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How does the MacGregor Principal 7 Inch Stand Bag perform? Steve Carroll emptied his bag into this one and went to find out!
Picture the word MacGregor and it conjures up a golden age of Jack Nicklaus dominating the golf world. But don’t think this a company living in the past. The latest MacGregor stand bag is a triumph of modern technology.
This review introduces the Principal 7 inch stand bag, an ultra-lightweight option that can get you round the course with the minimum of fuss.
MacGregor Principal 7 Inch Stand Bag Review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
Exceptional in all weather, it’s light as a feather, can handle a full set of clubs, and deals admirably with a shower. If you’re looking to keep things compact, you just can’t go wrong.
PROS
Probably the lightest bag I have ever carried
Dual-strap system is extremely comfortable
Plenty of space for balls and clothing despite compact size
After years of heavy trolley use – it is a bit like a drug! – I’ve made a concerted effort to try and carry this season. So much so I bought myself one of those trendy nylon bags with a weird logo.
That’s me for the year, I thought, until the MacGregor Principal stand bag turned up in the office. The fashionable bag has been missing in action ever since.
The red and navy colour combination set it apart straight away (black and black and green are also available).
Then I picked it up. This thing is light.
You can barely feel the dual straps resting on the shoulders when you haul this up without clubs and it isn’t burdening you in any way when the irons hit the fabric.
It is genuinely remarkable. With a 4-way, 7-inch top, this bag is being marketed as something you’d reach for when you wanted to go out for a quick 9 with a half-set.
Let me tell you, though, you can get 14 clubs in this without having to damage your shafts when wrenching them out to play a shot.
It doesn’t need to be a stopgap. I’ve been using this as my main bag.
Lightweight bags sometimes come with an inferior stand solution – if any at all. I’ve seen no legs, mini-legs, and tree trunks in the bags I’ve tried down the years but even the stand system on the MacGregor Principal continues the feather-like approach.
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It’s not sacrificing any durability or toughness. These two legs are sturdy, and you won’t need to worry about them buckling under the strain.
We’ve also got two full length dividers, five pockets, including a velour-lined space for valuables, and a large rain hood along with a ring for your towel and an umbrella hood.
That’s a lot of features in something so small. But does it all fit together well, or do you find yourself stretching when reaching for a pocket?
Does the bag stand up to inclement conditions, or does it topple over under a brief breeze? Let’s look at how it performed during the heat of battle.
MacGregor Principal 7 Inch Stand Bag: NCG Review
The MacGregor Principal is genuinely the lightest stand bag I’ve ever put on my shoulders.
I’m a veteran of Sunday and pencil bags and this product is even matching some of them for what it’s pushing on the scales.
But Sunday bags are by their nature limited. They’re designed for a quick run and are shorn of features to make that flexibility happen.
This bag feels much more of a bridge. It’s got all the features of a standard bag but reduced in size. So you’ll be familiar with the stand configuration, the moulded angle base, and the two pocket front – a smaller reach down sack on the top, giving way to a larger compartment for balls.
Its petite nature makes those pockets very accessible while on the move. It feels far easier to grab a ball, or reach for your laser, than it is with a full-size model.
The dual-strap system is well padded and extremely comfortable. It sat nicely on my shoulders without any need to reconfigure, but they’re easily moved depending on your size and comfort level.
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When I tested this over several competition rounds, I carried a full set of clubs along with half a dozen balls and accessories and not only does it remain exceptionally light but the straps spread the weight nicely too.
I’m frequently burdened with ‘red shoulder syndrome’ after 18-holes with a loaded stand bag and the soreness has so far been reassuringly absent whenever this has been on my back.
Most of you will need to carry some extra clothing with you, depending on the conditions, and may have concerns about whether the trimmed downsize of this bag will allow that.
But I managed to get both a rolled-up waterproof top and trousers into the largest side pocket.
You really don’t have to make too many compromises with the MacGregor Principal. The velour pocket comfortably holds your car and house keys, along with a wallet.
A smaller, but still substantial pocket, on the lower left side of the bag easily holds a bottle of water – or something stronger! – and a snack.
The legs snap fold away when you pick the bag up and are rigid when placed. I’ve used this in some pretty strong early summer winds and it’s never once looked like collapsing under the gusts.
I’ve also been in the rain too and, while it doesn’t appear to be advertised as waterproof, the main body of the bag deflects water away in some style.
The rain hood is quick and easy to fit, but if the rain continues falling you’ll probably notice the shoulder straps absorbing the liquid along with the mesh cushioned fabric that sits into your ribs if you’re only using both straps across your right shoulder.
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That said, you’re getting far more protection from the weather than you’d usually expect from a product of this nature.
What’s the lowdown? The MacGregor Principal is excellent in nearly every way. At around £80, you’re getting nearly all the benefits from a much larger, and much more expensive, stand bag but in a far more convenient chassis.
If reducing the size and weight you’re carrying on the course is your primary purpose, this is the perfect solution. There aren’t many trade-offs, and you can still test the limit with a full set-up without compromising the product, or breaking your back at the same time.
This is surely the model that all ultra-lightweight stand bags should follow. This MacGregor golf bag is definitely a winner.
