Stand bags are so much better than cart bags in my opinion. Who needs that much storage space that they give up on comfort, ease of carrying, and overall weight? It really just doesn’t make sense to me. Everyone carries their bag at some point, even if it’s just from their car to the golf cart and back to the car.

All links/pictures that you click on will take you to the respective stand bag on eBay, which most likely has the best price available.

Anyway, let’s talk about who should be using a stand bag in the first place:

• kiddos/junior golfers: junior golfers all need stand bags, because they should be walking when they play. Plus, cart bags could weigh nearly just as much as them if they had it filled up with extra equipment. You’ll never see a kid with a cart bag.
• those that enjoy walking: if you like walking, even if its with a push cart, you should have a stand bag. They are easier to carry (you don’t say?!?) and easier to put on a push cart. People with cart bags always use that as an excuse to ride when they play!
• those that don’t need tons of storage: if you don’t need lots of room for storage, then why would you get a cart bag? Stand bags are fine for everyone unless there are lots of specific things that you need to keep in your bag at all times. I really can’t see why anyone (besides pros of course) would need a large bag. Surely there are some things that you can throw out of your current bag so that all of your equipment would fit in a small stand bag.
• those that want a more convenient bag: Even if you ride when you play, stand bags are just straight up more convenient in every way. You can’t always stand a cart bag up vertically. It could fall down and damage your clubs, which would be a huge waste of money. Plus, stand bags are easier to get out of your car, easier to transport to a cart, and easier to set down for a second if you need to.
• those that need/want more exercise: if you need more exercise, get a stand bag so that you don’t have an excuse to always ride. This will encourage you to get out with your bag and walk the course more often. So it’s great for both your golf game and your health!

Alright, so now we know who needs a stand bag. But what bag should you get? Great question. Let’s go back to another handy dandy bullet list to talk about what you should take into consideration when you buy a stand bag.

What you should take into consideration before buying the first stand bag you see:

• price: if a bag is over your budget, there is no point in looking at it. Let’s try to find a bag that is under the amount of money that you are willing to spend. I’ve split this article up into three different section depending on your budget.
• weight: looking for the lightest golf bags on the market? The more a bag weighs, the more storage it has typically, and the stronger the materials it is made out of. It’s a give and take. Personally, I’m a firm believer in getting a light to mid weight stand bag. I lean slightly towards lighter bags though, because I like the extra comfort when I am walking with my bag on my back.
• design: if you don’t like the look of the bag, you won’t get it. I’ll show you some bags with the coolest, most professional designs in my opinion. I’ll also pick the bags with the largest variety of designs, because I know everyone is different when it comes to what is attractive to them.
• brand: some brands make great bags. Some brands make crap bags. Let’s stick with the good ones, shall we?
• extras: looking for a bag with tons of extras? I’ll list every cool factor that a bag has in the bulleted lists under the bag description. Make sure to check them out!

So now you know if you need a stand bag. And you know what you should be looking for in a stand bag. Can we finally get into the best ones on the market? Yes we can! Depending on your budget, here are the best ones that you can buy. The first section is for those that hate spending more money than they have to. The section section is for those that like the best value equipment. And the third is for those lucky people that can afford the best of the best in stand bags.

The Decent Quality, Cheap Stand Bag: TaylorMade TM 5.0 Golf Bag

The TaylorMade 5.0 golf bag is a great bag on a tight budget. If you just can’t spend much money on a bag, but you want a decent quality stand bag, this is the one for you. It doesn’t have a ton of extras, so it’s not flashy in any shape or form. It’ll get the job done though, so that’s all that matters.

It’s not so cheap that the zippers will break or that the bag will start falling apart. It’s just a lower end bag made by a premium golf brand. If I had to get a new bag today, I would choose this one or the next bag (best on a budget).

• Designs/Colors: 6 decent designs, with my favorite one being the classic black/white combo
• Weight: Just 4.6 pounds, so very light!
• Dividers: Four different section for your clubs; dividers do not go all the way down
• Storage: plenty of storage with 2 large pockets on the side and 4 smaller ones for tees, valuables, etc
• Price: lowest priced bag that I would ever recommend. Any cheaper than this and you get into the off brands that will likely break down easily
• Cons: not many extras
• Extras: matching rain cover, cushioned hip pad for more comfort
• What sets this bag apart? High quality bag at a super low price compared to similar brands

The Best Value Golf Stand Bag: TaylorMade LifeStyle FlexTech Lite

If you want the best stand bag on a budget, the TaylorMade LifeStyle FlexTech stand bag is the one you should check out first. It looks way more professional than the 5.0 bag listed above. It also has tons more features. The 5.0 bag doesn’t even have a spot for a water bottle, so that shows how basic of a bag it is. Check out the bullet list below for all of the extra features that the FlexTech bag has, as it is pretty long!

Personally, I think the designs are far greater than similarly priced bags, which is a huge plus. You’ve gotta like the look/appearance of a bag that you carry around everywhere!

• Designs/Colors: Much more professional, more sleek look! My favorite it the all black one.
• Weight: 4.3 pounds, so even lighter than the first bag
• Dividers: 4 different dividers on the top of the bag, dividers DO go all the way down
• Storage: A tad bit less than the first bag, but still plenty. You don’t need to carry everything with you at all times. Just what you need! 8 pockets total.
• Price: Great bag on a budget. More than the first bag but not as much as the next one.
• Cons: Price varies with different designs/patterns.
• Extras: Dividers that go all the way down for keeping your clubs from getting stuck, water resistant pocket, insulated water bottle pocket, golf ball all pocket w/ panel for easy custom markings, tee pocket, pen sleeve, velcro glove holder, towel clip, umbrella sleeve, matching rain hood
• What sets this bag apart? Tons of extras, super professional looking, lightweight

The #1 Greatest Stand Bag in Golf: Ping Hoofer Lite

Ping Hoofer bags have been the most popular bags among amateurs for as long as I can remember. Most college golf teams have them, and many juniors do as well. Just a super well made bag with the perfect amount of storage and extras. At just four pounds, it’s hard to find a decent bag any lighter than this Ping Hoofer Lite Stand Bag.

A good rule of thumb when picking stand bags is to choose what the top amateurs pick. They are the ones that aren’t getting paid to use certain brands (yet), so they pick the overall best options in their opinions.

This bag doesn’t have too many design options, but all of the available ones looks great! I’m a big fan of the black, grey, and gold bag shown above.

• Designs/Colors: 5 great looking options. I’d honestly buy any of the 5; I don’t dislike any of the color schemes
• Weight: Just 4 pounds, the lightest one in this article!
• Dividers: 4 dividers on top, dividers don’t go all the way down
• Storage: plenty of storage, with one SUPER long, large pocket on the right side
• Price: a little pricey, but well worth it for the reliability, designs, and light weight overall
• Cons: not as many extras as you might expect
• Extras: new strap connector to make it easier to put on/take off, water bottle pocket, cushioned hip pad
• What sets this bag apart? lightest bag and best designs of the 3 in this article