kube golf travel bag review

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Travel Bags

Sun Mountain's Kube travel bag solves one of the traveling golfer's biggest headaches

Sometimes the best new things I see at the PGA Merchandise Show are not new at all, but instead something I have missed in prior years. So forgive the delay in putting this forth until now. That said, if you travel for golf at all, Sun Mountain’s Kube travel bag is one of the most utilitarian travel bags I have ever seen.

Hyperbole? Perhaps. But it depends on what is important to you. As someone that travels with their clubs frequently, one of the hassles is always where to store the travel bag at home and, more importantly, how much dang trunk space is it going to take up once I get my clubs out of it on the road.

With the Kube, the answer is not much. A full-size travel bag (52 x 14 x 14 inches) with plenty of protection when unfolded, the Kube folds down to a highly manageable 9 x 13 x 14.5 inches—or smaller than your carry-on luggage. Still, it does not scrimp on the making sure your clubs arrive intact. The bag is constructed from durable, ballistic-style fabric in combination with plastic half-shells and dense foam padding to protect your sticks.

The Kube is available in ten colors including black, java-sand camo and tropic-spruce at a retail price of $270.

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REVIEW: Sun Mountain Golf Kube travel cover

Maybe you’ve seen the Sun Mountain Kube before. I hadn’t. New in 2019, a media friend of mine showed me one and I thought it was a suitcase.

“That’s my golf travel bag,” he corrected. (Seriously?) It was too small and cute for that to be true.

“That 12 x 12 cube fits all your golf clubs in it?”

It’s 14.5 x 13, but, yes, it does. The practicality blew my mind. It’s the first time I’ve ever sat and played with someone else’s golf bag like it was a puppy. ‘Wow,’ I thought, imagining the possibility of no more golf buddy trips with a cluster of bags all over. Hard shell on one side, padding on the other, looking like a block from Super Mario World, it’s an amazing concept and it works so perfectly.

NEW FEATURES: Sun Mountain’s newest travel bag meshes hard, ballistic-style nylon material with plastic half-shells to protect your clubs in a uniquely rock-soft utopia. Once you remove your clubs though, the bag gets even more practical, packing neatly into a lightweight (6.8 pound) cube.

DEFINING FEATURES: Golf travel bags can’t get much more practical, or portable, for that matter. With clubs inside, the heavily padded bag’s dimensions are 52" x 14" x 14", and with solid wheels it rolls easily in any direction. With clubs removed, the bag condenses into a tight, 9” x 13” x 14.5” cube in any of eight bold colors. Solid snaps lock the sides in place, and you could stack 12 of these in the trunk of a compact car. (Note: Squeezing 12 people into a compact car would overcorrect said lack of perspiration.)

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES: Multiple materials, each with their own intentional and complimentary purpose make unfolding, packing, unpacking and folding-back-up all a breeze. (Someone at Sun Mountain got an A+ in physics, and hopefully a raise!) If the bag has a weakness, it’s that it lacks the middle padding and molded tray of their Clubgliders. If it has another weakness, it’s that it’s so cool looking it may get stolen. That’s bad if it happens, but good if your insurance gets you new clubs. (And another Kube bag.) There is no shoe pouch specifically, but that’s not necessarily a deterrent.

COMPARABILITY: As a frequent golf traveler, I’ve gone through several travel bags. My hard-shell cases have had failing clasps and broken wheels. The soft-shells have had wonky zippers and weakly stitched (easily worn) pressure points. Sun Mountain addressed and anticipated those faults well, placing extra fabric reinforcement in specific spots to prevent excessive wear and tear and by adding full-length, heavy-duty, two-way zippers. Is it better than the Clubglider? To be honest, they are actually incomparable.

COST AND VALUE: Retailing at $230, the bag isn't inexpensive. That said, novelty is certainly part of the price, and practicality is probably the rest. I don’t know what price I’d have put on one of these ($150 maybe) but I do know that I’m unlikely to need (or want) a different golf travel bag this decade so, that extra $80 is worth it to me.

This is a beast of no burden, except for the initial cost.

“Revolutionary” is an overused word when it comes to new product lines, but it fits properly here. I remain in awe of this carry bag and encourage everyone to check them out. I’m not sure how I’d react to someone coming up to play with my golf travel bag, but I’m thankful I did that myself, because it led me to owning this mini box of mucho mojo.

Eric Hart was provided equipment for review by the manufacturer.

About the author

Eric N. Hart

Eric Hart (aka MobileGolfer) is an award-winning travel and leisure writer for Golf News Net and the owner of Stays + Plays Travel Agency in the Midwest. Eric has stayed at 250-plus resorts and hotels around the world and played 500-plus golf courses. He has worked with 16 tourism agencies and written more than 1,100 articles for 14 regional, national and international golf, family and travel publications since he began in 2007. With a passion for promoting both golf and family travel, Eric routinely hits the road with his son and/or the full family (wife and four kids).

Reach Eric by email at info[at]staysandplays.com

Golf Gear Guides

Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Review: Is it Worth the Hype?

Are you tired of worrying about your golf clubs getting damaged during travel? Look no further than the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal. This travel bag is a game-changer, with its hard, ballistic-style fabric and plastic half-shells providing maximum protection for your clubs.

When not in use, the Kube folds down to a compact size for easy storage. The bag’s dense foam padding through the top ensures your clubs stay safe during transit. The heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag, making loading and unloading a breeze. Plus, the durable base with in-line skate wheels allows for smooth rolling through airports and hotels.

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is reinforced in high-wear areas for added durability, ensuring that it will last you for years to come. With a rating of 4.5 stars and over 188 reviews, it’s clear that this travel bag is a fan favorite.

Bottom Line

If you’re in need of a reliable and durable travel cover for your golf clubs, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is a great choice. Its compact size, heavy-duty zippers, and reinforced design make it a top contender in the market. Don’t risk damaging your clubs during travel – invest in the Kube today.

Overview of the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover

If you’re looking for a durable and compact travel cover for your golf clubs, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is a great option. The cover is made of hard, ballistic-style nylon fabric, which is reinforced in high-wear areas for added durability. The plastic half-shells and dense foam padding on the top provide maximum protection for your clubs during transport.

The Kube folds down to a compact size of 9″ x 13″ x 14.5″ for easy storage when not in use. The heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag for easy loading, and the durable base with in-line skate wheels ensures smooth rolling.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is a great choice for golfers who want a compact and durable travel cover that provides excellent protection for their clubs. With its ballistic-style nylon fabric, plastic half-shells, and dense foam padding, you can be sure that your clubs will arrive at your destination in great condition.

Maximum Club Protection

When it comes to protecting your golf clubs during travel, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover has got you covered. The plastic shell and dense foam padding on top provide maximum protection for your clubs, ensuring they arrive at your destination in the same condition as when you packed them. The ballistic-style nylon fabric used on the body of the bag is both durable and reinforced in high-wear areas for added protection.

The heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag, making it easy to load and unload your clubs. And when you’re not using it, the Kube folds down into a compact package for easy storage. The durable base with in-line skate wheels also ensures smooth rolling, making it effortless to transport your clubs from one place to another.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is an excellent investment for any golfer who wants to protect their clubs during travel. With its maximum club protection and durable design, you can rest assured that your clubs will be safe and secure during transit.

Durability and Design

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is built to last. The plastic shell and dense foam padding on top provide maximum protection for your clubs during transit. The ballistic-style nylon fabric used on the body of the bag adds to its durability, and the fabric is reinforced in high-wear areas for added strength.

The heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag, making it easy to load and unload your clubs. The durable base with in-line skate wheels ensures smooth rolling, even over rough terrain.

When not in use, the Kube folds down to a compact size for easy storage. Its internal dimensions of 52″ x 14″ x 14″ provide ample space for your clubs, while the bag itself weighs in at just 6.8 pounds.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is a well-designed and durable travel bag that will keep your clubs safe and secure during transit.

Ease of Transport

When it comes to golf travel covers, ease of transport is a critical factor to consider. The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is designed with this in mind. The durable base with in-line skate wheels makes it easy to roll the bag through airports and parking lots. The heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag, allowing for easy loading and unloading of your clubs.

The bag is also lightweight, which means you won’t have to worry about carrying extra weight as you move around. It folds up nicely when not in use, which makes it easy to store in your closet or trunk. The ballistic-style nylon fabric used in the body of the bag is reinforced in high-wear areas, making the bag durable and long-lasting.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is an excellent choice for golfers who need a travel cover that is easy to transport. Its lightweight design, in-line skate wheels, and two-way zippers make it a breeze to use.

Compact Storage

When it comes to traveling with your golf clubs, space is always a concern. The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is designed with compact storage in mind. The plastic shell and dense foam padding on top provide maximum club protection while the ballistic-style nylon fabric ensures durability. The fabric is reinforced in high-wear areas for added durability.

The bag has heavy-duty, two-way zippers that run the full-length of the bag for easy loading. The durable base with in-line skate wheels allows for smooth rolling. When not in use, the travel cover can be easily stored in a closet or garage without taking up too much space.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is a great investment for any golfer who frequently travels with their clubs. Its compact design makes it easy to store and transport, while still providing maximum protection for your clubs.

Pros and Cons

If you’re in the market for a new golf travel cover, the Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover is definitely worth considering. Like any product, it has its pros and cons. Here’s what you need to know:

• Easy to pack away: One of the standout features of the Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover is how easy it is to pack away when not in use. The plastic shell and dense foam padding on top provide maximum club protection, while the ballistic-style nylon fabric on the body of the bag ensures durability.
• Smooth rolling: The durable base with in-line skate wheels makes it easy to roll through the airport or parking lot without any hassle.
• Reinforced fabric: The fabric is reinforced in high-wear areas for added durability, so you can rest assured that your clubs will be well protected during transport.
• Variety of color choices: With many color choices available, you can easily spot your clubs in baggage claim and add personalization to your travel bag.
• Good value: For the price, the Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover offers a lot of value. It’s a well-made travel cover that will keep your clubs safe and secure during transport.
• Not the biggest: The Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover is not the biggest travel cover on the market, so if you have an oversized bag or a lot of extra gear, it may not be the best choice for you.
• Limited protection: While the plastic shell and dense foam padding on top provide maximum club protection, the rest of the bag may not be as protective as some other travel covers on the market.
• Limited storage space: The Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover is designed primarily for your clubs, so if you need to pack extra clothing or accessories, you may need to bring an additional bag.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover is a solid choice for anyone in need of a reliable golf travel cover. It’s easy to pack away, rolls smoothly, and offers good protection for your clubs. While it may not be the biggest or most protective travel cover on the market, it’s a great value for the price and comes in a variety of colors to suit your personal style.

Customer Reviews

When it comes to purchasing the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover, it’s always helpful to hear from others who have used it. The product has a 4.5-star rating and a total of 188 reviews on Amazon. Customers rave about how easy it is to pack away and store when not in use. The green color also makes it easy to identify in baggage claim.

One customer noted that the bag is lightweight, compact, and easy to transport. They even used it on a trip to Ireland and had no issues rolling it through the airport. Another customer appreciated the added protection the bag provides for their clubs. They also loved the pop of color it added to their travel gear.

Overall, customers are satisfied with the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover. It’s a great option for those who need a reliable and easy-to-store travel cover for their golf clubs.

Color and Style

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is a stylish and durable travel bag that is perfect for golfers who want to protect their clubs while on the move. The bag comes in a striking Inferno/Gunmetal color combination that is sure to turn heads on the golf course. The ballistic-style nylon fabric used in the bag’s construction is not only stylish but also incredibly durable, making it ideal for frequent travelers.

The bag’s fabric is reinforced in high-wear areas for added durability, ensuring that it will last for years to come. The heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag for easy loading, and the durable base with in-line skate wheels ensures smooth rolling. Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover Inferno/Gunmetal is a great choice for golfers who want a stylish and durable travel bag that will keep their clubs safe and secure during transit.

Overall, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is a great investment for golfers who frequently travel with their clubs. Its compact size and foldable design make it easy to store and transport, while still providing adequate protection for your clubs. The variety of color options available also adds a personal touch and makes it easy to spot your bag in baggage claim.

Based on customer reviews, many users have found this travel cover to be durable and reliable, even after multiple trips. However, some reviewers have noted that it may not provide as much protection as other, larger travel covers on the market.

If you’re looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use travel cover that can still protect your clubs during transit, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is definitely worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover that may help you make your decision.

How does the Kube hold up during air travel?

The Kube is designed to withstand the rigors of air travel. The hard, ballistic-style fabric and plastic half-shells provide excellent protection for your clubs. The dense foam padding through the top of the bag also helps to protect your clubs during transport. The Kube also features heavy-duty, two-way zippers that run the full length of the bag for easy loading. Overall, the Kube is a great option for those who frequently travel with their golf clubs.

What are the main differences between the Kube and Club Glove travel bags?

The Kube and Club Glove travel bags are both excellent options for protecting your clubs during travel. However, there are some differences between the two. The Kube features hard, plastic half-shells that provide maximum protection for your clubs. The Club Glove, on the other hand, is made from a soft, padded material that is designed to be more flexible. The Kube also folds down to a compact size for easy storage, while the Club Glove is more bulky. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference and the specific needs of the traveler.

Can you easily fit a full set of clubs in the Kube Golf Travel Cover?

Yes, the Kube is designed to fit a full set of clubs. The internal dimensions of the Kube are 52″ x 14″ x 14″, which provides ample space for your clubs and other golf accessories. The Kube is also designed to be easy to load and unload, thanks to its heavy-duty, two-way zippers.

Is the Kube Travel Cover waterproof or water-resistant?

The Kube is not advertised as waterproof, but it is water-resistant. The ballistic-style nylon fabric used on the body of the bag is designed to be durable and water-resistant, which helps to protect your clubs from moisture during travel. However, it is still recommended that you use a rain cover or plastic bag to protect your clubs in case of heavy rain.

What makes the Kube stand out among other golf travel bags in 2023?

The Kube stands out among other golf travel bags in 2023 for several reasons. First, the hard, plastic half-shells provide maximum protection for your clubs during transport. Second, the Kube folds down to a compact size for easy storage when not in use. Finally, the Kube is made from high-quality materials that are designed to be durable and long-lasting. Overall, the Kube is a great option for those who want a reliable and easy-to-use travel bag for their golf clubs.

How does the durability of the Kube compare to the Sun Mountain ClubGlider Pro?

Both the Kube and the ClubGlider Pro are designed to be durable and long-lasting. However, the Kube is made from hard, plastic half-shells that provide maximum protection for your clubs, while the ClubGlider Pro is made from a soft, padded material that is designed to be more flexible. The Kube is also more compact and easier to store than the ClubGlider Pro. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference and the specific needs of the traveler.

REVIEW: Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover

Travel covers are a necessary investment for traveling with your golf clubs.  You don’t need to be reminded of that investment every time you have to maneuver around a giant case in your garage, closet or storage space.  The  Sun Mountain Kube  is the perfect travel cover that protects your clubs, is lightweight, and folds into a small Kube when not in use.  I hadn’t found a reason to replace my old travel cover until now.  The  Sun Mountain Kube  is the travel cover of iGolfreviews.

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Sun mountain kube golf travel cover review.

• Travel Bags

Imagine traveling to your dream golf destination with peace of mind knowing that your precious golf clubs are safely protected. The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover ensures that your clubs are shielded from any potential damage during transit. With its plastic shell and dense foam padding, this travel cover provides excellent protection for your clubs. Made from ballistic-style nylon fabric, the cover is not only highly durable but also reinforced in wear areas for long-lasting use. The heavy-duty, two-way zippers allow for easy loading and unloading, while the compact folding design makes storage a breeze. Say goodbye to worrying about the safety of your clubs and hello to stress-free golf travel with the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover.

Table of Contents

Why Consider This Product?

When it comes to traveling with your golf clubs, you want a durable and reliable travel cover that can protect your valuable equipment. The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is a top choice for golfers who want peace of mind when transporting their clubs. With a combination of plastic shells and dense foam padding, this travel cover ensures that your clubs are well-protected throughout your journey.

But don’t just take our word for it. This travel cover has been rigorously tested and backed by scientific research, making it a trusted choice for golfers of all levels. It has also received multiple certifications and endorsements from industry experts, further enhancing its credibility.

Features and Benefits

Easy loading with two-way zippers.

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is equipped with heavy-duty, two-way zippers that run the full length of the bag, making it incredibly easy to load and unload your clubs. No more struggling with cumbersome covers or spending precious minutes trying to fit your clubs inside. This feature ensures a hassle-free and efficient packing process.

Superior Durability with Ballistic-Style Nylon Fabric

Constructed with ballistic-style nylon fabric, this travel cover is built to withstand the rigors of travel. The fabric is not only exceptionally durable but also resistant to tears and abrasions. Added reinforcement in wear areas ensures that it remains in top condition even after multiple trips. With the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover, your clubs will stay safe and protected wherever your golf adventures take you.

Compact and Secure Storage

Once you’ve reached your destination, you don’t want to be burdened with a bulky travel cover. That’s where the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover stands out. It easily folds into a compact package, allowing for convenient storage. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or only take occasional golf trips, this travel cover’s compact design ensures that it won’t take up excessive space in your closet or trunk.

Maximum Club Protection with Dense Foam Padding

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover goes above and beyond to protect your clubs. With dense foam padding throughout the top of the bag, your clubs will stay cushioned and protected from any impacts during transit. This feature is especially crucial when considering the fragility of golf clubs and the potential damage they can sustain while in transport.

Product Quality

When it comes to a product like a golf travel cover, quality is of utmost importance. The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is meticulously crafted using premium materials and superior manufacturing processes. The combination of plastic shells, foam padding, and ballistic-style nylon fabric ensures that this travel cover can withstand the demands of travel and provide reliable protection for your clubs.

What It’s Used For

Convenient traveling companion.

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is specifically designed for golfers who frequently travel with their clubs. Whether you’re heading to your favorite course across town or embarking on a golfing vacation across the country, this travel cover will be your trustworthy companion. It provides peace of mind, knowing that your clubs are safe and secure throughout your journey.

Protection during Airline Travel

Airline travel can be particularly harsh on golf clubs. Rough handling, stacking, and shifting during transport pose a significant risk of damage. The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover acts as a shield, minimizing the chances of your clubs getting dented, scratched, or broken during flights. With this travel cover, you can confidently check your clubs at the airport, knowing that they will arrive in perfect condition at your destination.

Storage and Organization

Even if you’re not a frequent traveler, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is still a valuable asset. It provides a convenient and organized way to store your golf clubs when they’re not in use. The compact design allows you to effortlessly store the travel cover in your closet or garage, ensuring that your clubs stay protected and ready for your next round.

Protection during Road Trips

If you prefer hitting the road rather than flying, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is an essential companion for your golfing road trips. The durable construction and secure zippers ensure that your clubs remain safe and intact, even during long drives. So, load up your clubs, buckle up, and enjoy the journey, knowing that your equipment is in good hands.

Product Specifications

Who needs this.

Whether you’re a beginner, an amateur enthusiast, or a seasoned pro, if you’re serious about golf and travel, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is a must-have. It caters to golfers of all levels who want to ensure the safety and protection of their clubs while on the move. From casual golfers taking occasional trips to avid travelers exploring new courses regularly, this product is designed with your needs in mind.

Pros and Cons

• Excellent club protection with dense foam padding
• Durable ballistic-style nylon fabric for long-lasting use
• Easy loading and unloading with two-way zippers
• Compact and convenient storage
• Suitable for both airline travel and road trips
• Slightly heavier compared to some other travel covers on the market
• Limited color options

Q: Does this travel cover fit all types of golf bags? A: Yes, the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is designed to accommodate most standard golf bags, including cart bags and stand bags.

Q: Is it easy to maneuver through airports? A: Yes, the travel cover’s compact design and built-in wheels make it easy to navigate through airports and other travel environments.

Q: Can I use this travel cover for international trips? A: Absolutely! The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is suitable for both domestic and international travel.

What Customers Are Saying

“I travel frequently for golf tournaments, and the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover has been a game-changer for me. It’s incredibly easy to load and unload my clubs, and I love how compact it is for storage.” – John M.

“I’ve had other travel covers in the past, but none compare to the durability and protection of the Sun Mountain Kube. My clubs have never been in better condition after traveling!” – Sarah R.

Overall Value

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover provides exceptional value for golfers who prioritize the protection and convenience of their clubs while traveling. Its superior durability, easy loading, compact storage, and excellent club protection make it a worthwhile investment for any golfer on the go.

Tips and Tricks For Best Results

• Before packing your clubs, ensure that all clubheads are securely tightened and covers are placed on them to prevent any scratches or damage.
• Consider adding additional padding or protection for extra peace of mind during long journeys.
• Always double-check the weight and size restrictions of your airline or transportation provider to avoid any additional fees or issues during check-in processes.

Which Sun Mountain Golf Travel Bag Is Better: the Meridian Club Cover or the Kube Travel Cover?

When comparing the Sun Mountain golf travel bags, the Meridian Club Cover and the Kube Travel Cover, it is essential to consider their features and benefits. The sun mountain clubglider meridian travel bag review reveals that it offers superior protection with its thick padding and durable materials. On the other hand, the Kube Travel Cover impresses with its compact design and easy maneuverability. Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preferences and requirements.

Final Thoughts

Product summary.

The Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover is a top-quality travel cover designed to protect and transport your golf clubs with ease. Its durable construction, convenient features, and compact storage make it an excellent choice for any golfer who travels frequently or values the safety of their clubs.

Final Recommendation

If you’re in the market for a reliable and dependable travel cover for your golf clubs, look no further than the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover. With its outstanding features, superior durability, and customer satisfaction, this travel cover provides the peace of mind and protection your clubs deserve. Invest in the Sun Mountain Kube Golf Travel Cover and travel with confidence.

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Kube Travel Cover

Kube Travel Cover - Concord-Plum-Violet is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

• Internal dimensions: 52” x 14” x 14”
• Along with the plastic shells, dense foam padding through the top of the bag protects clubs.
• Ballistic-style nylon fabric for durability.
• Fabric reinforced in wear areas.
• Heavy-duty, two-way zippers run the full length of the bag for easy loading.
• Folds into a compact package for storage.

Weight 6.8 lb

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TRAVEL LIKE A PRO

Pack your clubs like a pro with award-winning travel gear that delivers unmatched maneuverability and durability on the go. From dense foam padding to protect your clubs to ballistic-style nylon, effortless pivoting wheels to smooth retracting legs, Sun Mountain Travel is a must-have for those who love to play away from home.

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Best Golf Travel Bags 2024

Heading away on a golf trip? A good travel cover is essential to keep your clubs safe

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The Quick List

Best with wheels, best padding, best for airlines, best hard case, best budget, best durability, best color choice, specifications table, how we test.

• How to choose

Best Golf Travel Bag: Quick Menu

1. The list in brief 2. Top pick 3. Best with wheels 4. Best padding 5. Best for airlines 6. Best hard case 7. Best budget 8. Best durability 9. Best color choice 10. How we test 11. How to choose 12. FAQs

A quality travel bag is a must-have for the globetrotting golfer. Your clubs are your prized possessions and taking them away with you can always be a risk, so keep that risk as low as possible with these bags. At Golf Monthly we are all regular golfers and all manage to go on golf trips often and as such we have managed to test a lot of different models out there. 

Therefore we think we are in a good position to pick out the best golf travel bag whilst also giving you advice on the several things to consider. First they have to be strong and able to deal with the trials and tribulations of travel in planes, trains and automobiles. Strong materials, padding, and excellent construction are all vital with models like the Motocaddy and Titleist leading the way here.

Additionally maneuverability is a huge benefit too because awkward travel bags make everything more difficult. Ones that move easily with strong wheels are hugely important which makes the Sun Mountain a top choice. We also think it is good for travel bags to be easy to identify because you never know what can happen in an airport in terms of people accidentally taking your luggage or clubs. As such the Ogio Alpha is one of the best out there and there are plenty of other models with distinctive designs as well.

(Finally we also recommend taking a look at some of our other guides too, such as the best golf luggage , best golf bags , and the best golf tops .) 

The MacGregor VIP II Premium features a cover that can stand up to airport abuse, it’s easy to transport, and it’s an exceptional value at its price.

Read more below

The ClubGlider Meridian is a joy to use and you will be the envy of the airport when wheeling it around whilst other golfers continually pick up their travel covers.

The Motocaddy Flightsafe travel cover is a versatile option if you are looking for a higher level of protection for your clubs and gear when travelling abroad.

Lightweight, easy to use, easy to maneuver and with plenty of storage, the Bag Boy T-660 ticks all the right boxes for the frequent golf traveller.

The Kube from Sun Mountain is an interesting and unique golf travel bag that looks great, has solid padded protection and folds away to a convenient size.

A well-thought-out and user-friendly golf travel cover, the Ram FX travel cover has plenty of space and solid protection for golf clubs and more gear.

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A very solid and reliable golf travel cover with an air of quality that allows you to fly with confidence knowing your clubs and gear are safe and secure.

Not only does the Ogio Alpha look great and stand out when travelling in several colors, but it performs well in every way you would want it to.

Best Golf Travel Bags

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

MacGregor VIP II Premium Travel Cover with our golf bag zipped up inside of it

MacGregor VIP II Premium Travel Cover

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The VIP II Premium travel cover offers all the durable protection and ease of use of the Deluxe model, with a few extra features for added peace of mind - like additional padding around the top of the cover increases the layer of protection for the clubs, while an internal support strap keeps clubs secure during transit. We cannot stress how much of a difference these little design details make. As some of the best golf clubs can cost a lot of money you're going to want to ensure that your bag has a lot of protection on offer to keep them safe. 

Three heavy duty external straps provide a fail safe seal on the cover and lockable dual zips add a final level of security that makes this travel cover very good value for money. There is also plenty of space to throw in the clothing and footwear that didn’t make it into your suitcase. And to give you an idea of how much space there is, there’s enough to accommodate a 49-inch driver. We should also mention the price because despite having the word Premium in the name, it definitely comes at the value end of the price spectrum which is very appealing to us. 

• Read our full MacGregor VIP II Travel Cover Review

The Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian Travel Cover pictured at an airport

Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover

The superbly-innovative ClubGlider from Sun Mountain will be your best friend when on a golf trip, featuring an integrated leg set that retracts easily and supports all the weight of the bag for easy wheeling on all surfaces. Just like the name suggests, the four wheels simply glide around the airport and this takes away any stress from your back, arms and wrists for when maneuvering it. Additionally when we tested it we found the legs to be very sturdy, akin to many of the best Sun Mountain golf bags and the wheels roll excellently

The padding around the top of the bag is very thick and should mean that there are no accidents with your driver and fairway woods. The bag also comes with two spacious outside pockets, one on either side, that can easily house jackets, coats, jumpers or anything else you see fit to put in there for easy access. Inside the bag, there are two straps to keep your golf bag secured and there’s enough room for plenty more too. Overall we loved this model, it does cost a little bit more than some others on this list but it is well made, performs well, protects your clubs and makes travelling with clubs significantly easier which is a big plus. 

• Read our full Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover Review

The Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover resting on the floor of an airport departure lounge. 

Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover

A versatile travel bag that is perfect if you're looking for more protection for your golf clubs when traveling. Motocaddy are well known for producing some of the best electric golf trolleys and best golf cart bags on the market and their experience in the industry, using top class materials, makes them one of the most trusted brands around. When we tested this bag out, we were very impressed with the protection it offered our clubs. The durable and padded nylon materials made it very protective and we were enamored by the size of the bag. Motocaddy resisted the temptation to make it too big and cumbersome and it is just the right size for all your gear and a pretty chunky bag. 

You'll also be able to fit a pair of the best golf shoes in there too and some clothing or apparel. One of the highlights of this bag was how easy it was to maneuver the bag around the airport thanks to the handy six-wheel design on the base of the bag. In addition, there are both internal and external straps that do a good job of holding your clubs tightly to the bag an addition that really put our mind at ease that our clubs wouldn't move around too much in the bag. There’s no doubt you’ll find more eye-catching flight bags on the market. However, this has a simple, understated but premium look that we liked and it did an excellent job of keeping our clubs well protected. 

• Read our full Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover Review

The BagBoy T-660 Travel Cover resting on grass

BagBoy T-660 Travel Cover

The new Bag Boy T-660 features a wrap-around zipper that opens up the entire front of the travel cover. From there, you simply lay your golf bag in there and, unless it's oversized or severely overstuffed, we found it to be pretty easy to get in and out of the bag. What's more, when folded up and not in use, you can easily fit it into a small space behind the seat of your rental car when you're traveling, or put it in the corner of the trunk. The T-660 also weighs less than 6 pounds, so it's easy to maneuver when not in use and you can store it on a shelf at your house or in your garage without it taking up much space. 

There were other elements we liked in testing - for example it also has reinforced corners, a skid plate, skid bars, and a large front pocket at the bottom for your shoes or outerwear. It also comes with high quality inline skate wheels for smooth rolling. Last but not least we think the price, given the solid performance, offers excellent value, and all of this makes it an ideal option for those golfers who go on trips via the airport. The lightness and strength of the bag ensures you can move it around easily, and yet won't get broken by the most heavy handed airline staff. We would say add a  colorful ribbon or something to a handle though, as it doesn't really stand out that much!

• Read our full Bag Boy T-660 Travel Cover Review

Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover and its excellent luggage case

Sun Mountain Kube Travel Cover

We are big fans of the Kube. It's an excellent innovation that not only serves its main purpose of protecting your clubs well in transit, but also allows you to collapse it down to a neat size smaller than the average cabin bag (23 x 33 x 38) when not in use via its clever foldaway system. It has a robust hard-case shell with two external and internal straps to keep everything secure on the inside. We also like the reinforced padded area at the clubhead end for added protection. 

The wheels glide well and the case is easy to move around thanks to the handle, not to mention it weighs just 3.08kg/6.6lbs as well. Right now there are several colors to choose from so if the orange and grey isn't for you, you can also get it in navy, green/black as well as a pink/graphite finish. Sun Mountain make many fantastic products, especially when it comes to bags which is why we created a best Sun Mountain golf bags guide too.

Ram Fx golf travel cover review resting on the floor of an airport.

Ram FX Golf Travel Cover

A well-thought-out and user-friendly golf travel cover, the Ram FX is made from a very sturdy ripstop fabric with extra padding across key areas where the golf clubs would be. A large main compartment houses golf clubs and features one main strap to hold your clubs down once they are packed. 

Exterior pockets include one perfectly sized for a pair of the best golf shoes  and a similarly sized pocket we found useful for packing accessories like some of the best golf socks  and belts. Additionally it may seem like a small feature, but we really liked the blue accents on the outside of the bag because it made it very easy to spot when a deluge of golf travel bags get dropped off at the oversized baggage section in the airport. Overall with a lower RRP than some others on this list, this bag easily represents one of the best-value travel bags on the market, but you aren't compromising on that much performance.

• Read our full Ram FX Golf Travel Cover Review

Titleist Players Travel Cover being wheeled into the airport

Titleist Players Travel Cover

Featuring two premium skate wheels and a large carry handle, the Titleist Players Travel Cover is very functional and a safe home for your clubs. Having tested it extensively, we were very impressed with the protection and quality it offered. Specifically we felt it dealt with the trials of travel extremely well, with the durable polyester fabric handling bumps, scrapes and such very well indeed.

The bag also comes with a handy strap on the inside that'll hold your clubs in place and it's worth pointing out  that there would be ample space inside this bag for one of the best golf cart bags . But that additional storage space was great for us, as we could place our golf shoes inside the bag along side our clubs, without worrying about our suitcase being overweight. The bag does have a premium feel, but what's more is that it also comes with two premium skate wheels which operate very nicely in and around airports to help you transport your bag without straining too much to carry it. 

That is complimented by a very comfortable handle that is easy to grasp, hold and pull. One down side is that it comes in black only, which in fairness, is fitting for such a no-nonsense, high-quality product, yet may not appeal to those players looking to make a statement when they walk into the airport with their golf clubs. 

• Read our full Titleist Players Travel Cover Review

The Ogio Alpha Travel Cover finished in blue

Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid

The Ogio Alpha travel bag is a very roomy option that can store shoes, clothes, balls and still have space left over for a souvenir or two. With all of this equipment in it, we thought it might be overly cumbersome and heavy, but it was a fantastic lightweight option when lifting it into cars, or from an airport carousel. 

That makes it a great cover for golfers looking to put as little strain on their backs as possible and it features two strong wheels that make this bag very easy to maneuver and pull behind you while you're out walking. It features a skid plate on the bottom which protects the bag from any abrasions but is also made of a durable material that is well padded around your club heads for additional protection and structure. 

The D-shaped opening makes it easy to gain access to your clubs and the bag also features some handy compression straps which keep your clubs well secured inside the cover. The last thing to note is the eye-catching colors that the Ogio Alpha comes in. We tested out the Cover's 'Warp Speed' colorway and it was very easy to spot in the airport. But you can also get it in other colors like 'Terra Texture', 'Black', and 'Mid Haze'. In fact this color choice really differentiates it from the competition but you are guaranteed not to lose it in the airport or wherever you are. 

• Read our full Ogio Alpha Travel Cover Mid Review

Our  testing for golf gear  is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. Our team usually attend product launches and then when it comes to our actual testing, we test products over a period of time that we can gauge the performance. For travel bags we do our best to use them when travelling because doing this allows to gauge performance in scenarios that you might face as well. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the products themselves.

How to choose a golf travel bag

As your travel bag will help to protect your golf equipment, there are a variety of factors that you need to consider when looking to pick up a travel bag that's going to keep your clubs safe. So for that reason, we've outlined some key points that you're going to want to think about when you're purchasing your next travel cover. 

1. Strength/durability/materials

Above all else, a travel bag has to protect your golf clubs properly as well as be able to put up with general wear and tear of travel. As a result, the bag should be made from strong, tear-resistant materials, and they should also have some features to protect the clubs on the inside of the bag too like compression straps on the inside and outside, along with foam padding around the top of the bag. The wheels should also be strong and move properly.

2. Maneuverability

Good models are also very easy to move around which means having wheels that slide well and can change direction properly. From a luggage perspective we would recommend four-wheels but with travel bags two-wheels work well because they can be laid on the ground easily. 

Given you will be moving the bag around, weight is very important, especially if a model only has two wheels. Here a fine balance has to be made between lightness and strength because you don't want to compromise on either. Some of the best lightweight golf bags weight literally next to nothing when stored away in a very easy to carry travel bag, so make sure to think about that when purchasing your next cover.

4. Warranty

This is definitely a factor to consider if, god forbid, your clubs and golf gear are damaged or broken. We recommend checking with retailers and manufacturers themselves how long they offer on warranties. The longer the warranty the better! 

Finally have a think about how much you want to spend on a golf travel bag. We think this is not an area to compromise on given they are designed to protect your golf clubs however we do think there are good models that don't have to cost an arm and a leg, as the above models show. For more advice on the best golf bags on the market, take a look at our guides to the best golf travel bags for under $100 , best golf pencil bags and best golf cart bags .

What should you be looking for in a travel bag?

Strength and durability is your starting point. A good travel bag has to be strong and durable to put up with the general wear and tear of travel. This means being made of strong, tear-resistant fabrics, and also having some features to protect the clubs on the inside of the bag too like compression straps on the inside and outside, along with foam padding around the top of the bag. The wheels should also be strong and move properly.

Is weight important for a travel bag?

Given you will be carrying the travel bag around, weight is very important, especially if a model only has two wheels. Here a fine balance has to be made between lightness and strength because you don't want to compromise on either.

Good models are very easy to move around which means having wheels that slide well and can change direction properly. There are several excellent models above with more than two wheels and these are usually the best in this factor, but some two-wheel options move well too, such as the Sun Mountain Kube.

Can I put other golf equipment in a travel bag?

Depending on the weight you're allotted for your transfer or flight, you can sometimes opt to put more equipment in your travel bag, as well as your clubs. You may opt to put your waterproof gear, golf shoes or even some golf clothing in your travel bag. 

What kind of bag do pro golfers use?

From our research we have found the model that Tour players often use is from Club Glove and the official Large Pro model because it is big enough to house Tour golf bags which are the biggest in the game.

Do you need a travel bag to bring golf clubs on a plane?

You don't officially need a travel bag for golf clubs on a plan but it is highly recommended to make sure they are protected and aren't broken during travel. 

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Dan has been with Golf Monthly team since 2021. He graduated with a Masters degree in International Journalism from the University of Sussex and looks after equipment reviews and buyer's guides, specializing in golf shoe, golf bag and golf cart reviews. Dan has now tested and reviewed over 30 pairs of golf shoes and is an expert in the field. A left-handed golfer, his handicap index is currently 6.5 and he plays at Fulford Heath Golf Club in the West Midlands. 

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• Luggage + Bags

The Best Lightweight Luggage of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Keep your luggage under the weight limit with these lightweight options.

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Our top picks

Our Testing Process

• Others We Liked
• Tips For Buying
• Why Trust T+L

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Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

It's easier said than done to "pack light," but it is a wise sentiment. When you want to bring plenty of outfit options (plus shoes and accessories to match), your full skincare routine, workout gear, and must-haves for working remotely, lightweight luggage can help balance out your load.

But the best suitcases, weekenders, backpacks, underseat bags, and duffels aren't just lightweight. They're also durable, easy to maneuver, and spacious, with lots of compartments and standout features like expanders, compression panels, laptop sleeves, TSA-approved locks, and USB charging ports.

To help you narrow down your options, we've tested over 450 pieces of luggage and sorted through our insights to choose the best lightweight options. Our Travel + Leisure editors packed the bags full, rolled them over different flooring materials, carried them for extended periods of time, threw them off tables, hit them with baseball bats and even built an airplane set where we could lift the bags into overhead bins. We then put together this list of notably lightweight carry-ons, checked bags, personal items, and other types of bags with high scores and low weights.

Best Overall

Delsey paris hardside expandable luggage with spinner wheels.

• Capacity 5 /5
• Design 5 /5
• Maneuverability 4 /5
• Durability 4.7 /5

At 5.3 pounds, this hardside suitcase is perfectly lightweight and compact while fitting a surprising amount of clothes — no expander needed.

The handle is somewhat short, and it sustained a minor dent from our bat swings.

Weighing 5.3 pounds, the Delsey Paris Clavel was one of the lightest suitcases we tried. At 22 by 14 by 10 inches, it's nice and compact, too. But while this carry-on looks small , we were pleasantly surprised by how many clothes we could fit inside. We didn't even need to use the expander, which adds another three-quarters of an inch to the depth. We also like that there are two main compartments separated by a zippered divider, plus tie-down straps and shoe pockets. Lifting it overhead was a piece of cake compared to heavier models, and it should easily fit into any overhead bin.

This hardside suitcase has a polypropylene (thermoplastic) exterior that stood up well to our baseball bat tests, although it sustained a minor dent from one particularly enthusiastic swing. The rigid shell gives it a modern, high-end appearance. Beyond the basic luggage colors, the brand offers the option for a statement hue or something a little easier to spot at baggage claim, like blush, teal, or stark white.

Thanks to the four-wheel spinner design, the Clavel has good maneuverability and rolls smoothly over bumps, cracks, and carpet. One drawback is that we felt the handle was a little short and slightly loose. Still, we were thoroughly impressed with this suitcase and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to pretty much anyone looking for a piece of lightweight carry-on luggage . The price is right on point, too, and Delsey backs it with a five-year warranty.

The Details: 5.3 pounds | 22 x 14 x 10 inches | 43-liter capacity | Carry-on | Expandable

Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples

Best Carry-on

Samsonite freeform carry-on spinner.

• Maneuverability 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

Boasting a spacious capacity, smooth-rolling wheels, and an exceptionally durable shell, this 6.5-pound spinner earned perfect scores in all our tests.

It doesn't come with a laundry bag or have a zippered section for dirty clothes.

Samsonite's Freeform Carry-on clocked perfect scores in all testing categories. While this 6.5-pounder is conveniently compact, we could fit enough clothes to get through a four-day trip without having to expand it. There's no removable satchel for dirty clothes, but it does have a zippered separator for shoes, plus a few pockets and cross straps.

We found the Freeform easy to maneuver on both hard flooring and carpet. We were also fans of the adjustable aluminum handle, which locks in place with the press of a button. After whacking it with a bat, the exterior sustained zero dents, scuffs, or scratches. Considering the durable construction, minimalist-modern design, spacious capacity, and reasonable price tag, we think this carry-on is a prime choice for frequent fliers and short getaways.

The Details: 6.5 pounds | 21 x 15 x 10 inches | 34-liter capacity | Carry-on | Expandable

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best Checked

July checked plus light.

This 105-liter hardside bag is incredibly spacious while still weighing under 10 pounds.

Although it does have some pockets inside, we’d add more organizational features.

Checked bags can get heavy quickly, especially hardside ones, but this 105-liter suitcase from July is noticeably lightweight for its large size, weighing in at around nine pounds. The first thing we noticed during our tests was how spacious it was, with two large compartments inside (one on each side) and several zippered pockets for stashing smaller items. We also found its curved eggshell design to be slimmer and less bulky than similar checked bags from other brands, making it super easy to maneuver through our obstacle course — which should translate well when you’re trying to navigate through crowded airports or hotel lobbies. Even though it’s lightweight like many July luggage pieces , the outer shell still feels extremely durable, surviving our baseball bat and drop tests with no dents or scratches. Though its by no means the lightest option on this list, we think this is your best bet if you’re looking for a large-capacity checked bag that won’t weigh you down.

The Details: 9.2 pounds | 30.32 x 20.87 x 11.22 inches | 105-liter capacity | Checked

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Best Softside

It luggage softside carry-on spinner.

• Durability 4 /5

This monochromatic carry-on is exceptionally easy to lift by its thick carrying handles, and it has a two-inch expander zipper.

The bag scratches more easily than we’d like.

It’s hard to find attractive softside suitcases these days, but we love this stylish carry-on that comes in monochromatic colors like harbour blue, lavender, or charcoal — including colored wheels, zippers, and handles. This felt spacious for a carry-on, and if you do a little more shopping than expected on your trip or just want to squeeze in a few extra outfits, it has an expandable zipper for an extra two inches and a large, padded pocket on the front. 

The handle has three different heights and felt strong enough that we could lift the fully packed bag easily by the handle without it feeling loose. We also took notice of how large and padded the top and side carry handles are, which made it easy to lift the bag into the overhead bins on our airplane set; this will make it easy if you have to carry this bag up or down the stairs at any point during your travels. After we threw the bag off a table several times in our lab, it did get a few light scratches, but the softside material stood up well. We also thought there were some thoughtful touches, like waterproof material inside to safeguard against spills and a loop on the front of the bag to attach a luggage tag.

The Details: 5.95 pounds | 21.7 × 14.2 × 7.9 inches | Carry-on | Expandable

Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Best Budget

Amazon basics hardside spinner.

This budget-friendly spinner weighs just over seven pounds and has an unexpectedly spacious interior.

There are only a few colors, and it doesn't have a TSA lock.

On a budget? Amazon has you covered. After trying it out first-hand, we can confirm that the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner has excellent maneuverability, even when we rolled it over bumps and carpeted floors. It also turns and spins like a champ. What's more: the thermoplastic shell lives up to its scratch-resistant claims, with no signs of damage from our drop tests and bat swings.

We were able to fit all items on our packing list, including clothes, coats, shoes, and toiletries. Expanding it wasn't necessary, but it's nice to know there's room to spare. While this wallet-friendly suitcase doesn't have a TSA lock or any smart features, its functionality blew our expectations out of the water. And although there are only a few colors available, we like the sleek, pared-down design.

The Details: 7.3 pounds | 22 x 15 x 10 inches | Carry-on | Expandable

Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik

Travelpro Maxlite Hardside Spinner

• Capacity 4 /5
• Design 4 /5
• Maneuverability 3.5 /5
• Value 4.5 /5

With a shiny textured shell that conceals scratches and resists cracks, this suitcase is the perfect balance of stylish and durable.

The capacity is somewhat small without the expander, and it can be slightly unstable on all four wheels.

The 6.3-pound Travelpro Maxlite Air really stood out in terms of aesthetics. It has a crack-resistant polycarbonate shell and a shiny ribbed exterior with a denim-like texture that's supposed to help conceal scratches and scuffs. Sure enough, we saw no damage whatsoever after shoving it off a table and whacking it with a bat.

We were able to fit everything into the dual interior compartments but had to expand it, which could make it too big to pass as a carry-on. With that said, a compression pad or cross straps would have been nice. This suitcase boasts eight wheels, but it's actually four sets of dual casters. It rolled nicely on two casters, even over bumps and around sharp turns, though it was less stable on all four. All things considered, we think the price is fair and would recommend this to someone looking for stylish, durable luggage.

The Details: 6.3 pounds | 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | 46-liter capacity | Carry-on | Expandable

Most Durable

Coolife abs+pc spinner trolley.

The exceptionally sturdy yet flexible shell can be knocked around without damage while making it easy to pack all the essentials for a getaway.

This carry-on isn't expandable, and it doesn't take corners as well on two wheels.

At 6.7 pounds, the Coolife Spinner Trolley isn't the lightest of the lightweight luggage we tested, but it's undoubtedly the most durable. The ABS+PC (acrylonitrile butadiene and polycarbonate) shell is an exceptionally sturdy thermoplastic blend. After shoving it off multiple surfaces and giving it a few good hits with a bat, there was no visible damage.

This carry-on isn't expandable, but thanks to the strong yet slightly flexible exterior, stretchy cross bands, and smooth zippers, we were able to stuff in all the essentials for a four-day trip. It also has a double TSA lock for extra protection. Maneuvering the Spinner Trolley was a breeze, though it doesn't take corners as tightly on two wheels. We'd expect it to last several years and think it's a stellar option for such an affordable price.

The Details: 6.7 pounds | 21 x 14 x 9.5 inches | 38-liter capacity | Carry-on

Best Carry-on Duffel

Bellroy classic weekender 45l.

• Organization 5 /5
• Portability 5 /5

This 45-liter, barrel-shaped bag is water-resistant and has a slip pocket for an Apple AirTag.

The clips that attach the crossbody strap to the bag are plastic rather than metal.

This spacious duffel bag easily fit our full packing list during testing, including four shirts, a jacket, pants, a toiletry kit, a makeup kit, a laptop, chargers, two pairs of shoes, and more, with plenty of room to spare. The bag has two top handles; a detachable, padded shoulder strap; a luggage pass-through, internal slip pockets for smaller items; an external pocket with a key clip; and an internal Apple AirTag slip pocket. Some large bags can't help but feel bulky when you're wearing them as a crossbody, but this 45-liter bag has a barrel shape that makes it slim and easy to carry, and we noticed that it managed to feel more lightweight and portable than some other bags we tested that had the same exact packing list. You can also feel safe if you have to carry this bag in the rain thanks to the water-resistant polyester material (made from 100 percent recycled PET plastic bottles) and storm flaps that protect the main zipper. 

The Details: 2.2 pounds | 15 x 25.6 x 15.75 inches | 45-liter capacity | Carry-on

Travel + Leisure / Jessica Juliao

Best Checked Duffel

Eagle creek cargo hauler.

• Maneuverability 3 /5

This extra-large and incredibly durable wheeled duffel is under five pounds, with a generous capacity and comfortable shoulder straps.

There's no proper handle, and it would be nice if there were a couple more pockets.

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is an excellent checked luggage option, and at 4.7 pounds, it weighs less than most carry-ons. We could easily fit all items on the packing list, though a couple more pockets or separators would have helped keep things organized. This extra-large duffel has two wheels and glides pretty well, but since it doesn't have an extendable handle, rolling it around isn't very comfortable. However, the shoulder straps allow you to carry it like a backpack.

This durable duffel bag showed no signs of damage during our whacking and shoving tests. The bold monochrome colors add a tasteful touch to the rugged design while helping you quickly recognize it at baggage claim . While it's a bit pricey for this type of luggage, the Cargo Hauler seems like it'll last a long time. We think it's a solid choice for camping, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor excursions.

The Details: 4.7 pounds | 34 x 15 x 14 inches | 130-liter capacity | Checked

Best Underseat

Travelpro carry-on travel tote bag.

• Maneuverability 4.5 /5
• Functionality 3.5 /5

This 1.6-pound tote is conveniently compact yet spacious, with comfortable straps and a trolley sleeve.

It may only fit under the seat of larger planes and might not be big enough to replace a suitcase.

If you need luggage you can stow beneath the seat in front of you, the Maxlite 5 Tote is a solid choice. Measuring 18 x 11 x 8 inches, it's conveniently compact — and under two pounds when empty! This softside bag fit all the necessities for a two-day trip, including clothes, toiletries, and a laptop, with room to spare. One thing to note is that it was too big to fit into the underseat compartment we tested it with, but it should work on a larger plane. And you can always stash it overhead if needed.

The wheel-free design has a padded shoulder strap and comfortable handles so it's not awkward to carry around. There's also a trolley sleeve that slides over the handle of a larger suitcase. The price is a little high for the size, but if you can swing it, we think it's a great travel companion. It's also good as supplemental luggage to checked baggage.

The Details: 1.6 pounds | 18 x 11 x 8 inches | 28-liter capacity | Underseat bag

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Best Weekender

Mz wallace nik.

This versatile bag has so many organizational features, including seven exterior pockets, nine interior pockets, and a laptop sleeve.

Although the bag is comfortable to carry, we would add padding to the straps.

The most lightweight option on this list, the MZ Wallace Nik Duffel Bag is so resourceful for travel: it’s compact enough to use as an overnight bag or even a daily commuter bag, but you can also use it for a longer four or five day trip if you maximize packing space with all the pockets and compartments. This weekender shines when it comes to organization since there are tons of pockets and storage space, including seven pockets on the outside, nine pockets on the inside, a 16-inch laptop sleeve, a detachable pouch, and a key ring strap. Even when we packed this bag full, it still felt comfortable to carry because of the quilted material that has a natural padding, although the crossbody strap doesn’t have any padding on it. It has long top handles; a detachable, adjustable crossbody strap; and a trolley sleeve, giving you the option to carry it in so many different ways. All in all, we think the high price tag is well worth it for this versatile weekender.

The Details: 2.1 pounds | 16.93 x 7.09 x 12.2 inches | Underseat bag

Best Expandable

Samsonite virtuosa expandable carry-on.

• Design 3.5 /5

This felt spacious for a carry-on, and you can expand it even more if needed.

It took some effort to adjust the handle when the bag was packed full.

One of Samsonite’s newest launches from the Virtuosa collection, this stylish carry-on felt pleasantly portable and spacious, with wheels that spun around seamlessly over different terrains and through our obstacle course. This is one of the largest carry-ons on this list, and you can make it even larger if you use the expandable zipper, but keep in mind that it may not fit in the overhead bin on every airline if you fill it to capacity.

We found the organizational features to be extremely helpful when packing the bag: one side has adjustable compression straps and the other has a waterproof plastic divider with two pockets that would be ideal for toiletries. The handle has the ability to raise up or down in one-inch height adjustments for a customizable fit, though we found it required some effort to adjust when you fully pack the bag.

The Details: 6.4 pounds | 23 x 15 x 10 inches | Carry-on | Expandable

Best Colors

Samsonite omni pc carry-on.

• Capacity 4.5 /5
• Maneuverability 3.8 /5

This expandable carry-on makes it easy to pack and organize your stuff, and its rigid shell seems almost impossible to damage.

The small wheels sometimes get caught, and it seems to work a little better on two wheels than on four.

The 6.8-pound Samsonite Omni PC is one of our favorite hardside suitcase. It's not only lightweight, but also compact, fitting snugly into an overhead bin — and it has an expander if you need some wiggle room. With zippered compartments, pockets, and cross straps, we found it easy to fit and organize everything on our packing list. Stuffing it to the brim doesn't affect maneuverability — it rolls well on carpeted floors and turns easily.

However, the small-ish wheels sometimes get caught in ruts, and the suitcase is not quite up to par with how a spinner should move. This carry-on held up well to our bat swings, with no scratches or dents in sight. The price is sharp, too. We'd recommend it to anyone looking for affordable luggage, as well as overpackers and those who don't want to worry about damage. We especially love it for all the fun colorways that will make you stand out at any airport, including Caribbean blue, army green, red, pink, purple, and more (including some neutral options, too).

The Details: 6.8 pounds | 22 x 15 x 9.5 inches | Carry-on | Expandable

Best Backpack

Osprey farpoint 40 backpack.

• Comfort 5 /5

This exceptionally durable backpack weighs barely more than three pounds and is large enough to fit everything for a three-day trip.

This popular pack sells out often.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 weighs barely more than three pounds when empty, and it's nearly as spacious as a carry-on suitcase. With a generously sized main compartment and ample pockets, there's plenty of room to pack for a three-day trip — maybe longer. Not only that, but this backpack is extremely durable. The rip-stop nylon held up to our whacks and shoves like it was nothing. Even after packing it full, it zipped closed without a fuss, and the seams showed no signs of stress. Carrying it around was a cakewalk, too. If you're heading on a backpacking trip or just like traveling light with the freedom to speed-walk hands-free through the airport , the Farpoint 40 is for you.

The Details: 3.1 pounds | 19.5 x 14 x 8 inches | 40-liter capacity | Backpack

Our T+L team has tested more than 450 pieces of luggage in our New York City lab, choosing the most lightweight options that performed well for this particular article. During our tests, we weigh the bags, then assess the maneuverability, portability, capacity, durability, and value. We pack each bag with a predetermined packing to see what the capacity looks like and to assess organizational features like pockets and compression straps.

To see how the bags would perform in a real-life setting, we rolled them around on different types of flooring, raced them through obstacle courses, slung them over our shoulders to carry them around, and hoisted them over our heads into overhead bins on our airplane set. Next, we hit each piece a few times with a baseball bat and shoved it off a table to evaluate durability and potential wear and tear, taking notes of any scuff marks or dents.

We also test each bag on our real-world travels for an additional six months after our lab tests to make sure they perform just as well on real flights, car rides, train rides, and more. With size, price, and weight in mind, the luggage options with the highest ratings and the lightest weights were selected for this roundup, and we will continue to update this article as we test new bags.

Other Lightweight Luggage We Liked

Three pieces of lightweight luggage we tested couldn’t quite earn a spot on our list but had standout features that may meet the needs of some travelers. 

Hartmann Luxe II Carry-on Spinner : This 6.8-pound suitcase has a spacious main compartment and a retro yet high-end appearance. It works well on two wheels but not so much on four, and it's a bit too bulky for an overhead bin.

Kipling Darcey Small Carry-on Rolling Luggage : Weighing just over five pounds, this carry-on is lightweight, spacious enough for a four-day trip, and compact enough to fit in an overhead compartment. That said, the maneuverability is clunky compared to others we tried.

People / Tamara Staples

Lipault Plume Cabin Spinner : This duffel-suitcase hybrid weighs only 4.8 pounds and comes in stylish color options, but we found it difficult to access the exterior pocket when the suitcase is packed full, and the handle felt a little wobbly.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-on Spinner : This 5.4-pound spinner rolls smoothly for the most part and didn't sustain any scuffs from our bat test. However, it has a somewhat outdated appearance, and in the end, we liked the hardside carry-on and tote from the Maxlite line better.

Tips for Buying Lightweight Luggage

Remember that durability still matters.

Prioritizing a lightweight design doesn't mean you have to sacrifice durability. Hardside luggage tends to be better for safeguarding electronics and preventing your stuff from getting crushed. And while they’re usually easy to wipe clean, some rigid suitcases are prone to scuffing. Believe it or not, softside carriers are often just as sturdy. Although textile exteriors can be trickier to keep clean, they also usually don't scuff as easily or show dirt.

Look for comfort features

Besides staying within any potential weight limits for plane travel, one of the main points of lightweight luggage is to make your trip easier and more efficient . With this in mind, you'll want to look for models with various comfort features. These may include easy-to-push spinner wheels, a telescoping handle, padded grab handles, an adjustable strap, or even a trolley sleeve.

The lightest-weight carry-ons are usually anywhere from 4.5 to 6.5 pounds. For checked suitcases, you're looking at closer to eight to 10 pounds. However, alternative luggage options, such as duffels, weekenders, and carry-on backpacks , can be as light as two or three pounds when empty.

Hardside luggage made from polycarbonate, ABS, and polypropylene tend to be the most durable bags, but softside luggage can be just as protective when it comes to storing your items for takeoff.

Our tests proved that lightweight luggage can be just as durable as other bags. In our lab, we hit the luggage pieces with a baseball bat and pushed them off a table to evaluate potential wear and tear. We found that most of these bags easily stood up to our tests with no visible damage.

It depends on the airline. Some set the weight limit for carry-on luggage at about 35 pounds, though international flights may be more restrictive. But unlike checked baggage that's weighed in at the counter, weight limits are often not enforced very strictly. And some domestic airlines don't have any restrictions.

This also varies among airlines. Many set the weight limit for checked baggage at 50 pounds. But in many cases, you can go up to 70 pounds for an extra fee . At any rate, it's a good idea to check the airline's website before packing, as rules and guidelines are subject to change .

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this story, commerce writer Theresa Holland combed through in-house testing insights, then referenced product descriptions and luggage manuals to create a comprehensive roundup of the best lightweight luggage available today. She has tried a handful of the above brands herself, including July, Amazon Basics, Samsonite, and Osprey. T+L editors will continue to update this article as we test more bags.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

• Destinations
• Golf Courses

Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore maintains a Jones tradition of excellence in NoCal

By Ted Johnson, Contributor

LIVERMORE, Calif -- One thing about the Northern California Golf Association: It knows how to keep things in the Jones family.

• Plan your San Francisco-area golf outing
• Poppy Hills Golf Course shouldn't be the Rodney Dangerfield of Pebble Beach golf

Zinfandel/Merlot at Poppy Ridge Golf Course

Chardonnay/zinfandel at poppy ridge golf course, merlot/chardonnay at poppy ridge golf course.

• Wente Vineyards Golf Course
• Ruby Hill Golf Club
• Signature 18 at Las Positas Golf Course
• Links 9 at Las Positas Golf Course
• Callippe Preserve Golf Course

The opening of Poppy Ridge Golf Course in 1996 completed that family's golf triumvirate.

First came the semi-private Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach. When it was built in 1967, the Pebble Beach Co. agreed to allow 30 days of access for NCGA member tournaments. That the Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design cost $675,000 might represent the best value per hole in the United States.

Then came NCGA-owned Poppy Hills Golf Course , the first course built by a golf member organization in the U.S. and designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. It opened in 1986 and remains the only daily-fee course in the Del Monte Forest (nearby The Links at Spanish Bay , also part of the Pebble Beach Co., is classified as a resort course.)

Ten years later the NCGA became (and remains) the only member organization to open a second facility. Poppy Ridge sits in the savannah-covered hillsides near Livermore, about 50 miles southeast of San Francisco. To complete the family circle, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Jr.'s brother, did the layout.

Due to its climate and topography, Poppy Ridge has a "heathland" feel compared to the Augusta-like look of Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill. There was only one tree on the Poppy Ridge property at the time of construction (more have been planted), but the facility was designed to use the slopes and contours of this rolling land adjacent to large vineyards.

Poppy Ridge's Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Merlot nines pay homage to the local viticulture, and the routing is quite clever in that all three end in front of the statuesque Spanish-style clubhouse, whose veranda offers an expansive view of the Livermore Valley.

A glance to the eastern foothills reveals windmills, a hint that a strong breeze is a common afternoon experience. On many holes, understanding how to use the ground and the slopes becomes essential in scoring well. Yet the course is very friendly to beginners, though it has to be said that greenside bunkers can present quite difficult circumstances.

Instruction at Poppy Ridge Golf Course

Poppy Ridge's practice facilities are the best in the region. A large, grass hitting area includes a practice bunker with green, a large putting green and a chipping green. On the other side of the range another hitting station is meant for group lessons.

Poppy Ridge Golf Course: The verdict

Like most Jones designs, whether senior or sons, the bunkering at Poppy Ridge can be devilish. A cavern the size of a small pit mine guards the right side of the fairway on Chardonnay's par-4 sixth, an uphill 420-yarder. Not to be outdone, the greenside bunker protecting the right side of that green is deep enough to have an escalator.

Some of the bunkering is meant to be visually intimidating, such as the bunkers to the right of Zinfandel's par-5 fifth. Some is directional. Avoiding all reduces frustration by considerable amounts.

The holes are paired Chardonnay-Zinfandel , Zinfandel-Merlot and Merlot-Chardonnay . The site records about 60,000 rounds a year, but with 27 holes there isn't a feeling of being crowded. Each 18-hole combination has a slope rating of 138 from the back tees (7,000 yards), 133 from the blues (6,700) and 130 from the whites (6,250 or so).

The breakdown goes like this:

• Chardonnay has the best balance in that no holes are real easy, none too hard. The 560-yard par-5 fifth is the longest on the property and usually plays into the wind.

• Zinfandel has the toughest finishing hole, water on both par 3s and the best blend of long and short par 4s.

• Merlot has the easiest par 5s but also the toughest par 4s, including a maddening sixth (426 yards from the blues) that sits atop a plateau. A left-to-right crosswind makes this hole an easy double-bogey or worse.

"It's a very good course, no matter the rotation," said Mike Cowles of Walnut Creek, Calif. "And it's a good golf experience for the value."

Stay and play in Livermore

Livermore hotels include a Hampton Inn and Quality Inn, though in nearby Pleasanton there is a Hilton and a Marriott. There are more than 20 wineries in the southeast Livermore region near Poppy Hills, including Wente, Retzlaff and Murrietta's Well. Is there a better way to cap off a round of golf than sampling some of California's finest wines?

Many people travel to Pleasanton for its picturesque Main Street known for its many restaurants. For those who prefer unique Mexican food, however, Livermore's Los Vaqueros Grill on Vasco Road north of I-580 is quite memorable.

September 21, 2011

Ted Johnson has been writing about golf for more than 25 years. Having traveled the world with his clubs, he counts himself lucky to have played Cypress Point, but Turnberry’s Ailsa, Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath in Australia and Ireland’s Royal County Down tend to rotate as favorites. And then there was the trip to Vietnam, where he found himself in Vung Tao and his luggage in Ho Chi Minh City. That’s why to this day he carries a toothbrush in his golf bag.

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Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

A CALIFORNIA STORY

by Namit Arora ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 20, 2019

A cleverly written tale with a social conscience featuring themes of family, inclusiveness, racial divides, and the...

A young man contemplates West Coast life and his technology career in Silicon Valley while family and interpersonal tensions simmer. 

This novel by an author, essayist, travel photographer, and former computer engineer follows India-born Ved, a disillusioned, soft-skilled marketing manager. Ved works at the multinational computer networking behemoth Omnicon. At 36, considered “late middle age in Silicon Valley terms,” he has become restless and anxious to venture elsewhere. His three-year tenure with the tech firm is already stale. Mostly unattached throughout his 15 years in America, he begins dating Liz, whom he met on an online matchmaking site. She’s a spiritually conscious woman who is the polar opposite of Sasha, a 28-year-old Russian escort who satisfies Ved’s carnal needs until real romance can break through the monotony of singledom. More dates with Liz open up their personalities further and explore their differing opinions on contentious issues alongside an amusingly silly intimate moment involving a scene-stealing moth. Still, Ved’s own internal concerns over death, aging, and whether or not he will grow old alone make the narrative relatable. Meanwhile, he contemplates his future while reuniting with his graduation buddies from India who perceive his life to be more exciting and provocative than it really is, callously calling him “too much of a California liberal, with too many un-Indian tastes and manners.” After several chapters of interoffice melodrama that threaten to dampen the novel’s pace, Arora ( The Lottery of Birth , 2017) ratchets up the intensity with a plot twist involving a visit from Ved’s parents. Obsessed with their son’s health and happiness, they share updates on the state of modern India and impart their wisdom and opinions on American culture, which contort and challenge Ved’s ever eroding resolve about remaining in the United States. A vicious hate crime assault happens while Ved and his parents venture out together. This strikes terror in their hearts, and his parents draw their own conclusions as Ved’s overall impression of his safety in California is called into question. Light on plot but engrossing nevertheless, the book keeps the momentum flowing as Ved tries to enjoy working for a sinking company he doesn’t particularly support or like while processing the abundant emotions linked to suffering an attack for being an Indian immigrant in America. Arora’s narrative is structurally sound and capably written, with a protagonist who is endearing. Ved will give pop fiction readers someone to cheer for as he navigates the precarious world of online dating, job dissatisfaction, and, perhaps most socially significant and politically relevant, the rampant discrimination and violent racism coursing through the streets of America. Indian culture is knowledgeably and effectively personified through Ved’s character as the story explores the nature of the immigrant journey in the United States: how it shapes lives and can make or break both personal and professional experiences.

Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-950437-83-2

Page Count: 222

Publisher: Adelaide Books

Review Posted Online: Aug. 8, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2019

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

GENERAL FICTION

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Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2015

Kirkus Prize winner

National Book Award Finalist

A LITTLE LIFE

by Hanya Yanagihara ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2015

The phrase “tour de force” could have been invented for this audacious novel.

Four men who meet as college roommates move to New York and spend the next three decades gaining renown in their professions—as an architect, painter, actor and lawyer—and struggling with demons in their intertwined personal lives.

Yanagihara ( The People in the Trees , 2013) takes the still-bold leap of writing about characters who don’t share her background; in addition to being male, JB is African-American, Malcolm has a black father and white mother, Willem is white, and “Jude’s race was undetermined”—deserted at birth, he was raised in a monastery and had an unspeakably traumatic childhood that’s revealed slowly over the course of the book. Two of them are gay, one straight and one bisexual. There isn’t a single significant female character, and for a long novel, there isn’t much plot. There aren’t even many markers of what’s happening in the outside world; Jude moves to a loft in SoHo as a young man, but we don’t see the neighborhood change from gritty artists’ enclave to glitzy tourist destination. What we get instead is an intensely interior look at the friends’ psyches and relationships, and it’s utterly enthralling. The four men think about work and creativity and success and failure; they cook for each other, compete with each other and jostle for each other’s affection. JB bases his entire artistic career on painting portraits of his friends, while Malcolm takes care of them by designing their apartments and houses. When Jude, as an adult, is adopted by his favorite Harvard law professor, his friends join him for Thanksgiving in Cambridge every year. And when Willem becomes a movie star, they all bask in his glow. Eventually, the tone darkens and the story narrows to focus on Jude as the pain of his past cuts deep into his carefully constructed life.  

Pub Date: March 10, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-385-53925-8

Page Count: 720

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015

More by Hanya Yanagihara

BOOK REVIEW

by Hanya Yanagihara

More About This Book

PERSPECTIVES

by Elin Hilderbrand ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2015

Once again, Hilderbrand displays her gift for making us care most about her least likable characters.

Hilderbrand’s latest cautionary tale exposes the toxic—and hilarious—impact of gossip on even the most sophisticated of islands.

Eddie and Grace Pancik are known for their beautiful Nantucket home and grounds, financed with the profits from Eddie’s thriving real estate company (thriving before the crash of 2008, that is). Grace raises pedigreed hens and, with the help of hunky landscape architect Benton Coe, has achieved a lush paradise of fowl-friendly foliage. The Panciks’ teenage girls, Allegra and Hope, suffer invidious comparisons of their looks and sex appeal, although they're identical twins. The Panciks’ friends the Llewellyns (Madeline, a blocked novelist, and her airline-pilot husband, Trevor) invested $50,000, the lion’s share of Madeline’s last advance, in Eddie’s latest development. But Madeline, hard-pressed to come up with catalog copy, much less a new novel, is living in increasingly straightened circumstances, at least by Nantucket standards: she can only afford $2,000 per month on the apartment she rents in desperate hope that “a room of her own” will prime the creative pump. Construction on Eddie’s spec houses has stalled, thanks to the aforementioned crash. Grace, who has been nursing a crush on Benton for some time, gives in and a torrid affair ensues, which she ill-advisedly confides to Madeline after too many glasses of Screaming Eagle. With her agent and publisher dropping dire hints about clawing back her advance and Eddie “temporarily” unable to return the 50K, what’s a writer to do but to appropriate Grace’s adultery as fictional fodder? When Eddie is seen entering her apartment (to ask why she rented from a rival realtor), rumors spread about him and Madeline, and after the rival realtor sneaks a look at Madeline’s rough draft (which New York is hotly anticipating as “the Playboy Channel meets HGTV”), the island threatens to implode with prurient snark. No one is spared, not even Hilderbrand herself, “that other Nantucket novelist,” nor this magazine, “the notoriously cranky Kirkus.”

Pub Date: June 16, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-316-33452-5

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 20, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015

More by Elin Hilderbrand

by Elin Hilderbrand

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