What They Have in Common
Both are stand bags with dual shoulder straps and stand legs. Both have a velour-lined valuables pocket and a dedicated rangefinder pocket — the Hoofer's is magnetic, the H2NO's is velour-lined. Neither publishes a putter well.
Where They Differ
Weight and carry
The H2NO lists at 4 lbs empty. The Hoofer lists at 5.5 lbs. That's a 1.5-lb gap, and 1.5 lbs is the kind of thing you notice on the back nine in July, not the front. Both bags have dual straps, so both distribute the load. But the H2NO starts from a lighter baseline. If you walk every round, that number matters.
Top and club organization
The Hoofer runs a 5-way top; the H2NO runs a 4-way top at 7.5 inches. Fewer dividers means more clubs per slot, more grip-tangling, and more fumbling. Neither bag has a published putter well. The H2NO does have four full-length dividers, so clubs don't drop down into adjacent slots — that's a real organizational plus even if the top count is lower. The Hoofer doesn't publish whether its dividers run full length.
Storage
The Hoofer has 16 pockets and publishes 22 liters of pocket volume. The H2NO has 8 pockets and publishes a 17.4-liter figure. That's a meaningful gap — 16 pockets is a lot of dedicated spots for balls, tees, gloves, snacks, and everything else that accumulates over a round. The H2NO gets you valuables and rangefinder pockets and not a lot else by comparison.
Weather protection
This is the H2NO's whole argument. The Hoofer is made from 300D polyester and is not sold as waterproof. PING's page notes a rain-hood pocket on the bag but doesn't say a hood is included. The H2NO uses Sun Mountain's H2NO fabric with a waterproof PU coating and seam-sealed zippers — genuinely waterproof, not water-resistant — and includes a matching rain hood. If you live somewhere that rains sideways in April, that's not a minor spec line. It's the reason the bag exists.
Cart compatibility
The Hoofer has a cart strap channel, so the straps thread through without blocking your pockets when the bag rides on a cart. The H2NO doesn't publish a cart strap pass-through. That's not the same as saying it lacks one — Sun Mountain doesn't say — but the Hoofer's channel is a confirmed feature that genuinely matters if you split your rounds between walking and riding.
Price
The Hoofer lists at $290. The H2NO lists at $350. The $60 gap at list is real.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the PING Hoofer Stand Bag if:
- You walk some rounds and ride others, and want one bag that handles both without hassle
- You want maximum pocket space — 16 pockets means a spot for everything
- Weather isn't a consistent factor in your rounds
- You want the confirmed cart strap channel and convertible straps without paying $350
Get the Sun Mountain H2NO E-2.5 Stand Bag if:
- You walk regularly and want to feel the weight difference over 18 holes
- You play in real rain and want actual waterproof construction, not a rain hood you might not have
- You can live with 8 pockets and a 4-way top in exchange for a lighter, weather-sealed bag
- You always have a rain hood included and never want to dig around for one before the round
The Bottom Line
These two bags solve for different things. The Hoofer is the more versatile everyday option — more storage, confirmed cart compatibility, a lower list price, and convertible straps. The H2NO is a walking bag built for wet conditions, and it does that specific job better: lighter, waterproof, with a rain hood confirmed in the box. For most golfers on most courses in most weather, the Hoofer covers more ground at a lower price.
Get the PING Hoofer Stand Bag.