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Is this the best all-round carry bag? Jonathan Taylor brings you the details of the new Wilson 1914 stand bag.
Introduction
In this review, I’ll take a close look at the new Wilson 1914 PU leather golf bag, which offers understated but smart looks, durable construction and 6 well-placed pockets.
Let’s see how it performs on the course and whether it lives up to its promises in my full Wilson 1914 carry golf bag review…
Keywords
Premium PU leather construction, classic looks, 6 pockets, adjustable straps, lightweight, water bottle pocket, magnetic rangefinder pocket, water-resistant.
NCG Summary and rating
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag | Source: NCG
NCG Summary
This is a well designed and decent-looking bag. It does what a carry bag should do, with easy club access, comfortable carry and good pockets.
Carry comfort – The padded, adjustable twin straps offer a balanced fit. I do not recall testing a more comfortable bag, even when fully laden.
Looks – This is a perfectly good golf bag but lacks a bit of visual interest or wow factor.
Premium construction – This model is well constructed with some premium features including a magnetic rangefinder pocket, and double zippered valuables pocket.
Pocket configuration – Traditional and effective pocket setup.
Lightweight – For a PU leather bag of this size, it is on the light side at just over 5.5 lbs including carry straps.
First Impressions
This is a brand new bag from Wilson, and is following the trend for PU leather construction as seen in bags from Vessel, Titleist, TaylorMade and , more recently, Ping. The PU leather generally offers a classic look, and is lighter, more affordable and easier to clean than real leather.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag side on | Source: NCG
Wilson tells us that the 1914 carry bag is part of their heritage-inspired line, celebrating the brand’s founding era. It is designed to look classic while still functioning as a modern and lightweight carry bag. First impressions are favourable. It’s constructed from premium synthetic leather. It doesn’t look quite as leathery as the Ping Reserve PU leather bag but then it’s over 1lb lighter. Life is a compromise. My test model came in Navy which is one of three colour options available- the others being white and black. The bag looks durable with nicely padded carry straps. It offers a compact and clean look with unobtrusive Wilson branding.
Four way top
The 4-way top (7.5 x 7 inches) with just two full length dividers doesn’t look huge on paper but I could fit 15 clubs (I’m always testing something!) plus alignment sticks with ease.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag dividers | Source: NCG
I particularly liked the microfibre lined top with PU cushioning, offering a further premium touch.
Pockets
The 1914 comes with 6 pockets (7, if you count the pen holder which some manufacturers would). There is the standard full-length apparel pocket which easily fitted a set of waterproofs and an extra layer in, so it’s pretty spacious.
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Wilson 1914 golf carry bag apparel pocket | Source: NCG
There is a large velour lined valuables pocket by the top of the apparel pocket. This has just a single compartment, but does come with two zips, which is a bit novel but of little functional benefit. What is of more functional benefit is the key clip within that pocket. One or two brands do offer that but most don’t.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag key clip | Source: NCG
There is a nicely sized central ball pocket, which also has two zips. This is accessible on the move which is a good thing. The front flap is removable to allow for customization.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag middle pocket | Source: NCG
There is a very useful magnetic closure velour lined pocket just above the ball pocket which is designed for your rangefinder. The pocket on the other side from the apparel pocket is quite large and there is an insulated drinks sleeve overlying that.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag bottle holder | Source: NCG
There is a pen holder and a small carabiner clip to attach towel or rangefinder (I preferred the rangefinder pocket).
The closures all work smoothly, whether zip or magnetic. Perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect drama or interest in the subject of golf bag pocket configuration. There’s certainly no drama here, and the bits of interest are the well-positioned magnetic closure rangefinder pocket, and possibly the double zip on the valuables pocket, although I can’t see the value in the latter.
How I undertook the review
To assess the performance and usability of the bag, I conducted testing across several rounds at my local golf course, where I am a member. Typical for the UK weather, conditions were variable with some light showers but no heavy rain.
During the review period I assessed the bag’s comfort, durability, and usability to help inform the reader looking for their next bag.
There is also a ‘how it compares’ section (scroll down) versus similar types of bags.
What I found
Moving it about
It’s easy to get in and out of the back of my car, courtesy of well-placed grab handles. It will comfortably take a full set of clubs. The pockets are all of a decent size.
Rain Hood
The rain hood is made from PU leather. It looks robust but is quite bulky, and it occupies a significant part of the apparel pocket. What I tended to do was leave the hood in my car if I was confident of dry weather. If rain was forecast, I’d attach the rain hood which is easy enough to do and there is wide zippered access.
And although this is not designated as a waterproof bag (no seam-sealed zips), it coped just fine in occasional showers with no apparent water ingress.
Carry Straps
The carry straps are nicely padded, comfortable and fit well. They almost look velour lined, and I’m not sure how they would deal with significant rain. The 1914 comes with a double strap although a retro single strap is available for separate purchase if you wish.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag back straps | Source: NCG
The adjustability of the straps made it simple to achieve a balanced and comfortable carry, with the body of the bag sitting across the small of my back. The Reserve weighs just over 5.5 lb which is lighter than your average PU leather carry bag.
The legs
The legs work ok. Sometimes I had to give an extra push to get the legs to deploy which I thought was a little unusual but not an issue.
Wilson 1914 golf carry bag legs | Source: NCG
They do retract easily, securely and completely.
NCG Final Say
So, to summarise, the Wilson 1914 is a competent all-rounder. It’s about the perfect size for a carry bag and offers a comfortable and balanced carry. It also looks smart and has a sensible pocket setup.
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I didn’t find it as exciting or interesting as some competitor bags so it is arguably a little plain. But it does look and feel durable and I would expect it to last for several seasons.
How it compares to other bags
One of my missions in life has been to find the perfect golf carry bag.
The use of PU leather in golf bag construction has developed in recent years. They strike a balance between luxury appearance and practical usability. And where does the 1914 sit in the league table of PU leather carry bags?
Competition comes in the shape of Vessel, which is probably the pre-eminent player in synthetic leather bag market. Vessel offer a range of stand bags. The Players V stand bag is larger with an excellent pocket configuration but is about 1lb heavier than the 1914 and costs over £100 more.
The LinksLegend Members carry bag from Titleist looks a bit better than the 1914 in my opinion, and offers similar storage. It comes in a wide range of colours and is a bit more expensive.
Essentially you have a lot to go at in this area of the golf bag market. And your choice will depend on whether your priorities are practicality, weight or looks. If you want a sound all-rounder, and prioritise lightweight comfort and function over looks, then the Wilson 1914 may well be the bag for you.
Jonathan also known as JT, is one of the biggest golf nuts on the NCG team.
He has quickly become a go-to for expertise on golf shoes and technical apparel. In fact he may have a different pair of shoes and a new waterproof jacket for every club medal he plays in.
He previously worked as a GP, which means he likes to get into the details of things, such as weighing golf shoes with his kitchen scales.
Jonathan is a member at Alwoodley Golf Club and regularly gets out on the golf course to maintain his handicap of five.
