I don't think I ever posted this mini review here at BF so thought I would as it'll help explain why I'm always recommending it. These pics were taken when I got home and was unpacking from my first alpine multiday walk. Even though it was the tail end of our summer I decided to pack heavy as most of you would know mountain weather isn't predictable and I'm glad I did as a cold front came through. I encountered rain, light snow and temps in town (over 700m or 2300' lower altidtude) dropped to -6degC before windchill so I was easily seeing temps below -10degC.
Anyway, this is a Mystery Ranch Gen 2 NICE frame with a CrewCab bag, optional daypack lid (Camelbak cobranded as it's from a Cerberus bag that fits the same frame), optional "zippered contour waistbelt" (which isn't a belt at all but rather replacement hip pads with built in pouches) and a docked Kifaru pocket. (something new I was trying for this trip) all in Coyote.
Side:
Front:
Back:
With the daypack lid folded back and the rest of the pack fully opened up you can see where I carry my bulky items (in this case in a dry bag) such as my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad etc:
With the dry bag removed and the pack closed up again you can see there's a fair bit of room to work with:
If you don't need that space but still want to use the side pods they can still be used in their stowed position (they clip to each other in this config):
The other part of the bag then folds up and secures to the top and sides:
If you don't need the storage of the pods then they simply get flattened and the whole thing cinched down into what I call the daypack config:
All of these "configurations" can be used with or without the daypack lid making this an incredibly flexible package IMO which in turn is combined with the best pack carry system I've come across. I headed out with my heaviest load to date at around 30kg (about 66lbs) and the pack carries it with ease.
Hope someone finds these pics useful.
Anyway, this is a Mystery Ranch Gen 2 NICE frame with a CrewCab bag, optional daypack lid (Camelbak cobranded as it's from a Cerberus bag that fits the same frame), optional "zippered contour waistbelt" (which isn't a belt at all but rather replacement hip pads with built in pouches) and a docked Kifaru pocket. (something new I was trying for this trip) all in Coyote.
Side:
Front:
Back:
With the daypack lid folded back and the rest of the pack fully opened up you can see where I carry my bulky items (in this case in a dry bag) such as my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad etc:
With the dry bag removed and the pack closed up again you can see there's a fair bit of room to work with:
If you don't need that space but still want to use the side pods they can still be used in their stowed position (they clip to each other in this config):
The other part of the bag then folds up and secures to the top and sides:
If you don't need the storage of the pods then they simply get flattened and the whole thing cinched down into what I call the daypack config:
All of these "configurations" can be used with or without the daypack lid making this an incredibly flexible package IMO which in turn is combined with the best pack carry system I've come across. I headed out with my heaviest load to date at around 30kg (about 66lbs) and the pack carries it with ease.
Hope someone finds these pics useful.
