Sun Mountain took my favorite travel bag and made it even better

I will never travel with golf clubs in any other travel bag than the Sun Mountain ClubGlider. Full stop.

Flying on American Airlines out of my former home airport in Philadelphia meant a better-than-not chance you would leave from one terminal (A, B, C or F) and return to any of the other three. If you parked in the garages, that means a long walk back to the car.

The ClubGlider’s extendable legs make lugging the golf bag from car to terminal and vice versa a breeze. It’s truly life-changing, not having to hold the weight of your clubs when moving from place to place.

Now, with the new ClubGlider3, Sun Mountain has upgraded what is, in my opinion, golf’s best travel bag, and it seems they’ve improved the one category where I feared the previous ClubGlider was lacking.

Where the ClubGlider3 has really improved

If I have one gripe about the ClubGlider Meridian, it’s that I’ve already had two bags in five years of owning one. On my first one, a small tear developed near the shoe pocket and eventually that zipper was compromised.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where airlines don’t exactly handle our golf clubs with the utmost care (see here). I wasn’t worried about the ClubGlider failing to protect the source author’s clubs, but I was wondering how the bag itself would take a beating from an inexperienced or careless airport baggage handler (disclaimer: not all airport baggage handlers are careless and many take great care in moving clubs. Be sure to thank them if you get the chance).

The kickstand makes everything worth it, but I wish the ClubGlider was a little more durable. Thankfully, my wishes have been answered with ClubGlider3.

The new CG3 is more durable than its predecessor.

Not only is the ClubGlider3 built from a more durable weather- and abrasion-resistant polyester ripstop, but the top of the bag has also been reinforced with a Thermoform-molded casing and velour-lined interior to protect your sticks. The top of the bag is now actually quite hard if you were to knock on it. The shoe pocket zippers have also been reinforced and sealed with a TPU laminate.

Through three trips so far, including an international trip to Scotland, my new ClubGlider3 shows little wear and makes me feel like this bag could last me a long time.

What else does the ClubGlider3 offer?

Sun Mountain didn’t just stop at a new, sturdier construction for the CG3. They also added two new features aimed at making you feel more confident that everything you packed in your bag will make it to your destination.

The first is a new TSA-approved luggage lock that is integrated into the bag’s main zipper itself. This was really great for me since my previous luggage lock was removed — presumably by the TSA — and never returned during a trip earlier this year. Try doing that now.

Sun Mountain also added an internal AirTag pocket so you can know where your bag is at all times. I haven’t actually used this little pocket yet because I keep an AirTag in my golf bag all the time, but if I go in on another set of AirTags, I will definitely leave one in my CG3 for ultimate peace of mind.

Big fan of the new TSA-Approved integrated luggage lock.

Additionally, two smaller internal pockets can be used to store loose items like a sunglasses case, rangefinder or torque wrench. I

Where the ClubGlider3 could improve (slightly)

If I have one gripe about the new ClubGlider3, and we’re being really picky here, I wish the side shoe pockets were slightly bigger.

During my first trips with the CG3, I was just barely able to squeeze a pair of shoes (I’m size 10-11 for reference) into each pocket. In fact, on one trip, I gave up and just threw one shoe from a pair into the main compartment.

That said, on my most recent trip, it seemed the pockets had relaxed just a bit and perhaps just needed a little breaking in, as I fit both pairs of shoes in the pockets with ease.

Still, I wish there was a touch more space and I’d bet anyone with larger shoes than mine would appreciate it as well, especially considering the CG3, like the ClubGlider Meridian before it, has no shortage of space for everything else.

Bottom line

Sun Mountain took what was already the best travel bag in golf and made it more durable and more secure.

When I travel, I never have to think much about lugging the source author’s clubs from one part of an airport to another. With these updates to the ClubGlider3, I also no longer think twice about the source author’s clubs making it to me safely and unharmed.

Total protection. Built to roll. For more than a decade, ClubGlider has set the standard for golf travel. ClubGlider3 raises that standard with rugged ripstop construction, advanced protection features, and industrial-grade hardware. Built on ClubGlider’s patented retractable kickstand system, ClubGlider3 removes the strain of dragging a fully loaded bag and places it on the engineering. Built to the TQR Standard—Trust. Quality. Reliability. Details: Patented kickstand extends and retracts in one easy motion to support the bag’s weight. Made from weather- and abrasion-resistant polyester ripstop for rugged durability. A TPU film laminate and DWR finish form a systematic line of defense against mother nature. Thermoform-molded casing and velour-lined interior shield and protect clubs. Industrial-grade two-way zippers and heavy-duty clips keep gear secure. Integrated TSA lock and internal AirTag pocket offer total protection and security. Precision glide wheels move through the airport with ease. External and internal pockets maximize storage and organization. Specs: Dimensions: 53” x 14” x 17” Pockets: 4 Utility Handles: 3 Capacity: 127.1L Weight: 12.8 lbs. Materials: 900D polyester ripstop with a matte-finish TPU film laminate.