The Best Budget Golf Bags for $200 or Less

You have lots of great golf bags to choose from these days, and you can expect to pay $300 or more for a quality bag. Premium bags like the Stitch SL2 Gen 2 or Vessel Player set you back between $398 and $469. But what if you want to check out the best budget golf bags? The truth is you don't have to spend nearly that much for something to hold your golf clubs.

If you check Amazon or eBay you can find plenty of golf bags by brands you might have never heard of for less than $100. Some of them might be serviceable. Others, maybe not.

I've been covering golf equipment and travel for longer than I care to admit. In all those years, I've seen and evaluated countless golf bags, from inside and out. 

You often get what you pay for and low-quality cheap golf bags tend to fail quicker than you’d expect. Broken zippers and stand mechanisms tend to put these bags into early retirement.

These bargain bags are solid and have many features you’d find on average-priced bags and even some of the higher-priced models. In fact, you can find budget bags in every category. 

We consider bags that cost about $200 or less to be “budget” picks, and we found eight quality budget golf bags that we recommend.

Sure, most of these don’t have magnetic pockets, and none are leather, but if you’re looking to save cash, you’ve got options. 

We found some of the best budget golf bags, including cart bags, hybrid bags, and bags designed for you to carry.

Pros:

• Easy to carry
• Insulated drink pocket
• 1-year warranty

Cons:

• No magnetic pockets (which is nice for a rangefinder)

This lightweight carry bag from MacGregor is all you need if you’re on a budget. Sure, it's not the best bag if you usually ride, but it’s easy to move from storage to your trunk, to the course, and around the course.

An easy stand mechanism, valuables and apparel pockets, and a three-can cooler pocket are among the many features. You also get a glove holder, rain hood, umbrella holder, tee holder, and buckle for a golf towel. It comes in several colorways and a 12-month warranty, all for $110.

Pros:

• Fairly versatile for walking or riding
• Grab handles on top and bottom
• Insulated drink pocket

Cons:

• No magnetic pockets for rangefinder

For brand recognition on a golf bag with plenty of features, the Mizuno BR-D3 Stand Golf Bag is an excellent choice. Like most bargain bags, there are no magnetic pockets, but Mizuno included pretty much everything else, all for $200.

The handles on top and bottom make it easy to get in and out of the car. You also get a quality strap system, hip pad, and pockets galore, including an insulated drink pocket. I also have to mention the fleece-lined valuables pocket, full-length apparel pocket, and removable ball pocket. For bonus points, you can personalize that ball pocket with embroidery or a patch.

Pros:

• Bold look
• Unique features
• Lots of storage space

Cons:

• Maybe a bit too loud for some golfers

I’ve always loved the bold look and unique designs of Ogio bags. They harken to Ogio’s backpack and outdoor roots. You can spot an Ogio bag a par-5 away, but Ogio isn’t just about the looks. Ogio bags are functional too, and the Fuse Stand Bag is no exception. 

I love that the Fuse bag has six front-facing pockets and a rapid-access snap fleece-lined valuables pocket. The water bottle pocket has a drainage port, which is a clever perk.

It also features a wide foam-molded double shoulder strap with Ogio’s unique Fit Disc self-balancing strap system. Ogio also added an external ball silo that keeps three balls within reach. Even better, Ogio currently sells this bag for less than $175.

Pros:

• Very versatile bag that works well on push carts
• Oversized insulated beverage pocket
• Molded driver and putter wells

Cons:

• Some may not prefer 14-way divider top

If you’re looking for a great all-around golf bag at a great price ($190), then the Datrek Go Lite Hybrid Bag might be the right choice for you. Datrek's TOP-LOK Technology -- a bag-to-cart attachment system that fits Bag Boy push carts -- is just the tip of the iceberg. Bag Boy bags have this feature, too, and if you have the right cart, your bag fits perfectly on the cart and won’t twist as you make your way around the course.

Of course, the Datrek Go Lite Hybrid Bag has plenty of other features, too. A 14-way top with an EVA molded putter well and driver well helps secure your clubs.

Then you have six zippered pockets, including an insulated beverage pocket.

The base works well on a cart, push cart, and for walking as a stand bag. Finally, the rain hood has dual access, which makes it easier to access clubs during inclement weather. 

Pros:

• Hybrid bag that works well on carts, push carts, and walking
• Plenty of storage space with 11 pockets
• Cart strap pass-through

Cons:

• 14-way divider top is not for everyone’s liking

Probably best as a cart bag, the Maxfli Eco Tour Stand Bag, is a versatile performer with lots of room. It has a 14-way divider on top, plus 11 pockets, which means you’ll have room for everything. Constructed from recycled material, it also has an insulated cooler pocket as well as a water bottle holder.

The reason I love this $150 Maxfli Eco Tour as a cart bag is because, like the Ping Hoofer, it has a cart strap pass-through. That give you unimpeded access to everything when it’s on a cart. If you do carry, it comes with a dual strap and hip cushion. And, of course, it works well with a push cart, too. 

Pros:

• Incredible value with all the standard features
• Scorecard slot is a nice touch

Cons:

• Not the quality of some of the other bags on this list

The best bargain on this list might be the Top-Flite Gamer, which can be had for pennies under $100. It’s a basic bag that will work in just about any circumstance. It’s perhaps the best golf bag for beginners.

It has seven pockets, including a large garment pocket, a beverage cooling pocket, and velour-lined valuable pocket. The Gamer also has mesh straps, so you can carry it. The scorecard and pencil slots, a towel ring, and a glove holder cap off the bonus features. For the price, it’s hard to beat, but the craftsmanship probably doesn’t match the bags that cost a little more.

Pros:

• Integrated cart strap loop
• Magnetic rangefinder pocket
• Large insulated beverage pocket

Cons:

• No carry strap

If you always ride, you can’t go wrong with the Tour Edge Hot Launch Xtreme 5.0 Cart Bag, especially for less than $150. It has all the standard features, plus a couple of things you wouldn’t expect in a bag at this price.

One of its best features is the magnetic, quick-access range finder pocket. This pocket lessens the chances of forgetting your rangefinder in the cart.

It also has an integrated cart strap loop so you can access every pocket. The top has a 14-way divider, and there are pockets aplenty. Two large garment pockets; two waterproof, velour-lined pockets; and a large insulated beverage pocket provide plenty of storage. A towel ring, velcro glove holder, and rain hood are among the other attributes.

Pros:

• Extremely light, especially for a cart bag
• Lots of storage space

Cons:

• No stand or double strap

At $150, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cart bag with this much space and utility. You also won’t find a cart bag that’s nearly this light. At under four pounds, the IZZO Ultra-Lite Cart Bag is lighter than many of the stand or carry bags on the market. This makes it easy to transport from your car to the golf cart or the range.

Despite being very light, this IZZO bag offers ample storage. Its six pockets include a large pocket on each side for plenty of extra gear like outerwear, or even a small launch monitor. The bag also has a valuables pouch, large ball pocket, 14-way divider, umbrella holder, and rain hood. Without a double strap or stand, it’s definitely best for carts, including push carts.