Sun Mountain 2023 3.5 LS Stand Bag
Sun Mountain golf bags have been my go-to bag for at least the past decade. While others have certainly grabbed my attention, I still always seem to end up back with a Sun Mountain to carry my clubs. While I usually develop an admittedly weird “bond” with the bag that earns the gamer role, a new season’s offering of updates to colorways and features grabs my attention every single time. This season, it was a certain colorway of the new Sun Mountain 2023 3.5 LS stand bag that immediately jumped out at me. The 90s hockey kid in me saw this cadet, eggplant, and teal (cadet-regal-green colorway in the Sun Mountain catalog) and names like Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, and Guy Germaine came nostalgically rushing to my brain.
The 3.5 LS stand bag is designed for the minimalist player seeking a lightweight bag but still seeks a reasonable amount of storage. With enough storage to be useful, but minimal enough to keep the weight down, the 3.5 LS is great for the walking golfer.
The Looks
By my count, there are eight different colorways of the Sun Mountain 2023 3.5 LS stand bag. There’s certainly something for everyone, but let’s be honest, this “mighty” color combination is easily the best. Other colorways feature different patterns for some added character or basics for those looking to keep it modest. The 3.5 LS has a nice streamlined profile that I’d say is just a fraction of a hair above “minimalist”. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see this bag on the back of Adam Banks strolling down a fairway this season.
Design & Features
The way Sun Mountain explains the 3.5 LS bag is that it’s for the player that loves the ultra-light 2.5+, but seeks a few more features. As such, the 3.5 LS is a super lightweight bag made of the same lightweight and durable nylon fabric of 2.5+. I’ll vouch for this nylon being durable. I felt like early versions of the 2.5 were a little flimsy, but Sun Mountain did a great job improving it for the past few generations. It really has held up well to the rigors of walking golf for me in multiple bags.
Believe it or not, this compact, minimalist golf bag has NINE pockets! The 3.5 LS stand bag has a full-length apparel pocket, a water resistant velour-lined valuables pocket, and more. BUT the 2023 3.5 LS stand bag features a new rangefinder pocket on the spine just above the ball pocket. I’ve found this to be a great addition that I’ve unexpectedly really enjoyed. My rangefinder gets full protection while still providing easy access. Should you not use a rangefinder, it serves as a great accessories pocket as well.
I also want to specifically point out the straps on the 2023 3.5 LS stand bag. Sun Mountain’s E-Z Lite Dual Strap System is easily my favorite they offer. It’s comfortable on your shoulders and is really easy to get on and off. Should you not want to go full backpack style, this strap system also works well on one shoulder.
One last feature of note is the cart strap “pass through” slot. Should you choose to ride, this secures the bag to the back of a cart nicely while keeping the strap fully out of the way of everything you need to access in or on your golf bag.
On-Course Performance
Who am I to say how anyone should use their golf bag? But I do feel like the Sun Mountain 3.5 LS stand bag is absolutely designed to be a walking golfer’s bag so that’s how I’m assessing its performance. The weight (3.8 pounds for those keeping score at home) is perfect. Don’t get me wrong, it’s on the golfer to not weigh it down by loading it up with too much of the non-essentials, but it’s certainly light. With an adequate amount of balls, full set of clubs, a jacket, and water bottle, the 3.5 LS stand bag is an easy carry that balances well. As I said, it’s comfortable on your back and shoulders making for a smooth stroll.
Part of being a good carry bag is a strong, stable base. Not only are the 3.5 LS’s carbon fiber legs light in weight, but they’re very sturdy and deploy easily. Additionally, you don’t want to fight getting your clubs in and out of the bag. The 9″ four-way top is comfortably roomy and accommodates fourteen clubs with no problem. Let’s not forget the sturdy integrated plastic top handle for ease of handling as well. A must for any walking bag in my opinion.
Final Thoughts – Sun Mountain 2023 3.5 LS Stand Bag
I absolutely love Sun Mountain bags and have for a really long time. They’re reliable workhorses that look good and seem to improve from year to year. Even if the feature changes are minimal, there’s always something different and an updated color palette to give you unique options to express your style. (Shout out to this 1990s revival colorway!) The new 2023 3.5 LS stand bag is a great golf bag that has everything I need, nothing I don’t, and really the perfect combination for a great all-around golf bag.
