Mystery Ranch Crew Cab Maiden Voyage

Joined
Oct 3, 2003
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The one thing that kept me looking at the crew cab by Mystery Ranch was its versatility. The second thing I kept coming back to this pack for was its almost forcing you to seperate your items. The larger interior space for carrying bulkier items also sort of forces you to keep your items from remaining there unseen by its open construction. Anyways - On to my simple light excursion out today.

I needed to change my Trail Camera Cards and 1 Camera location. In the past I have carried in Minerial Rocks and this is where the large open area Im not using much today will really make this pack shine. Also, Im purchasing a stand with climbing sticks and this will aid in me packing those in as well.

Here is a quick pick to get an idea of the main area hauling capabilities.
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This fully collapsed image you can see the main "Day Pack Front" and 2 vertical "Long Pockets" folded in.

This is the additional Day Pack "Lid" that can expand your load 900ci and ride atop your bulkier items and give you FAST ACCESS to what you may need more easily. Right now this 900ci "Lid" is stored in my hydration bladder pocket and out of the way but with me if needed.
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Not very good pictures to show storage areas but here we go anyways.

The front angled zipper pocket is great for snacks, gloves, camera, maps. I only have an extra pair of sunglasses I had now.
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The inside Daypack area has 2 top pockets in the top that are easy to access without loosening the compression straps. I have just a pair of clippers cause its WAY brushy in areas in the south, Pad and Pencil, Leatherman, Ect. This pocket has plenty of usable area to drop in items. I only have dropped in a few extra bungee cords and extra batteries. The tip zipper area in this area opens up and drops COMPLETELY down. I have 550 chord and a few plastic bags and trash bags stored here if needed.

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Showing More of the front "Day Pack Compartment"
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The 2 long pockets are not small at all. For today I had 1 32oz Nalgene in one and a folding saw + 1 medium bottle of descent spray.
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What I really like about this pack is that the area's are segmented so when relocating trail cameras or adding other items to the pack your not disrupting the layout of the whole pack.

Just slip in the trail cam and Im on my way :)
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One other thing I REALLY liked about this pack today way that it holds ALOT but its not super high so it catches on less brush overhead when crouching through thick South Eastern Under Growth.
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I also think this pack will shine when its time to hit the range. Simply un-clip Day Pack front, pop in my prepacked ammo bags and Im out the door. My top loaders always had me packing and unpacking to see what I had if I was second guessing I had everything. The layout of this pack takes that minor obsessive compulsive behavior I have down a notch as its so open when really loading it up full.

I can see myself purchasing the "Load Cells" Mystery Ranch sells after selling some other pouches I have.

Also, this pack really carried well when adding up to 40lb and I have no doubt more than that is not a problem at all.

The side pockets on the belt really came in handy to store my sunglasses on one side, and the other side carried trail marking tape + pruning shears for briars and other underbrush needs while walking.

Not a cheap pack system at all but I think this is the single best "Do All" pack for the way I prefer to pack things around.

Tomorrow with weather permitting we're off for a Mothers Day Hike for more day trips so Im excited to get more use out of it this weekend.
 
Wow thats a bad ass looking pack ive been lusting after a mystery ranch for awhile now and your making it hard not to pull the trigger on one :(
 
I just bought a Camelbak TriZip - which uses Mystery Ranch's "Futura" harness system, and that thing fits so well, and is so ingenius in how easily it adjusts in size, that I scratch my head wondering why it took so long for someone to design it.
 
Love that pack. The idea of it, anyway. I've got no real practical use for one, personally, but dream up all kinds of stuff it could be used for "if I still did this", or "if that happened". One of those things I'd like to have...just to have. The Futura yoke has spoiled me so bad, I don't know how I'd be able to buy another pack that isn't fully adjustable for torso size. Mountainsmith and Deuter have systems that can achieve similar results fit-wise, but aren't nearly so well designed or integrated as MR's. I just wish they had as much variety in their recreational packs as they do for the military and hunting lines. I'm not normally a "fan" of any person, thing, or brand, but if they had more choices for backpacking packs(ok, and daypacks geared toward general use instead of skiing), I'd probably never even bother to look at another manufacturer's packs.
 
I have an older model Dana Designs external frame pack for long trips, but I've always had trouble finding a 2-3 day pack that fits as well. That TriZip really fits the bill.
 
The 3 day assault is very nice for a day pack as well as the sweat pea :)
 
I meant an urban/EDC style daypack. Those packs are way too big and heavy for that. My Dragonslayer gets used as a gear hauler, and for up to 3 days backpacking, and it just has 2" more height than they do. The new version is different, but mine is basically a demilitarized 3DAP with a little extra capacity.
Interested in that Street Fighter I got them to post pics of on their Facebook page(I see you!), but need to call and ask for more details. Don't know about its features, but if it has the Futura yoke and even a minimal waistbelt, it'll probably be the best-fitting daypack on the planet, regardless.
I do like that NICE frame/Crew Cab, for real. It can do anything and everything, especially with load cells and a couple other pack bodies. If there was ever "one pack to rule them all", that has to be it:thumbup:
btw, be careful, these dang Mystery Ranch packs are addictive...you can get some load cells, and flat bags to help with the cravings, though:D
 
Time for more Day Trip Use

Packing Lunch for 3
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Water in left Long Pocket and Wifes Bug Spray and Jerkey Strips
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And Lunch for 3 stashed in front of Right Long Pocket.
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Maps...CHECK!
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Holds quite a bit easily. Binos in front for easy access
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After Lunch with water easily accessible. This is what I dig! anything the wife throws at me AFTER THE FACT I can fit in without disturbing my other areas.
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See ....Not too bulky
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A little overkill for a day pack.....YEP
Do I mind.......NOPE

Because I can use this pack for way much more than day trips and its not like using a 6500ci pack and cinching everything down. This pack lacks the exterior traditional material so its great small AND if needed to be large I CAN!
 
Great pics, Brian. They make me miss my old crew cab. I loved that pack's versatility and expandability. That pack could carry a tank. Here it is swallowing a MR 3-day assault pack with no difficulty.

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I did contemplate sending the pack back to MR to make the vertical pockets removable as I didn't always use them. They were tucked away in that pic. :D
 
I love this pack and think I'll try attaching the day pack lid next time out.

The 3 day assault or Big Horn would be my next pic I think.

Or the Alpha Wolf.... Too many to love!!!
 
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