My Streamline bag was delivered today. Awesome.
A full review will have to wait until I've actually used it some, but here is a little teaser until then. Size comparison photos next to a Deluxe Mini and one full shot of the bag before I put quads on and fill it up. It seems to weigh roughly a pound more than the Deluxe Mini. Chalk that up to the Line-X.
UPDATE: Review added below the photos. 7/20/09
I've had a chance to put the bag through it's paces a little bit and gather some initial impressions. I did my research carefully before buying so there really weren't any surprises with the bag when it arrived. So far it meets my expectations very well. I'm not going to go over the full list of features since that information is available on the Phenix website either here or on the web page for the Core bag. Most of the details are listed on the page for the Core bag. The two products are identical except for the following: different putter pocket, larger main compartment on the Core, umbrella straps on the Core. I had umbrella straps added as part of the custom build option.
Comfort The bag rides as well or better on quads than any other disc bag I've used. It holds it's shape without a frame but curves slightly around the contours of your body when it's on your back. The locations of the quad shock mounting points are also well thought out. I ran the rear straps for the quads directly through the mounts on the bag, eliminating two annoying carabiners.
Durability The bag looks built to easily outlast the Carolina I used to have. Definitely overbuilt, like the way they used to make Benzes when I was a kid. Enough said there.
Line-X This will be the first golf bag I've had that I can set on soaking wet ground and not have the pockets soak through from the bottom and hold water. Plus, I don't have to worry about setting it down too hard on rocky ground and breaking my glass piece. No more denting my water bottle when I set the bag down, etc.
Putter pocket This is a trapezoid shaped panel attached to the front of the bag at four points by drawcord adjustable bungee. Despite it's unusual appearance it was one of the selling points of the bag for me. I like it because it can double as a compression pocket for a jacket instead of using it for discs. This leaves ample room in the other pockets for everything else.
So far it works great for me. No problems with discs falling out of it or anything, and it's easy to use. Kyle at Phenix told me he tested it out for a while with his own Cam Todds before it went into production, so there's probably no worries about things falling out of it.
Utility This is the critical part for me. Many disc bags will perform in most of the above categories with no problem, but when it comes down to everyday use, small and seemingly insignificant design challenges can drive me nuts. None of that with the Streamline so far. Everything is very well organized, and the typical problems associated with cramming a lot of different specific crap into as small a space as possible seem to have been overcome.
Examples: All discs are easy to access and go back in without any fussing. The drink holders are anchored tight to the body of the bag and they don't sway around even when full or encroach into side pockets. Side access pockets make it easy to find small items instead of rooting through the bottom of one huge storage pocket, and they keep all kinds of pens pencils etc organized and easy to find. Rain fly completely covers the main compartment, including the center storage pocket, and will actually keep contents dry instead of just a little less wet. I could probably go on but you get the idea... Good organization.
Size Pretty medium. Dogma compared it to Chimp size, which is pretty close. Think Chimp with an extra drink holder and you pretty much get the idea. Right now I keep 14 discs in it in total which breaks down into 3 putters, 3 mids and 8 drivers. That can all fit in the divided main disc compartment if I want to keep all the discs covered from weather or put a shell in the putter pocket.
Price This is where I will lose most of you who are still interested. Streamlines start at 75. Line-X is another 35. Custom build is 20. I dropped 130 before we even discuss shipping. Quality doesn't come cheap, but I'd rather be down 130 bucks than always be annoyed with my golf bag every day.
Overall I'm very satisfied with it, and I can't think of anything I'd want to replace it with. Keep in mind that I probably said the same thing about the Deluxe Mini after only a week of ownership and a year later I'm done with that bag. So take this review with no negative comments with a grain of salt. On the other hand, this bag overcomes most of the features that end up becoming a pain with a lot of other bags, so the love affair may last.
Before I wrap up... I had the bag with me tonight at the local league. Was the first time anyone besides my usual ragamuffin golf partners got a look at it. Everyone wanted to fondle it. Lots of positive comments.
A full review will have to wait until I've actually used it some, but here is a little teaser until then. Size comparison photos next to a Deluxe Mini and one full shot of the bag before I put quads on and fill it up. It seems to weigh roughly a pound more than the Deluxe Mini. Chalk that up to the Line-X.
UPDATE: Review added below the photos. 7/20/09
I've had a chance to put the bag through it's paces a little bit and gather some initial impressions. I did my research carefully before buying so there really weren't any surprises with the bag when it arrived. So far it meets my expectations very well. I'm not going to go over the full list of features since that information is available on the Phenix website either here or on the web page for the Core bag. Most of the details are listed on the page for the Core bag. The two products are identical except for the following: different putter pocket, larger main compartment on the Core, umbrella straps on the Core. I had umbrella straps added as part of the custom build option.
Comfort The bag rides as well or better on quads than any other disc bag I've used. It holds it's shape without a frame but curves slightly around the contours of your body when it's on your back. The locations of the quad shock mounting points are also well thought out. I ran the rear straps for the quads directly through the mounts on the bag, eliminating two annoying carabiners.
Durability The bag looks built to easily outlast the Carolina I used to have. Definitely overbuilt, like the way they used to make Benzes when I was a kid. Enough said there.
Line-X This will be the first golf bag I've had that I can set on soaking wet ground and not have the pockets soak through from the bottom and hold water. Plus, I don't have to worry about setting it down too hard on rocky ground and breaking my glass piece. No more denting my water bottle when I set the bag down, etc.
Putter pocket This is a trapezoid shaped panel attached to the front of the bag at four points by drawcord adjustable bungee. Despite it's unusual appearance it was one of the selling points of the bag for me. I like it because it can double as a compression pocket for a jacket instead of using it for discs. This leaves ample room in the other pockets for everything else.
So far it works great for me. No problems with discs falling out of it or anything, and it's easy to use. Kyle at Phenix told me he tested it out for a while with his own Cam Todds before it went into production, so there's probably no worries about things falling out of it.
Utility This is the critical part for me. Many disc bags will perform in most of the above categories with no problem, but when it comes down to everyday use, small and seemingly insignificant design challenges can drive me nuts. None of that with the Streamline so far. Everything is very well organized, and the typical problems associated with cramming a lot of different specific crap into as small a space as possible seem to have been overcome.
Examples: All discs are easy to access and go back in without any fussing. The drink holders are anchored tight to the body of the bag and they don't sway around even when full or encroach into side pockets. Side access pockets make it easy to find small items instead of rooting through the bottom of one huge storage pocket, and they keep all kinds of pens pencils etc organized and easy to find. Rain fly completely covers the main compartment, including the center storage pocket, and will actually keep contents dry instead of just a little less wet. I could probably go on but you get the idea... Good organization.
Size Pretty medium. Dogma compared it to Chimp size, which is pretty close. Think Chimp with an extra drink holder and you pretty much get the idea. Right now I keep 14 discs in it in total which breaks down into 3 putters, 3 mids and 8 drivers. That can all fit in the divided main disc compartment if I want to keep all the discs covered from weather or put a shell in the putter pocket.
Price This is where I will lose most of you who are still interested. Streamlines start at 75. Line-X is another 35. Custom build is 20. I dropped 130 before we even discuss shipping. Quality doesn't come cheap, but I'd rather be down 130 bucks than always be annoyed with my golf bag every day.
Overall I'm very satisfied with it, and I can't think of anything I'd want to replace it with. Keep in mind that I probably said the same thing about the Deluxe Mini after only a week of ownership and a year later I'm done with that bag. So take this review with no negative comments with a grain of salt. On the other hand, this bag overcomes most of the features that end up becoming a pain with a lot of other bags, so the love affair may last.
Before I wrap up... I had the bag with me tonight at the local league. Was the first time anyone besides my usual ragamuffin golf partners got a look at it. Everyone wanted to fondle it. Lots of positive comments.
