pockets so check that glitch out. Golfers will need space for a rain suit, a sweater, refreshments and more.
Magnetic closures are the standard for GPS pockets. They provide easier access to your device while eliminating the need to clip one more thing to your bag.
If you’re looking for the Best Cart Bag of 2021 for maximum functional storage, there’s no better option than the Mizuno Tour Staff Mid. If you’re looking for plenty of storage with less bulk, consider the TaylorMade Supreme.
Best Cart Bag For Storage
Not the most obvious bag to include in the test but the Mizuno Tour Staff Mid can hold everything including the kitchen sink. It comes with a 5 way divider, 9 pockets and a sleek look design will catch the eye of many. Granted its more designed for the serious golfer but trust me, if you play competitively, everyone needs a smaller looking staff bag.
Dividers
Typically, cart bags offer 14 to 16 individual slots. Some even have a couple of putter wells. While few of us keep two putters in the bag, the extra spot can hold your driver or a ball retriever.
If your clubs are snagging, consider a bag with individual full-length liners with no excess material. If club organization and snag-free access to your gear are your primary concerns, the PING Pioneer and the TaylorMade Supreme are the best of the best.
Location – Golden Horseshoe Gold Course 16th
Cart Strap Pass-Through
For frequent riders and many push-cart users, the cart strap pass-through is a necessity. Assuming a competent bag design, a pass-through channel helps ensure full access to all your pockets when the bag is on a cart. Bags without pass-throughs force the straps to hug the pocket which limits access, rendering some pockets all but inaccessible.
PING bags, notably the Pioneer, feature a flawless implementation of a strap pass-through. The Srixon Z85 is also excellent in this regard.
THE BEST CART BAG 2021 - FEATURES
| Product | Weight (LBS) | Dividers | Pockets | Putter Well | Cooler Pocket | Cart Strap Passthrough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | BagBoy Chiller Check Price | 6.4 | 14 | 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | BagBoy Revolver XP Check Price | 8.12 | 15 | 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | BagBoy Shield Check Price | 6 | 14 | 8 | Yes | Yes | No |
 | Big Max Dri Lite Sport Check Price | 5.15 | 15 | 10 | Yes | Yes | No |
 | Burton LDX Plus Check Price | 5.9 | 13 | 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cleveland CG Check Price | 5.4 | 14 | 9 | No | Yes | No |
 | Cobra Ultradry Pro Check Price | 5.1 | 14 | 8 | No | No | Yes |
 | Cobra Ultralight Check Price | 5.13 | 14 | 11 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Datrek DG Lite II Check Price | 5.14 | 14 | 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Datrek Lite Rider Pro Check Price | 6 | 15 | 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Inesis Check Price | 7.3 | 15 | 8 | Yes | Yes | No |
 | Inesis Waterproof Check Price | 7.3 | 15 | 8 | Yes | Yes | No |
 | Maxfli Honors+ Check Price | 8.4 | 14 | 10 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Mizuno Tour Staff Mid Check Price | 9.6 | 5 | 7 | No | No | No |
 | Motocaddy Dry Series Check Price | 6.2 | 14 | 7 | No | Yes | No |
 | PING DLX Check Price | 8.3 | 15 | 15 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | PING Pioneer Check Price | 6.13 | 15 | 14 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | PING Traverse Check Price | 6.1 | 14 | 13 | No | Yes | Yes |
 | Srixon Z Cart Check Price | 6.2 | 14 | 10 | No | Yes | Yes |
 | Stewart Golf Staff Pro Check Price | 8.12 | 14 | 10 | No | Yes | No |
 | Stewart Golf Super Sport Check Price | 6.9 | 15 | 10 | Yes | Yes | No |
 | Sun Mountain C-130 Check Price | 7.13 | 14 | 13 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Sun Mountain Maverick Check Price | 5.15 | 14 | 11 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Taylormade Cart Lite Check Price | 5.7 | 14 | 8 | No | No | Yes |
 | TaylorMade Supreme Check Price | 6.11 | 15 | 11 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Tour Edge Xtreme 5.0 Check Price | 4.1 | 14 | 8 | No | Yes | Yes |
 | Wilson Staff Exo Check Price | 5.7 | 14 | 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | XXIO Lightweight Check Price | 6.3 | 4 | 8 | No | No | No |
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EXPERT TIP - Zippered Access to the Bottom of the Bag
About half of the bags we tested offer a zipper that provides access to the bottom of the bag. If you sometimes accidentally drop stuff between your dividers or if you have sensors attached to your grips, it's an especially useful feature.
More Tips
Trunk slammers should look for handles at the bottom of the bag and on the dividers so they don’t throw out their back lifting it. Do you carry a GPS or rangefinder? While many choose to keep it in the cart with them, the best cart bags of 2021 have a thoughtfully placed magnetic pocket to provide easy access. If you have an oversized putter grip, a separate putter well is beneficial. Be sure the bag you choose can accommodate the diameter of your putter grip. Don’t just count pockets. Consider quality and functionality. A pocket with limited accessibility is all but useless. Look for pockets that are easily accessible and can hold everything you need. If you frequently play courses with few or no water stations, consider a bag with dual water-bottle pouches or larger insulated pockets. If your bag gets wet, wipe it down, empty it and put it in a warm place. Allow it to fully dry. Some cart bags don’t work well on a push cart. However, Bag Boy has a patented design to ensure their bag remains upright and secure when matched up with their push cart.
How We Test
We're here to help you find the perfect cart bag to fit your needs.
To do that, we employ a thorough and fully independent testing process that leaves no feature unexplored, no detail unchecked, and no stone unturned.
Our Metrics
Cart Bags are tested head to head using rigorous protocols.
The metrics we consider when rating cart bags include Storage, Weight, Features, and Style.
THE BEST CART BAGS 2021 - RESULTS
| Product | Storage | Style | Weight | Features | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PING Pioneer Check Price | 2nd | 1st | 11th | 3rd | 95 |
| TaylorMade Supreme Check Price | 2nd | 7th | 11th | 1st | 93.5 |
| Cobra Ultralight Check Price | 7th | 5th | 3rd | 4th | 92.5 |
| PING DLX Check Price | 4th | 2nd | 24th | 1st | 92.5 |
| PING Traverse Check Price | 7th | 3rd | 11th | 4th | 92 |
| Srixon Z Cart Check Price | 5th | 7th | 11th | 7th | 91 |
| Sun Mountain Maverick Check Price | 5th | 7th | 3rd | 9th | 91 |
| Taylormade Cart Lite Check Price | 12th | 11th | 3rd | 7th | 90 |
| Sun Mountain C-130 Check Price | 7th | 7th | 21st | 9th | 88.5 |
| Maxfli Honors+ Check Price | 12th | 15th | 24th | 5th | 87 |
| Wilson Staff Exo Check Price | 7th | 11th | 3rd | 18th | 86.5 |
| BagBoy Chiller Check Price | 7th | 15th | 11th | 17th | 86 |
| Motocaddy Dry Series Check Price | 22nd | 5th | 11th | 13th | 86 |
| Stewart Golf Super Sport Check Price | 16th | 15th | 11th | 12th | 85.5 |
| XXIO Lightweight Check Price | 16th | 11th | 11th | 13th | 85.5 |
| Cleveland CG Check Price | 22nd | 15th | 3rd | 13th | 85 |
| Datrek DG Lite II Check Price | 14th | 15th | 3rd | 19th | 84.5 |
| Mizuno Tour Staff Mid Check Price | 1st | 3rd | 28th | 25th | 83.5 |
| Stewart Golf Staff Pro Check Price | 22nd | 11th | 24th | 9th | 83.5 |
| Cobra Ultradry Pro Check Price | 22nd | 15th | 2nd | 20th | 82.5 |
| BagBoy Revolver XP Check Price | 19th | 15th | 24th | 16th | 82 |
| Big Max Dri Lite Sport Check Price | 19th | 15th | 3rd | 25th | 80 |
| Datrek Lite Rider Pro Check Price | 15th | 23rd | 11th | 22nd | 79.5 |
| Burton LDX Plus Check Price | 16th | 25th | 3rd | 22nd | 79.5 |
| BagBoy Shield Check Price | 22nd | 23rd | 11th | 21st | 79 |
| Tour Edge Xtreme 5.0 Check Price | 26th | 25th | 1st | 27th | 76 |
| Inesis Check Price | 27th | 25th | 21st | 22nd | 75 |
| Inesis Waterproof Check Price | 27th | 28th | 21st | 28th | 70 |
Best Cart Bags of 2021 – FAQ
Q: How much should I spend?
A: Well-designed, fully featured cart bags generally start at $169.99 with the majority of our top choices being in the $250 to $300 range.
Q: Do I need an insulated pocket?
A: Maybe. However, if you’re on the course for the full 18 and travel with a selection of refreshments, an insulated pocket is essential. In general, when it comes to insulated pockets, bigger is better.
Q: Should I buy a bag from one of the big equipment brands?
A: While it’s true the top performers in our tests often come from names you know, many equipment OEMs source their bags from third parties like Sun Mountain and Vessel. However, rarely do these white-label offerings match the performance of the top bags in the supplier’s own lineup.
Q: Does the cart strap pass-through matter?
A: The short answer is yes. Cart strap pass-throughs ensure access to key storage spaces within the bag without limiting access to the vital pockets.
Q: Do dividers really matter on a cart bag?
A: Dividers are one of the most important features. Dividers that don’t have much space between each slot will cause snagging when taking your clubs out. Trust us … It gets annoying. Well-spaced dividers allow for easy extraction of your clubs.
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