I have three Dana packs.. awesome!

If the Man himself is monitoring this thread, I do have a question. Any chance I could bum a couple peices of the foam that fits in the small of the back on my Arcflex Alpine or my wife's Yellowstone, assuming you have such around for your new packs? In both cases, that foam, and ONLY that foam, turned to powder in the years since I bought them in the early 90's... and it is kind of important.

Dana Design was a great company; probably still is... I had to send a Bomb Pack in for a repair and they took care of it FAST. Still have that one too.

http://shop.mysteryranch.com/s.nl/it.A/id.4071/.f?sc=8&category=1971

Anyone using the Grizzly? Seems like a beefed up internal frame pack vs. an external frame like the old Dana Longbed / Terraframes.. ?????

Hello everyone and welcome Dana. Looking forward to your posts and advice.

First - Welcome Dana and Mark!!
Second lots of us seem to be asking for bits and pieces to our old Dana packs. As I understand it (those in the know - please correct me) Dana Designs was acquired by K2, back somewhere about 2001 and all warranty work is now handled by them. Yep - been there myself - they (K2?) were willing to warranty my pack with a "new" import - but I wasn't willing to give up my Bozeman pack for that - stitched it up myself - still going strong.

Mystery Ranch - is a whole new deal, but same great designer, seems to have the same ideals as the original Dana Designs - but I am pretty sure there is no real obligation to support the original Dana stuff - that went with the name brand long ago.

Proud owner of 4 Dana Bozeman packs, one Mexican Dana pack???. and a new Crew Cab!! Even took the factory tour in '93!!!

A real Dana pack fits and it hauls a load - bonus, it will still be there when your kids are ready pack your elk out - how many other packs are that tough? Besides its really "Made in the USA".

Understand the whole K2 deal, just hoping we could talk Dana into some rebuilds / minor repairs on his old stuff. (at a fee of course)

Just wanted to thank Dana & the folks at Mystery Ranch for making such great gear. I have a Dana Design pack I bought in 1994 and to be honest with you it will probably be the only one I will ever need for the rest of my life.

It has been all over Alaska & sundry places throughout the world & it still looks & performs great. And I have done almost nothing to maintain it. By today's standards it would be considered heavy, but it fits like the perfect glove and I would not consider anything else. The performance & durability are unmatched. Thanks guys. One question what can I do in regards to maintenance to keep this pack for a long time?

I'd also like to know about plans (if any) regarding the externals. Those fiberglass wands do a better job of getting the load onto the hips than anything I've ever used.

MysteryRanch, Dana, I don't watch this forum regularly, but the name Dana Gleason's definitely caught my eye.

I have a different sort of question to ask. In looking at your external frames, I see they appear somewhat conventional in the way of shoulder straps and hip belt. But back in the 70s and early '80s there was a big rage in wrap-around external frames. I had one, not too well fit (stole it from my sister) but man, I could put a load on that and really be happy. I've not found this to be true of most frames, internal or external ever since. So, it makes me wonder, why did the wrap around frame not stick around?

The modern internal frame packs are really really nice. And to some extent, the better ones like yours are superior in most every way, but when it comes to external frames, I'm still looking for something that will carry half a boned out elk as nicely as that old wrap around frame did - I think it was called Sun-Something Designs or at least had the word "Sun" in the name of the maker.

Thanks,
Brent

Brent, I've never carried a "wrap around" external, but I have carried a Dana external quite a bit. To me, the vertical fiberglass wands on the Dana look like they perform exactly the same function as a wrap around external. They very effectively transfer load towards the front of the hipbelt. I'm guessing that is the answer -- the wrap arounds evolved into the Dana external. Even that sophisticated frame with it's cult following didn't sell well enough to stay in production. It's a pity.

My 2 cents on one of their packs ...... I have owned a few good packs in the past(the latest being a Kifaru Siwash) but I will say is that you can use the crew cab (w/the NICE frame)as a comfortable and compressed daypack or load it to the max (150 lbs ++)of what your legs and back can handle and you will not have any sore spots because of the pack but rather from your own deconditioned body; and the Mystery Ranch customer service is top notch.