Since the introduction of the Club Glider line, Sun Mountain has been widely considered the preferred bag of amateurs and professionals who travel with their clubs. Since its inception, the company has continued to expand the Club Glider lineup each year to encompass a wide range of sizes and builds. 2014 is no different, as they are now bringing their newest, the “Tour Series” Club Glider travel bag into the fold.
THP received the black and white color variation of Sun Mountain’s Tour Series bag to be put to use in actual travel for the purpose of review.
Sun Mountain on the new “Tour Series” Club Glider Travel Bag:
New for 2014, the ClubGlider Tour Series was designed to coordinate with our new Tour Series Cart Bag and can hold a single cart or stand bag.
Technical Specifications:
- Weight: 13.3 lbs
- Internal Dimensions: 52” x 14” x 14”
- Material: Vinyl
- Two exterior access pockets
Bag Features:
- TSA-approved lock provided.
- Legs retract into the molded tray for travel.
- Internal cinch straps secure your golf bag.
- Pivoting caster wheels provide superior maneuverability.
- Leg mechanism is extended and retracted in one easy motion.
- Heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag for easy loading.
- No more kneeling on the ground to load/unload your golf bag.
- Folds for storage.
Aesthetics
Right out of the box the Tour Series version of the Club Glider hits you with the look and the quality of the material which it is made from. The other versions of the Club Glider have been made either of polyester or nylon, but the Tour Series is an incredibly heavy duty vinyl material. The vinyl actually gives it the immediate look that it can take a beating and keep on going. Everything on the bag including all of the straps and handles also possess very heavy duty stitching that make it evident the bag is designed to last.
In addition to the look and durability of vinyl, the bag also features one of the largest main zippers on any travel bag, which eases concerns about possibly bursting during the duress of travel. With so much emphasis on the material and durability of the bag, one place that the Tour Series might seem a bit lacking to some is in extra storage, as the bag features only two exterior pockets, but the weight it saves (13.3 lbs compared to the pro at 15.5 lbs) could make a major difference in what is actually kept in the golf bag without worrying about weight limits.
Ease of Use
Specifically speaking, the Tour Series version of Sun Mountain’s Club Glider travel bags were designed for use with their new Tour Series cart bags, which are very similar size-wise to the mini staff bags we see put out by some manufacturers. With that in mind the Tour Series has more than enough room to fit a single stand bag and was indeed able to fit a mini staff bag as well. While many travel bags have a variety of extra pads and straps internally to wrap around the bags to secure them, the Tour Series is much simpler. The clubs simply slide into the travel bag and the user zips them in, as the actual design of the bag in the upper portion is built specifically to protect the heads of the clubs within.
The other portion that has to be discussed from ease-of-use is the actual Club Glider mechanism and setup. The stand itself is spring loaded and the user simply pulls down on it to initiate the legs coming out. Material-wise the stand is incredibly well built with heavy duty wheels on both sets of casters, which allow for pivoting in all directions while also supporting the entire weight of the bag. Travel bags with two singular wheels at the base can be cumbersome to manipulate in and around airports, but the Club Glider made it incredibly easy allowing complete control and the ability to pivot around any turn.
Travel Durability
The surest way to test any type of travel bag is to hand it over to the airlines to do what they do best – put it through the wringer. The wear and tear that bags can undergo via airline travel runs the entire gambit from mundane to catastrophic. In a cross-country trek the Tour Series’ look of durability did not disappoint, as the bag held up and everything was just as it was when it was checked. Although there was some scratching on the lower plastic “sled” portion of the bag where the Club Glider is stored, it was nothing that wouldn’t be considered normal wear. Additionally, the white portion of the vinyl on the bag wiped down and cleaned up to look just like new.
Parting Thoughts
There are just some things where you get what you pay for, and at first glance the $319.00 MSRP of Sun Mountain’s new Tour Series Club Glider will without a doubt lead to mixed reactions. With that said, if you are a golfer who travels a lot with your clubs then the amount spent on those clubs is likely worth whatever it takes to keep them safe from destination to destination. Sun Mountain has improved upon a travel bag lineup that is a favorite amongst tour players by making it even more durable while still being the most easily maneuverable travel bag out there. For anyone considering the investment of a bag that will protect some of their most prized possessions, the new Tour Series should certainly be high up on their list to check out.
For more information on the Sun Mountain “Tour Series” club Glider travel bag, be sure to go to their website at www.sunmountain.com.
Great review here man, I know you’ve been raving about this one.
The pop out wheels with stand is awesome, both from a maneuverability in airport (standing in line periodically moving a few feet) and also the packing at home.
Glad to hear this also fits the mini staffers also. I guess it’s safe to say that if you have the full staffer (hello 2013 Cleveland) then you should opt for the pro but that will cost you a few more pounds.
Debating if I need to replace my TM travel bag, really digging this!
That thing is awesome. I would love to get my hands on one of those but I dont travel enough to justify spending that type of money. But with the durability and features it has it is probably well worth it to just have the piece of mind.
Great review, James. If I traveled a lot with my clubs, I agree that $319 would be well worth it to ensure that they get to where they’re going in 1 piece. I don’t know how crazy I am about the black and white, but I guess it would stand out on the baggage claim carousel. The club glider feature looks like a must have.
Well done James, the price point does seem a bit high, but if it keeps the clubs safe during travel and the ease of travel features makes it easier on you while juggling all your luggage, I can totally see value in it.
Nice review James! I agree that you get what you pay for, and with this system, you seem to be getting a great deal of security and ease of use.
Thanks for the review James. I think this bag is priced pretty competitively compared to other high end brands with less options. I’ve been on the fence about replacing my travel bag this year, and with 6 – 7 flights planned for 2014, if I do, this will be the one.
Looks like a pretty good bag. Wish it were a bit bigger. Morgan Cuppers will need something bigger to get their bag and clubs back home.
The pop out wheels are a nice addition. Price is out of my range, but with what you get, can probably be justified.
Some good thoughts right there. I like the thought of a TSA approved lock. I have leaving my bag unlocked when I travel.
I need to update my travel bag soon. This one is right up there! Thanks for the review Jman.
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