Mystery Ranch no more?

[thomas89]

Are Mystery Ranch’s Days Numbered?

An outdoors podcast reports that the celebrated backpack brand will sunset its consumer line next year—but a source with knowledge of the company’s plans says that at least some products will be available longer.

www.backpacker.com

Well that’d be a bummer. Wouldn’t surprise me. I know there’s other brands out there but I do like the couple I’ve got.

I’d consider buying a couple extra packs to make sure I was set going forward.

 

[BackofBeyond]

I knew that the original owner had sold and retired, but I didn’t know that it was Yeti that had purchased.

 

[tops911]

That's exactly what happened when they sold Dana Design (their first backpack company(, lasted about a year then gone. I expect the same fate for Mystery Ranch, it's the corporate way

 

[Rainer]

Well another excuse to try out an Exo

 

[WVmike]

That's a shame. Used their packs in the military and I have a metcalf that I still use. Customer service has always been great when I've had a buckle break or something similar. Guess I'll have to order that metcalf 100 sooner rather than later.

 

[GigiBobert]

I have an original Dana Design "Bomb Pack" i bought in 1991. For their intended use, things really haven't improved much in 33 years and I still use it skiing. I've had the Mystery Ranch Pop-Up 18 since about 2018 for meat hauling and turkey hunting. When I bought the pop-up, I hung up my Kifaru Duplex frame and haven't used it since. I need to buy my wife a MR Coulee before they're all gone.

 

[TheTone]

So are old Bozeman made MR packs about to be a collectors item?

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Meh, it's a product made in Vietnam....Let's get to things made in the US.

 

[Beignet]

From the article: “However, the company’s military packs are generally much more expensive, with the Blackjack 50 retailing for $900 versus $299 for the Radix 57.“

I’m sure pricing is more competitive to Uncle Sam than above reference, but I’m guessing their federal customers provide more lucrative margins than their retail sales.

Hope those milspec packs don’t squeak like mine did.

 

[INMT]

I have an original Dana Design "Bomb Pack" i bought in 1991. For their intended use, things really haven't improved much in 33 years and I still use it skiing. I've had the Mystery Ranch Pop-Up 18 since about 2018 for meat hauling and turkey hunting. When I bought the pop-up, I hung up my Kifaru Duplex frame and haven't used it since. I need to buy my wife a MR Coulee before they're all gone.

Bomb packs were the preferred packs for folks working trail crew. The beaver tail is indispensable for carrying chainsaw gas, oil, or anything heavy and oddly shaped. Still have a 25+ year old one that I still use.

 

[Schaaf]

 

[Sytes]

 

[Nunyacreek]

I loved the Dana Designs Terraframe and would buy another if I ever saw one.

 

[Valley1320]

That sucks. They make some of the best wildland fire packs out there

 

[TOGIE]

I’ve been transitioning over to stone glacier anyway. One pack left to replace and I’m out.

 

[Lilhowie83]

I was going to buy a new Mystery Ranch and hand down my Metcalf to my 12 year old. Looks like it might be time to try an Exo K4.

 

[sccritterkiller]

Build up a business big enough that some multi national billion dollar conglomerate buys out the competition, ie your company. It's the American way! Congrats to the owners! Hope they have the same success in their future endeavors.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Build up a business big enough that some multi national billion dollar conglomerate buys out the competition, ie your company. It's the American way! Congrats to the owners! Hope they have the same success in their future endeavors.

Oft hard work does pay off. I hope they retire comfortably and enjoy BACKPACKING the wonders of the west with their assortment of high quality packs!

 

[Sytes]

MR sure made a name for themselves. Quality, comfort, and service. Was Gleason's mentality.
I have Badland packs and enjoy them and their warranty/service though a buddy has his MR packs and they carry meat far better than my packs.
Top that with MR origin in Montana, a bit of pride shines through as well.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have a smaller Dana Designs pack somewhere. I think it is the Bomb pack. It was a well made pack.

On a trip through Bozeman, a long time ago, I spotted the Dana Design shop right off I-90 so I swung in and got to see the inner workings.