If you are a bag-on-back golfer, Vessel has a new bag you need to see. Vessel describes their new Player Air Carbon bag as their “most ambitious stand bag to date.”
When a company known for amazing golf bags makes a statement like that, it’s worth checking out.
I carried a Vessel Player IV Stand bag for most of last season. Just last weekend, I switched everything over to a delightfully purple Vessel Player V Stand bag in the Monarch color scheme.
While the new bag is my favorite looking Vessel bag to date, I wouldn’t mind if it was a little lighter on my back.
Now I’m wondering if this new Player Carbon Air bag will decrease the lifespan of my Monarch?
Reducing the weight is paramount for carry bags
Weight reduction is the main story for any carry bag. When the bag is on your back, any extra weight results in increased fatigue and potentially higher scores.
The Vessel Player Carbon Air is 20 percent lighter than their current Player V Stand bag. Somehow, the overall design elements, such as pockets and straps, are still very similar.
Many of the Player Carbon Air features listed below are also found in the Player V Stand bag.
- Patented Rotator Stand System for a stable, grounded stance
- Equilibrium 2.0 Double Strap with self-adjusting balance
- Carbon fiber legs for maximum strength-to-weight efficiency
- Internal base divider to reduce club jam
- Magnetic rangefinder pocket with antimicrobial velour lining
- Dual cooler-lined bottle sleeves with expandable magnetic closure
With so many of the features being the same, how did Vessel make the Player Carbon Air 20 percent lighter?
Lighter materials = lighter bag
To decrease the weight of the Player Carbon Air golf bag, Vessel used lighter materials. The bag’s exterior is now made from CORDURA® Naturalle fabric. This fabric is lighter than the synthetic leather material of the Player V Stand bag.
Vessel reports that the CORDURA® Naturalle fabric “delivers the softness of cotton with superior abrasion resistance, lightweight, breathable, and built to endure.” They also report that the CORDURA® Naturalle fabric is water resistant.
Additionally, Vessel saved weight by using carbon fiber in the bag’s frame. Hence the “Carbon” in the name.
By partnering with Carbitex, a carbon fiber manufacturer, Vessel was able to design a lightweight carbon fiber structure for the bag. Carbon fiber provides strength and stability while eliminating some of the traditional weight.
Using these materials allowed Vessel to drop the weight of the six-way top Player Air Carbon to 5.2 pounds. For reference, the Player V Stand six-way bag weighs 6.6 pounds.
For both bags, going with the 14-way top adds about half a pound.
Dropping over a pound is huge
If you are a riding or a pushing golfer, you may not realize just how significant a 1.4-pound reduction is when the bag is on your back.
Most folks who carry try to pack as light as possible already. You limit the number of balls you carry and frequently leave the 13th and 14th club at home.
Weight reduction is key. Packing light may not be as mission critical when walking 18 holes as it is when backpacking but it is still critical.
Am I going to switch from my fancy purple Monarch Player V Stand bag to the new Player Carbon Air? That’s the question I’ll be working on for the next few months.
Very soon, I will be lugging them around head to head. My eyes are hoping that the purple Monarch Player V Stand is the winner but I think my back is rooting for the lighter Player Carbon Air.
I’ll keep you posted.
The Vessel Player Carbon Air will be available for purchase on May 2nd.
