Mystery Ranch backpacks

[rpm4463]

Has anybody ever used the NICE 6500, or any pack that incorporates the NICE frame from Mystery Ranch?  It seems like a very interesting design, but it is missing a scabbard for bow and/or rifle.

[ridgefire]

my buddy bought the crew cab and has been happy with it. i looked at them when i was buying a pack but ended up going with a kifaru

[Salmo]

MR's are heavy.  But tough as hell.

[high country]

I use the nice frame with a 5500 pack and a homemade gun bearer similar to kifaru. For light loads, any pack will do.....for heavy loads, a good fitting top quality pack will make up for its weight in spades.

[link]

Anyone know of any retailers that carry the Mystery Ranch backpacks? I'd like to go and take a look at one.

[MDGrand]

I have the Crew Cab with the NICE frame. It is heavier.. BUT.. because it fits so well, it is VERY comfortable and super strong. Consequently, I do not notice the larger weight at all.

 The nice thing about the Crew Cab is it is a "do everything" pack. I keep it all zipped up and tied down to the small 1900 CI size for the most part, but I have the load cells for those long trips too that grows to 5000 CI.

As far as the scabbard.. in all honesty, if you want to stow your rifle or bow, you can do it very simply behind the first compartment in the Crew Cab. Is it as quickly accessible as perhaps a Eberlestock scabbard?.. no. BUT, I had the Eberlestock X1 backpack, and in my humble opinion, the scabbard is a bit over rated. It is not that easy to grab or take out your rifle and more than likely you will always want to remove your backpack anyway for a shot.

Also, one thing to to consider with those scabbards that hang below your belt with the muzzle pointed down.. is that if you slip.. and I have, you slam your barrel down on the ground. You also have to remove your rifle to sit down. I like to sit down with my backpack on often to rest. It sucked having to take the rifle out, sit down, and then try on my own to get it back in the scabbard.. which despite the videos, is NOT that easy, especially if you have gear loaded down.

So.. to each his own.. and my  after trying the Eberlestock X1, the Badlands Superday and now the Mystery Ranch Crew Cab... I will stick and stay with my Crew Cab.. I honestly feel like I bought the absolute LAST pack I will ever need.  As evidence, I sold my X1, returned the superday and sold my REI Mars pack after buying the Crew Cab.

[colockumelk]

MDGrand I am currently torn between the Longbow and the Crew Cab. I have read and seen pics of how to haul meat at the same time with the Longbow but.... How do you haul out load cells AND meat at the same time?  Basically I want a pack that I can use as a day pack that can haul out meat. And a pack that I can do a 4 day bivy hunt and haul my gear and meat out on the first trip. I think both can do it. But with the Crew Cab I'm not sure how you haul load cells and meat at once.

[MDGrand]

MDGrand I am currently torn between the Longbow and the Crew Cab. I have read and seen pics of how to haul meat at the same time with the Longbow but.... How do you haul out load cells AND meat at the same time?  Basically I want a pack that I can use as a day pack that can haul out meat. And a pack that I can do a 4 day bivy hunt and haul my gear and meat out on the first trip. I think both can do it. But with the Crew Cab I'm not sure how you haul load cells and meat at once.

Well, Colockum... Both IMHO are great packs. However the crew cab offers more versatility and size when needed. The longbow is only 2400ci from what I see. Whereas the crew cab has the abilty to go to 5000ci, something the longbow cant do. Most important the crew cabs ability to grow makes it great for taking out quarters. You do pose and interesting question though.. What happens when you have all the cells and meat?... Well, my guess would be that you transfer your cells to a friend or because of the multiple tie downs on the crew, you could tie meat or the cells. I think the options are unlimited with the crew vs the long bow.

[colockumelk]

I found a picture that shows a a guy with 1 large load cell in the bottom of the load bay and a cape/head/antlers on top of that.  I think that for a fpur day bivy hunt I could get away with just the day lid and 1 large load cell. I like the Crew Cabs versatility better than the Longbow but like the design of carrying meat and gear of the longbow better.

[briancorneal]

I've owned all sorts of hunting packs (eberlestock, badlands, etc) but by far, the mystery ranch nice 6500 is the most comfortable and durable pack out of them.  The mystery ranch pack puts all of the weight where it needs to be, on your hips, and not on your shoulders.  I've owned much lighter packs, and I've paid for it with pain and discomfort.  A lighter load (45lbs) in a lighter pack is comparable to a heavier load (70lbs) in the mystery ranch packs.  You wont notice the weight of a load as much as you would in a lighter pack.  I paid a lot for my nice 6500, but it was totally worth it.  They're customer service is second to none and they'll even tell you if the pack is fitting you correctly if you take a pic and email it to them.  Dana Gleason (founder of MR) has been making packs for decades.  Dana designs was bought out by Marmot, then he started MR.  His Dana design packs are still in high demand even though they haven't been manufactured for years. That in itself says a lot.  Try them and you won't be disappointed. 

[400out]

They look like nice packs! They are spendy though

[Benny]

CC's are great for hauling meat...kind of a pain for meat and camp. This was a bivy camp along with a boned out buck. Early season, warm weather, no spotter...light camp. I wouldn't expect to go on a 7 day trip with a Crew Cab. 6500 IMO would be a much better one bag set up.

[MDGrand]

How many load cells is that?

I JUST got my CC last year.. plan on getting it in motion this year durring the early season. I have all the load cells and the day lid.. is that what you have here?

[Benny]

That picture only has one large load cell and the lid. Hopefully you'll get lots of use out of yours!

[high country]

I usually take just my cover bag and the frame once I get to camp....I use a early 5500 and it is perfect for as long as i have wanted to go.