The best Sunday golf bags are something of a niche within the best golf bag space. Aimed at golfers who carry half a set occasionally, very few golfers will exclusively use a Sunday bag as their only golf bag. However, if you're playing a quick nine holes after work and don't want the strain of a fully packed bag on your bag, the Sunday bag is a very attractive prospect.
Sunday Golf - a brand literally named after this niche - has dedicated itself to mastering the craft and we've tested the Sunday Golf El Camino S-Series and Ryder 23 stand bag previously. After a few rounds in the company of its Loma XL stand bag, we're confident that its one of the finest examples of a Sunday bag currently on the market, solidifying the brand's extensive range of bags.
Firstly, this bag is gorgeous. The very on trend ‘Toasted Almond’ colorway I was testing does a lot to lift this bag’s shelf appeal. Some of the darker colorways really don’t lift this bag so I recommend going for one of the bolder colors of the nine on offer. Weighing just 3.4lbs (1.5kg) this can be comfortably classed as ultra-lightweight. The 3-way divider neatly stores up to 8 clubs too and it comes with a comfortable double strap that I only really wore over one shoulder.
On first inspection out of the box, it looked like any small Sunday bag to me, but one investigation into the pockets and I was really impressed with how the brand has organized it. There is a pocket for everything you’d need with half a set. Working from the top of the bag down, there’s a Velcro glove holder, valuables pocket, a tee/pencil holder, a mesh pocket which I used to store a rangefinder, a ‘Frosty Pocket’ for drinks, a side pocket for a glove and finally a ball holder which comfortably holds half a dozen. Each pocket is perfectly proportioned and allows you to carry everything you need without cluttering the bag with other useless accessories. All pockets use waterproof zippers so while the bag isn’t fully waterproof itself, these zippers will stop water leaking through these areas.
My personal favorite is the ‘Frosty Pocket’ which is perfectly sized for a water bottle or two cans of White Claw depending on your preferences (other hard seltzers are available). In calling it the ‘Frosty Pocket’ you can tell the designers and the brand had a lot of fun putting this bag together, and it really feels like that when you use it.
And that’s why I quickly fell in love with this bag - it put a smile on my face. This whole bag was clearly designed by golfers and it pays off when it comes to the day to day use of it. The valuables pocket is lined with a super soft red fleece, the mesh pocket is just the perfect size of a rangefinder or GPS and the Frosty Pocket fits two cans perfectly all of which shows the designers knew exactly when and where this bag was going to be used. An evening nine holes in the setting sun or a full 18 on a summer’s day, this bag is surprisingly versatile if you’re okay with carrying half a set.
My only gripe with his bag is the size of the legs. Useful though they are - and they make a strong base for the bag to stand on - it feels unnecessary considering how little you’ll be carrying in the Loma XL. I think it would be much better suited to a set of small legs that you commonly see on other Sunday bags like this.
For those after an even more lightweight experience, there is a standard Loma with a two way divider holding up to 6 clubs that uses a single strap instead of the double. This option weighs just 1.95lbs (0.8kg), even lighter than the incredibly lightweight Loma XL. There are super lightweight options that can fit all 14 clubs too, with the TaylorMade FlexTech Superlite coming in at 3lbs (1.4kg). Other Sunday bags worth checking out are the Vessel Sunday III (which can hold 14) or the Titleist Premium carry bag although this comes with no legs.
I’ve never been one to use a Sunday bag before I tested the Loma XL. Even if I am just playing nine holes on a Sunday evening, I like to take pretty much a full set out. However, such was my joy and excitement to use the Loma XL, I think I might be a convert. Hats off to Sunday Golf, which has made a delightful golf companion with the sort of love and attention I think every golf product should be made with.
