tour testsieger

So sehen Testsieger aus : Die beste Bekleidung, das beste Zubehör 2022

Matthias Borchers

 ·  31.12.2022

Testsieger Helmmütze: Velocio Zero Cycling Cap

Helmmützen sollen den Kopf vor Kälte schützen, wozu sie kaum spürbar unter den Helm passen müssen. In TOUR 1-2022 hatten wir zwölf Modelle unterschiedlicher Machart von 20 bis 75 Euro getestet, gewonnen hatte das Modell Zero Cycling Cap von Velocio.

• Preis: 79 Euro

Unser Test-Fazit: Schön warm, Frontpartie winddicht, bedeckt den Kopf sehr großflächig, flauschiges Stoff­gefühl, keine Druckstellen, kaum Windgeräusche, Allroundpassform, relativ teuer

Testsieger Handschuhe: Sportful WS Essential 2 Glove

Handschuhe für die Übergangszeit müssen vor allem vor Fahrtwind und Regenschauern schützen. Praktisch sind Modelle, mit denen sich auch das Display von GPS-Computer oder Smartphone bedienen lässt. Ein Dutzend Handschuhe hatten sich dem TOUR-Test gestellt, das Siegerpaar war der WS Essential 2 Glove der italienischen Marke Sportful.

• Preis: 50 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Schmiegt sich fest an die Hand; ­direktes Gefühl am Lenker, guter Grip; Touchfunktion nur am rechten Zeigefinger; angenehm langer Bund, haltbare Imprägnierung, sehr gut verarbeitet; auch als Version für Frauen erhältlich.

Meistgelesene Artikel

Zehn Klassik-Trikots: Von DeMarchi, Santini & Co.

Radtrikots im Retro-Look ­haben viele Fans. Manche ­Designs kopieren klassische Profitrikots, andere kombinieren moderne Funktionsmaterialien mit Stilelementen aus der Radsport-Geschichte. Wir zeigen hier eine Auswahl von zehn aktuellen Modellen für “bella figura” auf und neben dem Rennrad.

Testsieger Helme: Scott Arx Plus

Knautschzone plus Rotationsschutz – in aktuellen Radhelmen steckt fortgeschrittene Schutztechnik. Aber wer schafft den besten Mix aus Prävention und Tragekomfort? Im TOUR-Crash-Test waren 13 Modelle zwischen 80 und 145 Euro mit dem Mips-Kopfschutzsystem und das Modell von Scott hat die Konkurrenz geschlagen.

• Preis: 120 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Der Arx Plus von Scott ist in dieser Konkurrenz der absolute Testsieger. Ohne Schwächen räumt er bei Belüftung und Anpassung die besten Noten ab. Auch beim Crashtest überzeugt er mit der zweitbesten Note. Seine Größe fällt normal aus, seine Passform lässt sich mit Allround beschreiben. Insgesamt acht Farben gibt es.

Testsieger Marathon-Hosen: Assos

Zu schwammige Sitzpolster, zu lasche Träger, zu stramme Beinabschlüsse – nicht jede Radhose ist für die Langstrecke geeignet. Erst mit den perfekt passenden Bib Shorts lassen sich intensive Stunden im Sattel schmerzfrei genießen. Im TOUR-Test waren 18 ausgesuchte Modelle für Frauen und Männer und Assos hat gewonnen.

• Preis: 200 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Die Assos Dyora RS Summer Bib Short sitzt erst im Sattel perfekt, das robuste Material liegt stramm an. Die breiten, straffen Träger laufen seitlich an der Brust vorbei, halten die Hose perfekt in Position, können aber an den Schultern drücken. Beinabschlüsse und der erhöhte Bund sind auf langen Fahrten komfortabel. Das Polster sitzt gut.

• Preis: 290 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Die Assos Mille GTO Bib Shorts C2 bietet einen Kompromiss aus Komfort und Kompression, die Bündchen mit Silikonpunkten sind nahtfrei, die am Rücken kreuzenden Träger halten das Polster ­optimal in Position, wobei es sich im Stand leicht windelig anfühlt. Sehr gut verarbeitet; mit Abstand die teuerste Hose im Test.

>> Mehr TOUR-Tests

Testsieger Windjacken für Männer und Frauen: Castelli Aria Shell

Kaum 100 Gramm schwer und faustgroß verpackt, wartet die Windjacke in der Trikot­tasche darauf, dass sie groß rauskommt. Elf Modelle (jeweils in Männer- und Frauenvariante) zwischen 60 und 200 Euro mussten im TOUR-Test beweisen, ob sie dann ihre ­Wirkung entfalten. Am meisten überzeugen konnte uns die Windjacke Aria Shell Jacket des italienischen Herstellers Castelli für Männer und für Frauen.

• Preis: 100 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Die Italiener schneidern sichtbar knapp, das Material liegt rundum eng an, nichts flattert; ein Schnitt für schlanke Männer und Frauen. Punkte gab’s bei Wetterschutz, Dampfdurchlass und Austattung. Die Testerin empfand das Material weniger hautfreundlich als unsere Tester.

Testsieger Merino-Trikots: Café du Cycliste, De Marchi & Velocio

Radtrikots aus Merinowolle sind im Trend – auch als leichte und luftige Sommer-Shirts. Wir hatten sieben Modelle, jeweils für Männer und Frauen, zum Preis von 120 bis 180 Euro getestet. Die besten Noten bekamen das Frauen-Trikot von Café du Cycliste und die beiden Männer-Modelle von De Marchi und Velocio.

Frauen-Trikot: Café du Cycliste Eglantine

• Preis: 160 Euro

Unser Test-Fazit: Der Schnitt fällt normal aus, das Material ist deutlich fester als das der Konkurrenz und entsprechend wärmer. Beim Männermodell haben die seitlichen Taschen eine für große Hände zu enge Öffnung, unsere Testerinnen kamen damit besser zurecht. Die Verarbeitung ist hochwertig, die Ausstattung komplett.

Männer- Trikot: De Marchi Classica Sportwool Jersey

• Preis: 200 Euro

Unser Test-Fazit: Durch ihren dezenten Glanzeffekt wirken die De-Marchi-Trikots sehr edel. Ihr Schnitt ist tendenziell komfortabel, etwas länger, und sie sind etwas schwerer als der Durchschnitt – trotzdem noch luftig. Der Reißverschluss ist gut zu bedienen, die Taschen super erreichbar, jedoch nicht sehr tief.

Männer-Trikot: Velocio

• Preis: 179 Euro

Unser Test-Fazit: Die teuren Trikots von Velocio haben einen Renn-Schnitt und fallen kurz aus, weshalb eine Nummer größer eine Option ist. Die Taschen sind gut zu erreichen und zu füllen, der Reißverschluss ist komplett hinterlegt, der fehlende Kragen Geschmackssache. Trotz hohem Wollanteil fühlt sich der Stoff eher fest an.

Testsieger Akku-Licht: Sigma und Lupine

Front- und Rücklichter für Fahrräder werden dank LED-Technik und ausgeklügelter ­Elektronik immer leistungsfähiger. Im TOUR-Test waren fünf Sets mit Scheinwerfern um 100 Lux plus zwei High-End-Leuchten - alle zugelassen nach StVZO. Sigma bietet mit dem Aura-Set das beste Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis, Lupines Scheinwerfer und Rücklicht bieten die beste Technik.

Sieger Preis-Leistung: Sigma Aura 100 Blaze Link Set

• Preis: 110 Euro >> hier erhältlich
• Note: 1,9 (Durchschnittsnote Front- und Rücklicht)

Unser Test-Fazit: Scheinwerfer und Rücklicht mit informativen und präzisen Indikatoren; Kombischaltung für beide Lichter, mit Bremslicht; gute Lichtreserve, Haltegummi schon für Lenker mit 30 mm Durchmesser sehr kurz

Sieger StVZO-Licht: Lupine SL Nano AF C14 Mag

• Preis: 451 Euro
• Note: 1,4 (Durchschnittsnote Front- und Rücklicht)

Unser Test-Fazit: Bestes Leuchtprofil bei Fernlicht; Ladestandsindikator am Akku muss durch Drücken aktiviert werden, komfortable, kabellose Fernbedienung; robustes Rücklicht mit langer Leuchtdauer

Testsieger Winterschuhe: Northwave Celsius XC Arctic GTX

Keine Lust auf das “Gewurschtel” mit Zehenkappen, dicke Socken oder Überschuhe? Dann könnte ein richtiger Winterschuh der passende Partner für winterliche Ausfahrten sein. Insgesamt stellten sich sieben Modelle der Konkurrenz, aus der der Northwave Celsius XC Arctic GTX als Sieger hervorging.

• Preis: 199 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Testsieger. Fällt insgesamt groß aus, Nummer kleiner probieren; beim An- und Ausziehen hilft ein Schuh­löffel, der Drehverschluss benötigt etwas Übung und lässt sich mit Handschuhen nicht immer sicher greifen. Sehr guter Wetterschutz

Testsieger Winterhandschuhe: Roeckl Sports Rosegg GTX

Kalte Hände am Lenker? Das mag niemand. Dagegen helfen warme und wasserfeste Winterhandschuhe. Wir hatten acht Modelle von 30 bis 110 Euro in der Praxis getestet und das Modell Rosegg von Roeckl Sports hat den Test gewonnen.

• Preis: 90 Euro >> hier erhältlich

Unser Test-Fazit: Sehr gut wärmender, dabei vergleichsweise leichter Handschuh, etwas eng in der Daumenbeuge; die Handgelenke werden nur wenig bedeckt; sehr guter Wetterschutz, gutes Griffgefühl, gute Treffsicherheit der Touchfunk­tion

Meistgelesen in der Rubrik Kaufberatung

Our pick of the best touring bikes

What to look for in a touring bike.

The allure of the open road is one of cycling’s enduring themes. Touring by bicycle allows for this on a grand scale, travelling for several days, often in far-flung places with all your kit strapped to the bike. Of course, micro-adventures closer to home can be just as much fun and still keep the spirit of adventure alive.

Whether you’re planning an expedition abroad or fancy exploring more local roads in far greater detail, a touring bike is the ideal tool for the job. Designed for cycling long distances in comfort, the bikes should be both stable and reliable in their handling, as well as providing all the mounts you need for pannier racks and bags and mudguards . Self-sufficiency is one of the tenets of cycling touring, so the bikes are usually designed with ease of maintenance in mind, too.

The good news for touring cyclists is that the range of bikes available to cater for their needs has grown substantially in the last few years.

In this guide, we've rounded up the more traditional options. If you're thinking of going off-road, perhaps investigate gravel orientated options in our buying guide here , and if you plan to go quick and travel light, see endurance road bikes here .

There's more on what to look for in a touring bike below - but first, here are our top picks of the best touring bikes.

Genesis Tour de Fer 30 touring bike

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

This is a bike that's been created exclusively to provide a comfortable and practical ride for a touring cyclist. The Reynolds 725 Heat-Treated Chromoly frame promises a springy ride and an incredibly strong base.

The 160mm rotor mechanical disc brakes are a more modern introduction with a nod to practicality, especially in the wet. Although we’ve found mechanical TRP Spyre brake calipers aren’t quite as powerful or as easy to modulate as a hydraulic brakeset, they are easy to adjust and highly reliable – perfect for a long-distance tour.

A 10-speed Shimano Tiagra drivetrain is about right for a bike at this price point, but in our experience, a 50/39/30 crankset provides gears that are just a bit too big for cycle touring – particularly over hilly terrain. 

But you can always swap this out for a smaller ringed option down the line. We find that with a cassette of 11-34t, going for a granny ring of 26t is generally a good bet.

We’ve always found Schwalbe’s Marathon tyres to be highly puncture resistant and with a good wear rate. In 35c, these are capable of traversing broken roads and tamer gravel, but if you’re planning on spending a large amount of time off road you would want something a bit plumper.

Handily, this bike come with many of the accessories we think are a must. Firstly, mudguards, but also dynamo powered front and rear lights, bottle cages and the Tubus pannier racks front and rear.

Surly Disc Trucker

A spin-off of Surly's much-revered Long Haul Trucker, the Disc Trucker keeps many of the much-loved versatility and can-do attitude, but this time with the addition of mechanical disc brakes and thru-axles – unlike the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 which has disc brakes and QR axles.

Opinion is a little split on thru-axles for touring – if you have any catastrophic issues with your hubs in more remote countries, you're unlikely to be able to find a replacement locally. That said, those kind of hub issues are quite rare and if it does happen you can always get a replacement sent out. For the improved alignment between the rotor and the caliper, we think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

A multitude of braze-on mount means the Disc Trucker is capable of running front and rear bags, full-coverage fenders, two water bottles, a spare spoke and even a pump peg. However, in not coming with these accessories, you will have to factor these into the cost, making the value for money a little less than the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 or the Kona Sutra.

With both 26" and 700c wheel build options available, the Disc Trucker can be as adventurous as you choose. The 26" (in sizes 42-58cm) is capable of taking up to 2.1" tires, while the 700c version (in sizes 56-64cm) has room for up to 42mm tires — both with fenders.

Although touring bikes generally do have a more relaxed position than a typical road bike, designed as they are for comfortably covering long distances, the Disc Trucker does have a particularly high front end. This isn't necessarily a problem, but if you are coming from a road cycling background, you may find just such an elevated position a little uncomfortable 

Made from a CroMoly Steel, the Disc Trucker comes equipped with a Shimano Alivio/Sora drivetrain, with the 48/36/26 triple Alivio crankset and 11-34 9-speed Shimano cassette provides a gearing range we find to be a great balance between top-end speed and low-end winching – particularly if you’re planning on maxing out the rider and kit weight limit of 161kg (355lb).

Kona Sutra All Road touring bike

The gloss black Sutra is made from Kona 's Cromoly steel frame and is kitted out with smooth-rolling Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c tires on WTB STi23 rims, which are now tubeless-compatible.

The current model has replaced the previous Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain with 2x10 chainset from Shimano's GRX gravel range. It's a move that's unlikely to please the touring purists. The 46/30t chainrings are matched with a 11-36t cassette, which sees the bike's gearing range reduced. It should still see you up the steep climbs, just perhaps not in as much comfort as before.

Gone too are the bar-end shifters, replaced with Shimano 10-speed Tiagra road shifters. Again it's quite the change, moving the Sutra from a traditional tourer into a far more modern interpretation. It reduces some of the bike's previous mechanical simplicity, which is appealing if your tours are long and overseas. That said the move to STI levers will appeal if you're used to riding a regular bike.

Another nod to modernity are the TRP disc brakes, which are blend of mechanical and hydraulic, and the frame's thru-axles.

With a Brooks B17 leather saddle, mudguards and a front pannier rack finishing off this tourer, this good-looking bike oozes style.

The leather Brooks saddle does require a bit more care than what you might be used to – it need to be kept covered from heavy rain and needs a semi regular application of cream to keep the leather supple. But by functioning essentially as a hammock, it is exceptionally comfortable and only gets better over time as it moulds to your shape – it wears in, rather than out..

Ridgeback Voyage

Classic styling never goes out of date - and the vintage-looking Voyage has got it by the bucket load, though a redesign means that modern tech has not been overlooked.

The Ridgeback Voyage uses Reynolds 520 tubing for the frame, with a CroMoly steel fork. A rack and full mudguards (fenders) come as standard. 

The Shimano 48/36/26t triple chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette offers a good range of gearing although with relatively large jumps between the gears due to having just nine gears at the rear. 

We don’t find this to be too much of an issue when taking it steady on a cycle tour but would prefer something a little tighter if multiple very high mileage days are planned.

Shifting and braking is taken care of by Shimano's reliable Sora levers and Tektro cantilever rim brakes. The latter certainly help make the Voyage a maintenance-friendly machine - easy to maintain and find replaces for, even in remote locations - although disc brakes may be a preferred choice for all-weather tourers.

Alex rims with a high spoke count are pretty dependable, even if not the flashiest and fitted with 32c Continental Contact tyres, they can handle a little off road, but are best suited to the tarmac.  

Trek 520 disc touring bike

Constructed from Trek's CroMoly steel, the frame has been designed around disc brakes and fitted with a rack and fenders mounts.

The Bontrager Affinity rims are tubeless-ready, which might be worth setting up if you want a bit of a faster ride when commuting. But for long-term touring it’s generally best to stick with inner tubes so as to avoid the added complication of sealant drying out. Bontrager’s 38c H1 hard-case Ultimate tyres offer good puncture resistance themselves.

The drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano parts with Sora shifters. The crankset is a triple, with 48/36/26 tooth chainrings, and the cassette is an 11-36 so you'll have ample gears when the road goes up. TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc mechanical discs look after stopping.

However, with only nine sprockets on the cassette, the jumps between the gears are a little large, as with the Ridgeback Voyage. But if this does cause you an issue, and if you find yourself not using all of the gears, you could fit a tighter range cassette for smaller jumps.

Like the Genesis Tour de Fer 30, the wheel axles are QR, which can make getting the rotor and caliper aligned properly a little more difficult than with a thru-axle system

The overall weight comes in at 14.26 kg / 31.4 lbs in a size 57, which is lighter than some of the more traditional options.

Cube Travel Pro Trapeze touring bike

Cube offers its Travel Pro tourer in both a traditional crossbar and step-through frame design, with the latter making mounting and dismounting this robust, aluminum bike easy and convenient.

The convenience theme is carried through much of the bike. It's equipped with a Shimano Nexus internal hub gear system and a Gates CDN Belt Drive system which offers super low maintenance compared with a more traditional chain and derailleur system.

With this eight-speed hub, the jumps between the gears is a little larger and the overall range a little lower than you can get with a derailleur system, and it's not quite as efficient. But that said, if you're planning on taking it steady on your cycle tour, those points are pretty immaterial compared to the benefit of much lower maintenance.  

There's plenty of clearance for extra-wide tires and the wheels are currently wrapped in Schwalbe's Marathon Almotion 29x2.15in rubber.

Finishing off this functional tourer are full-length fenders, an adjustable CUBE stand Pro kickstand, a Knog Oi bell, lights (front and rear), and a semi-integrated carrier for pannier bags; these features will have you covered for any adventure.

Salsa Marrakesh

The Marrakesh is designed to take you touring wherever you wish — including a trip around the world if necessary. The frame is built from 4130 CroMoly tubing and has a serious array of mounts. There's room for up to five bottle cages thanks to extra fork mounts plus it comes fitted with front and rear racks. There's even a mount to carry a spare spoke.

Elsewhere there are bar-end shifters and a 3x9-speed Shimano Alivio groupset. The gearing range is designed to get you up the steep stuff even when fully loaded thanks to 48/36/36 triple chainring paired with an 11-36t cassette. The shifters also make roadside maintenance a little easier.

Its world-touring credentials are further aided by its generous tire clearance - 700 x 40mm even with mudguards (fenders), and comes stock with Maxxis Roamer 42mm tires. This means you should eat up the miles in comfort even when the road gets rough.

It's difficult to lay out specific criteria when it comes to choosing a touring bike because the beauty of touring is that it can be whatever you want it to be – there is no single best touring bike for everyone, what is best for you depends on the type of tours you want to go on. However, there are key elements to consider when selecting your two-wheeled riding buddy, which will enable you to get the best touring bike for you.

Touring bike frame

If you're planning a longer trip, and intend the bike to be used primarily for such adventures, then the resilience and comfort of steel is a sensible choice. As such, most of the best touring bikes will feature this metal. The amount you're willing to invest will dictate the weight, strength and character of the steel you end up with.

When looking at steel touring bikes, expect to see the word 'Chromoly' a lot. This is a form of low alloy steel that is used when strength is particularly important. It takes its name from two of the primary alloying (mixing of metals) elements used: “chromium” and “molybdenum”.

If you're planning on using the bike for touring and other duties: club runs, commutes, shorter rides where speed might be more in your interest, consider aluminum or carbon .

Bikes suitable for touring will have a relaxed geometry: a shorter top tube and taller stack to put the rider in a more relaxed position. The wheelbase will be longer, to create a feeling of stability. You'll also notice that the chainstays are longer - this means panniers can be mounted without a chance of clipping your heels and it allows for better distribution when panniers are full.

Touring bike wheels

Elsewhere in the cycling world, we talk about low weight and aerodynamics when it comes to bicycle wheels. And sure, if you're aiming to break a world record on your cycle tour then those are probably still very important areas to consider.

However, if you mainly want to get to somewhere rather far away, and you'd like to arrive there with a wheel that's still true and contains the same number of spokes you left with, then a strong wheel is what you desire. Look for a higher spoke count that you might opt for on a speedy road bike.

The best touring bikes will generally have at least 36 spokes per wheel, tandem touring bike can even go as high as 48. 

Touring bike tyres

It's incredible how much difference a set of tyres can make to a bike. The frame can be designed with comfort top of the agenda, but put on some narrow rubber shoes and pump them up to the wrong tyre pressure and you'll be bumping about all over the road.

Most touring cyclists will want to go for wider tyres - 28mm+, when compared with their road racing cousins. The further off the beaten track you want to go, the wider they should be. If you plan on tackling some light trails, look for 32mm+.

Touring bike brakes

Traditionally, touring bikes had rim brakes and these will certainly do the job for most road-based tours. However, disc brakes do provide far superior stopping power, especially in the wet, and they are now more common than rim brake on the best touring bikes

Since disc brakes don't rely upon the rim to bring the bike to a halt, they also reduce the risk of the rims becoming worn through debris building up on the pads.

Add in that many touring cyclists are carrying luggage, therefore adding to the overall load, powerful brakes that work in all weathers do seem like a sensible addition. However, not everyone likes the appearance of disc brakes on a traditional steel machine and the pads are a tiny bit harder to replace and set up, which is worth considering if you're maintaining your bike on the road.

Luggage and Lights on a touring bike

A purpose-built touring bike will come with pannier racks fitted, as well as fenders and perhaps even built-in lights. These all add to the overall weight, but if the intended purpose requires them, it's no bother.

If you plan to use the bike for other purposes, like group rides, then you may want to look for a bike that comes with eyelets for guards and racks, so that you can remove and fit them as and when.

There's a lot of clever luggage solutions around these days, such as frame bags and oversized saddlebags , that allow you to do away with panniers if you'd rather distribute weight differently.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

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2022 Bridgestone Tour B X, Tour B XS, Tour B RX & Tour B RXS Golf Ball Review

More in reviews:.

50 Words or Less

The 2022 Bridgestone Tour B golf ball line up continues to lead the industry.  A Tour ball for every player type and swing speed.  Modest changes over the 2020 versions.

Introduction

In 2020, the new Bridgestone Tour B golf balls were the surprise stars of the PGA Show [full review HERE ].  They debuted a new cover material that allowed the ball to spin less in the long game and more in the short game – the holy grail of golf ball performance.  Two years later, there’s a new Tour B.  Can it possibly outperform its show stopping predecessor?

On the green, the feel of the Bridgestone Tour B line up has been tweaked slightly.  The Tour B X remains the firmest of the group , though it’s still slightly softer than a Pro V1 to me.  As in previous years, the Tour B XS is noticeably softer than the Tour B X .  The sound off the putter is quieter and duller.

The change comes on the RX side of the family.  In the past, the RX has been very similar to the XS and the RXS has been far and away the softest.  For 2022, Bridgestone has matched the feel of the RX to the X and the RXS to the XS.  This gives players with sub-105 MPH swing speed the ability to have a slightly firmer, more responsive ball on the green.

With wedges and irons, I found that the Tour B X and Tour B RX had a soft, solid feel with a slight click at impact.  The softer versions, the XS and RXS, feel even softer and don’t have any click.

Matt Meeker and I tested the 2022 Bridgestone Tour B golf ball line up independently to see how they performed for a player under 105 MPH and one at/slightly above 105 MPH.

For Meeker , there was a 500 RPM bump with the Tour B RX over the Tour B RXS .  This didn’t produce significant differences in carry or total distances, but the Tour B RX did fly higher and had a steeper landing angle.  This cuts against the expected results and is more evidence that every player should test a few different models.

I tested all four models and found all of them within the average to high range for short game spin .  The Tour B X stood out as the lowest spinning, though not by a lot.  Tour B XS spun more for me on pitches and full wedge shots, but the gap was only a few hundred RPM.  The gap between the RX and RXS was quite small for me – both spun at the same level as the XS.

For Matt Meeker , the Tour B RX and Tour B RXS were “amazingly similar” with the mid irons through the driver .  I suspect this is due in large part to his robotic consistency.  Also, Meeker’s swing is not extreme.  Players with very steep or shallow angles of attack will likely see large performance differences between models.  Ditto for players who severely deloft or “flip” the club at impact.

In my testing with Foresight GCQuad , I got great speed and consistency from the Tour B X and Tour B XS .  Tour B X has iron spin in the average range for a Tour ball, Tour B XS was about 500 RPM higher, on average.  It’s always worth mentioning that I’m a fairly low spin player, so you may find larger gaps between the models.  Neither the Tour B RX or RXS are my prescribed fit.  That showed in less consistent speed and spin numbers.

Moving to the driver, I got the same exceptional ball speed from the 2022 Tour B X and Tour B XS that I got from the previous generation.  As expected, I saw less spin from the Tour B X compared to the XS.  Again, the difference was not huge for me – a couple hundred RPM.  It may be larger for higher spin players.

Two out of two Matts agree that the 2022 Bridgestone Tour B golf balls are fantastic.  Not only is each ball a great performer, but the messaging is clear and sensible.  As Meeker said, “You can play the same technology as Tiger, but refined for your game.”  Check out one of Bridgestone’s many ball fitting options and find the best one for your game.

Visit Bridgestone Golf HERE

Recent posts.

• Getting Your Golf Out of Debt - April 16, 2024
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15 Comments

When referencing swing speed, is that for driver?

Thanks for the review. Did you happen to hit the RX and RXS off the driver also? I’m interested to know if there are ball speed differences between that and the X and XS.

Additionally, did you happen to notice launch angle/ peak height differences in the wedges?

I did not find any ball speed differences between the X and XS or notable launch angle differences with wedges.

What a great write up, very much appreciated guys. I am 105-110 mph driver swing speed and love the old model Tour B RXS, can’t wait to try the new models

Have hit the RXS for 2 years with driver swing speed of 106 and loved them. Just recently tried the be Srixon Z Star Diamond and have been extremely impressed with all aspects. Any reviews for that ball planned?

We have a review of the Z Star Diamond here: https://pluggedingolf.com/srixon-z-star-diamond-golf-ball-review/

With a driver swing speed averaging 95, I bought a box of RX and RXS. B-Stone touts RX as having more greenside spin this year, which I value. Played the RXS last year and thought it needed slightly more greenside spin. I thought the 2020 B – XS was great around the greens in comparison but I don’t have the speed for that on the long ball.

Sounds as if you are finding that greenside spin on the RX and RXS has improved. DId I get that right?

Great review. Did Matt Meeker test the X or XS balls? I know his SS is less than 105, but it would be interesting to read his results. Ping’s Ballnamic recommended the X for me, although my driver SS is in the low 90s. I haven’t given it a try due to Bridgestone’s recommendation that the R X would be the better ball for me based on SS, although I am curious as to how the X or XS would react at slower SS.

I did not test the X or XS George. If you get a chance to compare, let us know your results.

– Meeks

Really enjoyed this review of the Tour B line. I am one of those rare players that have a slower swing speed, but have best results with the XS due to the spin I get from it. All in all the Tour B line is terrific!!

I’m a 8 handicap with a 98to101 swing speed I play the Bridgestone E12 contact ball it is the straightest and best ball I’ve found would like to no your thoughts

We have a full review of the e12 here: https://pluggedingolf.com/bridgestone-e12-contact-golf-ball-review/

If the xs and the Rxs were both hit at 100 club head speed how much distance would the xs lose as it is designed for over 105

I don’t think there would be a significant difference in ball speed, if any.

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Best touring bikes: How to choose the right one for you

The best touring bikes as reviewed by the BikeRadar test team

Steve Sayers / Our Media

The best touring bikes will enable you to cover the miles in comfort and fully laden. Here are our top picks on the market, as reviewed by the BikeRadar test team.

Any bike can feasibly be used as a touring bike – gravel and adventure bikes , road bikes , flat-bar hybrid bikes , and even mountain bikes are all perfect candidates to be turned into a competent horizon-seeking touring wagon.

However, there are some distinct advantages offered by a traditional touring bike.

A comfortable and upright ride position, plentiful mounts to easily fit copious amounts of luggage , additional water bottle mounts, overbuilt framesets – most often made of easily repaired steel – and wide tyre clearances are all hallmarks of a good touring bike.

These features make them easy to live with on long expeditions.

Here, we've focused on more traditional touring bikes designed explicitly for long, slower-paced days in the saddle, loaded with panniers and luggage.

For more info, check out our buyer's guide to touring bikes at the bottom of this page.

Check out our standalone guide for a more in-depth look at what a touring bike is and how it compares to an adventure or bikepacking bike .

Best touring bikes in 2024, as rated by our expert testers

Genesis tour de fer 30.

• £2,100 as tested
• Pros: great value-for-money build
• Cons: Relatively heavy, but that's to be expected for a tourer

A classic tourer with a Reynolds 725 steel frame and fork, front and rear racks, and mudguards, along with three bottle cages and three spare spokes, the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 comes ready to hit the road.

There's a triple-chainring Shimano Tiagra groupset and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. You even get dynamo lighting . It's all specced for easy maintenance and reliability on high-mileage trips.

With a 15.6kg overall weight, the Tour de Fer 30 has stability and purpose, but still handles very well. It's good value for the spec level and included extras, and should give years of service.

• Read our full Genesis Tour de Fer 30 review

Spa Cycles Wayfarer

• £1,400 as tested
• Pros: Comfortable touring geometry; quality wheels and kit
• Cons: Tight clearances with wider tyres

Spa Cycles calls the Wayfarer "expedition focused". Its Reynolds 725 steel frame is well finished and it's equipped with a Shimano Sora 9-speed triple chainset with a 28x34t lowest gear. It rolls on hand-built tubeless-ready wheels with 50mm-wide Panaracer GravelKing or 32mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres.

There's a Brook Cambium saddle and FSA Wing bars with a nice shape. The only things our bike was lacking were dynamo lights and a kickstand, both of which you could add to the spec.

The Wayfarer is stable with an upright ride and excellent long-distance comfort, great for the commute and leisure rides, not just long-range touring.

• Read our full Spa Cycles Wayfarer review

Thorn Club Tour MK5

• £2,071 as tested
• Pros: High-quality, well-sourced and customisable build kits
• Cons: Unusual build, but this can be customised extensively

St John Street Cycles has been producing steel touring bikes for just about forever and its newest version of the Thorn Club Tour is its own unique take on a traditional touring bike.

Thorn offers near-endless customisation, allowing you to tailor the bike exactly to your needs and desires, as is well-illustrated by our test bike, mixing a V-brake fork on the front with a disc on the rear. The options are endless.

• Read our full Thorn Club Tour MK5 review

Fuji Touring Disc

• £1,100 / AU$1,999 as tested
• Pros: Everything you need from a touring bike straight out of the box
• Cons: Bar-end shifters take some learning and can be bashed with knees

The Fuji Touring Disc is ready for proper loaded expeditions straight out of the box, with a full suite of accessories and a sensible build at a very competitive price.

The Reynolds 520 frameset is TIG-welded to bring costs down, though a handsome cast crown on the fork gives the bike an air of classic looks.

The bar-end shifters are a sensible and hardy option that will stand up to the rigours of touring far better than an equivalently priced set of integrated shifters.

The extremely low 26×36t gear will also be very welcome if you’re climbing while loaded.

• Read our full Fuji Touring Disc review

Oxford Bike Works Model 1E

• £1,440 / $2,454 as tested
• Pros: Bespoke service and fitting
• Cons: Cheap decals feel out of place on a premium bike

The Oxford Bike Works Model 1E's classy-looking fillet brazed steel frame is made in England.

There's a Shimano Deore single-chainring groupset with a wide-range cassette, but it's operated by a bar-end shifter rather than an integrated brake/shift lever. V-brakes take care of stopping, although you can upgrade to discs if you prefer.

The bike rolls nicely on its 32mm tyres and is smooth and comfortable. There are mounts for racks and mudguards and Oxford Bike Works includes a free fit with your purchase and a one-year comfort guarantee, where it will swap out any contact points that you don't get on with.

• Read our full Oxford Bike Works Model 1E review

Ridgeback Panorama

• Pros: Super wide-range, touring-friendly gearing
• Cons: Heavy even when unladen

Ridgeback’s Panorama features a highly reliable Reynolds 725 steel frame, which is matched with a Chromoly steel fork.

A triple (48/36/26t) Shimano chainset is paired with a wide-range 11-34t cassette, giving super-wide, loaded-climb-friendly gearing. In-line brake levers are also a rare and welcome addition to this bike.

The generous spec extends to the accessories, and the bike ships with three bottle cages, mudguards and a rear rack as stock.

• Read our full Ridgeback Panorama review

Ridgeback Expedition

• ​​£1,350 as tested
• Pros: Wide gear range; tough tyres
• Cons: Lacklustre braking performance; heavy

Rolling on 26in wheels, the Ridgeback Expedition is a great touring bike for far-flung expeditions.

While mechanical disc brakes lack the sheer power of hydraulic brakes, a full suite of useful accessories help makes up for these shortcomings.

• Read our full Ridgeback Expedition review

Surly Bridge Club

• Pros: Ultra-versatile frameset can be set up to do just about anything
• Cons: Smaller frame geometry restricts mounting options

The Bridge Club is an outlier in the group – while it may look more like an old-school mountain bike, Surly pitches it as an any-terrain touring bike, earning it a spot on this list.

Surly’s touring bike range is extremely broad, covering everything from the classic Long Haul Trucker all the way over to the ECR – a plus tyre’d do-anything shred wagon.

The Bridge Club sits in the middle of this spectrum, with all the usual braze-ons for the essentials covered without over-complicating things.

• Read our full Surly Bridge Club review

The Light Blue Darwin Two Way Street

• £2,055 as tested
• Pros: Good all-rounder option
• Cons: Saddle will please few

The Light Blue pitches the Darwin as a lightweight 'street bike' that can comfortably handle commuting, gravel dalliances and even lightweight touring.

The bike is well-equipped, with sliding dropouts, a full range of rack and mudguard mounts, and compatibility with belt drivetrains .

• Read our full The Light Blue Darwin Two Way Street review

Also consider…

Cinelli hobootleg easy travel.

• £1,400 / $1,400 as tested
• Pros: Comfortable long-distance setup
• Cons: Cantilever brakes are more trouble to set up than V-brakes

The Hobootleg has been ridden around the world and over seven of the world's highest passes. Its steel frame comes with racks, a 50/39/30t FSA triple chainset and a corrosion-resistant paintjob.

The 9-speed Sora drivetrain has STI shifters, but the cantilever brakes seem a bit old-school in comparison to modern alternatives and need a lot of effort to get adequate stopping power. We liked the slightly flared Cinelli bars better though.

The bike comes with WTB Riddler 37mm tyres. They're more of a gravel bike tyre and don't roll that quickly on the road. However, the ride is lovely and loaded up you don't notice the 14kg weight.

• Read our full Cinelli Hobootleg Easy Travel review

What to look for in a touring bike

Panniers and bags.

Now you’ve got a suitable bike, what else will you need to get started with touring?

Working out how you want to carry your gear is a good place to start.

Don’t be tempted to use a rucksack – it’ll just hurt your back and leave you with a damp, sweaty patch. Touring bikes are designed with carrying loads in mind, so get as much of it on there as you can.

A rear rack – which will come as stock on many touring bikes – and pannier bags are the most popular option. These can carry a large amount of kit and are easily removed from your bag. If you need additional storage, you can go for an extra front rack plus a handlebar bag.

Alternatively, you could go for a more modern approach with bikepacking bags , which typically strap the luggage straight to the frame, seatpost and handlebars.

This reduces weight and can improve handling in rough terrain.

Disc or rim brakes for a touring bike?

The vast majority of touring bikes will use disc brakes in place of the V-brake or cantilever brakes of old. Consequently, they will use disc-specific touring wheels , too.

Disc brakes offer superior braking power that – critically – is far more consistent in all weathers.

It is generally believed that the availability for spare parts for disc brakes is still slightly lacking in certain parts of the world compared to rim brakes. This is the only compelling case for continuing to use rim brakes.

Flat bar vs drop bar for a touring bike

There is no right or wrong handlebar setup for a touring bike. Some will prefer the upright position and extra control a flat bar will offer, while others prefer the additional hand positions and more aero position that is attainable with a drop bar.

Here, in the UK, our vision of the prototypical touring bike usually includes drop bars, so they are more commonly seen. In Europe, the opposite is true and flat bars rule the roost.

Experimentation is the key but, because touring bikes tend to have fairly upright geometry, it’s usually possible to swap between the two down the line if you find you’re unhappy with your setup (though to do so you would usually have to, at least, also swap your brake levers and shifters).

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The 7 Best Touring Bikes for Your Next Long-Distance Adventure

These bike-packing-friendly rides are ready for your next multiday tour or cross-country adventure.

In an industry that thrives on specialization, the touring bike is designed to be a versatile machine that can be your everyday commuter as well as the bike that takes you from Portland to Patagonia. Touring bikes differ from “regular” road bikes in a few ways. Here’s what you need to look for.

See our top picks below, then scroll down for more in-depth reviews of these bikes and other great options, as well as helpful buying tips and advice.

The Best Touring Bikes

Best Overall

Salsa cutthroat grx 810 bike.

Cannondale Topstone 4

Most Versatile Aluminum

Specialized diverge e5.

Best E-Bike

Bianchi impulso grx600 e-bike.

Best Carbon

Otso waheela c.

Best Heavyweight

Surly disc trucker.

Most Versatile Steel

Niner rlt 9 steel, what to consider, classic, adventure, and expedition.

Classic touring bikes are typically steel, have upright geometry, long chainstays, and often have fenders and a rear rack for panniers. They can look vintage even if they’re brand-new. The wheels of classic touring bikes are usually 700c and have a high spoke count (32- or 36-hole). Classic touring bikes used to have rim brakes, but mechanical disc brakes are starting to take over the category. Classic touring bikes can have either a flat or drop bar.

Adventure bikes are built to blur the lines between mountain bikes and road bikes . They love pavement, they love gravel, they love dirt, and that’s good because you might come across all of those surfaces during your tour. They typically have a drop bar, mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes, and a “dealer’s choice” of wheel sizes with clearance for a variety of tire sizes. And many adventure touring bikes are equipped to handle a dropper post.

Expedition touring bikes are exactly what they sound like: burly steeds crafted to handle big miles in remote territory. They’re almost always made of steel, with 26-inch wheels and rim brakes. All of this is designed to make them easy to work on and find spare parts for, even if you’re in a tiny town whose name you can’t pronounce.

Touring Bike Materials

Steel is the classic frame choice because it is strong and stiff and can be fixed by any mechanic with a blowtorch in a pinch. But you’ll find plenty of aluminum touring bikes on the market and an increasing number of carbon frames, although repairing a carbon frame in rural areas isn’t really an option. You can find titanium touring bikes that are expensive but tough and light, and the vibration damping can be a godsend on rough roads and dirt .

[Related: 7 Amazing Cycling Tours That Should Be on Your Bucket List ]

Touring Bike Geometry

A handful of subtle differences within touring bike geometries set them apart from road bikes. Touring geometry is more upright, creating a riding position that’s more comfortable during long hours in the saddle. Different bike companies refer to this as their “endurance” or “adventure” geometry. This “endurance” geometry plays out in a handful of different ways.

The wheelbase and chainstay of a classic touring bike is typically longer to make room for rear racks and panniers, and the bottom bracket is typically lower to increase stability. The head tube is typically longer on a touring bike, essentially elevating the handlebar, and there’s more slack, helping to extend the wheelbase. Touring bikes also generally have a shorter top tube, or more importantly, a shorter “reach,” which is the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube. This is designed to keep you more upright, making you reach less for the handlebar.

How We Evaluated

Finding the best touring bikes requires riding hundreds of miles while hauling a heavy load. Our list comprises touring bikes we’ve personally tested, with some picks based on market research and prior brand experience. We dug into each touring bike’s specs and reputation and looked into Bicycling archives to find the best of the best. These touring bikes are tough, weight-bearing, and can confidently take you cross-country.

The Salsa Cutthroat is an ideal match for the performance-focused gravel rider who commonly encounters gnarly terrain on their adventures. It’s nearly a hardtail mountain bike, with a rigid fork and drop bars. Outfitted with a full-carbon frame and fork, a Shimano GRX 1x groupset, and 29x2.2-inch Teravail Sparwood tires, five bottle mounts, and front- and rear-rack mounting points, this bike is ready to embark on your next adventure and deliver a performance-oriented ride for the duration of your journey.

The Cannondale Topstone 4 is one smooth ride, thanks to a stiff aluminum frame. No, it doesn’t have suspension, but it doesn’t need it: Its bump-absorbing carbon fork is excellent for gravel and trails alike. No hydraulic disc brakes, unfortunately, but for its price, the Topstone 4 is a fantastic adventure bike with mounts to match.

Body-inclusive bike influencer Marley Blonsky, who rides a Cannondale Topstone 4 in size XS, loves this bike. “It’s an amazingly sturdy and versatile bike,” she says, “especially for the money. I’ve done everything from Unbound Gravel to bike camping to commuting on it—it has worked beautifully for everything!"

The Diverge E5 is one of the better do-anything, go-anywhere bikes today. A swap from its stock 38mm-wide tires to 30mm- or 32mm-wide tires can make it feel a sporty road bike, while switching to 700 x 47mm or 650b x 2.1-inch tires gives it some off-roading ability. For adventurers, it’s got frame and fender mounts, plus mechanical Tektro Mira flat-mount disc brakes that are, surprisingly (for its price), reliable and firm.

Our test editor Dan Chabanov loves the Diverge E5 and says it can be set up to do almost anything. “It’s not the perfect tool for any one task; it is capable of doing them all.”

Read Full Review

The Bianchi GRX600 is an e-bike outfitted to handle gravel and steep hills as much as pavement. It has rigid suspension, an aluminum frame, and, thankfully, hydraulic disc brakes for great stopping power. Kenda 700c x 35 tires help riders plow through the muck, plus a tire clearance of 38mm lends it some extra rubber when needed. It's also got plenty of mounts for baggage. The downside? You'll need an outlet to charge that bike once its battery runs out of juice.

“Touring with electric road bikes is an increasingly popular option for riders, and e-bike touring is very popular in Europe,” says Bicycling deputy editor Tara Seplavy . "E-bikes are a good option for hotel/B&B touring, or if you are camping and know that your destination has the electricity to recharge when you arrive.”

One of senior test editor Matt Phillips’ favorite bikes of 2022 and a gravel award-winner for the year, the Otso Waheela C is a versatile carbon ride with a lot of range. It has adjustable rear dropouts which adjust chainstay lengths to 420, 430, or 440mm, and has room for up to a whopping 54mm in either 700c or 650b. It’s also one of the only production bikes with suspension-correct geometry, terrific for extreme gravel riding. And yes: It still has plenty of mounts for carrying baggage.

“Perfect it is not—the bike is a little on the heavy side, and the ride is a bit firm with narrower tires,” says Phillips, “but the Waheela has a long front center for stability with the fast and lively feel of a high-performance bike.”

Surly’s Long Haul Trucker has been a favorite of touring cyclists for decades. However, its Disc Trucker, initially introduced in 2012, has been redesigned, giving it the edge over its older cousin. Surly shortened the chainstay length for snappy acceleration and adopted a thru-axle for increased stiffness.

The Disc Trucker also has a decreased stand-over height and increased stack height, which gives the bike a more upright geometry for long days in the saddle. The Truckstop handlebar complements that all-day geometry, and a new fork accommodates pack mounts so you can carry some of your load on the front of your bike. The bike isn’t all new and glitzy; you still get the tried and true 3x9 drivetrain, so you have plenty of gears for the climb.

What if your bike were actually several bikes that transformed based on your shifting moods or terrain? That’s the concept behind Niner’s RLT9, a super customizable long hauler built for gravel, pavement, dirt…whatever floats your boat. The hand-welded Reynolds 853 steel frame anchors the build, but the RTL9 also features a PF30 bottom bracket that makes it easy to go from the stock 11-speed drivetrain to a single-speed setup. The clearance has room for tires up to 700 x 50c but also fits 650b wheels. You can even add a dropper post to get into the steeps.

Niner borrowed some tech from the mountain bike world, most notably the lower bottom bracket height and a slack headtube angle to boost all-day comfort, and the rig comes stock with Shimano GRX800 components, which are built to handle the dirt and grime of gravel. We also like the 26 different mounting points and the custom bags that Niner makes mount directly to the frame without needing straps or Velcro.

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

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Titleist Tour Soft Review: Pros, Cons, Alternatives

The latest version of the Titleist Tour Soft was launched in 2022 at a lower price than most other Titleist golf balls. I wanted to see how the ball performed in its category, so I got some from my local pro shop and put it out to the test.

Here’s a quick Titleist Tour Soft Review. The Titleist Tour Soft is an affordable golf ball with a soft feel and decent distance. It’s a 2-piece golf ball ideal for golfers with a medium swing speed. The ball has a compression rating of 67, which makes it feel great off the tee and around the greens, but it doesn’t sacrifice distance.

But the Tour Soft has its pros and cons. I could tell right away that this ball is not for everyone – especially advanced golfers.

I used the Tour Soft for a week and played over 80 holes. Keep reading to explore the ball’s performance and features.

Titleist Tour Soft Golf Ball Specs

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• Excellent carry distance on tee shots
• Improved aerodynamics for straighter and longer shots
• Very soft feel at impact
• Mid spin on short game and low spin on long distance shots
• Excellent value-for-money
• It’s lighter and feels softer than the Pro V1
• Lacks green-side spin and control
• Some golfers might not like the design of the alignment aid
• Might feel slightly hard for a soft ball
• Ball Construction:  2-piece
• Colors:  White, Yellow
• Cover:  Thin 4CE Grafted Formulation
• Compression:  67
• Dimples: 346 Quadrilateral Dipyramid Dimple Design
• Core: Large Soft 1.6 Inches in Diameter
• Release Date:  May 2022

Note: All ratings are out of 100.

Continue reading this Titleist Tour Soft golf balls 2024 review to know more about their key features, performance, and applicability.

You might be interested in: The Best Titleist Golf Balls

The Titleist Tour Soft 2024 is softer and lighter than the Pro V1s , which was my first observation of the ball.

I found that it’s a much better alternative to the Pro V1s or any other hard ball for a high or mid-handicap golfer . It travels far, is softer at impact, and is more affordable than the Pro V1s.

It’s got an impressively large and fast core for an aerodynamic flight which I can confirm from my testing.

The ball’s got a good spin, but its non-urethane cover lacks greenside spin and control, which may make it unsuitable for golfers relying on the ball’s shot-shaping abilities.

Overall, the Tour Soft is an excellent value-for-money golf ball for everyday golfers.  However, it isn’t a groundbreaking, category-defying ball.

If you prioritize top-end performance in your short game, especially regarding spin and control, urethane-covered balls, like the TaylorMade Tour Response , are a better option. But, for the majority of golfers who value durability and distance, the Tour Soft remains a solid choice.

The Titleist Tour Soft is designed for mid-to-high handicappers who can benefit from the responsiveness and soft feel of the ball.

The Tour Soft is designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds struggling with harder balls. This ball might shave off a few strokes in that case.

Read More:   Golf Balls for Average Golfers

Things to consider before buying.

The Titleist Tour Soft price is impressive for a Titleist ball. It’s much less than the Pro V1s and has a decent price for its category.

I find it an excellent value-for-money golf ball that offers solid performance at a more affordable price than premium models.

This ball is designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds, typically around 80-95 mph.

However, golfers with faster swing speeds may benefit more by exploring other Titleist golf balls , such as the Pro V1 or TP5 .

Read more:   TaylorMade TP5 Vs. TP5x

The Tour Soft provides an excellent balance of distance and forgiveness.

If you’re looking for a ball offering solid distance off the tee and forgiveness on off-center hits, the Tour Soft may be the right pick.

This golf ball is designed for high to mid-handicappers. If you’re playing between 100-85 with a harder ball, you’ll likely feel a difference and shave a few strokes playing with the Tour Soft ball.

Check out some of the best golf balls for a low-handicap golfer.

Our team  spends thousands of hours trying out and researching golf equipment to help you take your game to the next level. Here’s our product review process .

We can bring these reviews to you through the small commissions we earn if you buy through the links below.

Golfspan only shares equipment and brands we trust.

I tested the balls over 80 holes and compared them against other top balls. The review was then fact-checked to ensure you receive the latest information.

I considered these criteria for my Tour Soft review:

• Spin & Control

Titleist Tour Soft Review

The Titleist Tour Soft was fun to review, and I came to interesting conclusions.

I must admit, it’s got a great balance of distance, spin, and overall performance. However, the impact on my driver wasn’t as soft as I expected.

If you’re looking for a soft feel ball, I recommend you check out the Callaway Super Soft.  But, if distance is also your priority, the Tour Soft delivers.

Off the tee, the Tour Soft delivered impressive results with low spin, resulting in longer and straighter flights.

This ball is also much cheaper than other balls produced by Titleist. It’s also extremely durable and long-lasting because I played a few rounds with it, and it still felt new.

So, for golfers prioritizing soft feel and distance gains, this might be the ideal ball. But utilizing different spin-based shots, like a backspin or a side-spin, and achieving maximum control around the greens may be more challenging.

Below is a detailed review of the features of the Titleist Tour Soft Golf Ball.

The Tour Soft features a large and fast core with a 1.6” diameter. It provides an incredibly soft feel when struck.

Additionally, the improved aerodynamics of the core delivers maximum responsiveness and impressive distance gains.

So, you can expect to see your ball travel a few extra yards off the tee when using the Titleist Tour Soft.

The Tour Soft golf ball has 346 quadrilateral dimples. The 346 Quadrilateral dipyramid dimple design allows the ball to travel in a straighter line to improve shot consistency.

Additionally, the dimples also contribute to tighter shot dispersion. So, your ball is more likely to stay on its intended path when you hit it.

This is particularly useful for beginners as it’ll be easier to predict where your shots will land.

The Tour Soft requires a thinner cover due to the larger size of the core. So, Titleist especially developed the 4CE Grafted Fusablend® Cover that provides better greenside grab than other non-urethane cover balls.

So, with the Tour Soft, you can enjoy more back and side spin when using your short irons or wedges!

The Tour Soft features an alignment stamp, which I personally didn’t like the design of. I’d love to know your thoughts on it, though.

Tour Soft Performance Review

Below, I’ve discussed the golf balls’ distance, spin, feel, and longevity.

The Titleist Tour Soft has a soft impact feel but is not the softest option. I found it to be significantly softer during my review than the Pro V1, which didn’t surprise me.

In comparison, balls like the Callaway Super Soft  provide a softer feel.

Off the tee, the Tour Soft provides impressive distance and carry. It plays quite long, and the larger core prevents energy losses even on faster swings.

I was particularly impressed by its consistent mid-height ball flights. In comparison, balls like the Taylormade Soft Response ball  sometimes lose momentum mid-air and fall short of their intended target.

However, with the Titleist Tour Soft, there are no such issues. The ball maintains its trajectory and distance consistently.

Here’s a breakdown of the spin of the Tour Soft golf ball on different types of shots.

• Driver Spin— The Tour Soft provides a remarkably consistent spin off the driver. Its low spin on tee shots allows the ball to travel straight and long.
• Iron Spin—  The Tour Soft spins moderately with irons while maintaining consistency.
• Short Game Spin—  Unfortunately, like all other non-urethane balls, the Tour Soft lacks the green-side control of high-performance tour balls. Since urethane-covered balls tend to spin approximately 20% more on short-game shots, they provide more shot-shaping abilities and control, making it easier to sink putts. In this regard, the TaylorMade Tour Response  is a better option.

Overall, the Tour Soft provides good spin consistency and control, making it suitable for most golfers’ needs. However, golfers who enjoy a spin shot on the green may find the Tour Soft golf ball lacking.

The Titleist Tour Soft has a low compression rating of 67, which makes it extremely forgiving on off-center strikes.

The low compression  makes it easier for the ball to compress on impact, reducing the energy lost and providing a larger sweet spot.

Read More:   Best Golf Balls for Cold Weather

Alternatives.

While the Titleist Tour Soft is an excellent golf ball, it may not meet every golfer’s needs. Here are two other options if the Tour Soft doesn’t check all your boxes.

The Srixon Soft Feel features a fast core and a responsive cover. It’s a good option for those looking for an excellent quality soft ball on a budget.

• Excellent green-side control
• Budget-friendly
• Long distance off the tee
• Reduced audible feedback on putts due to soft feel.
• Less workability due to low spin

The Callaway Supersoft is one of the most softest golf balls I’ve ever played with. If you prioritize soft ball, this should be your top pick.

• Extremely soft feel
• Multiple color options
• Not suitable for advanced golfers
• Less workability

The main differences between the Titleist Tour Speed and Tour Soft golf balls are their construction and performance characteristics. The Tour Speed is a three-piece ball with a thermoplastic urethane cover. On the other hand, the Tour Soft is a two-piece golf ball with a 4CE-grafted cover.

The Titleist Tour Soft is a two-piece golf ball. Two-piece golf balls typically offer excellent distance and durability while remaining budget friendly.

The Tour Soft features a 4CE Grafted Fusablend® cover. It provides excellent greenside grab as compared to other non-urethane cover balls.

After testing and finalizing my Titleist Tour Soft review , I can confidently say that it offers an excellent combination of features and performance.

With its soft feel, impressive distance off the tee, and exceptional forgiveness on off-center hits, it’s ideal for mid-to-high handicappers with moderate swing speeds.

While it may not be the softest ball and lack the spin and control of premium urethane-covered balls, its affordability, and durability make it a great value-for-money option.

Overall, the Tour Soft strikes a remarkable balance between feel, distance, and playability, making it an excellent, well-rounded golf ball for golfers who prioritize distance and consistency.

Abdul Moiz Minhas

Abdul Moiz is a skilled golfer and professional writer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad and has played golf for over 5 years. He has a handicap index of 18.5, uses TaylorMade Sim driver, and loves his 60-degree wedge. He's tested and reviewed over 50 products and specializes in reviewing budget-friendly golf club sets. You can connect with Abdul at  X , LinkedIn , or [email protected] .

• Best score : 82
• Favorite club : 60-degree wedge
• Favorite ball : Titleist ProV1
• Dream golf vacation : Scotland
• Abdul Moiz Minhas https://www.golfspan.com/author/abdul-moiz-minhas What Golf Ball Should I Use? Take This Quick Quiz
• Abdul Moiz Minhas https://www.golfspan.com/author/abdul-moiz-minhas Titleist AVX Vs. Pro V1: Differences, Pros, Cons
• Abdul Moiz Minhas https://www.golfspan.com/author/abdul-moiz-minhas BombTech Wedges Review: Pros & Cons
• Abdul Moiz Minhas https://www.golfspan.com/author/abdul-moiz-minhas Golf Ball Compression Chart: Top Ball Ratings By Swing Speed

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Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

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A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

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Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Armory Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

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Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

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The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

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The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

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Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

City Tour of Moscow

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KGB Tour with transport

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Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

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Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

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Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

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Haarfarbe Testsieger: Die beste Haarfarbe laut Stiftung Warentest

• Insider Picks
• Haare färben: Das ist die beste Haarfarbe laut Stiftung Warentest
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• Markus Kastenhuber

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Die Verbraucherorganisation Stiftung Warentest hat permanente Haarfarben zur Anwendung zu Hause getestet. Zuletzt wurden die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung in der Februar-Ausgabe (2022) des „Test“-Magazins veröffentlicht.

Geprüft wurden das Färbergebnis, der Farberhalt, der Einfluss auf die Haare, die Anwendung, die Verpackung und Werbeversprechen der neun getesteten Haarfarben.

Dabei haben nur vier von neun permanenten Haarfarben das Qualitätsurteil „gut“ erhalten. Die vier guten Produkte wurden jeweils mit der Note 2,0 ausgezeichnet und teilen sich somit den Titel Testsieger. Die weiteren fünf Haarfarben waren immerhin befriedigend.

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Wer einmal durch die Haarabteilung eines Drogeriemarktes gegangen ist, weiß, wie viele verschiedene Haarfarben es für den Heimgebrauch gibt. Wenn ihr euch also die Haare färben wollt, weil ihr entweder die ersten grauen Strähnen entdeckt habt oder einfach Lust auf etwas Neues habt, ist die Auswahl groß. Um euch bei der Kaufentscheidung zu unterstützen, hat die Verbraucherorganisation Stiftung Warentest neun der gängigsten Haarfarben getestet. Die Ergebnisse des Haarfarben-Tests wurden in der Februar-Ausgabe (2022) des „Test“-Magazins veröffentlicht.

Die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse aus dem Test auf einen Blick

Gleich vier der neun von Stiftung Warentest getesteten Haarfarben haben im Test am besten abgeschnitten. Demnach gehören folgende Haarfarben zu den besten: Garnier Nutrisse Crème, L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme, Poly Palette Intensiv Creme Coloration und Schwarzkopf Brillance Intensiv-Color-Creme. Mit der Gesamtnote 2,0 haben alle vier Haarfärbemittel das Qualitätsurteil „gut“ erhalten. Es gibt also gleich vier Testsieger.

Alle vier Testsieger des Haarfarben-Tests von Stiftung Warentest sind in den meisten Drogerien erhältlich. Die Verbraucherorganisation empfiehlt also auch günstige Produkte. Die besten Drogerie-Haarfarben sind die Garnier Nutrisse Crème, die L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme, die Poly Palette Intensiv Creme Coloration und die Schwarzkopf Brillance Intensiv-Color-Creme.

Von den neun Haarfärbemitteln aus dem Test haben alle Produkte mindestens das Qualitätsurteil „gut“ oder „befriedigend“ erhalten. Somit rät Stiftung Warentest also von keiner der neun Haarfarben ab.

Die Expertinnen und Experten von Stiftung Warentest haben acht von neun getesteten Haarfarben im Hinblick auf ihre Grauabdeckung mit dem Qualitätsurteil „gut“ bewertet. Ein weiteres Produkt der Rossmann-Eigenmarke Isana war immerhin befriedigend.

Das schonendste Haarfärbemittel ist die L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme. In der Testkategorie Haarzustand nach dem Färben wurde kein anderes Mittel mit einer besseren Note bewertet. Mit der Teilnote 1,6 (entspricht „gut“) hat die Haarfarbe dabei auch nur ganz knapp das bestmögliche Qualitätsurteil „sehr gut“ verpasst.

Zwei von vier guten Haarfarben haben bei Stiftung Warentest in der Testkategorie Farberhalt die Note 2,2 erhalten. In dieser Kategorie wurde unter anderem die Beständigkeit der Farbe nach 28 Haarwäschen berücksichtigt. Bessere Noten wurden dabei nicht vergeben. Bei den Farben, die am längsten halten, handelt es sich um die L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme und die Schwarzkopf Brillance Intensiv-Color-Creme.

Haarfarben im Test bei Stiftung Warentest

Für den Test wurden die verschiedenen Haarfarben in jeweils hellbraunen Farbtönen untersucht. Alle Produkte waren permanente Haarfarben, die zudem auch Grauabdeckung versprechen. Dabei wurden die Colorationen im Hinblick auf ihr Färbeergebnis , ihren Farberhalt , ihren Einfluss auf den Haarzustand , ihre Anwendung , die Nutzungsfreundlichkeit der Verpackung und die Wahrheit ihrer Werbeaussagen geprüft. Sowohl Profis als auch geübte Laien haben den Praxis-Test gemacht. Parallel dazu wurden die Farben auch auf Naturhaarsträhnen getestet, um zum Beispiel die Wasch- und Lichtbeständigkeit bewerten zu können.

Testsieger bei Stiftung Warentest: Die besten Haarfarben

Dabei haben nur vier der neun getesteten Haarfarben das Qualitätsurteil „gut“ erhalten. Alle guten Haarfarben teilen sich den Titel Testsieger. So haben alle vier Produkte die Note 2,0 erreicht. Die übrigen fünf Colorationen waren immerhin befriedigend. Demnach ist also kein Produkt durch den Test gefallen. Was ihr über die Testsieger wissen solltet?

Die Ergebnisse auf einen Blick

Update im April 2024: Preis und Verfügbarkeit der Produkte geprüft und aktualisiert .

Mehr zu Mode und Körperpflege

• Lash Cocaine im Test: Wirkt das Wimpernserum und gibt es Risiken?
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*Disclaimer : Wir suchen für euch nach Produkten und Dienstleistungen, von denen wir glauben, dass sie euch gefallen könnten. Die Auswahl erfolgt subjektiv, aber redaktionell unabhängig. Wir haben Affiliate-Partnerschaften, d.h. wenn ihr über einen mit Stern gekennzeichneten Link einen Kauf abschließt, erhalten wir eine geringe Provision. Zu unseren Partnern gehört auch das Preisvergleichsportal Idealo, das wie die Business Insider GmbH eine Tochtergesellschaft der Axel Springer SE ist. Unsere Empfehlungen und die Auswahl der Produkte werden dadurch nicht beeinflusst. Mehr dazu lest ihr hier: Insider Picks bei Business Insider – wer wir sind, was wir machen und wie wir Produkte testen. Die Inhalte sind unabhängig von unserer Werbevermarktung. Unsere Leitlinien der journalistischen Unabhängigkeit findet ihr hier:  www.axelspringer.com/de/leitlinien-der-journalistischen-unabhaengigkeit

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New Zealand vs England: Itinerary for 2024 Test tour confirms matches in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton

The dates and venues for England's three-match Test tour of New Zealand were confirmed on Tuesday; Christchurch hosts the opener from November 28-December 2, Wellington follows from December 6-10, before the series concludes in Hamilton from December 14-18

Tuesday 9 April 2024 08:07, UK

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The release of the itinerary for England's Test tour of New Zealand later this year has confirmed Ben Stokes' side will play matches in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.

Hagley Oval, the Cello Basin Reserve, and Seddon Park were on Tuesday confirmed as the venues for the three-match series.

Christchurch hosts the opening match from November 28-December 2, Wellington follows from December 6-10, before the series concludes in Hamilton from December 14-18.

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New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said there were already indications that the three matches against Brendon McCullum's team would attract the same sort of bumper attendances witnessed for the two home tests against Australia in February and March.

"In the past, there's often been a lot of talk in New Zealand about the popularity of Test cricket - without that translating into ticket sales or viewership numbers," he said.

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"The difference over the past summer, and in terms of the upcoming tests against England, is that the interest is being converted to bums on seats and is driving record viewership numbers."

England host West Indies in July before Sri Lanka visit across August and September during a summer where attention may be more focused on limited-overs cricket.

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The T20 World Cup takes place in the West Indies and United States in June, while England also have a five-match ODI series against Australia in September.

England are currently last in the World Test Championship table following a 4-1 series defeat to India at the start of the year.

Having won just three of their 10 matches since the 2023-25 edition of the competition began, England require a major turnaround to have a chance of reaching next year's final at Lord's.

Watch every match from 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup this June, live on Sky Sports, as well as England's preceding T20 series against Pakistan. You can also stream the action with NOW.

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Titleist NXT Tour Balls

The Golf Monthly team reviews Titleist NXT Tour Balls

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When testing these with a set of Wilson Staff FG Tour 100 irons (featured on p142), the feel off the face was very impressive. There was good control on offer, but not quite as much spin as the Pro V1. The NXT Tour felt easy to launch high on lob shots, which really boosts your confidence around the greens. It was also easier than some to follow through the air.

For all-round performance, the NXT Tour sits just behind the Titleist Pro V1, but with the benefit of a cheaper price tag. Spin control on full shots into greens is impressive, offering plenty of stopping power, even on firm greens. Many will enjoy the ‘click’ off the

putter and wedge face that the cover design offers. The durability is also outstanding.

The Pro V1 offers noticeably more spin on chip and pitch shots from close range. Players with the budget to pay premium prices will still find the best performance from the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. Those looking for a soft feel from a ball at this price should try the NXT Tour S.

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 .

Titleist NXT Tour Balls Key Technology: 

The NXT Tour is designed to deliver low driver and long-iron spin, impressive short-game spin and a soft feel. The multi-component design incorporates a large dual core with a soft centre, soft Fusablend cover and a spherically tiled 302 octahedral dimple design. It sits alongside the Titleist NXT Tour S, which offers a softer compression feel, and also comes in yellow.

Will suit...  Players after control on approach shots, without a premium price tag.

If you would like to add Titleist golf balls to your bag, check out our Titleist promo codes .

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Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email [email protected] with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver:  TaylorMade M1  Fairway wood:  TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2  Hybrid:  Ping Crossover  Irons (4-9):  Nike Vapor Speed  Wedges:  Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚  Putter:  testing in progress!  Ball:  TaylorMade TP5x

There's no respite for the world's elite as, following the Masters, the PGA Tour circuit moves to Harbour Town and the RBC Heritage

By Matt Cradock Published 15 April 24

Social media was awash with fans, legends, and brands congratulating Scheffler over his second Masters win in three years

By Jonny Leighfield Published 15 April 24

The Swede sensation is targeting Major glory after pushing World No.1 Scottie Scheffler all the way at Augusta

By Michael Weston Published 15 April 24

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Former PGA Tour Star Accuses Tiger Woods Of Using Steroids

Did Tiger Woods use steroids in the past? Former PGA Tour member Mark Lye claims the answer to that question is a resounding yes.

During an appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich," Lye was asked if people in the golf community knew about Woods allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs.

His response was interesting to say the least.  

"Yes, that is," Lye said, via Fox News Digital . "It is except for the people in Tiger’s corner. ‘You better shut up about it.’ Nobody ever gone out like that. Nobody’s ever said that like I’m saying it right now. There’s just no doubt. And I would say about 80 or 90% of the people out there know something ain’t right."

Woods, a 15-time major champion, has not responded to these comments from Lye. We're not even sure if he's aware of them. 

Lye won the Bank of Boston Classic in 1983. It was the only PGA Tour win he had in his career. 

It's worth noting that Lye isn't the only former PGA Tour player to make a claim like this. 

In 2015, Dan Olsen claimed that Woods was "secretly suspended" for failing a PGA Tour drug test. 

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Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Solar eclipse, worried about eclipse damage to your eyes don't panic.

Geoff Brumfiel

Nell Greenfieldboyce

Junior Espejo looks through eclipse glasses being handed out by NASA in Houlton, Maine. Used correctly, eclipse glasses prevent eye damage. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

Junior Espejo looks through eclipse glasses being handed out by NASA in Houlton, Maine. Used correctly, eclipse glasses prevent eye damage.

Tens of millions of Americans will have spent the day staring at a total solar eclipse, and at least a few of them may become worried that they inadvertently damaged their eyes.

But experts say there's no need to panic — the vast majority of eclipse viewers are probably fine. And even if somebody did strain their eyes, the effects could be temporary.

During the 2017 total solar eclipse it's estimated that 150 million Americans viewed the event. There were around 100 documented cases of eye damage across all of America and Canada, according to Ralph Chou, an expert on eclipse eye safety with the University of Waterloo in Canada.

Far more people turned up in emergency rooms worried that they'd damaged their eyes. Many complained of watery eyes or blurred vision, but in most cases they were fine, according to Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, one of the largest eye hospitals in the nation.

The reason it's hard to do real damage is simple — the human eye has evolved to avoid staring directly at the sun.

"It's so bright that we're not actually capable of looking at it without either tearing or sort of not really feeling comfortable staring at this ball of light," Deobhakta says.

Shots - Health News

Here's what it looks like when you fry your eye in an eclipse.

In the rare case that someone does damage their eyes, that damage usually shows up as a blurry spot in the field of vision , hours or up to a day after watching the eclipse. In about half of cases, the problem fixes itself, but permanent damage can sometimes occur.

Anticipating the post-eclipse ocular anxiety, at least one eye clinic in Buffalo, N.Y., is offering free eye checks immediately after the eclipse on April 8.

It's always a good idea to get your eyes checked, whether or not there's an eclipse. So if you're worried at all, go ahead and use the opportunity to schedule your annual exam.

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Union Pacific releases new details about Big Boy tour; Ogden a major stop

By rob nielsen - | apr 10, 2024.

Ben Dorger, Standard-Examiner file photo

OGDEN — Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” No. 4014 is set to make a return to Ogden this summer.

On Wednesday, the Union Pacific Railroad announced new details about a planned tour of the system by the 4014, including a planned stop in Ogden.

“Union Pacific’s famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, will return to the rails this summer with a scenic tour across mountain ranges and high desert vistas in four western states: Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California,” the Union Pacific website announced. “Big Boy will journey from its home base in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Sunday, June 30, en route to Roseville, California, before returning to Wyoming by the end of July. It will make numerous whistle-stops in communities along the way.”

While a full slate of these whistle-stop tours has yet to be announced, the announcement did highlight two public display periods for the 4014 — Roseville, California, (July 12-13); and Ogden (July 20-21).

“The month-long ‘Westward Bound’ tour will honor Union Pacific’s rich railroad legacy and celebrate the railroad’s employees and communities it serves,” the site said. “For part of its journey, the Big Boy’s consist will include an assortment of rail cars giving spectators a glimpse into what the locomotive looked like pulling freight in its heyday.”

In addition to short and extended public displays, the Westward Bound Tour reportedly also will include a special passenger trip to benefit the Union Pacific Museum as its annual gala fundraiser. Information on this trip — such as where it will commence, the cost and how to get tickets — will be released at a later date.

The July journey by the 4014 will be the first part of a tour of a large swath of the Union Pacific system, including visits to parts of the Midwest and South in the fall.

For more information, visit https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm .

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Ball Lab: Bridgestone TOUR B XS Review (2022)

• BY Tony Covey
• Jun 22nd 2022
• Read all comments

Support our Mission. We independently test each product we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of the golf balls on the market to help you find the best ball for your money. Today, we’re taking a look at the 2022 Bridgestone Tour B XS. To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page .

About the Bridgestone TOUR B XS

It’s strange to think that we’ve been at this Ball Lab thing long enough to measure three generations of Bridgestone TOUR B Series.

With that should come some familiarity. Not much has changed in that the TOUR B XS remains “ the Tiger Ball “. It’s not the softest in the TOUR B lineup but it is the softer of the two balls that Bridgestone bills as being for high swing-speed players.

It remains a three-piece offering with 330 dimples. The major point of differentiation between the new ball and the prior generation is the addition of the REACTIV IQ cover. As with other Bridgestone offerings, the bulk of product sold in the U.S. is manufactured at the company’s factory in Covington, Ga.

Compression

On our gauge, the Bridgestone TOUR B XS has an average compression of 84. Unsurprisingly, the closest comp in our database is the prior-gen TOUR B XS which also measured 84. That’s the same as the Maxfli Tour and just a touch softer than the 2021 Titleist Pro V1.

Diameter and Weight

With respect to the USGA rules for weight and diameter, none of the balls tested failed to meet the USGA’s minimum size requirement. We did find a single ball that was over the allowable limit for weight. Accordingly, that ball was flagged as bad.

With respect to the market as a whole, the size and weight of the TOUR B XS are both within the average range.

Centeredness and Concentricity

When it comes to Bridgestone’s premium urethane offerings, we seldom find any concentricity issues. That proved to be true this time around as all of the balls passed our visual inspection.

Core Consistency

Core color was generally consistent. We found no significant deviation in color, no swirly patterns and no miscellaneous chunks of out-of-place material.

No cover defects were noted.

Bridgestone TOUR B XS – Consistency

In this section, we detail the consistency of the Bridgestone TOUR B XS . Our consistency metrics provide a measure of how similar the balls in our sample were to one another relative to all of the models we’ve tested to date.

Weight Consistency

• Despite the single ball over the USGA weight limit, the weight consistency of the Bridgestone TOUR B XS falls within the average range.

Diameter Consistency

• Diameter consistency for the Bridgestone TOUR B XS falls within the average range with no particularly noteworthy outliers.
• It’s worth mentioning that, as with the 2020 TOUR B Series, the largest diameter on any given ball was typically measured on the pole. This may be due to the injection-molding process.

Compression Consistency

• Compression consistency qualifies as poor.
• Box 1 trended a bit firmer while Box 3 was noticeably softer.
• One for being 12 points firmer than the median compression value.
• The other for being nearly 10 points softer.
• The 20-point compression delta across the sample is cause for concern.

True Price is how we quantify the quality of a golf ball. It's a projection of what you'd have to spend to ensure you get 12 good balls.

The True Price will always be equal to or greater than the retail price. The greater the difference between the retail price and the True Price, the more you should be concerned about the quality of the ball .

Bridgestone TOUR B XS – Summary

To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls and our True Price metric, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page .

A single weight hiccup and a compression distribution that’s significantly broader than what we’d expect from Bridgestone. That, in a nutshell, is the story of the 2022 TOUR B XS . As we evaluate the other three models in the TOUR B lineup, we should get a much better sense of whether this was an anomaly or indicative of a larger problem.

• Average weight and diameter consistency
• Soft-ish compression for a Tour ball should have broad appeal.
• Three balls in the sample were flagged as bad.
• Compression consistency is not up to the Bridgestone standard.

Final Grade

The Bridgestone TOUR B XS gets an overall grade of 59.

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Tony is the Editor of MyGolfSpy where his job is to bring fresh and innovative content to the site. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he was instrumental in developing MyGolfSpy's data-driven testing methodologies and continues to sift through our data to find the insights that can help improve your game. Tony believes that golfers deserve to know what's real and what's not, and that means MyGolfSpy's equipment coverage must extend beyond the so-called facts as dictated by the same companies that created them. Most of all Tony believes in performance over hype and #PowerToThePlayer.

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3 months ago

I’ve noticed compression consistency issue with the XS on course. Once ball just seemed to fly over target and be a tad longer off the tee. Switch out ball a few holes later and ball doesn’t seem to have the same pop. I was questioning what was going on and came to find this test and score. Only cements my suspicions. And I love the performance of this ball. Too bad really. Hopefully the new 2024 ball will score better.

11 months ago

Plastics Engineer here and low HI… been my go to ball since last gen of b-330S and absolutely love how it performs. However I’ve seen quite a few defects increasing which would be typical of process related injection molding issues so not surprising the weight and diameter aren’t tighter. But trust me that they are not crazy bad and flying all over the place. But data is data and I stocked up on 2018 & 2020 versions and won’t be going heavy into newest version as a result. Z star has been my alternative … made the same way and have found it’s next most playable around the greens. Always enjoy the reviews and keep up the efforts guys!!!

I bought 2 doz BXS and was shocked that 8 of the 24 were “unbalanced” per the salt water float tests but now seeing this Im not surprised. Kinda bums me out since so expensive, switched to new Tour Response which is cheaper and performs same. #golfspy – thoughts on that warm salt water tests? maybe a test is needed on that?

2 years ago

I played the previous gen B XS for its whole run and loved it. The new cover is dogshit though after 18 holes with the last gen I might have 1 or 2 marks on the cover, the 22 model is basically in the shag bag after 9 holes max more often 6. Time for a change of ball for me

Im very surprised by this result, bummed out really. Love Bridgestone.

Off subject a bit, but if you all are planning some Srixon tests, I noticed the XV Divide balls are made in Japan, and the regular XVs (on promotion) are from Taiwan. Bouncing them you can hear an audible difference

Steve Menninger

I have played Bridgestone for several years and the BXS all this year.. I am a single digit hc and haven’t played a better ball for my game. I can’t agree with these findings.

How can you disagree with factual findings?

I’m starting to see lots of older models of golf balls hit retail shelves. Sold as “premium value”. For example 2019 Bridgestone BXS and 2020 TP5. Wonder if this is truly old stock – or if these are repackaged 2022 balls that didn’t make the cut? Can’t see manufacturers or warehouses sitting on stock that’s this old.

A lot of triggered Bridgestone fanboys in the comments after this one. It still amazes me that people don’t understand the reason for and significance of Ball Lab. Of course a 20-point spread in compression matters because compression plays a significant role in ball speed which can lead to variations in distance. Not something you want if you’re looking for more consistency in your game. Great work as always Tony!

wow…shocking…….i tried this ball and hated it…..i am NOT Tiger woods so im not shocked it didnt work for me but still, im blown away how bad this test was for the BXS…….

Chris Nickel

John – It absolutely matters. And everyone that is involved in golf ball R&D, etc. understands that. Moreover, this is why we have two separate ball assessment platforms.

Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of a ball. Our other ball test is where we use a robot to help us assess performance. So, it’s really like looking at two different big-ass forests.

Tony, thanks again for your efforts and reporting the data. I appreciate it. I always look forward to reading the Ball Lab “results.” I have been awaiting your findings on these latest Bridgestone balls. Like others, I am curious what outcomes the other Bridgestone Tour B models will reveal when tested, especially after seeing how the XS did. I also would like to see you examine the Srixon Z-Star Diamond.

Frank Cacciola

When will Snell MTB Black be tested why only MTBX

I’m starting to see a lot of tests on YouTube where guys are floating the golf balls in salt water to test balance. Tests are interesting to say the least. Could this test be part of the future of the Ball Lab? It’s great that a ball is round and the appropriate weight and proper compression, but if it’s not balanced, well…..

It took a while, but I’m finally coming to the understanding that the Ball Lab scores aren’t going to tell you which balls perform best. The score is an indicator of how much you can expect every ball of that make and model will perform compared to all of the other balls of that make and model. So if you don’t get along well with a ProV1, then it’s highly likely that all ProV1’s will perform poorly for you because it has a high Ball Lab score. If the ball gets a low score, like this one, then you can’t be confident that the performance will be the same from one ball to the next. It may be that it is the best ball for you, but every now and then you’ll get one that doesn’t carry as far, or doesn’t hold the green as well, or the flight has more shape, etc. You might write it off as having an off day, when it could actually be a bad ball. Bridgestone balls have always been “meh” for me. But I’ve never bought them. I’ve only played ones that I’ve found, which may be a sample of balls that are statistically inferior. It’s more likely that the bad ball ends up in the weeds..

That’s a fair assessment. Our robot tests are how we quantify the performance aspects of a golf ball. Ball Lab seeks to quantify the quality and consistency aspects. There is a bit of overlap insomuch as I would argue that if the quality of a ball is inconsistent than the performance will be as well. When one balls in the box aren’t, in general terms, the same, I’m not sure how one can say that it’s the one that performs best for you.

For those questioning the low score of 59…I do agree that’s shocking to see based on the Bridgestone reputation. That said, other balls that had the same ratings of Poor/Average/Average for Compression/Diameter/Weight scored 48, 49 and 57…so maybe a 59 isn’t out of the question. Just my 2 cents…

Sorry Mike, but Jay stating that he’s played many brands of balls and loves this ball by is actually excellent data he has been able to personally gather, so by definition, the exact opposite of “anecdotal evidence”. It may not be valuable data in your eyes, but it is most definitely valuable data for him.

Shame. I generally like tour bx and b xs, but if I cant trust that my 36 balls are all going to perform closely the same, I question whether it is worth the $50 purchase price. Prov1 benchmark is same price, bit delivers more consistent quality. Even Maxfli, if it is a good match for your game, at close to $30/dozen or better.

These companies need to up their game of they want to continue to gain consumer confidence and demand premium prices.

Maybe I am just in denial because this is my go to ball and have played Bridgestone for 15+ years. But I have to agree with Jay. How do you arrive at the score of 59. I have noticed this on other balls as well that seemed to have just as good of a review as a ProV but then they get a score in the 70s. 59 for 3 “bad” balls wouldn’t 9/12 be 75%??? Just because there is a compression variance doesn’t mean that ball is bad, it’s a variance and does that variance really affect spin rates and distance and if so by how much? Are we talking 10-15 yards difference or just 1 or 2 yards? It would be even more interesting if you took the average golfer and hit the hardest and softest ball in the sample and see if they noticed a difference.

Steve (the real one, pithy and insufferable)

What is this “9/12”? Tony tests three boxes obtained from different sources. Probably a typo on your part. Should be 3/36 bad balls. “Bad” in this case are outliers from median figures. Concerning was an obvious difference between two boxes. Consistency counts (take my golf swing – please). There are better balls.

Interesting results given that the Tour balls are made in the USA, enabling tighter quality control. Having said that, Callaway was in the same, only worse, predicament Any chance we can get the Wilson Triad golf ball tested? I’ve been hitting it for a few rounds and I am very pleased with it.m

Bennett Green

Hey Davey – Triad is next on the docket! Results coming same time next week.

Great! Looking forward to it.

Why such a low score if there was such a small percentage of anomaly golf balls and you state that is consistent? Genuine curiosity as the XS and X have been my preferred balls of the last 2 years.

The score is made up of two parts. Part 1 is the bad ball percentage. It’s basically a measure of the quality of the balls in isolation. That part of the score is what it is, insomuch as it doesn’t give consideration nor does it draw a comparison to other golf balls on the market.

Balls can be “bad” for a number of reasons. Off the top of my head those include:

Over the weight limit (above 1.62 oz with a little bit of wiggle room) Under the diameter limit (fails the USGA Track test) Ball isn’t round – we have a generous standard that compares the average of our seam measurement to the pole measurement Compression differs significantly from the median of the sample The diameter differs significantly from the median of the sample Obvious and significant physical defect (cut covers, off-center cores, lack of layer concentricity)

One quick note – a ball can only be bad once, so even if it’s underweight and has a major concentricity defect, it’s still just 1 bad ball.

The bad ball% is typically an area where the TOUR B Series does pretty well, so while 3 bad balls isn’t the worst we’ve ever seen in testing, it is surprising to see from a TOUR B series.

The second part of the scoring is a measure of consistency as it relates to the market as a whole. It’s a general consistency grade which I suppose is a simple answer to the question “How consistent is the diameter/weight/compression/ of the Bridgestone TOUR B XS relative to every other ball model measured in ball lab.

With the TOUR B series (we’ve now measured 3 generations) Bridgestone has typically been within the average range. Of the 3 metric, compression has the greatest impact on the overall score because it has 2 sub-metrics. We look at the average compression of each ball (the compression value we public is the average of this number across the sample). The second piece is the average compression delta across the 3-points measured on each golf ball. In most cases, we don’t find a ton of deviation in the 3-point delta, but every now and again things can get weird.

We assign a point values based on the quality rating. Those values are combined across the metrics scored to make up the second portion of the score. Because of the compression delta (big standard deviation within the sample) the B XS fell into the poor range for compression. That’s a big hit (zero points), which as you can imagine had a significant impact on the overall score.

I’ve said it before – creating a point system for golf ball quality is a challenging and unusual tasks. Everyone has an opinion on the “right” way to do it.

There’s an argument to be made that bad ball % should account for a higher percentage of the score, but it’s also hard for me to wrap my head around minimizing general inconsistency across the sample. When a ball is inconsistent, it’s kinda of like having several different balls in a single box.

Both things are bad in different ways.

This is simply how we do it – it’s what we settled on. For anyone who believes the weighting should be different – we provide the bad ball score in isolation as well as the quality ratings for each consistency metrics, so by all means, feel free to apply your own weighting. Lots of ways to consider it, for sure.

Do you expect similar results for the Tour B RXS? Are they produced at the same plant?

I’ve played both RX and RXS and coming from low quality (as per BallLab test) Srixon Q-Star Tour they’re way better. I’m now trying Srixon Z-Star because I was looking for the softer feel off the face. Anyway the real question is how a ball with a low score really affect the game of a mid level amateur…

This is such B’s. You are saying these are just a tad better then the Wilson duo that’s ridiculous. After playing every ball and brand you can think of this is my go to ball and it’s a great great ball. Don’t be afraid to buy these

Your anecdotal evidence is B.S.

I agree with Jay 100%. I was just custom fitted for my irons at TruSpec Golf in Atlanta (which is an incredible experience by the way) and part of his fitting was asking me what ball I used currently. He simply asked me to give this Bridgestone Tour B RXS a try to see how it performed vs the Left dash ProV1x I usually play. At least for me, The Tour B RXS performs way better and is also my go to ball now. I also like the Encore Vero X1 ball but the Bridgestone seems to be a little better for me.

“This is BS. This is the ball I play and I think it’s great. This hurts my feelings.”

Wrong. This is data. Science doesn’t give a crap about your feelings. Objective truth exists whether you like/believe it or not.

And I think you all keep forgetting the basic fact that quality control does not mean the design characteristics are bad. I really like the B-X, B-XS, for different reasons, but in general they feel good, putt nicely, XS lets me play aggressive aroynd the greens, and X is hot off the driver, in a launch window that I like. But I can get similar qualities from another ball on the market, which scores better for manufacturing consistency.

That is what this is supposed to be. Not a test of design characteristics (speed, spin, trajectory). This is a manufacturing consistency test, quality control. Bridgestone needs to tighten up their tolerances to reach the best in class mark.

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