The new Vessel Carbon Lux stand bag is one of those rare, full circle kind of offerings. It includes new technology introduced in a limited edition “concept car” product that actually made it to rank and file construction.
That is, of course, if you consider a $455 golf bag to be “rank and file.”
Vessel has created a very nice niche for itself among golfers who want, dare we say it, a little luxury in their golf bags. Make no mistake, the new Vessel Carbon Lux stand bag is most assuredly a “luxury” golf bag.
What makes it so luxurious is a compelling story. Whether you want/need that luxury, however, is entirely up to you.
It boils down to what you want in a golf bag compared to what you need in a golf bag.
The Bare Necessities
In its most basic form, a golf bag is just that: a bag for your golf stuff. It only needs to perform a handful of jobs. Obviously, it needs to hold your clubs as you walk, push or ride your way around the course. It also has to carry a few basic essentials in a somewhat convenient and logical way. You’ll need a pocket for balls and maybe another pocket for larger items like a jacket or pullover. If you really push it, you might also need somewhere to attach a towel, rangefinder or club brush.
Beyond that, everything else falls under the subjective categories of “nice,” or “convenient,” or maybe even “cool.” You may want it to look nice to your eye, or maybe you want more pockets to store things like a water bottle, valuables or your phone.
However, once the basics are covered, everything else is superfluous. Features Golfer A finds helpful, Golfer B might find useless. To be clear, the new Vessel Carbon Lux bag is loaded with features. We’ll go through the list in a bit, but first, we need to understand the whole “carbon” aspect of this bag, and why Vessel considers it a “luxury.”
Putting the Carbon in the Vessel Carbon Lux
Vessel introduced carbon fiber to golf bags 18 months ago when it released the Limited-Edition Carbon Fiber Collection to celebrate its 10th anniversary. What made the bags unique was the liberal use of a carbon fiber material called OmniFlex.
What also made them unique was the $1,600 price tag.
It was a proof of concept for Vessel. Only 1,000 were made, and even company founder and CEO Ronnie Shaw didn’t think they’d sell very many.
“It’s a luxury to have,” he told MyGolfSpy at the time. “Is it a ‘must have?’ No, not really. But it is something nobody else could do.”
As any golf gearhead knows, carbon fiber is very light, strong and durable. Omniflex, however, adds flexibility to that lightness, strength and durability. Vessel is using OmniFlex in the spine of the new bag. The spine, especially the area behind the handle, is typically one of the heaviest parts of a golf bag. That area is typically reinforced with four layers of polyurethane. Omniflex can do the same job with only one much lighter layer. That one layer connects the top of the bag to the bottom of the bag for greater durability.
A Lighter Bag?
That weight savings, you might think, would make for a significantly lighter bag. Vessel, however, is thinking like a golf club designer. It’s discretionary weight and can be redistributed to other parts of the bag where it can do more good.
That means additional features.
Like other stand bags in Vessel’s lineup, the Vessel Carbon Lux stand bag is still 6.1 pounds. But you do get nine external pockets and five internal pockets. Three of the outer pockets, including the golf ball compartment, feature magnetic closure. You also get two insulated water bottle pockets and two anti-microbial pockets.
The bag features a four-way top with full-length dividers to minimize club tangling. Additionally, it includes Vessel technology such as the company’s patented Rotator Base and Equilibrium 2.0 Double Strap with its eight-point swivel mechanism.
Do You Need a “Luxury” Golf Bag?
Need is a funny word. As mentioned, the only practical “needs” one has in a golf bag are to help you transport your clubs around the course, and a place to store golf balls. Anything beyond that falls under the heading “want.”
Vessel golf bags aren’t for price buyers. The company differentiates itself through features, materials and innovations like carbon fiber spines. The company has been successful over the past 11 years by providing luxury bags to people who want them and are willing to pay the freight. Its marketing material is straight out of the BMW M Series Playbook:
“Elevating the golfing experience to unprecedented levels…”
“Meticulous attention to detail…”
“Style and performance on the course…”
Has Vessel been successful? Just look at the new, direct-to-consumer competitors, such as Ghost or Sunday. They’re offering well-made, synthetic leather bags too, albeit at a lower price. When a luxury brand finds success, you can bet the rent money on competitors (some call them imitators) offering similar products (some call them copies) at a lower price popping up like prairie dogs looking out for eagles.
No one copies unsuccessful companies.
Vessel Carbon Lux Stand Bag: Price and Availability
The new Vessel Carbon Lux stand bag is available in either black or white synthetic leather.
It’s available today for Vessel VIP members (click here to join). It will be available online to everyone starting tomorrow and will be priced at $455.00.
For more information, visit the Vessel website.
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