Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover Review

The Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian was my travel partner on the way to the US for the 2022 Masters and it got my clubs, and plenty of other items, there and back safely.

Despite only ever using one other travel cover before, the ClubGlider Meridian is easily top of the tree when it comes to the best golf travel bags in my opinion having stood in airport queues at both Heathrow and Atlanta with lots of other travelling golfers. No other travel covers had wheels or legs so in slow-moving queues I was the only golfer not picking up my travel cover and moving it a couple of yards at a time to progress further up the queue. The ClubGlider Meridian made the experience much easier and I felt the envy of the airport using it.

Just like the name suggests, it simply glides around the airport and takes away any stress from your back, arms and wrists for when manoeuvring it. The legs are very sturdy and the wheels roll excellently. It sometimes glides a little too easily so a brake of some sorts would be helpful. The frame of the legs is housed in the hard back that gives you peace of mind that your club are protected in a safe shell. The padding around the top of the bag is very thick and should mean that there are no accidents with your driver and fairway woods. The material used in the bottom and middle sections isn't extremely padded or waterproof compared to some other chunkier leather options I saw on my travels, for example, but they would cost more than the Glider and are not worth it without the legs/wheels combo.

The bag also comes with two spacious outside pockets, one on either side, that can easily house jackets, coats, jumpers or anything else you see fit to put in there for easy access. These are really handy if, like me, you've stuffed your cabin suitcase full and want to take a couple of jackets or hoodies. I would have liked to have seen a couple more outside pockets if possible for someone like me who likes to take their entire golf wardrobe and accessories abroad but you could say that is nit-picking.

Inside the bag, there are two straps to keep your golf bag secured and there’s enough room for plenty more too. For instance, I had a fully packed stand bag with 14 clubs, two pairs of shoes and a wash bag in there on my way home and it all just about fit in and got back safely. It was slightly tricky to close the bag but there certainly is a very decent amount of space. There are straps and clips on the outside of the bag to tighten and secure it, and there are sturdy handles to make it easy to pull around, pick up and carry. Undoubtedly the star of the show when it comes to the best golf luggage.

There was perhaps less space than I expected inside the bag as the thick padding at the top really does take up a lot of room - but for good reason and this is perfectly acceptable. If you’re travelling with a large cart or tour bag then you may find it is quite a snug fit if you start putting shoes and other items in there with your clubs.

Whilst the legs and wheels make this travel bag the undeniable king, they aren’t quite perfect. The legs work on a retractable spring system so can be quite difficult to put back to their flat position. They require a bit of force to pull out and you need to make sure the bottom wheels won't be able to roll as you do it. The ClubGlider Meridian can also be a bit tricky to manoeuvre in small spaces when trying to make sharp or 360 degree turns.

Overall, I spent a lot of time at a couple of airports with a lot of golfers and I can honestly say this is the best travel bag on the market from what I've seen. The legs and wheels are a complete game changer and the padding around the top of the bag is fantastic. Inside, the straps are great for securing your bag and on the outside, the two pockets come in very handy for easy-access items or clothing that can’t quite fit in your suitcase. It's not quite the perfect golf travel bag just yet, but Sun Mountain has got very close.