People pick up golf for dozens of reasons. One of the most common ones you’ll hear is how people like having a reason to get outside and exercise. As a sport anyone can play by themselves that lets them enjoy the daylight for hours, golf can be one of the healthiest hobbies a person can pick up, and the purest way to enjoy all those benefits is to walk the course.

Get Healthy, Not Intimidated!

Walking a golf course can be intimidating, however, and justifiably so. An 18-hole round would typically be a multi-mile walk, and without a push cart, carrying your equipment that far can wear on you. But it’s a great form of exercise, and with the right bag and a few rounds to get used to it, it’ll feel like second nature.

When I played competitive golf in high school, I needed to walk the course during tournaments, so I tried to walk as often as possible when I played. I routinely walked 36 holes on days I had the time and energy. And let me tell you, those days became much easier once I found the best lightweight golf bags for me. My shoulders ached a little less, and I could maintain my energy levels further into the back nine.

“What If I Don’t Want to Walk the Course?”

There are reasons to want a great stand bag even if walking the course doesn’t pique your interest. A stand bag is easier to get back and forth from the car to the golf cart than a cart bag like the ones you see on tour. I always found stand bags much easier to practice with. It’s easy to set up shop in the short game area or bounce back and forth between the putting green and the driving range. A great stand bag offers tons of storage space with enough pockets for all the balls, tees, and equipment you could want.

So whether you want to walk the fairways each day, or you just want a durable bag with some comfortable straps, there are a litany of options at your disposal. Here are a few of the best golf bags on the market:

Top Recommended Golf Stand Bags

1. Mizuno K1-L0 Lightweight Stand Bag

Perfect Bag for: The Gadget Fan

• Features plenty of pockets to carry lots of accessories or tools onto the course, from a wrench to adjust the driver to a bag of snacks for the turn
• Is lightweight and water resistant to keep both clubs and contraptions safe and dry
• Can stand up to some rain but isn’t your best option for consistently inclement weather

With legs of carbon fiber and shoulder straps made of a thick foam, this Mizuno bag is easy to take from tee to fairway to green. The shoulder foam is a pleasant enough material that doesn’t dig into your shoulder blades, but it is dense enough not to feel bouncy or unsupportive. The pockets are large compared to most carry bags, especially the full-length apparel pocket down the side, and the zippers provide easy access. If you want a bag with enough space for all your accessories to go somewhere (with a water bottle pocket, of course), this lightweight golf bag might be the one to tote.

The K1-L0 is made of water-resistant material, but if you brave the elements often, it may not be the perfect waterproof fit for repeated use. Mizuno describes the bag as “almost weightless,” and at only six pounds, it can feel that way. However, there’s some remarkable technology featured on this list, making this still end up as the heaviest bag featured here. If you’re looking for margins and trying to carry as few pounds as possible, one of the latter options might be better for you, but if two pounds sounds inconsequential, this is a great choice.

2. Callaway Fairway C Double Strap Stand Bag

Perfect Bag For: The Trekker

• The dual-strap system provides extreme comfort for the golfer who wants to walk the course, wants to walk the course a lot, and wants a bag they can use for a long time
• Sturdy construction that will last for years
• Offers lots of room for accessories, specifically towels or bag clips that can attach to the outside of the bag

Another lightweight carry bag, this Callaway model comes in at just four pounds on the scale. This bag isn’t just designed for comfort — it’s designed to be comfortable for a long time. The four-way top with full-length dividers helps keep your clubs from snagging on each other and stay organized. The dual-strap system makes the carrying experience more comfortable as you move down the fairway.

There are plenty of clips, a towel ring for your towels, and the pockets feature metal zippers, offering a little extra durability to guard against the potential wear-and-tear of Sunday golf. Like the K1-L0, it boasts large, deep pockets, and there are accessory pockets for premium tools like a rangefinder to have their own home. If the blue-and-grey design above doesn’t catch your eye, Callaway offers this bag in a wide array of colors.

3. Titleist Players 4 StaDry Stand Bag

Perfect Bag For: The Weather Warrior

• The waterproof technology will hold up even under steady rainfall and consistent winds, not just a light shower
• The pockets and zippers keep your balls and extra accessories dry, too, not just your clubs and grips

If you wake up in the morning with a tee time and see cloudy skies but don’t want to roll over and surrender the day on the links, this is your bag. This bag has all of the same wonderful bells and whistles as the ones above it. It has clips and a ring for your towels. It’s lightweight and easy to carry — it even has a handle to grab it off the ground with your hand. It has full-length dividers. It has a lined sleeve for your water bottle.

But where other bags, like the Mizuno K1–L0, are designed to be as lightweight and easy to carry on a sunny day as possible, the StaDry is built to ensure no external water can bother anything inside your bag. If you never play under skies any color other than blue and want a bag as light as you can possibly find, one of the options above might be better for you. But if you aren’t scared of a little rain, neither is this bag.

4. TaylorMade FlexTech Lite Stand Bag

Perfect Bag For: The Twilight Warrior

• The lithe design is perfect for those who don’t take much with them out on the course, especially those willing to carry less than 14 clubs
• A self-adjusting strap accommodates all shoulder sizes and comfort settings

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the TaylorMade FlexTech models, such as the regular FlexTech model found here, but the Lite offers something more specialized than the models mentioned higher on this list. The Lite was made for the after-work walker. If you like taking your clubs out — especially if you don’t mind taking fewer than 14 onto the course — and trying to whip around as fast as you can on your feet, this bag is made for you. It’s got plenty of pocket space and an adjustable strap, so you aren’t sacrificing much for a small downgrade in size and weight, and the club slots are crush-resistant for one fewer thing on your mind as you chase the sunset.

5. Sun Mountain 2022 2.5+ 14-Way Stand Bag

Perfect Bag For: The Organizer

• The 14-way top dividers give each club its own place and space in the bag
• Ultra-light at under four pounds, so golfers can bring extra supplies to the course with them and still carry the bag comfortably
• Straps designed to be worn over one shoulder or both

Sun Mountain has developed a reputation as a reliable source for a lightweight bag, and this bag personifies that reputation. This is the lightest bag on the list, not even reaching three pounds by itself on the scale.

If you’re looking for practical, it’s hard to go wrong with this choice. The 14-way top also provides a specific place for each club in the bag. The shoulder straps resemble backpack straps, allowing for comfortable dual-shoulder use — or single-strap use if you want to simply sling this bag over half your body.

This choice can’t quite match the number of small pockets some other models have on the market, but its full-length pocket and ball pocket offer more than a respectable amount of space. The 14 dividers up top are not a look for every golfer, and if you prefer the standard four-way design, Sun Mountain has options there, too. But golfers who love the extra organization and detail of individual club dividers will love this choice.

Finding Your Next Golf Stand Bag

If you’d like an expert’s thoughts on what golf gear is perfect to consider for your future Sunday bags, don’t hesitate to chat with one of Curated’s Golf Experts for personalized, free advice on which lightweight golf bag is perfect for you.