The bag market at PGA saw several vendors take a look at the travel bag to try to find ways of making what is often a cumbersome product more user-friendly. With lines at the airport only growing longer, the new innovations here will likely be warmly received by the golf consumer.
Ogio had two major new products to show last week, introducing a new line of headcovers as well as a clever new travel bag. The new headcovers feature extremely easy on/off use through a hinged headcover paired with a exoskeleton that keeps the shaft cover in place. The covers will hit retail in early June at slightly higher than average price points, but could easily be the most common object on bags next season.
In the travel bag department, the companys Mammoth takes on the airport hassle with four heavy-duty casters that allow the bag to roll upright.
Sun Mountain launched the Zero-G at the show, a stand bag that features a heavy duty, but easy in and out, waist belt, which transfer the majority of the bags weight to the hips and legs. The belt itself is in turn easily removable for when riding in a cart.
In addition to the Zero-G, Sun Mountain turned to The Golf Channels Fore Inventors Only for another of its big product introductions as it licensed the ClubGlider from inventor Gary Sherrell. The companys aptly named ClubGlider travel bag features collapsible, extendable legs and wheels that allow the bag to sit at a 45-degree angle and to more easily maneuver through those slow-moving airport check-in lines.
Sun Mountain also expanded its RainFlex outerwear line to include the RainFlex HD suit that offers a more traditional drape as well as extra stretch. The company added zipper tunnels, locking zipper pulls and shoulder gussets to further improve the collection.
adidas, in partnership with its TMAX gear licensee, launched a line of adidas accessories that includes bags, gloves and the other usual suspects. The bag line features 3 stand bags and a cart bag. To differentiate between adidas and TMaG product, the design schemes here draw on adidas heritage in the general sporting goods market, using materials like mesh and perforated leather. The glove line has three models, including a top of the line product with a unique wrist strap enclosure, reminiscent of baseball batting gloves.
In eyewear, adidas will step back with its mens offering in order to step up the fashion element. Split lens styles dominate the line, breaking up the shield product that were the bulk of the offering last year.
