Travel bags are not the most glamorous pieces of kit but a good one can make transporting your golf bag a whole lot less stressful. We test the Big Max Traveler to see how it performs.
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Big Max Traveler Golf Travel Bag Review: NCG Summary
NCG Summary
This is one of the better travel bags I have tried. It is large , has multiple pockets and in-built protection.
PROS
- Big enough for most bags
- Useful additional pockets
- Stable and easy to pull
- Well-priced for the features
- In-built protection a nice feature
CONS
- None
First Impressions
Golf travel covers are maybe not going to generate the excitement of a sumptuous-looking new tour blade iron but it is the piece of kit that I have owned several of that have been universally rubbish.
I had a hard case once that, the first time I put my clubs in and closed it, the hard shell separated from the seam. My next one would make even the most unpredictable shopping trolley feel like it was tracking like an F1 car. My current travel bag, I bought at the last minute before a golf trip. It was not cheap and the zip split open as I was closing it requiring a few back and forth and some lubricant to try and get it closed. Not too reassuring before a long haul trip.
Enter then the Big Max Traveler travel golf bag. I have reviewed a few of their products and they do manage to put in a feature here or there which is always a bit new or innovative. The bag comes in several colours but I tested the red one and it would definitely stand out in a sea of black bags at the airport luggage claim. It is made from a heavy duty synthetic material and has 2 skate wheels with ball bearings. Big Max describe it being easily transported using their EZ-UP upright transport system.
NCG Verdict
I reckon this will hold pretty much any bag and golf clubs most golfers would use.
It has 2 external side pockets and 2 internal pockets, rather than the shoe pocket which jutted out at the front on many older travel bags. This makes it a bit sleeker and likely better balanced.
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What I particularly like is the in-built protection. At the head end are padded flaps which attach with velcro over your club heads. I had a pretty full bag with a couple of extra clubs and it needed a little adjustment but it closed over them fairly securely.
It certainly offered more more protection than my usual tactic of wrapping the clubs in couple of tops and a pair of underpants. As far as integrated protection goes this is as good as I have seen in a soft travel bag. That said, with the price of woods these days I would always take extra precautions. I have been on trips where my friends drivers have been broken in transit. In the past I have tended use one of the head protecting sticks as well.
There a 2 straps within the bag to hold your clubs in position which were extremely useful. Externally it had 2 straps and a carry handle. The wheels were excellent and it was a breeze to pull along.
Final Thoughts
Travelling with a lot of kit can be quite stressful and a travel bag that flips around when being pulled or bursts open can tip one over the edge. While I have not been able to put this through its paces completely, it is the best travel bag I have used by some considerable margin. t is a good-looking, thoughtfully designed product and, on that basis, it comes highly recommended.
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