Mystery Ranch Longbow Review - 07/27/09
I had a chance to try out the new MR Longbow over the weekend on a scouting trip, and in the interest of gear heads everywhere, thought I might share my thoughts. First off, I am not a paid spokesman, affiliate, field staff, pro, or anything of MR. I bought this pack with my own money (in fact I had to sell my CC to get it). So these observations of the LB are mine, and mine only. YMMV.
Initial Notes:
Well made. No surprise there. MR has been doing this for a while and know what they're doing. They list the pack at 2200 ci, but it feels more like 2800 to me. With my bivy gear I could easily do a 5 day trip with this pack. There are 6 pockets located in the main compartment, all very useable. 2 of the pockets work well for a spotting scope and tripod. One of the pockets, located at the top, has a zipper. THANK YOU THANK YOU for the zippered pocket! Now I don't have to worry about my keys and wallet getting dump-out, pulled out, whatever-out, again. My setup (medium waist belt with zippered pockets, medium shoulder yoke, NICE frame, and LB pack bag) weighs 6 lbs 9 oz on my scale.
My Goal:
As a high country mule deer hunter I had 3 needs for the pack to fill -
1. Be useable as a daypack for hunting.
2. Be able to haul a boned out muley plus my bivy gear in one, albeit heavy, load.
3. Be useable as a general use backpack for hunting and scouting trips, or recreational backpacking.
What I don't like:
It doesn't have compression strapping over the top. I may modify the pack to allow a couple of straps to go over the top for strapping on those massive antlers I'll be carrying this fall. :-) A daisy chain on the top pocket would solve this problem.
This pack bag uses the NICE frame, so the load lifter straps, for me any way, are more just load stability straps.
Conclusions:
After using the LB this weekend I can easily say goals 1 and 3 are accomplished. I feel confident goal 2 can be accomplished as well by detaching the LB pack bag from the frame and using it and its strapping as a load sling. My Kifaru meat baggie fits nicely in this configuration and will place the heaviest part of the load (the boned out meat) next to the frame. This will allow my bivy gear to remain in the pack bag. There are some photos on Bowsite showing this setup.
I was a little nervous about the (3) zipper access design, especially the top 2. Most packs I have attach the top pocket with straps, not zippers. I was pleasantly surprised at how functional these zippers are. In fact, they allow access to the pack more efficiently than the strapped on top pockets I was used to. The downside is a zipped on top pocket does not allow expansion and compression using the top pocket's straps.
Overall, I am very pleased with the LB and expect it to be my go to pack for the foreseeable future.
LB versus CC:
I have used the CC for my last (2) fall hunts. While I like the CC, I have always felt it was too heavy for my needs. With the CC pack bag, NICE frame, Day Pack Lid, and a couple of strapped on pockets the whole setup weighed close to 10 lbs. With the LB I feel like I am getting better pack bag functionality and sufficient heavy load capability for only 6-1/2 lbs.
IMHO the CC remains the champ for heavy and awkward load hauling (think elk quarter(s)). The middle compartment on the CC with its design and bottom reinforcements is a better load hauling setup. But for my uses and needs, the LB is a better fit.
Initial Notes:
Well made. No surprise there. MR has been doing this for a while and know what they're doing. They list the pack at 2200 ci, but it feels more like 2800 to me. With my bivy gear I could easily do a 5 day trip with this pack. There are 6 pockets located in the main compartment, all very useable. 2 of the pockets work well for a spotting scope and tripod. One of the pockets, located at the top, has a zipper. THANK YOU THANK YOU for the zippered pocket! Now I don't have to worry about my keys and wallet getting dump-out, pulled out, whatever-out, again. My setup (medium waist belt with zippered pockets, medium shoulder yoke, NICE frame, and LB pack bag) weighs 6 lbs 9 oz on my scale.
My Goal:
As a high country mule deer hunter I had 3 needs for the pack to fill -
1. Be useable as a daypack for hunting.
2. Be able to haul a boned out muley plus my bivy gear in one, albeit heavy, load.
3. Be useable as a general use backpack for hunting and scouting trips, or recreational backpacking.
What I don't like:
It doesn't have compression strapping over the top. I may modify the pack to allow a couple of straps to go over the top for strapping on those massive antlers I'll be carrying this fall. :-) A daisy chain on the top pocket would solve this problem.
This pack bag uses the NICE frame, so the load lifter straps, for me any way, are more just load stability straps.
Conclusions:
After using the LB this weekend I can easily say goals 1 and 3 are accomplished. I feel confident goal 2 can be accomplished as well by detaching the LB pack bag from the frame and using it and its strapping as a load sling. My Kifaru meat baggie fits nicely in this configuration and will place the heaviest part of the load (the boned out meat) next to the frame. This will allow my bivy gear to remain in the pack bag. There are some photos on Bowsite showing this setup.
I was a little nervous about the (3) zipper access design, especially the top 2. Most packs I have attach the top pocket with straps, not zippers. I was pleasantly surprised at how functional these zippers are. In fact, they allow access to the pack more efficiently than the strapped on top pockets I was used to. The downside is a zipped on top pocket does not allow expansion and compression using the top pocket's straps.
Overall, I am very pleased with the LB and expect it to be my go to pack for the foreseeable future.
LB versus CC:
I have used the CC for my last (2) fall hunts. While I like the CC, I have always felt it was too heavy for my needs. With the CC pack bag, NICE frame, Day Pack Lid, and a couple of strapped on pockets the whole setup weighed close to 10 lbs. With the LB I feel like I am getting better pack bag functionality and sufficient heavy load capability for only 6-1/2 lbs.
IMHO the CC remains the champ for heavy and awkward load hauling (think elk quarter(s)). The middle compartment on the CC with its design and bottom reinforcements is a better load hauling setup. But for my uses and needs, the LB is a better fit.