Mac in a Sac – $79.95
‘Mac in a Sac’ is a lightweight raincoat that comes in a small drawstring pouch. I recently trialled the Mac over the a long weekend walking the Goldfields Track; a 60-kilometre, three day hike between Castlemaine and Bendigo in Victoria, Australia.
As I packed my bag for the trip I discovered the best thing about the jacket for my purposes: weighing just 275 grams and about the size of two fists, it can be easily squeezed into any backpack with little concern about weight or volume, leaving plenty of room for hiking essentials like chocolate and coffee.
Huffing up Mount Alexander on the first day of the hike, the hill lived up to its reputation as one of the dampest areas in central Victoria as dark clouds rolled in over the manna gums. I quickly donned the Mac and continued walking. As well as the jacket having a smart appearance – important when trying to impress Mount Alexander’s koala population – the jacket was comfortable, with elasticised cuffs, drawstring waist, two zippered pockets and a large vent at the back to improve airflow. As a few drops of rain began to fall, I unearthed the jacket’s hood from beneath its collar, grateful to find it also had a drawstring for adjustment. Although it only turned out to be a light shower, the rain beaded and slid smoothly off the surface of the jacket leaving me dry. The only slight negative was that the main ventilation flap – a horizontal slit across the back of the coat which can be closed with velcro – was not much use as it was effectively sealed off by my backpack. It also began to get a little humid beneath the Mac as I continued puffing up the hill towards Leanganook campground.
Warwick Sprawson trials the new ‘Mac in a Sac’ from Target Dry.
A Word On Materials
The jacket’s breathability – given as 5,000g/m² – turns out to be more than capable of keeping me dry in light to medium rain showers. A 5,000g/m² rating means 5000 grams of moisture vapour can disperse through one square metre of fabric in 24 hours. The higher the rating the better breathability, with the most sophisticated (read expensive) jackets having ratings around 20,000g/m².
The Mac’s waterproof rating is given as 5,000mmH20, meaning an inch square of jacket material could suspend a 5,000mm column of water before the fluid began to leak through. Again the higher the number the better, with top models in the 20,000+mmH20 range, leaving the Mac at the lower end of the scale.
Which brings us to the question of what fabric Mac in a Sac is made from. Here’s a clue: It was loved in the 70s, reviled in the 80s and 90s, and has recently make a comeback in the new millennium, particularly for hiking clothes.
Yes, it’s your old friend polyester.
Blessed with good weather over the next few days, we tramp along beside the Coliban Water Channel as it guides us into box-ironbark country. On the last day, approaching the end of the walk at Bendigo, the clouds thicken and it begins to rain gently. Again the Mac does a decent job of keeping me dry, with the hood’s slight peak keeping the water off my face as I search Bendigo’s outer suburbs for a coffee shop. My only concern at this stage is that water may begin seeping through the seams at the shoulders or elsewhere, but it seems to hold up until the rain eases.
The Verdict
At the end of the hike, who can I say who the Mac in the Sac is ideal for? As a light-weight jacket with entry-level waterproofing and breathability, this isn’t a jacket you would take on a demanding mountaineering trip in difficult climatic conditions. But if you are looking for a featherweight, compact and well-priced coat you can throw in your daypack as insurance against occasional showers, then the Mac in a Sac might be for you. The jacket’s elasticised cuffs, comfortable fit and large back-vent would also make the jacket a great option for cyclists, making it a useful all-rounder to have on hand if you’re heading on an international backpacking adventure.
Available from select Australian retailers. Enquire with OSA Brands to find your nearest stockist.