I was wondering what everyone thinks of the Mystery Ranch packs?? I like the looks of them. Seem to be well thought out also. I’m curious which models from Mystery Ranch have the yoke or frame that can be used as a gun rest when the pack is placed vertically instead of laid down flat? It looks to be handy as hell. I’m wanting to stay as light as possible and day use is all I need plus ability to possibly pack out the meat. What do you all suggest?

Camofire.com has them on sale often, they look nice. I use an Eberlestock X2 and have not wanted to change.

From Mystery Ranch

• Mule (23L)
• Pop Up 28L
• Pintler (41L)
• Cabinet (44L)
• Sawtooth (45L)

They are all badazz day packs. The Pintler, Cabinet and Sawtooth will do for an overnight or even a weekend if you pack judiciously.

The Pop Up 28 will carry the meat of an entire deer if you need it to and will have no problem carrying an elk quarter.

The Mule and Pintler share the same frame and are also available as a "bag only" purchase, so you get one now as an entire pack and add the bag of the other later if you feel you need more or less room.

You'd be hard-pressed to find smaller packs like these that haul meat so well. If it were me, I'd be looking hardest at the Pop Up 28, Pintler and Sawtooth. The Pop Up 28 is probably the huckleberry for you, however.

Thanks! I’m going to look into them for sure.

Watch some of Randy Newberg's Youtube videos on them, he posts here as BigFin as well.

Randy can suck a fat turd! Socialist prick.

I have the MR Mule, and absolutely love it so far.

Dave

I think I’m either going to get the mule or the pop-up if I go with a Mystery Ranch ... I’ve also been eying up the Eberlestock X2. Do you folks know a couple good internet stores to keep an eye on these packs to see if I can catch a sale of some sort? Thanks

I have been using a Badlands Superday. It offers a variety of adjustments. It lets you strap your rifle to the pack during your hike.

Camofire
Black ovis
S heels


Those are The places I would look for a possibility of MR pack on sale, I would not count on seeing that anytime soon, you just missed a bunch in sale as they dropped the new ones. May still be some left coming back around in camofire but no pop ups.


I know it’s a loaded subject that’s highly emotional, with significant social and political implications so I’m reluctant to wade in, and I will absolutely refrain from restating my opinion, but, I’ve got some popup photos in a gallery here and there’s a link to it in the popup thread here in this forum.

I packed out a whole boned out mule deer buck with my MR Mule. You’d be hard pressed to find a more useful pack. I have, and like, the Eberlestock x2 as well. If I were only using as a day pack it would be very high on my list. I’d sell it to you for a good price.

Pm sent

Tell me how you really feel.

I have the same one. My wife bought it for me for Christmas. So far I love it.

There are a lot of good packs out there. All have tradeoffs.

I don't think you're going to pack out a mule deer in a SuperDay. Nice pack, but ... but. I've carried out a couple blacktails with a Badlands 2200 ... 100-120 pounds each I'd guess, and I did each as a single load. It's a chore. With that much weight the straps cut in a bit though I think it was better than trying to do it in 2 trips because of having to walk up the hill for the 2nd load.

I punted 5-6-7 packs including the 2200 at the end of last season and picked up a MR Pop Up 18. I picked the 18 over the 28 to force myself to scale down how much crap I lug into the woods. If you don't share my tendency to try to take both kitchen sinks if you can fit 'em, the 28 might be a better choice.

Tom

I stand corrected! I want to publicly apologize to Randy. I am man enough to admit my mistakes and do my best to make things right. After several text with Randy I mislabeled him and called him a name I should not have. I was wrong plain and simple. I can sit here and try to say we have differences in opinions and whatever but the bottomline is I was wrong. Randy I am sorry for saying this. Thank you for reaching out to me. I hope you will accept my apology.

Does that mean the Mystery Ranch packs are good to go?

I never said they weren't good. I said they are way overpriced for what you are getting in my opinion. I own a couple Mystery Ranch packs, I suppose you missed that.

Any thoughts on the Pop up 18 for a day pack? I really try to limit the total amount of gear I take with me on a hunt, and am down to a 3/4 full Bandlands Diablo normally and wondering if that Pop Up 18 is just too small. I have a Kuiu Attack for really small stuff when the goats are with me and say hikes.

I know that’s hard to do sometimes, but good for you.

exb,

I was contemplating buying a pop up mainly for 1 or two days out, but the MR people thought a Pintler would work better. I ended up buying the Pintler.

2 days of stuff will squeeze into the pack w/o putting anything on the meat shelf. Since hunting season was over when I bought the pack I obviously haven't packed any meat, but have walked around a bit with about

45lbs in it and the pack was very comfortable. For sure either one of the pop ups IMOP would be too small for my needs.

Will be using it for shed hunting, fishing and scouting next summer. So we will see.....


Lefty C

That’s a pretty reasonable size but too big for my needs. The mule would be more in the neighborhood of what I’m envisioning in that lack system

RickyBobby: I have used several types/brands of "day packs" while Hunting out west (and Alaska) over the last 50+ years.
I don't really have a favorite but do have a suggestion for the first thing to place in the bottom of your "day pack" and that would be the "old timey" "survival blanket".
I have used these things so often and for so many different things that I highly recommend you find and buy one and put it at the bottom of that pack.
They only weigh a couple ounces and are VERY handy.
I have used these for signaling, rain repelling, wrapping boned out meat in, temporary shelter, wind repelling, heat reflecting (from a small fire) and on and on.
I am excited for your first Hunt.
I currently am using a camouflaged SOFT material day pack with waist belt and several side and back pockets on it.
Good luck with whichever you choose and be prepared for dramatic weather/condition changes - they can happen quickly and unexpectedly here in the Rocky Mountain west.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I'm looking at an ULA CDT as a pronghorn/muledeer day pack. Anyone have any experience or opinions? I'm not looking to haul meat with it. Mostly for carrying clothes for swapping out, given weather conditions, a kill kit , lunch, water....

It will be fine, especially if you don't plan on doing it very often and if you have other uses for such a lightweight pack.

I'd personally get something with a bit more beefy material, as I often crawl around on the prairie when I'm hunting speed goats. Something like the Mystery Ranch Coulee 25 or Mystery Ranch Scree would be perfect and both would serve admirably as a day pack for just about any other use.

For a Day pack, the Sitka packs are really nice. I've had a Flash 32 and a Bivy 30. I've had deer quarters in my Flash 32 and it held up well. I've had 45-50lbs in my Bivy 30 without issue. That's prob max load though for those. Not true haulers.

Now I am using a Kiafru Tarryall. Very nice but expensive. I got a deal.

The Stone Glacier Avail is a nice pack as well plus if you decide to buy one of their frames in the future it will attach to that as well and you'd have a great load hauler. They also have a new larger version called the Kiowa. You can prob hold 60-65lbs in either of those.

My Sitka Bivy 30 is currently for sale and I'll make you a good deal if you'd like to try it out. It's Subalpine color. Excellent condition. Let me know.

Lee

Yeah, I've been looking at the Mystery Ranch packs on the advice of others here. Although a bit pricey, I think I'm going to buy once, cry once, and go for the MR Pop Up 28. It looks like a very impressive piece of gear, and I haven't seen a bad review on it yet, (3,2,1 and...). I know I said I wasn't looking to haul meat with it, but hey, you never know. I'd rather have the capability, and not use it, than have to go and buy again if things changed. I have quite awhile until Oct., so maybe I can catch a sale.

Another vote here for the Eberlestock X2. It is heavier than some, but fits great. It easily handles an elk quarter, in addition to other gear on a day hunt.

I like my MR Pintler a lot!





I don't carry that much stuff with me, a couple knives, some survival stuff, first aid, puffer, etc. As a daypack the Pintler is good but not perfect. Something smaller with more pockets might be "perfect" as a day pack.

But as a day pack that has hauling capability the Pintler is superb!

Curious, what is the purpose of the four lengths of cordage looped through the stays?

Does anyone have any experience with the team elk pack from eberlestock? I will be purchasing a pack shortly for my hunt next fall.

What did he say to change your mind? I was a fan of Randy's since he started but I cant support his views on voting for dems because of conservation. Dems prove every day they are trying to take our guns. I understand standing for public lands but voting Dem will be the end of guns and hunting. I could give a [bleep] about public land if my guns and hunting are gone. Between him and Steven Rinella selling out to a damn anti gun company the hunting industry has gone hell.

I apologize for this being off topic.

Crud....I don't watch much tv but the family and I were just watching meateater on Netflix when it was raining this weekend. I could tell the Rinella fellow likely wasn't a gun nut, and that's fine - he's a hunter, but I hate to hear he's owned by an anti-gun company.

I did laugh several times when my kids yelled "work the bolt!" after Rinella would shoot. He just kinda sits there looking after the shot and my kids got on him after the first time and watched for it every time after.

I agree with you. That was my point. I just said it in a way I should not have. I am sure Randy is a good guy. But my views and his views on the issues differ greatly. I can not support Randy, Steve, Ben and the rest of that crowd.

Primary purpose is because I carry a 45# ruck weight for most of the year on the frame and I use the para cord to tie the weight to the frame.

Purpose it's still on there during hunting season is just in case I need it for something. I don't carry extra para cord in the pack because there's some back there if I need it.

I just bought a like new MR Mule day pack hauler...I did a lot of reading and decided the Mule might provide better load comfort than my
Apls OutdoorZ that wasn’t a good option for me. 😎

MR Cabinet. No extra straps flopping around.

I gave in and ordered a Popup-28. It arrived yesterday. I've got some plans for "eastern" hunting with it that will involve a little load carrying up mountain sides. Link below is not my post but I had the same idea and I'm looking forward to giving it a try:

https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/eastern-public-land-whitetail-setup-mr-pop-up-28.285720/

Yep, I think the Pop Up 28 is going to be the way to go for me. Others on the forum have commented that they go on sale from time to time, but I have seen none yet. I'm in no real hurry so I'll continue watching for awhile, then I'll pay the national price. I hate paying national pricing and MSRP!

Badlands 2200 will carry out a whole deer, boned and quartered. I've got a bunch of those t-shirts.

It will also handle an elk quarter easily with room to carry all your other day gear.

that's what I used all last season; wasn't fortunate enough to pack any elk out- but had it loaded several times with 60-70 lbs and it carries just fine with that load

it's a roomy 18 liters imo, I'm able to carry enough gear that I can safely spend a night out if needed

I have two questions. First, do you mind my asking, what gear you have attached to the underside of the pack in your photo? That is one of the options I intend for my tripod. And second, I'd like a blaze orange pennant like yours for when I'm hunting public land. Could you please tell me where you got yours? Mystery ranch has them, but they double as extra storage and are a bit pricey. Thanks.

BTW, love your choice of firearm. I have a few Featherweights. Depending on the game, one of them always gets the nod.

Certainly underneath is an OR dry bag, want to say it’s 5 liters, in it is a 50 degree Apex quilt- it has a “poncho” slot so I can slip it over me when I’m glassing. In a pinch I’d use it with the bivy I carry for an unexpected night out.

I carry a folded up ccf pad (like a z-rest) behind the pack, this is where my tripod and folded up trekking poles go as well. Completely out of the way.

The orange is from Orangeaglow- easily removable and go pack to pack (I also use their vest- super light$

I have two Featherweights- there are certainly lighter rifles, but damn they are pretty

mtwarden, Thanks for the info. I ordered the PU 28.

And I concur. The Featherweights are pretty as hell.

thumbs up

I have a Mystery Ranch Crewcab (similar to that Mule but with vertical wing pockets on either side in addition to the main bag, and with a big meat shelf for hauling quarters or dry bags...) and a Pop Up 18. Either will do fine as a day pack, and haul a heavy load of meat. If you're backpacking in, I'd go with the more substantial frame, either a NICE frame (there's a used one for sale with Medium suspension over on Kifaru Forums that's been there for weeks at $175) or the newer, fancier, lighter Guide Light frame...