CART BAGS

Our Choice
Ogio Stinger II

For the second year in a row, Ogio’s Stinger gets our highest honor for the simple reason that it takes the idea of a cart bag beyond what it has been. The unique RAIL feature, which allows the bag to rest at an angle while strapped to the cart, makes access to clubs nearly effortless. The unique and ample eight-way club-specific divider on top makes that access equally easy. But where the Stinger really shines is the myriad features that surround its big-picture attributes. Consider the rain cover. Not content with zippers or elastic, the “Hoode” clips to the bag and springs shut to keep clubs dry. Pull it open to get a club and the jaws snap back once the club is retrieved. The ball pocket has the same zipperless hinging action, easily accessible from the side thanks to the bag’s angled position in the cart. Among its 11 accessible pockets are two fleece-lined valuables pouches, because Ogio knows, as we do, that one won’t be enough to handle cell phone, money clip, watch and ring. There’s even a sturdy handle to aid in lifting it out of your trunk ($200, ogio.com).

Highly Recommended Sun Mountain C-130 When it comes to golf bags, Sun Mountain gets it. The C-130 is golf-cargo management at its best. The 14-way divider keeps tall clubs and short clubs segmented, and an aluminum-plated, liftable compartment protects sunglasses and a cell phone while letting the cart strap slide underneath ($160, sunmountain.com).

Recommended Bag Boy NXO Deluxe Here’s something different: Thanks to 14 rubber grips in the neck, clubs don’t bang against each other and won’t fall out even if the bag is dumped upside down. But it’s easy for the golfer to remove and reinsert clubs. Twelve pockets and two external sleeves make this bag more than a gimmick ($145, bagboycompany.com).

CARRY BAGS

Editors’ Choice
Sun Mountain Lightning ES

The Lightning ES is Editors’ Choice for two years running for one reason: It does what a golf bag is supposed to do. Weighing less than five pounds, it’s light but sturdy, with legs (connected by ball joints) that have nonslip footings and a nylon frame made of the same material used to make batting cages. It’s functional, featuring 11 pockets, including a unique, saddlebag-like wraparound pocket that easily accommodates a full rainsuit, a change of clothes or enough golf balls to start your own driving range. It’s smart, too, with legs that stay put when you place the bag on the cart and clear panels in the attached rain cover that expedite club selection. Finally, this bag is innovative: The nifty rotating top handle not only gives you a place to grab as you set the bag down (instead of grabbing for that elusive handle on the spine), it also helps the straps stay balanced, a must for any carry bag. All that and an insulated cooler pocket. The only thing missing is a caddie to carry it for you ($160, sunmountain.com).

Highly Recommended Ogio Grom Ogio succeeds because it rethinks everything, even the obvious. That’s why the Grom is a success. Every feature, from its eight pockets to its supplemental anti-twist cart strap, is in exactly the right place. The automatically retracting ball pocket is so silly/smart it makes you wonder what the guy who originally suggested a zipper was thinking ($140, ogio.com).

Highly Recommended Ping Hoofer Extreme It’s easy to take a bag’s strap for granted. Ping hasn’t. An internal mechanism keeps the retractable strap elevated while the bag is standing so you don’t have to bend down to pick it up. The eight-way, full-length divider keeps clubs untangled. Five roomy pockets, including one with access to the bag’s interior ($150, pinggolf.com).