Can A 5.5 Pound Bag Really Be Considered “Lightweight?”

Vessel is launching two new entries in its Lux golf bag series today. They’re stunning to look at and, given Vessel’s track record, it’s a safe bet they’ll last a hell of a long time.

But here’s the thing: Vessel insists on calling the new Lux Stand and Lux Looper “lightweight” luxury bags engineered for walkers. Lightweight, in this case, is 5½ pounds.

So, I have two questions. First, is lightweight a relative term? Second, and maybe more importantly, is 5½ pounds too heavy for a bag designed for walkers to carry?

Let’s explore.

Vessel Lux Stand and Lux Looper: Light and luxurious

 In its press release, Vessel calls the new Lux Stand golf bag its “most opulent lightweight stand bag to date.” I’ll give you opulent. It was a four-way velour-lined top with full-length dividers, hand-stitched genuine leather zipper pulls and handles, a magnetic rangefinder pocket and cooler-lined bottle sleeves. While Vessel says it’s designed for walking, it also has a cart strap tunnel and comes with a sleeve to protect the bag from wear.

The Vessel Lux Looper golf bag is sort of the same thing, only different. For one thing, it’s designed to be carried, with hip pads and anti-tip strap connection points on either side. That means it can be carried on either the left or right side. It also comes with two straps: Vessel’s Equilibrium 2.0 double strap as well as a padded single strap.

The Lux Looper (which sounds like a Caddyshack-Superman villain collab) includes most of the same features as the Lux Stand bag. It does, however, feature two velour-lined pockets and a lockable interior pocket for valuables.

Yeah, but is it light?

The Vessel Lux Looper weighs in at 5 ½ pounds with the strap, while the Lux Stand is just a couple of ounces heavier. In the grand scheme of golf bags, you can find plenty of lighter options. In the grand scheme of luxury golf bags made from synthetic leather, however, both are pretty much in the ballpark.

The new Xtreme Lux bags from Tour Edge, for example, also come in at 5½ pounds. The Sunday Ryder S is listed at 4.9 pounds, while the Pins & Aces Player Preferred is 6.6 pounds. We’re not sure, however, if those weights include the strap, as some OEMs will list the weight sans strap. Vessel does list the weight of the strap and bag separately.

All of these bags are listed by their manufacturers as “lightweight.”

In the end, is a golf bag lightweight just because the manufacturer calls it lightweight? Hey, Callaway got away for years with calling a mid-90 compression ball Chrome Soft, so anything goes, I guess.

If it helps, Vessel’s flagship stand bag, the Player V Pro, comes in at just over nine pounds. Lightweight, in this case, is purely relative. Additionally, weight is only one element in how “walkable” a golf bag is. The strap system (at which Vessel excels), padding and overall balance are equally as important as is how much extra stuff you happen to put into the bag.  

Vessel Lux Stand and Lux Looper golf bags: Colors, price and availability

The Vessel Lux Stand golf bag is made with what Vessel is calling crosshatch-textured, tour-grade synthetic leather with hand-stitched leather accents. It comes in black, white, green, navy and grey.

The Vessel Lux Looper is also made with crosshatch-textured synthetic leader and hand-stitched leather accents. It’s available in only three colorways: White, green and black.

The Vessel Lux Stand retails for $399, while the Lux Looper is $369. They’re available online starting today.

For more information, visit the Vessel website.

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