For a decade, the Club Glove Last Bag has been my trusted companion for golf trips. It’s endured countless flights to 14 countries and remained remarkably resilient despite rigorous handling. However, it’s not without its drawbacks. Its size is somewhat limited, and maneuvering it through airports and hotels can be challenging. That’s why the Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian caught my attention. Sharing a similar size to my Club Glove, it boasts a unique retractable wheel system designed to simplify travel. Recently, I tested the Meridian on a trip to San Diego to see how it performs and whether it surpasses the well-regarded Club Glove. The answer is nuanced, but let’s delve into the details. In this review, I’ll directly compare the Meridian to the Club Glove, a benchmark in golf travel bags and the one I’ve personally used for years.
First Impressions: Sleek Design and Promising Features
The Meridian offers a range of attractive color options, and I chose a black model accented with red. The bag’s aesthetics are impressive, and beyond the distinctive “glider” mechanism, several differences from the Club Glove are immediately apparent. Notably, the shoe pockets are positioned externally, a feature I welcomed, hoping it would free up internal space. We’ll explore that shortly. The upper section of the Meridian appears more padded, and it utilizes two straps instead of the Club Glove’s three. Overall, the bag presents a very appealing look. Despite the integrated glide system, its weight feels comparable to my older Club Glove bag.
Build Quality and Materials: Durability Under Scrutiny?
Initially, I anticipated the Sun Mountain bag to be a clear upgrade. However, as I started packing for my trip, my confidence wavered slightly. The Club Glove Last Bag exudes an almost indestructible feel, constructed from exceptionally durable nylon and equipped with an incredibly robust zipper. The Sun Mountain, in comparison, feels a step down in both material robustness and zipper quality.
Sun Mountain Club Glider
To be clear, the construction remains very good. However, I’m curious to see how the zippers withstand long-term, repeated stress. The primary handle at the top, used for rolling the bag, also feels less substantial than I’d hoped. It’s functional, but lacks the premium feel of the Club Glove handle. I do wish this handle felt more robust. As mentioned, the external shoe pockets were a welcome sight. They do seem to have increased internal space, which is a plus. However, a drawback emerged: fitting two pairs of size 12 shoes into one pocket proved impossible. The Club Glove easily accommodated a pair of shoes in each internal pocket. The Meridian only fits one shoe per pocket. While not a deal-breaker, as the extra internal space allows for another pair, it’s a minor inconvenience for someone who frequently travels with two pairs of golf shoes.
Padding and Protection: Keeping Your Clubs Safe in Transit
Despite the Club Glove’s robust zippers and nylon, it hasn’t been entirely problem-free during travel. While my clubs have never been damaged, a tripod once broke in half inside, and more recently, a leg on my Vessel Player Air stand bag snapped, rendering it almost useless. From a padding and protection perspective, the Sun Mountain feels substantial, and I had no major concerns about my clubs’ safety. Actually, let me retract that slightly. I had a brand new TaylorMade Qi10 Max driver intended for this trip. However, in my hurried packing, I couldn’t locate a club wrench to detach the driver head. Given that I hadn’t yet reviewed it, I opted to leave it behind as a precaution. I did bring my Stix Compete Driver, and it arrived without incident.
The Club Glider in Action: Airport Travel Revolutionized
I packed my Vessel Player V Pro stand bag, a larger model. It fit comfortably within the Sun Mountain bag, and I perceived slightly more room than I typically have in the Club Glove Last Bag. Perhaps not as much extra space as I’d initially hoped, but any increase is appreciated. Up until reaching the airport, I was uncertain if this bag was truly an upgrade. Slightly more space, marginally less robust zippers and nylon. However, upon unloading the bag at long-term parking at PDX and navigating the long walk through the garage, the underground tunnel, escalators, and into the terminal, my perspective shifted dramatically. The Club Glider function? It’s a complete game-changer.
Sun Mountain Club Glider Mechanism
A simple flick of the lever extends the glider mechanism. A quick pull of the lever beneath the bag releases the glider system, which acts as both a stand and engages the rollerblade-style wheels – the bag’s defining feature. Walking with the Sun Mountain Club Glider is effortless. The bag practically glides, requiring minimal effort. It not only “glides” smoothly but also offers superior maneuverability. Navigating the ticketing line, the bag felt as if it were on rails, effortlessly following my movements. I recently described the LAB Putter as a genuinely “revolutionary” product. The Club Glider belongs in the same category. While the overall build quality didn’t fully meet my initial expectations, the glider’s functionality exceeded them.
Is the Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian Worth Buying?
At $339, this is a premium travel bag. However, for frequent golf travelers, investing in a durable, user-friendly bag is absolutely worthwhile. While perhaps not as rugged as a hardshell case, the convenience of a soft bag makes it a more practical choice for most. The Sun Mountain Meridian is a stylish bag with ample space and exceptional on-the-go performance. Despite my minor critiques regarding some materials, I doubt most users will encounter significant issues. After my initial trip, my clubs were unscathed, and my travel experience was the most comfortable to date. Unless you travel weekly with your clubs, this bag should last for many years. Is it a better buy than the Last Bag? For most, I believe the answer is yes. The Last Bag is slightly more robust, but the Sun Mountain is still better built than many golf travel bags (looking at you TourTrek), and the Club Glider feature more than compensates for any minor durability concerns. This is now my go-to bag for club travel, and for the first time, I’m not dreading hauling my clubs through airport terminals.
A fantastic golf travel bag with a truly revolutionary party trick
9.2 Great
The Sun Mountain Club Glider is undeniably one of the best golf travel bags available. Its build quality is very good, though slightly below the Club Glove Last Bag. However, the unique “Club Glider” feature more than makes up for this, significantly enhancing the overall user experience.
The Good
- Club Glider feature performs as advertised
- Ample space for most golf bags
- Attractive design
The Bad
- Top handle could be more substantial
- Material and build quality are a B+
- Pricey
- Presentation 10
- Performance 9
- Features and Quality 9
- Price 9
- Personal Affinity 9
