I thought the G had room in the side pockets for water bottles?
I suppose it could hold smaller containers now that I see that picture. But if I do that, I have no room for anything that does not lay flat. The pocket on the back can hold a few things, but if they have any bulk, like keys or a wallet, it could catch on the inner rim of the discs sitting in the main compartment - I suppose I could always flip the discs around where the flight-plate faces the back of the bag.
When I use the G, I still like to have a towel with me and a place to store my keys. At best, that means I could carry one drink. However, when I carry water, I go through it quickly. I found that it is just as easy to carry my big water container separately.
So, here are my observations after two weeks of usage:
1) Still great for those smaller rounds. However, if I am playing a more difficult course, I have been finding that I need space for two more mids or putters. It carries a total of 12 discs, but when I played The Preserve and then Sportsman's Hill (Clearwater, MN), I wish I had brought my Star Aviar3 with for me for a couple of drives. So, it makes me re-evaluate which putters and mids I carry and if any are good enough to pull double duty.
2) I removed the inner sleeve and replaced the shoulder strap to give me more length. Once I made a few modifications, it works as intended. It is meant to be my everyday bag where I want to get in a quicker round, which means going in and out of the bag while I am walking - something that was difficult to do with a backpack. However, right now I am on summer break from teaching - I still do a lot of work, but I no longer have normal office hours. This means I can get in bigger rounds, travel a little, and spend more time on the course. Right now, having a smaller bag almost feels like I am under-prepared for the day. So, once I am back into the routine of actually being in the building and then driving to the local 9 on the way home, the quicker nature of the G bag will definitely make it feel like I made a wise investment.
3) It feels very sturdy and steady. When I do have to drop it on the ground, it generally stays upright and is easy to pick up. It is incredibly light even when fully loaded. The meshing in the comfort pads on the back have started fuzzying/fraying from rubbing against my hip and back, but that is superficial wear. Everything else looks like it will last a long time despite the possibility of being used almost every day.
4) The sleeve that was provided is a bad design if you are intending the entire capacity to be used for discs. It holds two mids or three drivers, and this sleeve is velcroed so it is suspended an inch above the bottom of the bag. If you intended to use the main space in front of the sleeve for anything aside for discs, then the sleeve makes sense. In this scenario, you would have 2 discs in the upper pocket, 3 discs in the sleeve, and 1 in the front putter pocket. If you are only using 6 discs but needed storage, the sleeve makes sense. However, if you are using the full compartment for discs, the sleeve is a poor decision. It only holds only 2 discs. Now, to be even moderately fair to it, the padding of the sleeve buys a little cushion from anything bulky in the back pocket, likes keys or such, so that they do not catch on discs, but why I removed it was because, when hovering above the bottom, it created a space that the discs in front wanted to slip under, angling how the discs sit in the bag, making them a touch more difficult to pull one out or place one back in.
5) The main flap that covers the main compartment - I am not sure what to do with it. You are supposed to be able to tuck it behind the discs (or the sleeve if you keep it in), and it will stay there. However, the thicker material that helps it maintain its shape does not allow it to always stay back there. It is not a big deal, a small annoyance at worst, but I am seeing if it also is not that big of a hassle to just let is sit out and cover the opening. The shape of the bag is very smartly done and there is almost no fear of discs ever falling out. So, what to do with the cover is just a matter of convenience.
6) Back to the weight of the bag - I played well over 200 holes in the last four days. This has caused a small sunburn on the back of my neck. I like to cross the strap over my chest/back with the bag resting against the opposite hip. This sometimes put the strap near my neck, and while I was aware of the burn a few times as I shifted the bag or walked, the lighter weight of the bag really did not aggravate me. If anything, its lighter weight in comparison to my Grip A14, Lat Lux E3, or even dragging my cart, kept me from getting too tired from this marathon of golfing. Its only drawback of being so light, you are tempted to leave it on while you are putting.
