In an effort to create more premium, sleek stand bags, we've seen an ever-growing trend of brands using leather or synthetic PU leather as the primary material. The likes of the Ogio Shadow, Vessel Player V and Stitch SL2 have all been released in the last 12 months, and I'm seeing more and more stand bags of this type appear on golf courses around the country.
All of these examples are out-and-out stand bags, and while they could be used on a trolley, they aren't optimal for that use. So, introducing the Big Max Dri Lite Hybrid Prime, a stand bag with all of the features and materials one some of the best quality stand bags on the market, that is at home on your back as it is on the chassis of one of the best push carts or electric trolleys.
The bag utilises a 14-way divider. I'm really not a fan of 14-way dividers on stand bags as they tend to make them unnecessarily bulky, but I'll give the Big Max a pass on this occasion as the bag is designed to be carried or used on a cart, where 14-way dividers are more commonly found. The 9-inch top does make the bag quite large versus the rest of the market. This is great for storage (more on that later), but it does make the bag quite bulky when you opt to carry it. Even when it isn't packed to its fullest, it's one of the heavier stand bags available.
What makes it better on a trolley or cart than other stand bags is the lowered stand, trolley-compatible floor, leg lock system and easily detachable straps. In a few short seconds, your large stand bag turns into a compact cart bag that fits on any trolley with ease. If you're the type of golfer who often flits between carrying and using a trolley, this really is a superb option for you.
The material used on the bag has an impressive number of qualities, other than looking smart. It's easy to clean, scratch resistant and temperature-resistant (so it won't fade in the sun). It looks as good in person as it does in the images, and it feels premium to the touch, too. That includes everything from the quality of the zips, padding on the straps and the materials used in the dividers, which do a great job of protecting shafts from rubbing.
Storage is impressive. Every Big Max bag I've tested has a very well thought-out selection of pockets, and this is no different. One of the best touches of detail is that the valuables pocket has dividers within it to keep valuables like keys and phones separate from each other. Another part of the bag I enjoyed using was the cooler pocket, which is so big that I can fit my whole arm in it.
I think this is an excellent stand bag. The quality is right up there with the best, and it solves a real problem for those golfers who carry and use a trolley regularly. If you carry 90% of the time, or use a trolley 90% of the time, I'd point you in the direction of a more specialist bag for walkers and trolley users, but those who flit between the two will be very well served by this well-designed and well-executed golf bag.
