Sun Mountain Matchplay Bag and Travel Bag - 2024 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

About Sun Mountain

Sun Mountain has been in business for over 40 years. As a brand, they focus on functional designs, quality materials, and durability that are built by golfers for golfers. Additionally, their bags are also assembled at their headquarters in Missoula, Montana, offering styles, colors, sizes, and options not found with many brands. Many Sun Mountain bags also boast premium features such as fine leather, ballistic-style nylon, premium zippers, waterproof bags, and even carbon fiber legs.

All of this to say, Sun Mountain has been around for a while and they want to see how their products perform in the hands of our testers.

The Testing Opportunity
We are happy to offer two different products for this testing opportunity. The first is their newly released Matchplay Stand Bag.

The Matchplay Stand Bag is available in three color options, has a 4-way top, and weighs in at only 5.5 lbs. Those are just some of the basics; for a list of specifications, check out the Forum sign-up page where we have the full details listed.

The second product available for testing is the ClubGlider Travel Bag. This bag has been featured in Most Wanted testing and has a core standout feature. This feature is extendable legs and wheels that support the entire weight of the bag and its contents, meaning no lifting, bending, or lugging your golf bag and its contents around the airport.

Available in four different models, all of which have their own color options and pricing, the ClubGlider series claims to offer comfort, functionality, and ease of use that other travel bags do not.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@cciciora13 - Matchplay Bag

@2puttbogey - Matchplay Bag

@"Mr. 72" - Travel Bag

@hoppman - Travel Bag

[cciciora13]

Sun Mountain Match Play Stand Bag - Official MyGolfSpy review by "cciciora13 

 

Introduction 

Hello fellow MGS enthusiasts. My name is Chris and I want to thank MGS and Sun Mountain for this wonderful opportunity. I have been a long-time reader of MGS and the community truly feels like a home and I am honored to give back once again with this review.    

A little bit about me 

My wife and I currently reside in Franklin, WI just outside Milwaukee... (yes I’m a BEAR fan behind enemy lines). We also have a three-year-old golden retriever named Henry and welcomed our daughter to the world a few months ago. I am originally from Chicago, IL and play some great golf courses between the two locations. When I’m not on the golf course, I work as a Physical Therapist. Golf has always been a passion of mine and I have been playing for about 25 yrs. (High School Golf Team and University club golf team as well). Looking at my Handicap I am playing about a 6 at the moment. I typically shoot in the upper 70’s to around 80, with a good day getting me in at 74/75. I have always considered ball striking one of my strong suits and typically hit my Sub 70 irons fairly well.  I have utilized different types of golf bags throughout my golf Journey- Going from my Titleist High school stand bag which was carried through many rounds on my back, to an Ogio stand bag that my Dad gifted to me after he won it at a golf outing.

   

 

 Current Bag

My current golf bag is a Tour Edge Hot Launch 4 cart bag that I purchased from PGA superstore a few years ago. I figured that I really don't carry the sticks when I play anymore and typically utilize my pushcart when playing by myself or ride in a cart when I play18 holes with my buddies. It has 14 dividers on the top and plenty of pockets for all my golf balls and accessories. One of my favorite pouches is the magnetic closure pouch which houses my Range Finder- I find it very easy to reach in and out of there in between shots. The cooler pocket is a nice size too as I like putting water in there to keep cold (and to be honest a beer or two when playing with my buddies). It is nowhere near a perfect bag and I will admit I do miss a stand as the Tour Edge Bag has a tendency to tip over if its not on even ground or if it’s windy. The strap is also very awkward when putting it over your shoulder to carry your club from the car to/from the car. 

  

  

Sun Mountain MatchPlay Bag:

 I am super excited to test out the Sun Mountain Match Play Stand Bag. Sun Mountain has a history of producing some of the finest quality golf bags and I have envied my buddies Sun Mountain LS stand bag since he got it a few years ago. Looking at the pictures; this thing looks like a really high-end bag- appears comparable to Stitch SL2 bag or Ghost Maverick Anyday stand bag both constructed with quality and elegancy in mind. It has a 4-way divider top, and appears to have the same type magnetic encloser pouch to house my range finder. Interestingly- it is a single strap so walking with the bag on your back may be a challenge. I have alot of stuff in my current golf bag (admittedly too much) so I’m hoping its nine pockets will hopefully store quite a bit of my stuff in my current bag. I may miss my cooler pocket from my old bag, but I hope this will make up for it with its stand, and the other storage pockets that it has available.

  

 

There are a few things I hope to accomplish and test during this review progress: 

1: How is the quality of the materials and the longevity of the bag?  

For a 369.99-dollar price tag, I’m sure it will be of quality, but will it seem to be long lasting? - My guess is yes as Sun Mountain has produced quality bags for years. 

2: How does this stand bag work in a variety of settings? 

Attached to a conventional golf cart, on a push/pull cart, and walking with it over your shoulder. I hope to give you a feel for how it performs in each setting. 

3: How is the functionality of the 4 way divider top, and nine pockets in storing all of your golf items?

 I have almost too many items in my golf bag so I should have no problem filling those pockets up and seeing how it all fits and how heavy the bag gets. 

For the Sun Mountain Matchplay Stand Bag to become my permanent golf bag- It must easily hold my 14 golf clubs and most of my balls/accessories that I have in my current bag. It needs to be versatile to easily attach to and from both a golf cart and pushcart as I like to do both. It needs to have a nice feel and ease of use and seem durable enough to last a few years. It should also be easy to transport to and from my car.  

My initial presumption is that the Matchplay bag will accomplish all these things but time will tell! I look forward to you following along and if there is anything you want to see particularly tested or reviewed, please reach out! 

 

First Impressions: 9/10 

The box with the Matchplay bag arrived over the weekend and I couldn’t wait to take it out. Nothing special with the packaging- just a nice sized box with the golf bag covered by a plastic bag. I really liked the Made in the USA tag on the front because I could see that being a draw for some people to buy a Sun Mountain Bag. The QR on the Tag takes you to the website for specs and details about the Match Play Bag. The other QR code takes you to register the product for warranty purposes: (https://www.sunmountain.com/collections/matchplay-collection/products/matchplay-stand-bag) 

   

I will say the blue duravinyl with the baby blue accents on the bag look really good. It looks sharp and gives that classy modern look that I think Sun Mountain is going for with this bag. I was impressed as to how light the bag was as well with it coming in at a little over 5 lbs.  

    

 

The legs appear to be really stable and hold the bag up very well. I had no issues with the legs opening and closing in a variety of positions when testing it in my backyard. The single strap is comfortable as well and was easily adjustable at both ends to get the right fit over your shoulder. The rain hood is made up of the same duravinyl material and helps provide that modern but rustic look. Nothing special but completes the look of the bag. 

 

I was impressed with the amount of room provided by the pockets and initially liked the variety of the nine pockets on the back. They seem to come in different ranges and sizes to allow for placement of everything from balls to tees- to shoes or a jacket in the large side pocket. I really liked the magnetic pocket and will think it will hold my rangefinder quite well during the round, just as the Tour Edge bag does.  

  

 

 

One of my favorite things that I came upon during my initial looks at the bag was the paisley print liner in each of the pockets. It is a small addition but really provides an upscale classy look and helps to justify that 369.99 price tag.  I didn’t think that I was going to appreciate it as much as I do because it looks so good! 

 

After putting my clubs on the bag, I’m convinced that the looks only got better. The red accent strips along with the baby blue really pop. The 4-way divider seems to be put together really well and looks as it will be durable over time. The Sun Mountain logo is on a nice rubber/leather patch at the top of the bag and again gives it a upscale classy look. I don’t have too many negatives on the bag upon my initial impressions. Maybe the only negative may be that some of the bigger pockets are initially stiff due to the duravinyl. I’m sure they will loosen up over time but at the moment it is quite difficult fitting some of the bigger accessories in the bag such as shoes.  

 

Look forward to get this on the course for testing!

 

Aesthetics ( 19 out of 20)  

This bag looks really sharp. I really think the blue color with the very slight red and grey accents gives the Matchplay bag a really unique look. The duravinyl appears it will hold up for a long time and it had no problem conquering the rain when I had a rainy round a two weeks ago. The SunMountain tag on top of the bag looks unique as well and gives it a classy look for a high-end price tag bag. I still keep coming back to the print on the inner linings of the pockets on the bag and like how it looks. (I know no one should care about the pocket linings as you can’t see it from the outside but it looks really cool.) The rain cover did let me down however as it was really stiff and I had a hard time covering my clubs with it. I’ll just keep covering my clubs with the umbrella if it rains again as that seemed to work a little better. The handles were very comfortable and places in easy to reach places to help getting the bag in/out of a car and on/off a golf cart. 

 

 

 

The Numbers (17 out of 20) 

Coming from a 14 way divider on my old bag, the 4 way divider left me wanting more. It initially felt fine the first round or two without getting any clubs stuck, but the more I used this bag the more it became clear that getting out my putter for use was a pain. I liked having a unique spot for my putter in my last bag (it has a wider SuperStroke grip on it), as it did not get caught up against the other clubs. With the 4-way divider not only did the putter get caught up, but I felt at times some of my irons would get caught up as well. Again, not the end of the world and may be personal preference for some, but it was enough for me to be annoyed by it a little bit. The real positives with this bag are all of the pockets that they were able to produce in such a small frame. I regrettably carry quite a bit of stuff in my bag from balls to my shoes to even sun screen and bug spray. This bag was able to hold all of it. The personal pouch in the bottom can hold quite as bit as it fit all of the balls from my old bag and there is plenty of room to spare. I was really impressed with how much this bag could hold and how it was still easy to carry for short distances with the single strap. I had no issues getting this bag from my car to the courses/golf cart. It actually took up less space in my car than my old bag which was quite nice as well. 

 

 

On The Course (15 out of 20) 

The Sun Mountain MatchPlay bag has no problem standing in a variety of lies on the course. To me it seemed very stable even on uphill/downhill lies and the legs for the stand were quite sturdy and never had any instances where they did not open up. The bag worked very well with my push cart as well. It was easy to get on/off the push cart where the legs did not get in the way. With a few stand bags I utilized in the past, the legs would open up when trying to get the bag on the push cart and impede its ability to sit on the cart. This is not a problem with the MatchPlay bag. It worked admirably as well when it applies to the golf cart. No issue getting the bag on/off the cart and the strap on the golf cart fit nicely between the handle to ensure a proper fit. I also really enjoyed the magnetic enclosure on one of the pouches. It carried my range finder quite well and I had no trouble getting it in/out of the pouch when I needed it between shots. 

 

 

 If they wanted to appeal to walkers who like to carry their clubs with this bag- I feel like a double carrying strap would have made more sense. I tried walking with this bag on a few rounds for 9 holes, and by hole 4-5 I was getting tired of putting it on the single shoulder. For a company that has a history of making great golf bags, I’m not sure if this was an oversight, but a double strap would make more sense. That is one of my big negatives for the MatchPlay Bag.  

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (8 out of 10) 

This appears to be a very long-lasting bag. The Duravinyl appears very durable and I think the color combination of the navy blue with the grey and red accent colors is very sharp. I like the small touches of the print inside the pockets and the pockets were very plentiful throughout the bag. For a 369.99 bag however- there should be an option to have a double strap to help carry the bag- especially a bag with standing legs. I am not the biggest fan of a 4-way top either- as I feel it works better when placed on the ground versus a cart. The clubs get a little tangled on the cart as it is harder to see where the club is placed versus when the bag is on the ground. A cooler pocket would have been a nice addition as well as that would help keep drinks cool on a hot day. The single drink pouch on the bag now is small and it would be hard to fit a bigger water bottle into it.  
 

Play it or Trade it? (17 out of 20) 

I will continue the point that this is a very high quality bag. The materials are of quality and seem to give affirmation for the high $369.99 price tag of the bag. I have gotten a few compliments from other golfers and a starter on the looks of the bag as pictures don’t give it justice- it is a really cool looking bag. And that in and of itself provided confidence before even taking a shot. When I walk, I normally utilize a push cart so the single strap is not an issue for me but could be for other golfers. I liked the abundance of pockets in such a light small frame bag. I will continue to play the bag. I will just have to get used to the 4-way divider and no longer having a cooler pocket for beverages on a hot day.  

Conclusion 

The Sun Mountain MatchPlay Bag is of superior quality made from a very good looking duravinyl material. The accents in the pockets affirm the $369.99 price tag as well. There are an impressive number of pockets throughout the bag that are able to hold a good amount of accessories in a light weight frame. The bag is easy to get on and off both a golf cart and a push cart and does not limit their use. Unfortunately, the bag is designed with a single carry strap- which may limit golfers who prefer to carry their clubs. The 4-way divider top may also deter golfers who prefer or are coming from a 14-way divider. Overall this is a very high quality bag which lives up to the $369.99 price tag, however could benefit from some alterations which would improve the bag’s accessibility to a wider range of golfers. 
 

Final Score (85 out of 100)

Edited July 24 by cciciora13

[2puttbogey]

Sun Mountain Matchplay Golf Bag Official Review by 2puttbogey

 

Introduction

Looking forward to doing another My Golf Spy review. I am 49 years old and live, work , play on the island of Maui. My home course is The Dunes at Maui Lani. 

I am fortunate enough to get out and play 2-3 times a week. I am a 10 handicap with putting and around the green play as my strengths. Tee to green has a lot of variance from day to day. 
 

What I’ll be looking for in the Review 

J currently use a Sun Mountain 4.5 golf bag so I’m familiar with their products.

I have not looked at any descriptions of the Matchplay bag so I will not have any bias as to what the bag will be, and how it compares to my current bag.I will try not to make too many direct comparisons and focus more on the functionality of the Matchplay bag. I’m typically in a cart when I play, but prefer stand bags for practice purposes. So what it can hold, and the access to what I need will be a critical element to how the bag will work for me personally. As soon as I receive the bag I will update with first impressions and thoughts. 
 

Link to Unboxing 

 

First impressions 

8/10

After unboxing the first word that come to mind were 

• Quality 
• Small
• Plain

I will start with the plain look of it . There’s not a lot of color or graphics on the bag. This is not good or bad, but normally there’s more branding on the Sun Mountain bags. There is no branding on the sides like you normally see.

There is not much coloring with only some grey , and some red striping. It’s a plain look, but it also gives it a classy look. So if you like simple and not a busy look this is it.

Small is another of my initial thoughts. Again not a bad thing as this is a bag made to be carried. With that said the top looks small, and makes me wonder if all my clubs will fit.

Although the overall footprint is small there’s plenty of pockets to hold what you need to get through a round.

 

Although the overall footprint is small there’s enough pocket space to accommodate what you need . The main pockets on the front are quite large.

The top pocket is lined with a velvet like material, and has a magnetic closure. The  lower pocket can accommodate more than enough balls. Under the carry pad is another pocket that can hold more items and has a water bottle slot. The valuables pocket is in the typical place on the bag and is quite large, and is actually split into an upper and lower half. 
 

This is something that I’m not sure how I feel about, and will be seeing how it works though out  testing. That povkyis part of the largest pocket on the bag that holds the rain hood. So for what is a smaller bag the storage is very good.

The final thing that stood out was the quality. The material looks premium, a leather like look. The towel ring and two additional rings to attach things to are metal, not plastic.

The zippers are also of good quality and don’t feel like they’re going to break. These touches give the bag a premium quality and feel. Overall the bag feels very classy.

Unfortunately there were a couple things that I did not like. It’s a personal preference, but I like 14 way tops to keep the clubs separated and easy to get in and out. This bag only having 4 way separation will be an adjustment. The other is that it is only a single carry strap. For a bag that is clearly designed to be a carry bag I feel that’s a bit of an oversight on their part.  We’ll see how things go the next few weeks. Perhaps they won’t seem like such a flaw as I use the bag.

 

Aesthetics

20/20

My favorite thing about this bag is its looks. I have called it plain, but not in a bad way. The color scheme is simple, and the materials give a premium feel. The use of metal and not plastic for all the attachment locations, and understated branding gives it a classy look. Ther only place it says Sun Mountain is on the front on a small piece just above the handle.

The only other place with any branding is just under the handle where it says Matchplay, the model of the bag.

The pictures in the first impressions section shows the bag off and the simplicity of the color scheme, and the classy look of the bag so I will not repost them. Between the quality feel , and classy look the aesthetics are one of my favorite things about this bag.

The Numbers 

16/20

34– The bag is 34” tall

8- The top is 8”by 8”

4- The are 4 pockets with zipper closures One large pocket on the side with a rain hood inside that can be used to store any gear. A lined valuables pocket built into the large pocket. The  pocket typically used for balls on the front of the bag. A lastly a pocket on the side under the hip pad.

3- There are 3 pouches. One for water and two small ones on the sides of the large pocket typically used for balls.

1- A magnetic lined pocket above ball pocket. It’s lined with the same material as the valuables pocket. I used it for tees and glove storage, but I believe it’s commonly used to hold the rang finder.

3- Three metallic rings to your towel and any other trinkets you like. 

4- The top is divided only 4 ways. 

1-  Only a single carry strap.

The storage on the bag is plentiful for a small bag. The zippers are great quality, and I love the magnetic pocket. The single strap is only of the things that kept it from being a 10, along with the 4 way top. I don’t like searching to find the iron I’m looking for, and everything just seems on top of each other. 
 

OnCourse/Range

16/20

Because I didn’t carry the bag for a round, I’m army experience carrying it around at the range for feedback.

Like everything there are good and bad. So there are things that are good and bad when using the Matchplay bag. I’ll start with the couple things that I found as a negative. The reoccurring issue is the single strap. I just can’t get past that the bag is designed with being carried in mind, and there is not a double strap. I find it so much easier on the body, along with far more comfortable with a double strap. The other is how congested everything feels when the bag is on a cart. In fairness it could be due to the makeup of my bag, with a driver, fairway wood, and two hybrids all with covers. Along with a LAB DF 2.1 this could be part of the issue. Even with that said the irons due tend to bunch up, and makes it difficult to find the one you’re looking for.

Even with a couple issues overall the Matchplay is still has many good aspects. When using on the range with the stand it does make the top more accessible, and that makes it easier to find the club that you want. The pad that rests on the lower back/hip area is comfortable.

All of the pockets are accessible while using the stand and while on a cart, so if you ride you can get at whatever you need. The stand mechanism is the classic pedal at the bottom of the bag that pushes the legs out. No need to reinvent the wheel here it’s a system that works.

With classic functionality, and easier access to the top of the bag I found it to be more functional at the range used as a stand bag. That is not surprising because it is designed to be used in that way, but I will not get over the single strap.

The Good, Bad . and In Between 

9/10

There’s only one thing that falls in the bad category here. Any guesses?…The single strap. I’ve touched on it in basically every section, but it is really a big oversight.

Falling in between is the valuables pocket. It’s large and can hold a lot of things. What makes it in between is that it’s split into a top and bottom section.

The 4 way divider falls in between for me as well. I prefer 14 way, but I understand that saving the weight on a carry style bag is important. It was also easier to access while using the stand.The rain hood is what it is. I like that it’s attached with only Velcro and no snaps . It’s made of the same material as the rest of the bag, and fits snugly. It serves its purpose and will work just fine.

There is a lot of good about this bag. First and foremost is that it’s great quality. The material is is leather like, and should have great durability over time. The pockets are plentiful, and secured with strong stable zippers, and the magnetic closure is very secure. The stand legs are stable, and open and close easily. The subtle.branding, and use of metal rather then plastic gives the Matchplay bag a classy and quality look and feel.

Play It or Trade It

15/20

Im actually being somewhat generous on the rating here. Right away I knew this is a bag I would just walk by in the store and not even considered.  With that said I took an open minded approach and reviewed it as a bag it was designed to be. There is one glaring issue with the Matchplay bag, and I’ve hit on it in pretty much every section, the single strap. This alone would keep me from using the bag as my regular gamer.  Even though I didn’t care much for the 4 way top it’s not much of an issue when on the ground using the legs, but was when on a cart. So as much as I like the look and appreciate the quality, the Matchplay will not continue as my regular bag.

Conclusion

With a price tag of $369.99 the Sun Mountain Matchplay golf bag has a couple flaws that would not make it worth the price. The main flaw would be only having a single carry strap. Although not a deal breaker, but something I would prefer is only having a 4 way divider. These two things hold this bag back due to being different to carry around and clubs clustered together if on a cart. The bag is light even with a set of clubs, and there’s plenty of storage. The material is high quality and look is classy. The stand unit is stable. I just can’t get beyond the single carry strap on a bag clearly designed with walking the course in mind.

Final Grade 84/100

 

Edited July 19 by 2puttbogey

["Mr. 72"]

Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian - Official MyGolfSpy review by "Mr. 72"

Introduction

I've basically played the game of golf every Saturday and Sunday of my entire adult life. I also played sometimes during the week as my job in sales allowed (DEMANDED?) that. I always thought that when I retired, I would play everyday. However, I just turned 62, and with a few years of retirement under my belt, I realized that playing everyday is just too tiring for me. Two days in a row is fine. Three is OK. Four is a stretch.

I've been on at least one golf trip every year for the last 30 years. I can't remember being on an airplane without my clubs. ...up until last year. The reason: My wife fell in love with Disney World, and we also went again this year.

I've been fortune enough to travel to many bucket list courses including ones in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, and quite a few in the U.S. 2020 was going to be the best year of all with golf trips planned to England, Scotland and Cabot Cliffs, BUT Covid had other plans. Long buddy trips have slowed, and the days of 18, 36, 36, 36, 18 are over.

When I vacation with my wife, it's usually on the east coast, and I typically play every other day. I get up at the butt-crack of dawn for the first tee time while she sleeps-in a bit then heads to the beach or pool. We meet for a late breakfast or lunch. It just works perfectly for us. Last year was our first year at Pawleys Island. I can't believe that I waited that long because Caledonia and True Blue are REALLY good. We're going again this year, and it won't be our last time.

The point is that I travel with my clubs on a regular basis, so I'm really excited to be a tester for the Sun Mountain travel bag!

I've had three travel bags. I don't know what the first one was, but it was garbage. The next was a nice Ogio bag. It was black and yellow which was nice because it stood out among all the black bags. It ended up getting a wear hole in the bottom of it, but it was still serviceable. I kept it in case my wife ever wanted to take her clubs on vacation.

She's never used it, of course, and it's somewhere in my basement.... I think.

About 20 year ago, I bought a red Club Glove Last Bag and a Stiff Arm. I don't know why everyone seems to like black travel bags, but I'm glad they do! The Club Glove is a EXCELLENT travel bag, and mine is still in great shape. I don't have a problem dragging it around an airport. In fact, I still drag a two wheeled suitcase behind me. I don't see the need, or really even like the "new" ones with four wheels.

I've been a big fan of Sun Mountain for many years. My first good carry/stand bag was a Sun Mountain. I won a match play tournament and received enough money to buy the first iteration of the SM Speedcart. Soon after, I bought the SM Speedcart Bag.  I'm also on my second SM C130.

I think I first saw the ClubGlider travel bag on some invention show on The Golf Channel. I kind of thought it was just a "reinventing the wheel" kind of thing, so I didn't think much of it. Actually, the glider mechanism didn't look very durable. I thought surely, it's going to break or get bent sooner rather than later.

As a big fan of SM, I have no doubt that this travel bag is going to be a quality product, and at this point, there are three main things about this bag that are of interest to me:

1. Is the material durable enough to withstand many years of use?  ...Most likely.

2. Is the glider mechanism easy to open and fold back up?  ...It better be!

3. Is it that much easier to pull around the airport/escalators to warrant an upgrade from a standard two wheel travel bag?  ...Highly questionable.

We shall see! 

Thank you, MGS, for this opportunity!

Unboxing/First Impressions

Size:  When I saw the box sitting in my garage, my first impression was:  This thing is small!
The box seemed too small to hold a travel bag. After I removed the bag from the box, I still thought the bag was pretty small comparedtonthe CGLB next to it. I looked up the dimensions of both bags which seemed to be similar.

As you can see in the pictures, the Sun Mountain ClubGlider (SMCG) is a bit smaller than my Club Glove Last Bag (CGLB). As previously mentioned, I bought my CGLB decades ago, so I might have found the dimensions of the newer Club Glove bags, and the new CGLB is smaller than the original?

However, when I laid the bags flat I saw one distinct advantage to the Sun Mountain. It's taller. Until just recently, I couldn't remove the head of my driver, so in packing a travel bag with a Stiff Arm, there is just enough room to zip up the CGLB.

Weight:  I measured the SMCG at about 11 pounds which is about 1 pound heavier than the CGLB - an insignificant difference to me.

Base:  The base of the CGLB is significantly larger than that of the SMCG. This is probably because it enables you to stand the bag on end which is not necessary for the SMCG. However, the larger base also probably provides more protection to the bottom of your golf bag as it's being tossed around.

Quality

Material - CGLB 1000 Denier Nylon vs. SMCG Ballistic-style nylon:  I have no idea which is supposed to be better, but the CGLB just feels a bit more durable to the touch.

Padding: Both bags have full padding around the top of the bag. I would say the the SMCG's padding is slightly better.

Wheels: Both are made of hard rubber. The CGLB are smaller and are housed more fully into the base of the bag. This potentially leaves them more protected from damage by baggage handlers.

Handles: The straps are a bit narrower on the SMCG. They are attached by two rivets as opposed to four. Each have a velcro cover to hold the two handles together.

Zippers:  Both are smooth and sturdy with the nod going the CGLB. I have doubts on how long the rubber pull tab will last on the SMCG.... especially compared to the metal puller of the CGLB.

In conclusion, both of these bags are made with quality materials and are quality products. BUT, the SMCG is just a step below overall.

Next up: Let's load these bags up with couple a different bags and gear!

Final Review AND Recommendations

I was very happy to get the nod on this review because ever since I first saw the Sun Mountain ClubGlider, I wondered how good it really was and if it was better than the Club Glove Last Bag. That is really what this test was all about for me, and quite frankly, they are the only two travel bags that I would consider buying.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the SMCG in it's natural environment - an airport!

I will be traveling to Pawleys Island in mid August which is after the final review due date. I really want to see how it will handle going over curbs, changes in floor textures and escalators. These are the only instances that could downgrade my thoughts on this travel bag that I can see.

The Good - It's all about the glider.

I cannot overstate this. The glider system is simply brilliant and brilliantly simple! It certainly exceeded my skeptical expectations. Engaging and disengaging it is quick and easy.

Overall, I think this is a great travel bag. Even if the bag struggles a bit in the above circumstances compared to a typical "drag behind you" bag, I think the handling capabilities of the glider system in all other situations is worth it! The ease of packing the bag, the lighter pull weight and "turn on a dime" maneuverability are big advantages that no other manufacturer offers.

The bag is made with quality materials and should last may years. A ballistic-style nylon is used for durability and the zippers are smooth and sturdy. It has two exterior pockets for storage. The caster wheels and hard rubber wheels roll smoothly. It holds a fully packed golf bag and two pairs of shoes. The SMCG has everything you're looking for in a travel bag!

The Bad

The bottom of the SMCG could be bigger to provide a bit more protection to your golf bag. Also, if you travel with a large cart bag, you probably want to get the model that's bigger than the Meridian. The main problem that I see it the material used on the back of the padded top. The material used there doesn't seem as durable. It certainly isn't the same ballistic-style nylon that's used throughout the rest of the bag and is touted in their online description. Finally, the overall quality seems to be just a step below that of the Club Glove Last Bag.

My Recommendation

This is really tough. I really think the CGLB is made with better materials throughout the bag. From the nylon used to the zipper pulls, it's just a higher quality travel bag than the SMCG. However, I really like the glider system even better than I thought I would.

So here's what I would do. If I was a much younger man, I would buy the CGLB all over again. After decades of use, I think the higher quality trumps the glider mechanism. I'm 62 years old, and I still don't have an issue dragging my CGLB from economy parking to the baggage check. I also think I could give it to a 20 year old, and it could probably be his "last bag". He MIGHT need to replace the wheels at some point.

However, if I was in the market for a new travel bag as an older man, I would buy the SMCG. It IS a quality bag, and I would be SHOCKED as well a highly disappointed if it didn't last the rest of my lifetime.

In a perfect world, the ClubGlider would have the quality of the Club Glove, but....  Or if my perceived lesser quality of the SMCG isn't accurate then the SMCG is a no-brainer.

The Sun Mountain ClubGlider should definitely be on your short list of travel bags. Check it out. If you think it will last long enough for you, then it's the travel bag to buy.

Thanks again, MyGolfSpy!

 

 

Edited July 20 by "Mr. 72"

[hoppman]

Thanks to MGS for choosing me for this test. I am leaving on Monday the 10th for a tourist/golf trip to Ireland where I will play 5 6 rounds of golf in the 10 days we are there. I usually travel by airplane 2-3 times a year to play golf and 6-7 times a year by car. I don't use a travel bag when traveling by car unless I plan to fly out of another airport to return home. I currently live in Lafayette Co., my wife and I have lived here for 27 years and probably won't be moving anywhere else.

I will give you my thoughts on the Sun Mountain Club Glider travel bag. I will be comparing it to my current Club Glove travel bag and several other travel bags I have had in the past. I want to see how well it packs with not only my golfbag but also additional items I put in the travel bag such as shoes, raingear and balls.

I am looking forward to the ease of use of The Club Glider travel bag. Coming off of back fusion surgery in January, I am hoping the Club Glider will be easier for me to maneuver around airports without putting extra strain on my back and shoulders. However, anyone that flies out of Denver International Airport (DIA) knows, moving around the airport usually involves dodging lines of passengers, construction and who knows what else you might find when you get there. I have heard the Dublin airport isn't as hard to get around, but we will see.

BTW, my profile pic is a shot of the Edinburgh airport after the 150th Open Championship. These were all the lost golf bags that many attendees, including one of my friends never received and, in his case, it was almost a month after returning before his clubs ever showed up. I though my clubs were lost as they didn't show up on the conveyor belt until another passenger said to go look around a hidden corner and there were stacks of golf club travel bags.

Please feel free to ask any questions about the bag as we go along.

Unboxing and initial thoughts on my Sun Mountain Club Glider Travel Bag

I was quite surprised by the size of the box the Glider came in. I expected it to be a much bigger box. This tells me that golfers with limited room can fit this somewhere in their living space if it is limited. The Glider came wrapped in plastic with plastic around the glider legs. Standard stuff, or at least is should be.  Once I pulled the plastic off, I opened it up completely so that I could see what I was dealing with. The color I received was black/red/port, the port color just looked like faded red to me but then again, color in a travel has no impact on the quality of the product as most likely the bag will get dirty or damaged at some point.

This would probably be my 4 or 5th travel bag. I have had a hardcase years ago, it was flimsy but solid enough to protect my clubs, but if you were traveling or somewhere with limited space, it was hard to store it, it didn't even fit in the back of a friend of mines XTerra years ago. I had a Bag Boy brand once, had lots of padding at the top, but no protection on the bottom so after 1 trip, it had holes in the bottom of it. I also had some cheap nylon only bag years ago, it barely lasted one trip and I realized it didn't protect anything.

My current travel bag is a Club Glove, probably 7-8 years old and has held up very well, no holes in the fabric, just dirty from being loaded and unloaded from planes. The gold color really didn't avoid the dirt. My main comparison will be against my Club Glove travel bag as it is the one I am most familiar with.

 

Fresh out of the box with all the tags on it, most of which don't tell you much of anything.

The dogs were interested in it once I got it out and setup. You can see the legs, they seem pretty strong. When the bag is brand new you have to pull on the legs firmly to get them popped out and pull firmly to get them seated back in the plastic base as well. The one place I see a problem is on an escalator, the legs probably need to be retracted when going up or use an elevator instead, nah!

Here are the Glider and my Club Glove next to each other.

I first compared the padding at the top of the Glider with my Club Glove. The Glider has much more padding at the top and I felt comfortable with putting my clubs in and leaving my driver head on. That being said, I do use a Stiff Arm that I have had from my Club Glove, I have always used the Stiff Arm since I bought my Club Glove and never had an issue, I am hoping it stays that way.

The length of the two bags are about the same, weight seemed similar, seeing as how old my Club Glove is, I don't know if the new ones are as well built or not.

Here is the biggest difference in the two bags from a protections standpoint, the Club Glove has the whole heavy duty plastic piece across the bottom and the wheels are recessed in the plastic. The Glider bottom doesn't come all the way around the bottom, that is just heavy duty nylon/vinly on the bottom. Also the wheels on the Glider are out to the side and appear like they could get damaged easier in transit if some baggage handler threw it in sideways or just drug it out of the cargo bay.

Now here is the convenience part of the Glider that makes it the Glider, the pop out legs, they are hidden and recessed inside the protective plastic. They feel firm enough to me to hold up quite a bit of weight, unless someone sat on the bag. I didn't see any weight limit for the bag Glider wheels but it does have a nice cross member on there to keep it rigid.

Here is a shot of the booklet that came with it, it looks very dated as the picture on there doesn't appear to be a bag that would protect much IMO.

I am now less than 2 hours from heading to the Airport to catch a direct flight to Dublin for this trip. The travel bag is fully packed with my clubs, golf shoes, some rain gear and a few other things. One thing I did notice is I couldn't get a pair of shoes in each of the pockets in the travel bag, one side was larger than the other so I could get a full pair in that pocket, 9.5 shoe size, the other pocket I could only get one shoe in and put the other shoe inside the bag. My Club Glove will only fit one shoe in each side pocket.

One place where I think the Glider cheaped out on is the pocket to hold the owner's information. I was looking at pictures of previous models and it seemed like the pocket protected the owner information card better than this one does, if this bag is in the weather, this card will get wet as it isn't covered and protected.

 

Edited June 27 by hoppman
Add start of review

[rkj427]

Congratulations to this group of testers.

Looking forward to your comments and reviews on how these may compare to other manufacturers products in the marketplace.

[Meezi]

Congrats testers! Looking forward to seeing how they are as I’m in the market for a new bag. 

[TSauer]

Congrats, everyone! 

[EasyPutter]

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

Matchplay Bag - @cciciora13 and @2puttbogey

Travel Bag - @"Mr. 72" and @hoppman

Great to see you MGSpies selected and looking forward to the adventure of intros, testing and reviews ahead! 

[TJ Hall]

Congratulations testers!

Really looking forward to seeing the adventures and places the travel bags take you!

[Josh Parker]

Congrats!  

[hoppman]

Thanks to MGS for choosing me for this test. I am leaving on Monday the 10th for a tourist/golf trip to Ireland where I will play 5 rounds of golf in the 10 days we are there.

I will give you my thoughts on the Sun Mountain Club Glider travel bag. I will be comparing it to my current Club Glove travel bag and several other travel bags I have had in the past.

I am looking forward to the ease of use of The Club Glider travel bag. Coming off of back fusion surgery in January, I am hoping the Club Glider will be easier for me to maneuver around airports without putting extra strain on my back and shoulders. However, anyone that flies out of Denver International Airport (DIA) knows, moving around the airport usually involves dodging lines of passengers, construction and who know what else you might find when you get there. I have heard the Dublin airport isn't as hard to get around, but we will see.

BTW, my profile pic is a shot of the Edinburgh airport after the 150th Open Championship. These were all the lost golf bags that many attendees, including one of my friends never received and, in his case, it was almost a month after returning before his clubs ever showed up. I though my clubs were lost as they didn't show up on the conveyor belt until another passenger said to go look around a hidden corner and there were stacks of golf club travel bags.

[MILGolfing]

Congrats to the winners selected!

[2puttbogey]

Looking forward to doing the testing. Currently use a Sun Mountain bag so interested to see how this will compare. Thanks MGS and I appreciate the opportunity to be a tester.

[tdroma98]

3 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@cciciora13 - Matchplay Bag

@2puttbogey - Matchplay Bag

@"Mr. 72" - Travel Bag

@hoppman - Travel Bag

Congratulations Testers! Looking forward to your reviews!

[William P]

Congrats!

[GolferXY]

Congrats testers!  

[satingolfer]

Congratulations testers let’s all applaud .

 Too am interested in both products, good luck!! Cheers 

[MN_Bogey_Master]

I'm very interested to see how these reviews come back.  I am in the market for a push cart, as well as a travel bag, so this will be a good test.  Congrats to those picked!!  

[buckpillar]

6 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

About Sun Mountain

Sun Mountain has been in business for over 40 years. As a brand, they focus on functional designs, quality materials, and durability that are built by golfers for golfers. Additionally, their bags are also assembled at their headquarters in Missoula, Montana, offering styles, colors, sizes, and options not found with many brands. Many Sun Mountain bags also boast premium features such as fine leather, ballistic-style nylon, premium zippers, waterproof bags, and even carbon fiber legs.

All of this to say, Sun Mountain has been around for a while and they want to see how their products perform in the hands of our testers.

The Testing Opportunity
We are happy to offer two different products for this testing opportunity. The first is their newly released Matchplay Stand Bag.

The Matchplay Stand Bag is available in three color options, has a 4-way top, and weighs in at only 5.5 lbs. Those are just some of the basics; for a list of specifications, check out the Forum sign-up page where we have the full details listed.

The second product available for testing is the ClubGlider Travel Bag. This bag has been featured in Most Wanted testing and has a core standout feature. This feature is extendable legs and wheels that support the entire weight of the bag and its contents, meaning no lifting, bending, or lugging your golf bag and its contents around the airport.

Available in four different models, all of which have their own color options and pricing, the ClubGlider series claims to offer comfort, functionality, and ease of use that other travel bags do not.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@cciciora13 - Matchplay Bag

@2puttbogey - Matchplay Bag

@"Mr. 72" - Travel Bag

@hoppman - Travel Bag

Congratulations to all the testers.

[Jean D]

Congratulations to all the testers- looking forward to your thoughts on these!

[Willie T]

7 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

About Sun Mountain

Sun Mountain has been in business for over 40 years. As a brand, they focus on functional designs, quality materials, and durability that are built by golfers for golfers. Additionally, their bags are also assembled at their headquarters in Missoula, Montana, offering styles, colors, sizes, and options not found with many brands. Many Sun Mountain bags also boast premium features such as fine leather, ballistic-style nylon, premium zippers, waterproof bags, and even carbon fiber legs.

All of this to say, Sun Mountain has been around for a while and they want to see how their products perform in the hands of our testers.

The Testing Opportunity
We are happy to offer two different products for this testing opportunity. The first is their newly released Matchplay Stand Bag.

The Matchplay Stand Bag is available in three color options, has a 4-way top, and weighs in at only 5.5 lbs. Those are just some of the basics; for a list of specifications, check out the Forum sign-up page where we have the full details listed.

The second product available for testing is the ClubGlider Travel Bag. This bag has been featured in Most Wanted testing and has a core standout feature. This feature is extendable legs and wheels that support the entire weight of the bag and its contents, meaning no lifting, bending, or lugging your golf bag and its contents around the airport.

Available in four different models, all of which have their own color options and pricing, the ClubGlider series claims to offer comfort, functionality, and ease of use that other travel bags do not.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@cciciora13 - Matchplay Bag

@2puttbogey - Matchplay Bag

@"Mr. 72" - Travel Bag

@hoppman - Travel Bag

As I am thinking a new bag - this test will be one to follow and see if the Sund Mountain Matchplay is a possible candidate...

[Shrek74]

7 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@cciciora13 - Matchplay Bag

@2puttbogey - Matchplay Bag

@"Mr. 72" - Travel Bag

@hoppman - Travel Bag

Congrats to the testers!! I've been through a couple of the more soft-sided travel bags, so I'll be curious to hear how these get on.

[MattWillGolf]

Congrats testers. Looking to upgrade my travel bag. This will be one to watch.

[Mey210]

7 hours ago, rkj427 said:

Congratulations to this group of testers.

Looking forward to your comments and reviews on how these may compare to other manufacturers products in the marketplace.

 

[fixyurdivot]

Congratulations Spies!  I love my almost vintage Sun Mountain stand bag. It's been a workhorse but is starting to show its duty cycle and I'm in the market for a new bag.  So, I'll be following this review.  Have fun.

[3Putt4Double]

11 hours ago, hoppman said:

Thanks to MGS for choosing me for this test. I am leaving on Monday the 10th for a tourist/golf trip to Ireland where I will play 5 rounds of golf in the 10 days we are there.

I will give you my thoughts on the Sun Mountain Club Glider travel bag. I will be comparing it to my current Club Glove travel bag and several other travel bags I have had in the past.

I am looking forward to the ease of use of The Club Glider travel bag. Coming off of back fusion surgery in January, I am hoping the Club Glider will be easier for me to maneuver around airports without putting extra strain on my back and shoulders. However, anyone that flies out of Denver International Airport (DIA) knows, moving around the airport usually involves dodging lines of passengers, construction and who know what else you might find when you get there. I have heard the Dublin airport isn't as hard to get around, but we will see.

BTW, my profile pic is a shot of the Edinburgh airport after the 150th Open Championship. These were all the lost golf bags that many attendees, including one of my friends never received and, in his case, it was almost a month after returning before his clubs ever showed up. I though my clubs were lost as they didn't show up on the conveyor belt until another passenger said to go look around a hidden corner and there were stacks of golf club travel bags.

That's a wild pic! While I would never take anything that wasn't mine, but I could sure look at different club set ups in all those bags for days! I love to look at different ppl club selections and what made there bag

[3Putt4Double]

Congrats testers!

[Rob Person]

Congratulations!  Looking forward to seeing your reviews!

[Swood1994]

Congratulations testers! I’m in the market for a travel bag and this one was at the top of my list so I’ll be following this one closely!