For the last few years, Sun Mountain has been making some of the best-looking bags in golf. And I feel like hardly anyone talks about them.
They’re not the “cool” bag brand in the way Vessel or Jones is. They don’t seem to speak to the younger golfer quite like Ghost or Sunday Golf. But as far as I’m concerned, Sun Mountain has been on an incredible run.
It started with the Mid-Stripe a few years ago. Then came the Matchplay, which my wife liked enough to claim as her own. Earlier this year, I reviewed the Matchplay Ballistic, and thought it might be the best-looking bag in golf.
Now there’s another contender: the Sun Mountain TQR.
TQR stands for Trust, Quality, and Reliability, which sounds a little earnest for a bag that looks this good. It’s made from waxed canvas, has a more traditional feel than the Matchplay bags, and in this brown and khaki colorway, it’s absolutely gorgeous.
It’s also $450, making it the most expensive Sun Mountain bag I’ve reviewed. So does it do enough to justify the price?
Let’s get into it.
First Impressions of the Sun Mountain TQR
This is a stunning golf bag (yeah, I know I already said that. And I’ll say it again a few more times).
The waxed canvas is the first thing you notice. It has that slightly worn-in, old-school character that’s hard to get from a synthetic material, but the overall design still feels current. Sun Mountain could have leaned too far into the vintage look here. I think they got the balance right.
It’s a nice complement to the Matchplay rather than a replacement for it. The Matchplay has a cleaner, slightly more modern look, while the TQR has more texture and personality. They’re both premium Sun Mountain stand bags, but I can see different golfers being drawn to each one.
The brown and khaki version I have makes a particularly strong first impression. If you like bags that look better the closer you get to them, there’s a lot to appreciate here.
TQR Features, Storage, and Club Organization
The TQR has an eight-inch, four-way top with full-length dividers, seven pockets, and a listed weight of 5.8 pounds. That makes it about half a pound heavier than the standard Matchplay, which lines up with how it feels to me when I pick it up.
While it’s certainly not the heaviest carry bag I’ve tested, at close to 6 pounds, it’s far from the lightest.
The top isn’t especially wide, but I haven’t experienced any club tangle with a full set. Clubs have gone in and out without giving me trouble, which matters a lot more to me than the top measurement on its own.
The pocket layout, though, is where I started to miss my Matchplay and Vessel bags.
There’s a good amount of storage on the TQR, including a magnetic rangefinder pocket, a lined valuables pocket, and an insulated cooler pouch. But I’m a bit of a packrat, and I really like having a full-length garment pocket like the ones on the Matchplay and Vessel Lux Stand and Player Series bags.
The TQR’s largest pocket is usable, but I found it a little tight when I wanted to put a sweatshirt or extra layer in there. If you pack light, you may never think twice about it. For the way I use a golf bag, it’s one of the more noticeable trade-offs.
There are a few material choices I wish Sun Mountain had taken further, too. With so much beautiful canvas and on the bag, I would have loved a leather top handle, or even a leather cover on the existing handle. It’s a part of the bag I grab constantly, and it doesn’t feel quite as special as the body of the TQR.
The zippers and strap materials are good and feel perfectly functional. They just don’t give me that same “wow, every detail is incredible” reaction I get from some Vessel bags in this price range.
Also considering the price point and the style of this bag, I wish they’d included the matching single strap rather than charging an additional $30 for it.
How Does the TQR Carry?
I’ve carried the TQR for 18 holes, and it’s comfortable. The straps have plenty of padding, and once I adjusted them to get the balance right, I was happy walking with it.
That said, the dual-strap system itself is just fine. If you’ve used Vessel’s Equilibrium straps, you know how easy those bags can be to throw on and carry comfortably almost immediately. I missed some of that effortless balance here.
It took a little more tightening and fiddling to get the TQR where I wanted it. Once I did, the straps worked well. I just wouldn’t call the carry system a standout reason to buy the bag.
The stand has been good for the most part, too. The legs don’t pop out quite as eagerly as they do on similar Vessel bags, but they’ve performed better than the stand on my original Matchplay, which occasionally needed an extra push to deploy fully.
It’s something I notice because I’ve carried a lot of bags. It hasn’t kept me from enjoying the TQR on the course.
TQR vs. Matchplay vs. Vessel Lux Stand
If you’re deciding between these bags, I think your priorities make the choice clearer.
The TQR is the one I’d pick for its vintage style, old school waxed canvas materials, and uniquness. The waxed canvas gives it a character the other bags don’t quite have, and I suspect it’ll look even better as it ages. You’re also unlikely to see someone else carrying one every time you head to the course.
The Sun Mountain TQR is one of the best-looking bags in golf. Its unique design with waxed canvas materials is unlike anything else we've reviewed this year. If you want something unique, despite not being the best value, the TQR is worth a look.
The Matchplay gives me a pocket layout that works a little better for the way I pack, along with a slightly lighter listed weight. I still think it’s one of the most underrated bags out there.
An underrated luxury golf bag from Sun Mountain. Want something different than all your friends? Grab this.
The Vessel Lux Stand is probably the most complete package for someone who carries regularly. I prefer its straps, and I appreciate its full-length garment pocket. It doesn’t have the same waxed-canvas charm as the TQR, though.
The Vessel Lux Stand is the most well-rounded bag Vessel has made to date. It's blends premium materials and carryability in a way that I've been waiting for for years. Highly recommended.
And that’s really the question with this bag. How much do look and feel matter to you? Because the TQR makes a strong case on those grounds.
Should You Buy the Sun Mountain TQR?
If someone told me the TQR was the best-looking golf bag on the market right now, I wouldn’t argue with them. It’s certainly in the conversation for me.
The waxed canvas is wonderful, the club organization has worked well, and it’s comfortable enough to carry for a full round. It feels like a bag someone put real thought into designing.
At $450, though, I do expect the little details to be excellent. I wish it had a leather top handle. I wish the largest pocket gave me a little more room for a layer. And while the stand and straps work well enough, I’ve used bags that do both things better.
So I wouldn’t buy the TQR because it checks every possible performance box. I’d buy it because I loved the way it looked, wanted the character of waxed canvas, and was happy to make a few small compromises to carry something this distinctive.
You’ll see plenty of Vessel and Jones bags at most clubs. I don’t think you’ll see many TQRs. For the golfer who appreciates what Sun Mountain has been doing lately, that’s part of the appeal.
This bag looks fantastic. And if its particular mix of style, materials, and function speaks to you, I think you’ll be very happy carrying it.
The Sun Mountain TQR is one of the best-looking bags in golf. Its unique design with waxed canvas materials is unlike anything else we've reviewed this year. If you want something unique, despite not being the best value, the TQR is worth a look.
Once again, Sun Mountain has another bag in the running for "Best Looking in Golf."
If beautiful looks, vintage inspired materials, and uniqueness are your top priorities for a golf bag? Look no further. The Sun Mountain TQR ticks all those boxes, and then some. However if you're looking for the absolute best performance or best value? There are likely other bags that are a better fit.
The Good
- Stunning design and appearance
- You don't see many modern bags leaning into waxed canvas
- Functional, and comfortable to carry for 18 holes.
The Bad
- Some of the details on build and materials not quite as good as the rest of the bag.
- It's heavy for a carry bag
- It's expensive.
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Presentation
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Performance
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Quality/Performance
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Price
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Personal Affinity
