This golf bag is better than models costing twice as much! Mizuno BR-D3 golf bag review
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
- Lightweight
- Extremely comfortable to wear
- Great storage options
- Good price
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Cons
- Other colorways don’t look as stylish
- Not waterproof
What we say...
I loved my previous golf bag so it was going to take something special to replace it – here’s why the Mizuno BR-D3 golf bag is that special something.
I always carry my clubs and therefore value weight – or, rather, the lack thereof – above all else when choosing the best golf bag for me. It’s why my last bag was the 1.8kg Wilson Exo Lite which I used, very happily, for two years and well over 100 rounds of golf. But, as I said in my review, as much as I loved it, the Wilson Exo Lite wasn’t perfect. It lacked a little in storage and the zip on the main pocket eventually gave up the ghost, which meant it was time for a new golf bag. Enter the Mizuno BR-D3.
Now, the Mizuno BR-D3 is 200g heavier than the Wilson. That might not sound like much (and, unless you’re a particularly puny mouse, it isn’t really) but, for me, like a fastidious drug baron, every gram counts. So why have I opted for the Mizuno BR-D3 over a lighter option? And does it justify the extra 200g over my previous golf bag? Let’s find out…
Pros
- Lightweight
- Very comfortable to wear
- Great storage options
- Good price
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Some colorways don't look as premium
Design and quality
The Mizuno BR-D3 is available in several colorways. I think all the other colors look fine, but, for me, the Camo & Copper option is head and shoulders above the rest.
Despite being cheaper than all of Mizuno’s other stand bags, I think the BR-D3 looks premium in this design. The copper flashes add a touch of pizazz, the camo stops it looking too plain without becoming gaudy, and the copper legs prevent the whole package becoming too dark. Overall, I think it looks modern but timeless.
Just as importantly, it feels quality, too. We’ll discuss this more in durability & performance, but everything about it suggests this is a well-made bag that will stand the test of time.
Storage & accessibility
One of my biggest gripes with my previous bag was the lack of storage options. The Mizuno BR-D3 has eight pockets, which is plenty, and some of those have extra compartments inside them, too. I’m a bit of a neat freak so I love the fact that everything has its place in the Mizuno BR-D3. With my previous bag, tees had to be lumped in with other stuff, but here they can sit neatly in their own cosy section. Even the little device I use as a guide to draw a line on my golf ball has its own compartment now. There’s a slot on the back to keep a Sharpie, too.
I like to carry as little as possible around the golf course – again, thinking of weight – so I haven’t actually needed to use every single pocket of the BR-D3, but I’d much rather have the ‘problem’ of an empty pocket or two than be struggling to find a home for things.
The pockets are all easily accessible, and the waterproof valuables pocket is handily placed if you want to grab your phone while walking.
The ball compartment has two zips, which is so much better than bags that only have one. It means you can access that compartment from the top, without having to unzip the whole thing. Having a single zip means unzipping it the whole way to access or going in from the side. Ball access and tee storage are minor frustrations, of course, but I don’t need any more of those when I’m on the golf course – my chipping provides more than enough already. With the Mizuno BR-D3, everything is right where I need it.
The main compartment also provides a little more space than my previous bag. Make no mistake, this still isn’t a tour bag where you can stuff in your entire golf wardrobe and not think about it again, but there’s room for a jacket and a few other bits without feeling like the bag is about to burst.
The only thing it could have but doesn’t is a dedicated place to store the rain hood when not in use, which was a nice feature on an old Ping Hoofer bag I used to have, but the Mizuno’s hood is very thin and lightweight so will stuff easily into any of the existing pockets.
Durability & performance
The material and seams feel reassuringly solid and high quality.
The Mizuno BR-D3 golf bag isn’t waterproof, but it has stood up against showers well and as a fairweather golfer I always find the best form of waterproofing is not playing golf in the rain.
The bag stands very sturdily and the leg mechanism feels robust. There have been a couple of occasions where I’ve noticed the legs haven’t extended fully if I put the bag down quite gently; it hasn’t caused any issues, but if you’re putting it down on a steep gradient and/or playing in high winds, make sure you plonk it down firmly enough for the kickstand to do its job fully.
I haven’t used it for a full season yet, but after several months of UK winter golf, the bag looks and feels as good as new.
Comfort & ergonomics
Despite being a smidge heavier than my previous bag, the Mizuno BR-D3 is still a very lightweight bag, which makes it a breeze to maneuver.
The straps are very comfortable and spread the weight evenly, and took next to no adjustment to get the bag sitting right.
The grab handle feels solid and good quality.
Club organization
The four-way divider does the job nicely and, carrying 14 clubs, I haven’t experienced any of that annoying snagging where the grips at the bottom of the bag suddenly decide they’re Siamese twins and cannot be separated.
No regularly used golf bag lasts forever and it won’t be immune to normal wear and tear, but the padding around the top feels durable and has so far shown no signs of use.
Final verdict
I chose the Mizuno BR-D3 over several other, more expensive golf bags from other manufacturers and I am delighted with my decision. It looks smart, it’s extremely comfortable, and the storage is pretty much faultless. If Mizuno could magically find a way to make it waterproof and shave 200g without compromising on anything else, I think they’d have pretty much the perfect golf carry bag on their hands.
