Big Max Dri Lite Hybrid Tour 2 Stand Bag Review: Max storage in a big package

Key Features:

• 14-way club divider for organisation and minimal club rattle while walking
• Dual straps with an air channel back pocket
• Made from SoftGuard PU and advanced waterproof fabric for weatherproofing without the weight

For as long as I've played golf, I've largely been a stand bag devotee. Sure, I'll splurge on a cart from time to time, but to me, the stand bag, which perfectly blends space, size and portability, represents the purest way to experience life out on the course. Just pull the straps on and you're away.

As such, getting my hands on a good stand bag since my arrival in a new country has been of top priority. Thankfully, one quickly came my way in the form of the bag you see before you: Big Max's latest entry into its stand bag line-up, the Dri Lite Hybrid Tour 2.

I must admit, I wasn't super familiar with Big Max's game when I first laid eyes on it, but this is a serious bit of kit. It's waterproof, smartly engineered, and given the price point, every bit a bag that kicks it with the more premium golf bag brands on the market. Big Max is sort of Austria's answer to Motocaddy: producers of an integrated system of golf trolleys and bags designed mostly to go together, its bags featuring a dual-component bottom that slots into its trolleys to provide a seamless, locked-in experience. 

This is where the name Hybrid largely comes from: in both form and function it's as much a cart bag as it is a stand bag.

How, though, did it perform compared a run-of-the-mill stand bag out on the course? Now I've played a couple of rounds with it, I'll be happy to fill you in.

Looks, feel and weight

I'd be lying if I said I was truly enamoured with the look and presentation of the Dri-Lite Hybrid Tour 2 when I first laid eyes on it. Even now, having played a couple of rounds with it and had it stored in my bedroom for a week or two, I must admit I'm still not. 

This could be down to brand snobbery on my part or perhaps the red and black colour scheme mine arrived in, but for me the aesthetic of the bag doesn't do a whole lot to stand out from the more generic golf bag brands you see in stores up and down the country. Unless they were truly familiar with the company, it's hard to imagine someone gravitating towards the Big Max based on looks and brand factor alone. That being said, there are black/white, olive/white and silver/grey colourways also available, which to my eye look far more premium.

My own personal taste aside, get up close and personal with the Dri-Lite Hybrid Tour 2 and it very quickly becomes clear that this is a premium bit of kit. It's by no means luxurious—like most bags it's mostly constructed with PU and waterproof nylon to keep the mud and rain out, but it's exceptionally well built. One thing I will note, however, is that the material does seem to mark quite easily, and has already picked up a couple of scratches with relatively light use.

For a bag of its size (more on that later) it's also light, clocking the scales at just 2.5kg.

Performance, storage and comfort

Big Max is a company that really gears its bags towards being as multi-functional as possible. As such, its stand bags look, feel and perform more like cart bags with added legs than bags designed to chuck on your back for a breezy 9 holes. 

What you get in return, however, is perhaps the most versatile and feature-packed stand bag I've ever personally used. The storage spaces are gargantuan, with a 14-way storage system for clubs, a flip-out front pocket for balls, a zip-up cooler pocket just behind that capable of easily storing both a 500ml drink and food, and a soft-touch lined pocket for valuables. 

Five other massive pockets are also placed across the bag for other storage, some small and some easily large enough to fit a jacket or a jumper in. Put simply, if you run out of storage in this thing, your only recourse is a staff bag.

Whether this approach will suit you depends entirely on your personal taste in bags. All the added storage, plus the larger platform engineered to work with Big Max's trolleys, mean the Dri-Lite Hybrid Tour 2 looks and feels big, both on the ground and carried on your back. 

This likely won't be a problem if, like most golfers, you drive your clubs to and from the course, but if you live in a small space or, like me, live in a city where you regularly carry your clubs on public transport, the Big Max quickly becomes a bit cumbersome.

That's not to say the Dri-Lite Hybrid Tour 2 is uncomfortable. In fact, it's supremely comfortable, with two amply padded shoulder straps and an easy-to-adjust fitting system that allows the bag to sit on your shoulders just-so with very little effort. The padding in the back is also good, and while I didn't feel much of the air flow that the air channel system supposedly generates, it's certainly not overwhelming to carry on a hot day.

As a stand bag, the Big Max also does its job amply. The legs are stable and reliable, popping out with just the right amount of pressure applied. A simple velcro strap also keeps them at bay when propped on a trolley.

Should you buy the Big Max Dri Lite Hybrid Tour 2 stand bag?

If storage and functionality is at the top of your list of priorities in looking for a new stand bag, look in Big Max's direction. It's as well-equipped as stand bags come, with a fantastic amount of storage, the functionality to clip in to Big Max's electric trolleys and the ability to easily slot into others, and all the waterproofing most golfers really need.

However, all these features come at the cost of portability. The Big Max is on the larger side for a stand bag, and might look and feel a little big if you want your clubs to carry a low-profile. It's also worth noting that, despite the £250 price tag, the Dri Lite Hybrid Tour 2 is Big Max's entry-level option. The Hybrid Prime offers more premium scratch and temperature-resistant materials for £50 more, while the AQUA Hybrid is fully waterproof from head to toe and features an enhanced cooler space.

All that being said, however, this is truly a stand-out bag in its class, delivering all the features and storage the everyday golfer could ever need. If you're truly brand agnostic and simply want one all-rounder to carry you through countless rounds for years to come, this is as good as any option out there.