Sun Mountain introduced the first waterproof bag back in 2007 – how does the 2024 model rate? Jonathan Taylor finds out….
Sun Mountain was founded back in 1981, over 40 years ago, by Rick Reimers, a golf professional from California. The company is responsible for a whole host of ‘industry firsts’, including the invention of the first golf bag with built-in legs. Many of us will also be familiar with the H2NO, the first waterproof golf bag, which was introduced by Sun Mountain in 2007.
This review introduces no dramatic new technology. It’s just the story of the latest version of their highly regarded H2NO Lite carry bag, updated for 2024.
Sun Mountain H2NO Lite Golf Stand Bag 2024 Review: NCG Summary
This is once again a quality bag produced by Sun Mountain. It provides the golfer with ample room to fit clubs, food, drinks and accessories. The outstanding feature of the bag the construction and it should last a decent amount of time. This means this bag is more of a mid to long term investment than buying cheap and ending up buying twice! The bag’s waterproof aspect is nothing new for the Sun Mountain range and, as ever, provides great protection against the elements. The pocket configuration is different to previous versions and does not really offer any improvement. However, if you are looking for a durable, quality, waterproof stand bag then this Sun Mountain 2024 bag is definitely worth a look.
PROS
- Premium construction
- Lots of room
- Decent color choices
CONS
- Pocket configuration could be better
First Impressions
My first impression of the H2NO Lite is a bag that stands out from the crowd. Sun Mountain describe it as a mid-size stand bag. But, weighing in at over 5lb (including the rainhood) this feels to me to be a big carry bag. It is made from waterproof treated lightweight nylon with waterproof zippers and taped/sealed seams. The waterproof hood fits onto the bag secured by no less than seven fixings.
NCG Verdict
There is a decent range of four color options. The bag I tested was the steel/black/gold option. There is a full-length clothing pocket that will comfortably fit a set of waterproofs, an extra midlayer, and a small picnic. A large valuables pocket sits on the same side of the bag and has two separate compartments, which is a neat touch.
The central ball pocket looks quite large but, in fact, is functionally much smaller because the insulated magnetic beverage pocket sits just above it. And when the beverage pocket is occupied, it is more awkward to get stuff out of the ball pocket. I would prefer the beverage pocket to be placed at the side and for an accessories pocket (pencils, ball markers) to sit above the central ball pocket. There is another large pocket on the other side from the clothing pocket where I tend to keep tees, used balls and gloves. The pocket set up, when compared to the Sun Mountain Two5 Plus, was not really an improvement.
That gripe aside, everything else works well. The stand legs behave as they should. The adjustable strap system is padded and comfortable. There are four sturdy plastic clips that you can attach towels and rangefinders to. The zips all flow smoothly and securely. And this looks and feels like a bag that will give years of service.
On the course, the 9-inch 4-way top with full-length dividers gives loads of room for a full set of clubs. The bag kept everything inside it completely dry in the showery test conditions. Previous experience has shown that there are no better bags for keeping your equipment dry than the H2NO range. When fully loaded, the bag did feel a little heavy to me, and I just wondered why there was no option to fit a hip belt (another Sun Mountain first) to help spread the load. You will also note from the pictures that your bag can be personalized for a small extra charge. You can arrange this through your club professional.
Final Thoughts: In summary, this is a really well-constructed carry bag that will protect your clubs from the worst weather and will do for years to come. It is more expensive than most competitors, but I would argue that is a price worth paying because of the durable construction. It comes highly recommended.
Sun Mountain H2NO Lite Stand Bag Review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £349
Colours: Steel/Black/Gold, Navy/Dusk/Breeze, Moss/Gold/Taxi, Harbour/Spruce/Ochre
More information: Sun Mountain H2NO Lite Stand Bag
