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Jonathan Taylor brings you the low down on the J.Lindeberg Flare stand bag.
J.Lindeberg was established in Stockholm in 1996 with a bold vision to build a global brand, injecting style and energy into golf. When I think of J.Lindeberg, I think of stylish and colourful clothing as worn by brand ambassadors such as recent PGA Tour winner, Viktor Hovland. So I was pretty excited when the call came through from Mission Control that there was a requirement for a J.Lindeberg Flare stand bag review…..
This is an unremarkable looking but quietly effective carry bag. It’s on the large side but is comfortable and adjustable with strong storage options. It’s also good value.
That excitement quickly evaporated when I was presented with the Flare (I guess the name is exciting) in…black. I suppose I was expecting a cool looking bag, perhaps in fuchsia with a hint of lime, looking more like a cocktail than a golf bag, but no, there it was…in black, looking like a golf bag.
Black is one of five colours available in the Flare, so if you want to stand out a bit more, then there are other options. And actually as I sit writing this review, repeatedly scrutinising the Flare, with it’s prominent white J.LINDEBERG lettering over the apparel pocket, along with 3 neatly placed white ‘Bridge’ motifs, I think I could be persuaded that this is actually a classy and sophisticated style.
Enough of my musings, let’s have a look at some of the features offered by the Flare.
Features include;
Durable polyester construction.
9 well designed pockets, of which 5 are zippered.
Roomy 6-way top with 3 full-length dividers.
Comfortable and adjustable carry straps.
A robust and roomy rain hood.
Measured weight (inc. rain hood) of just under 5.7 lb.
The overall appearance of the Flare is one of quality. The polyester material used for construction offers premium looks and feel. Plenty of bags use plastic buckles to link straps to the body of the bag. J Lindeberg use metal which adds a touch of sophistication.
The pockets follow a pretty standard pattern. There is the usual full length apparel pocket and adjacent velour-lined valuables pocket. Both are on the roomy side. The apparel pocket was large enough to hold a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, and an extra layer. This pocket also contains the rain hood which, unlike some hoods, is made of the same robust fabric as the bag. It is also simple to attach and detach. There’s also a little hidden net pocket at the bottom of the apparel pocket which would nicely house keys and wallet.
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The central ball pocket is reasonably sized and easily accessible thanks to two zippers which I think is a really important design feature but often ignored. There is an accessories pocket just above the ball pocket where I tend to keep ball markers, marker pen and pencils. This pocket again has two zippers and is divided into two compartments for ease of organisation.
I keep ‘used’ balls and gloves in the final pocket on the other side from the full length apparel pocket. Again, this is well sized and accessible when on the move. Covering this pocket is a roomy cooler-lined drinks sleeve.
On either side of the central ball pocket are two stretchy net pockets and they’re actually quite useful. On one side I can fit a snack or supplementary drink, and on the other a rangefinder. Just above the central accessories pocket is a further net pocket which could house a pen and other small items. Most bags nowadays offer a pen holder/sleeve. At the top, there is a large plastic (metal would have been better) from which to hang a towel and/or a rangefinder.
There is also a little circular white disc next to the towel clip which is weakly magnetic. I can’t decide what it’s for. I certainly wouldn’t connect a magnetic rangefinder to it.
So, in summary, that is as good a pocket configuration as you are going to find on a carry bag, with several neat design touches. That’s all very well. How does it perform on the course?
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On the course
The 6-way top allows good separation of all 14 clubs with straightforward access. My own view is that a 4-way divider is the best for a carry bag but that’s a personal preference.
As someone who has historically preferred as light a bag as possible, I have come to realise that what is crucial is actually balance and comfort. And this bag delivers strongly in this respect. I had no problem in achieving a balanced and comfortable carry.
All the lower pockets are easily accessible when on the move. This is an important feature and it surprises me that some specialist bag brands fail to achieve this.
The aluminium legs open and fold away smoothly, and offer stable support on uneven ground.
I should mention that this is not a waterproof bag so if you do venture out in miserable conditions then this may not be the bag for you.
That aside, this is a thoughtfully designed and smartly constructed carry bag with plenty of features. It offers a first-class carrying experience, but can also convert easily to a trolley bag if required.
NCG verdict
When you consider the quality of construction allied to the design, I think you may be pleasantly surprised by the price which stands at £220. And remember to choose carefully from the choice of five colours.
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