Hardshell or Softside Travel Bag, Which is Best?

Golf travel bags are manufactured in 2 ways. They come either in a hard casing or a soft casing and it just depends on your needs to determine which one will work best for you. They come in all different makes, colours and sizes which will also give you a large variety to choose from.

Making a list of your wants, needs, and must haves with the following questions and this will also help narrow down your search.

Hardshell or Softside Travel Bag

Do you need extra protection for your clubs? Is storage a consideration? Do you have a certain price range? How many compartments do you want to have included? Do you have a preference to a certain manufacturer? Do you travel a lot and is it by car, bus, train, airplane or a combination? All these questions will actually make it easier to determine which golf travel bag will be the perfect one for you.

Hard Golf Travel bags

Hard golf travel cases are made from a substance such as molded polyethylene. This makes the case impact resistant and can handle a lot rougher handling because of the hard exterior than the soft case. They come with wheels and a sturdy handle that can be used just like on a normal suitcase making it easier to transport. The hard case travel bag also needs storage space as it doesn’t fold up like the soft travel bags. Price range is higher as that comes with the added protection tag on them.

Soft Golf Travel Bags

Soft golf travel bags are made from a softer yet still strong material and it is also lighter in weight than a hard casing and are not resistant to puncture. Keep in mind that they are made from a strong and durable material and are easier to store (usually more compact) but do offer less in the way of protection that the hard cases. They can come with shoulder straps as well and have wheels for easy transport.

Considerations

The cost is dependant on the manufacturer, design, style and construction. Soft travel cases are a bit cheaper than a hard case. If your main concern is the protection of your investment then the extra cost will pay of in the end as there will be less of a reason to replace any of your existing equipment.

If you travel a lot and take your clubs with you instead of renting them at the Golf Course then the way you travel is an important consideration and will help you determine the level of protection that you require. If you are traveling by car then you will be handling your own luggage and can take the necessary precautions in storing them. In this scenario the soft travel case may be the best choice for you. They offer the protection you require, easier to manage and more compact for storage whether in the house or in the trunk of a car. Also keep in mind that you will need to manage them in lifting them and placing them in the trunk as well as lifting them back out so the manageability is key as well the weight of the soft travel bags is lighter than the hard cases. In this case you may need to take extra care in ensuring that your clubs are secure and don’t rattle around during transport.

If on the other hand you travel by train or airplane then at some point that precaution is taken out of your hands and is dependent on the handlers that place them on the baggage lines that may encounter sharp edges at the airport that transport them from the building to the airplane and vice-versa and so extra protective gear would be a consideration in this case in helping them withstand any impact and keeping your investment intact. Also keep in mind that other passengers pack their own bags and if they have not secured their baggage and have sharp objects that may hinder other bags in the vicinity.

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