The Vessel Sunday Carry Packs Down SO Small. It’s Awesome.

I don’t know that I’ve ever reviewed a golf product that arrived at my door looking so completely different than what I was expecting as this new Sunday Carry bag from Vessel.

I expected a golf bag. What showed up looked like a shoe bag or large Dopp kit. I honestly was completely confused at first.

That’s not a complaint. In fact, once I figured out what I was actually looking at, the Vessel Sunday Carry turned into one of the more interesting and impressive bags I’ve reviewed in recent memory.

It’s definitely not going to be an everyday golf bag. And it is on the pricey side, considering how infrequently you may end up using it. But for what it is, Vessel nailed it.

In fact, this is easily the most packable golf bag I’ve ever seen.

Let me explain.

What the Vessel Sunday Carry Is (and Isn’t)

I’ll get into more on how this bag actually folds down into something that doesn’t even look like a golf bag in just a minute.

But first, let’s talk about what this thing actually is so that you can get some idea of if it’s the type of bag you might actually be interested in.

The Sunday Carry is Vessel’s take on the classic Sunday bag.  It’s a lightweight, no-frills carry option you bring out for an emergency 9, a par 3 course, or a casual round.

And while Vessel rates this bag as available for carrying a full 14-club set, I think it’s the kind of bag you’re just as likely to grab when you want to play with a half set or just a handful of clubs.

It retails for $199. Which, I gotta say, is a lot for a bag you’re not going to use all the time. On the other hand, it’s the most affordable bag in the Vessel lineup. And because it’s a Vessel, you know that they didn’t skimp at all when it comes to premium materials and overall build quality.

Now again, this is a minimalist golf bag. There’s no stand. There are fewer pockets. And it’s a single-strap design instead of a double-strap backpack style.

But in exchange for those tradeoffs, you get a bag you can literally fold up and shove into your trunk or closet or pretty much anywhere else indefinitely until you need it.

Let’s talk more about that.

First Impressions: Wait, Where’s the Golf Bag?

When the package from Vessel arrived, I honestly thought I was looking at the bag that the golf bag was packed in. I had no idea that what arrived in the box was the actual golf bag. I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s that compact.

You unzip what turns out to be the bag’s ball pocket, and then you pull the bag out, kind of like you would if you were unpacking a down sleeping bag (watch the video review above to see this in practice).

You pull the bag out, slide in the included support rod at the top, which gives the bag some structure, and just like that, you’ve got the most portable golf bag I’ve ever seen.

It takes a tiny bit of finagling the first time to get everything unpacked and put together. But after that, you can have it from packed-down to course-ready in about 30 seconds.

That packability is really the headline feature. Other Sunday bags fold down to some degree, but this one collapses into itself so completely that it’s a totally different category of portable. You could like leave this thing in your trunk year-round and never notice it’s there.

Vessel Sunday Carry Build Quality and Unexpected Touches

Even though this is a minimalist Sunday bag, it’s still a Vessel. And if you know the brand, you know that that means quality.

There are a handful of touches on this Sunday Carry that I wasn’t expecting.

Velour lining at the top and on the shoulder strap. Across the top of the bag, you get a nice velvety texture that feels very premium. And you get that same material in the padding on the shoulder strap, which is really comfortable and makes the bag carry very well.

Genuine leather handle and zipper pulls. Real leather on the top handle, not the synthetic stuff. The same goes for the zipper pulls. Usually, with less expensive bags, you start to see some skimping on some of these small details. Not with this bag.

Premium hardware throughout. Water-resistant zippers, interchangeable pulls, antimicrobial lining in the valuables pocket.

For a bag that costs less than half of most of the Vessel line, they definitely didn’t hold back on the quality.

On-Course Performance

As I’ve said now a few times, this is a minimalist bag. It’s a Sunday bag. You’re not getting full-length club dividers, or tons of pocket space, or stand legs, or double straps.

Here’s what the Sunday Carry does include:

• A 2-way top with a 7.5″ diameter opening
• A dedicated ball pocket (which doubles as the bag’s self-storage compartment)
• A velour-lined valuables pocket
• A single padded strap with dual attachment points so you can fine-tune the carry
• A removable support rod that gives the bag its structure on top
• Total weight: 2.3 pounds

The Vessel Sunday Carry will hold a full 14-club set. I tested that for nine holes, and it carried better than I expected for the weight.

Still, I think this bag works best with a partial set. Without full-length dividers, you’ll get some club tangle with a full set. The sweet spot is probably more like 8 to 10 clubs.

We like to vacation in Central Oregon. There’s a par 3 course in Sunriver that I play whenever we go there, and this bag is going to be absolutely perfect for that.

As I said at the start, this isn’t the bag you’re going to choose for all of your full rounds.

There’s no stand, which means you’re picking it up off the ground after every shot. But that’s the trade you make on a bag like this.

If you’re looking for something you can keep in your car and pull out for casual rounds, trips to the range, or emergency nines, the Sunday Carry is pretty close to perfect.

How It Compares to Similar Bags

The closest direct comparison in my testing is the Jones Players Series, which I reviewed a couple of years ago. It comes in at the same $200 price point with the same general philosophy of a premium minimalist carry bag.

The Jones has the edge on aesthetics. That vintage-meets-modern look is something Jones does better than anyone, and the Player Series is one of the best-looking bags on the market.

But it doesn’t pack down anywhere near as small as this Vessel Sunday Carry, and it’s heavier.

The Vessel wins on convenience and modern execution. The Jones wins on throwback character. Both are excellent. It really comes down to which look you prefer and whether the packability matters to you.

On the more affordable end, you’ve got the Sunday Golf Loma, which has been around for several years. It costs less, and it has a built-in stand, which is a legitimate functional advantage over the Vessel. But it doesn’t have the same level of quality materials, the cool factor, or the aesthetics that either the Vessel or Jones offer.

If you’re looking at the Vessel Sunday Carry, you’re probably not also looking at the Loma. These bags likely appeal to different people.

Final Thoughts on the Vessel Sunday Carry

If you like the idea of this bag, if $199 doesn’t feel like a stretch, and if you’ve already got a primary bag for your regular rounds, the Vessel Sunday Carry is excellent.

The build quality is classic Vessel.

The packability is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in any kind of golf bag.

And the design choices Vessel made, with things like genuine leather and velour lining, show that they are treating this as a premium product rather than a fun gimmick.

It’s not going to be everyone’s golf bag. And it’s not going to be anyone’s only golf bag.

But if it fits the way you occasionally play golf, it’s going to get very good use.

One More Thing: Vessel Now Makes Apparel

There was a surprise in the box that arrived from Vessel. A polo shirt. Turns out, as of recently, they are now in the apparel business.

Polos, shorts, pants, hats. I had no idea this was happening, and honestly, I was a little skeptical when I found out. Going from bags to apparel is two very different skill sets.

But the shirt they sent me, their Performance Pique Polo, is actually really good.

Pique fabric is my go-to. I prefer it over more traditional performance fabrics because it hides things better, fits better, and wicks moisture more effectively. So I was happy to see Vessel launch with a pique option.

A few things I noticed: The branding is understated. Small Vessel logo on the back shoulder, not big chest logos or anything tacky, which I think is a big plus. There’s a subtle embroidered pattern up near the collar that adds a little character without being loud. The fit is tailored without being tight. And the collar holds its shape.

At $115, it’s priced right in line with Holderness & Bourne, G/FORE, and Redvanly. But just like with those brands, this is a high-quality product.

I’ve only played one round in it so far, but it’s comfortable, looks good, and it’s subtle enough to wear off the course.

I’m planning to try some of the other pieces, but as of right now, the Pique Polo is a standout. If you’re looking at the Sunday Carry, it’s worth a look at the apparel page too.

 

The most packable golf bag I've ever seen.

8.8 Excellent

The Vessel Sunday Carry isn't going to be your only bag. But for a premium minimalist Sunday bag that packs down smaller than my shoe bag, carries beautifully for casual rounds, and brings the same level of build quality you'd expect from Vessel's lineup, it delivers big time.

The Good

1. Packs down so compact you can leave it in your trunk year-round
2. Premium materials throughout, including genuine leather handle and velour lining
3. Surprisingly comfortable single-strap carry, even with a full set

The Bad

1. At $199, it's a lot to spend on a bag you'll only use occasionally
2. No built-in stand, and only two pockets total

• Presentation 9
• Performance 9
• Price 8
• Personal Affinity 9