BIG MAX Aqua Wave Stand Bag
Truly waterproof golf bags are one of the most underappreciated pieces of equipment in golf. In fact, it shocks me that they aren’t more widely demanded. True, it’s great when the contents of your golf bag stay dry during a big rain storm, but even a light drizzle or an overly dewy morning could result in unwanted water inside your golf bag. Well, I found a good one, everyone. The BIG MAX Aqua Wave stand bag is lightweight, comfortable, and WATERPROOF.
The Looks
Aside from the plain black option, it’s pretty tough to miss the BIG MAX Aqua Wave stand bag on the course. The stock color options are the red pictured here, a cool teal-ish color they call “petrol,” white, and yellow. I really appreciate BIG MAX’s use of a unique color palette for this lineup. The petrol and yellows colors are not common colors you find on golf bag lineups. As far as branding goes, the big Aqua Wave logo on the side can’t be missed, but the rest of the bag is pretty simple.
It’s worth noting that the Aqua Wave’s waterproof material gives the bag a different look. The material has sort of an umbrella or parachute look to it. It’s a bit shiny, but doesn’t look anywhere near plastic or patent leather.
Design & Features
The most important feature for the BIG MAX Aqua Wave bag is its “waterproofness.” (That word’s for you, David.) BIG MAX used a waterproof shell and waterproof zippers to keep the contents of your pockets dry. A special highlight to me is the waterproof cooler pocket. While plenty of bag companies have put cooler pockets in a bag before, I would say the Aqua Wave’s is the best I’ve seen from a quality and space perspective. You can almost fit six packs of b-…soda in here.
In terms of the basic features, you have a roomy 4-way divider, a breathable and well-padded backpack strap, and six pockets. The Aqua Wave’s stand mechanism is very sturdy and reliable.
On-Course Performance
Let’s start by addressing the BIG MAX Aqua Wave’s waterproof characteristics. If you follow us on social media, you may have seen the video I posted where I was spraying the Aqua Wave with a hose. My experience was that the Aqua Wave will hold out water in a solid rain, but direct, high pressure shots from a hose to your pocket zippers may result in a little bit of water getting into the pockets. So while I’m confident with the Aqua Wave keeping my phone dry in a good rain, I would advise not throwing it in a lake after hitting a bad shot which is not unimaginable for the DRH staff.
From a comfort perspective, the BIG MAX Aqua wave is great. Compared to most bags of its size, it’s pretty light. Because the bag is waterproof, it doesn’t absorb water in wet conditions either so you don’t get added weight. The Air Tec straps are very comfortable on your shoulders and breathe well.
If a stand bag doesn’t have a good stand, then what’s the point? The BIG MAX Aqua Wave has a great stand system. The legs are solid, but what impresses me most is the stand mechanism. It’s very solid and not overly sensitive. This prevents the legs from kicking out unnecessarily whenever the base of the bag is the least bit nudged. When you place the bag on the ground the mechanism easily deploys the legs.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, the BIG MAX Aqua Wave is my first in-hand experience with a BIG MAX bag. I’m very picky about my stand bags. I know exactly what I want in a stand bag and I’m very particular about it. Well color me impressed with the BIG MAX Aqua Wave. The Aqua Wave is sturdy, easy to carry, and has plenty of storage without a bunch of excess weight. As I said earlier, I love that cooler pocket. It may be my favorite part of the bag. If all of that isn’t enough, the waterproof Aqua Wave will keep the contents of your bag nice and safe in wet conditions.
