Hot List

On The Road Again

By Max Adler

Photos By Jim Herity

September 2008

There's a motto that the Hot List judges at Golf Digest follow when arranging their travel schedules: "Never get on an airplane unless golf is involved." Years of adhering to this has taught us many things about golf-bag travel cases. Hard cases are unrivaled in club protection, but they're heavy, take up too much space in a rental car and are difficult to store. Hybrid travel cases are essentially regular golf bags with attachable helmet tops for air travel. A neat idea, but unless it's going to be the only bag in your life, what's the point? The 14 soft cases chosen here pack easily, store conveniently and are tough enough to keep your babies safe 99 percent of the time. Every golfer knows that waiting an extra 10 minutes at the oversize baggage claim is better than enduring four hours with a set of rental clubs. Bon voyage!

GOLD

Bag Boy

T-1000 / $170

There are four internal pockets in the T-1000 travel bag. If crooks want to go through your bag, they'll have to really dig. Other bonuses include a laundry bag and molded skid rails on the base for sliding up stairs and curbs.
bagboycompany.com

Club Glove

Last Bag / $280

The hard-plastic sled extends halfway up the back of the Last Bag, farther than any other soft case we've reviewed, improving protection. The DuPont Cordura nylon fabric and ITW Nexus buckles are durable.
clubglove.com

Nike

SQ / $220

The SQ features verticaltubes of foam with Velcro fasteners that wrap around your clubheads as tight as a boa constrictor. We prefer the coffin closure over a single zipper because it makes the bag a lot easier to load.
nikegolf.com

Ogio

Mammoth / $250

Not even the most careless baggage handler could toss a fully packed Mammoth. Yet four swivel wheels let you whisk it through a crowded airport effortlessly. Roomy enough to be your only checked bag on a week-long trip.
ogio.com