Jones Trouper 2.0 vs Vessel Player 3 DXR - help me decide

[IdahoHacker]

I am deciding between a Jones Trouper Utility 2.0 and the Vessel Player 3 DXR.  Only keeping 1 - will return the other.  I bought the Vessel and my wife got me the Jones as a surprise Xmas present.  Jones was about $225 and the Vessel was $395.  Won't decide based upon $ but there is for sure not $170 difference in quality between the 2.  I really like them both.  Any info, help or experience to share is appreciated.

 

My Questions for Vessel Player 3 users.  How is the material holding up?  My golf consists of 50% ride, 50% walk (mix of carry and pushcart).  Want to ensure the material will hold up to loading it in the truck, to strap interaction on carts (ride or push).  For reference - I am coming from a 2015 Sun Mountain C130S (the original version which I think is now the 4.5 version).  It is still going strong and was very durable.

 

Keep me honest - but my thinking is:

• Jones will be more durable - just the material alone would lead me to think that.  Also, it has cart strap pass thru - which may help there
• Vessel has better storage- but Jones is fine.  My SM could carry a lot - which I am trying to get away from.
• Vessel has better straps.
• Cool factor - equal in their own way.  Jones has the retro throw back and Vessel is slick looking
• Club tangle:  I play midsize Pure DTX Rubber grips.  Jones is a 5-way top, and the Vessel is a 14-way top (same as my SM).  Honestly - I think they are about even in club tangle.  Minimal in both - just different.  Jones tangle is club on club and Vessel is due to the tight rim of each slot (but only on a few)
• Weight - basically a wash

Still need to test them both on the Pushcart and the riding cart - see how they sit, etc..

 

 

[IdahoHacker]

Ok - after having the bags for a couple of days and fiddling with them at the house - walking around, etc... (I still have a couple of feet of snow in my yard) - I have a few observations.

 

• The Jones bag is lighter (.75 pounds) according to the product info.  I could also feel this when I had the carts loaded up and walked around.  Not much but noticeable. Both would be fine to walk with.
• Vessel straps are great.  Much better than the Jones - but honestly the Jones straps are not that bad and I could easily game them.
• Club tangle is probably a little worse on the Jones for me.  Since it is a 5-way - my grips rub on each other & I have midsize Pure Rubber grips that are pretty tacky.  The club tangle on Vessel is on the bag itself - not the clubs - as it is a 14-way some of the openings are a little tight - but not that bad.
• Storage - Not sure if Vessel is better but it is layed out better and is more familiar coming from other bags.  Jones is fine - and if you use the cooler pocket as another pocket and not a cooler - it is good.
• Visually the Jones is slimmer and for me - I really like the retro look and minimalist styling.
• Stands are good on both, but I think Vessel is probably a better stand system
• No cart strap pass thru on the Vessel is a miss and a disappointment.  Jones has them and they are great.
• Jones is a bit taller, so the clubs don't stick out as much
• I think club noise will be slightly less in the Jones as it is smaller and the clubs are packed in tighter.

I currently have a nice big cart bag that I have used int eh past and use for storage in the garage.  Trying to get a bag that will do it all for me - 50% ride, 25% pushcart and 25% carry + range and travel time.

 

My heart says go with the Jones because I really do dig its overall vibe - but - I think the Vessel is a better bag for what I would use it for.  I think if I was to carry or pushcart most of the time - then I would get the Jones without a doubt.

 

I am sure I will change my mind a few times before choosing which one to return!

[madeinguam81]

If it's hard to decide at this point, then you definitely should factor in the $170 price difference, which is no small amount. Go with the Jones. 
 

 

[Rosco1216]

Keep Jones. Return the vessel. Get another color of the trouper. Spend the $170 on the wife.

[IdahoHacker]

17 minutes ago, madeinguam81 said:

If it's hard to decide at this point, then you definitely should factor in the $170 price difference, which is no small amount. Go with the Jones. 
 

 

I agree - $170 is no small amount.  Yes - the Vessel is higher quality but not sure it warrants $170 difference.

[IdahoHacker]

10 minutes ago, Rosco1216 said:

Keep Jones. Return the vessel. Get another color of the trouper. Spend the $170 on the wife.

First off - my wife likes your comment.  But - she actually told me to keep the Vessel.  She thinks it fits my needs more.  I actually like the color of the Jones - remonds me of an old Ping Hoofer I had years ago.

[J_Tizzle]

I have been fighting between the two as well, but I think once I purge some stuff I'm going to get the SM "vessel styled" bag.  I always end up going back to SM bags because I just think they're the best ones on the market, and now they have extra cool ones that keep up with all the smaller companies in the looks departments.

[puresurfr]

I have both and the pockets of the Vessel are much more useful.  The chiller bag in the front of the  Jones does not really keep drinks cold on warm days, so treat it as a large pocket.  

Not sure if it makes a difference but if u can return the Vessel, perhaps they will honor the 10% off code they give all customers. so u can narrow the gap to $130

[J_Tizzle]

3 minutes ago, puresurfr said:

I have both and the pockets of the Vessel are much more useful.  The chiller bag in the front of the  Jones does not really keep drinks cold on warm days, so treat it as a large pocket.  

Not sure if it makes a difference but if u can return the Vessel, perhaps they will honor the 10% off code they give all customers. so u can narrow the gap to $130

 

100% agree on the Jones pockets.  I love the look of the bag, but HATE the functionality of the pockets

[puresurfr]

The jones Trouper is on sale at Trendy Golf for $140 if that helps u make a choice, they have olive and orange colors only

[503Mike]

I have been using the Jones for a year now and really like it, but have two issues; the straps and the fit on a pushcart.

 

The straps are suboptimal if you carry 50% of the time or more. Or at least they are not as easily adjusted or removed and reattached as easily as a lot of other bags. The pushcart fit could be an issue combining my particular cart (CaddyTek 3-wheel) and the bag. When using the push cart the bag stand system rests on the top "cradle" of the pushcart, rather than the bag itself nestling into the cradle. The arrangement still works okay, but you will get some additional wear on the stand system (it doesn't impact functionality of the stand system when not using the cart).

 

The cooler pocket works great for me in the summer, but I treat it like an actual cooler and load it with ice as well as my "sports drinks." 

[IdahoHacker]

24 minutes ago, J_Tizzle said:

I have been fighting between the two as well, but I think once I purge some stuff I'm going to get the SM "vessel styled" bag.  I always end up going back to SM bags because I just think they're the best ones on the market, and now they have extra cool ones that keep up with all the smaller companies in the looks departments.

I am coming from a original SM 130S - which is not more similar to the SM 4.5 14 way.  Great bag but it is 8 years old and finally gave out.  SM is great ... just looking for a change

[J_Tizzle]

3 minutes ago, IdahoHacker said:

I am coming from a original SM 130S - which is not more similar to the SM 4.5 14 way.  Great bag but it is 8 years old and finally gave out.  SM is great ... just looking for a change

 

Totally fair for sure.

 

If you like a lot about the SM, I'd go Vessel personally.  Like the Jones doesn't have a dedicated tee pocket or ball pocket and it drives me crazy.  Sure other pockets where you can put that stuff, but why give a huge cooler pocket that doesn't work at all...

[IdahoHacker]

1 hour ago, 503Mike said:

I have been using the Jones for a year now and really like it, but have two issues; the straps and the fit on a pushcart.

 

The straps are suboptimal if you carry 50% of the time or more. Or at least they are not as easily adjusted or removed and reattached as easily as a lot of other bags. The pushcart fit could be an issue combining my particular cart (CaddyTek 3-wheel) and the bag. When using the push cart the bag stand system rests on the top "cradle" of the pushcart, rather than the bag itself nestling into the cradle. The arrangement still works okay, but you will get some additional wear on the stand system (it doesn't impact functionality of the stand system when not using the cart).

 

The cooler pocket works great for me in the summer, but I treat it like an actual cooler and load it with ice as well as my "sports drinks." 

I have a Clicgear 3.0 and my wife has a 3.5 - got the bag coozy thing from clicgear and it has made bags ride much better.  But the stand mechanism on the bottom is a concern on my clicgear.

[Jc0]

43 minutes ago, IdahoHacker said:

I have a Clicgear 3.0 and my wife has a 3.5 - got the bag coozy thing from clicgear and it has made bags ride much better.  But the stand mechanism on the bottom is a concern on my clicgear.

 

I use it on a cliq gear 3.5 and it works great. I tried the coozy and wasn't huge fan of how the bag sat in it. 

[IdahoHacker]

46 minutes ago, Jc0 said:

 

I use it on a cliq gear 3.5 and it works great. I tried the coozy and wasn't huge fan of how the bag sat in it. 

The coozy helped for sure with my old SM - as it slid and twisted quite a bit.  I agree that it did sit the bag up a bit.

[503Mike]

2 hours ago, IdahoHacker said:

I have a Clicgear 3.0 and my wife has a 3.5 - got the bag coozy thing from clicgear and it has made bags ride much better.  But the stand mechanism on the bottom is a concern on my clicgear.

Yeah, for me the bottom stand mechanism fits the CaddyTek fine, but the top is workable but less than ideal fit.

[IdahoHacker]

27 minutes ago, 503Mike said:

Yeah, for me the bottom stand mechanism fits the CaddyTek fine, but the top is workable but less than ideal fit.

The Vessel with its flat bottom works better on my pushcart (ClicGear) then the Jones does or how my old SM did.  But the Jones is not bad - workable.

[IdahoHacker]

I want to keep both but that makes no sense.  So, I am keeping the Vessel - returning the Jones (but again - if I was walking all of the time - it would be the winner).  Now off to upgrade some headcovers!

 

Thanks for all of the feedback and input.

[bobbo621]

On 1/10/2023 at 12:15 PM, IdahoHacker said:

Ok - after having the bags for a couple of days and fiddling with them at the house - walking around, etc... (I still have a couple of feet of snow in my yard) - I have a few observations.

 

• The Jones bag is lighter (.75 pounds) according to the product info.  I could also feel this when I had the carts loaded up and walked around.  Not much but noticeable. Both would be fine to walk with.
• Vessel straps are great.  Much better than the Jones - but honestly the Jones straps are not that bad and I could easily game them.
• Club tangle is probably a little worse on the Jones for me.  Since it is a 5-way - my grips rub on each other & I have midsize Pure Rubber grips that are pretty tacky.  The club tangle on Vessel is on the bag itself - not the clubs - as it is a 14-way some of the openings are a little tight - but not that bad.
• Storage - Not sure if Vessel is better but it is layed out better and is more familiar coming from other bags.  Jones is fine - and if you use the cooler pocket as another pocket and not a cooler - it is good.
• Visually the Jones is slimmer and for me - I really like the retro look and minimalist styling.
• Stands are good on both, but I think Vessel is probably a better stand system
• No cart strap pass thru on the Vessel is a miss and a disappointment.  Jones has them and they are great.
• Jones is a bit taller, so the clubs don't stick out as much
• I think club noise will be slightly less in the Jones as it is smaller and the clubs are packed in tighter.

I currently have a nice big cart bag that I have used int eh past and use for storage in the garage.  Trying to get a bag that will do it all for me - 50% ride, 25% pushcart and 25% carry + range and travel time.

 

My heart says go with the Jones because I really do dig its overall vibe - but - I think the Vessel is a better bag for what I would use it for.  I think if I was to carry or pushcart most of the time - then I would get the Jones without a doubt.

 

I am sure I will change my mind a few times before choosing which one to return!

I have 2 Trouper 2.0's and love them.    But where on the Trouper is there a cart strap pass through channel??   Have I been missing it for the past 2 years?

[IdahoHacker]

4 hours ago, bobbo621 said:

I have 2 Trouper 2.0's and love them.    But where on the Trouper is there a cart strap pass through channel??   Have I been missing it for the past 2 years?

At the very top on each side of the jones logo by the leather buckles there are straps that I could pass the strap thru.  

[jah7838]

On 1/12/2023 at 11:31 AM, IdahoHacker said:

At the very top on each side of the jones logo by the leather buckles there are straps that I could pass the strap thru.  

Thanks for pointing that out.  I've had my bag for a few months and never figured that out. 😂

Edited January 13, 2023 by jah7838
Spelling

[Trouble_shooter]

Man I don't see to many eye opening golf bags, but that vessel is smooth looking. Nice bag bud.

[IdahoHacker]

9 hours ago, jah7838 said:

Thanks for pointing that out.  I've had my bag for a few months and never figured that out. 😂

I missed it at first.  I was testing it on a cart to see how it set.  With its oval shape it was a little odd.  I turned it sideways and saw the pass thru strap.  Used that with it turned sideways and it sat great - nice and tight.

[IdahoHacker]

Quick update on my Vessel Player 3 DXR bag.  The golf season is underway up here and I could not be happier with my choice.  Great bag for all occasions - riding, push cart or carry.  Tons of compliments - perfect size (just big enough and just small enough).

[zap311]

1 hour ago, IdahoHacker said:

Quick update on my Vessel Player 3 DXR bag.  The golf season is underway up here and I could not be happier with my choice.  Great bag for all occasions - riding, push cart or carry.  Tons of compliments - perfect size (just big enough and just small enough).

 

Glad to hear it. Do you have to use a cart strap cover with the DXR model or is it more resistant to wear than the standard material?

[Hougz79]

18 hours ago, zap311 said:

 

Glad to hear it. Do you have to use a cart strap cover with the DXR model or is it more resistant to wear than the standard material?

I use my Strap Cover with my Player 3 DXR.  The DXR material is far more durable than the standard material.  HOWEVER, the "spine" of the bag is the standard vinyl material.  This portion takes the brunt of the force from a cart strap.

[IdahoHacker]

3 hours ago, Hougz79 said:

I use my Strap Cover with my Player 3 DXR.  The DXR material is far more durable than the standard material.  HOWEVER, the "spine" of the bag is the standard vinyl material.  This portion takes the brunt of the force from a cart strap.

Ditto.  I use mine or throw a towel over the strap for that section.

[moostache]

A little bit of a necro here, but for you Vessel users that use it on a cart, does the cart strap prevent the bag from spinning? This is the one thing that's stopping me from getting a vessel. I'm about a 60/40 ride walk

[IdahoHacker]

2 year update.  Love the bag.  Perfect for my needs.  Still going strong.  No blemishes from all of the strapping in carts, throwing in the back of the truck, etc….