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Cragging packs

Nick Stayner · · Wymont Kingdom · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 2,315

I will once again use this opportunity to plug Mystery Ranch, out of Bozeman, MT. Builders of the burliest climbing and skiing packs I've ever owned.

I love my Big Sky for cragging (and just about anything else).
50L, easily holds a triple rack, 70m, and anything else you'd want to lug around for a cragging day. The shovel pouch makes a convenient stash for flip flops, guidebook, or shoving your rock shoes/harness into.
I have never loved a pack so much. Plus, you're supporting a bunch of dirtbag climbers and skiers who literally sew your pack together in Bozeman, MT.

Big Sky

John Husky · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 5

Too many blueberries, not enough muffin.

Sam Stephens · · PORTLAND, OR · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 1,090

Mile High Mountaineering Flatiron. It's burly, simple and a great bag. Can't say enough how happy I've been with mine.

mhmgear.com/products/packs/…

jbird · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

I thought the Mystery Ranch pack looked sweet until I went on their web site and poked around a little. Are you sure these are dirt bag climbers? They look more like a bunch of dirt bag right wing hunters. . . Here is an example of one of their packs in use from their blog. . .http://blog.mysteryranch.com/2012/02/the-wolf-days-of-winter/

I like to support people and industry that reflect my values and beliefs and these guys seem to be way off.

I read the story and I know the background, we just see the world differently.

NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60
Nick Stayner wrote:I will once again use this opportunity to plug Mystery Ranch, out of Bozeman, MT. Builders of the burliest climbing and skiing packs I've ever owned. I love my Big Sky for cragging (and just about anything else). 50L, easily holds a triple rack, 70m, and anything else you'd want to lug around for a cragging day. The shovel pouch makes a convenient stash for flip flops, guidebook, or shoving your rock shoes/harness into. I have never loved a pack so much. Plus, you're supporting a bunch of dirtbag climbers and skiers who literally sew your pack together in Bozeman, MT.
I'll also throw in a vote for MR. It is the other pack that I have and did not mention above. I have the Trance model. It is bigger than what I would consider a cragging pack, but a great pack none the less. It is VERY well made, carries great with heavy loads and is made from solid materials. Mystery Ranch is Dana Gleason's company. He was the original owner of Dana Designs, and from what I can tell his new company makes packs that are just as good.

I have thought more than once about buying a Big Sky. However, it is about the same size as my CCW and I cannot justify being that much of a pack whore. If my CCW ever dies, I will take a good look at the Big Sky as my next pack.
Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
jbird wrote:I thought the Mystery Ranch pack looked sweet until I went on their web site and poked around a little. Are you sure these are dirt bag climbers? They look more like a bunch of dirt bag right wing hunters. . . Here is an example of one of their packs in use from their blog. . .http://blog.mysteryranch.com/2012/02/the-wolf-days-of-winter/ I like to support people and industry that reflect my values and beliefs and these guys seem to be way off. I read the story and I know the background, we just see the world differently.
Dana Gleason is a cool dude, he was the owner of Dana Designs before K2 bought them. He is a skier and hunter/conservationist. MR supplies the armed services and the hunting community primarily. If you're the sort of hang-wringer that snivels at that sort of thing I doubt Dana is going to miss your business.
jbird · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

Yea, I know a little about Dana Gleason, to me he seems like a sell-out. Everybody loves his packs but he sold the designs and company to K2 which were then sold to Marmot and moved production over seas. So once he could legally start producing packs again he did, I assume because of some copy rights he also sold.

I'm sure he wont miss my business, I just like to look into the companies I do support. It's a shame because some of the packs look sweet.

climber pat · · Las Cruces NM · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 286

I do not like my cilogear worksack. The material is too stiff and is easily torn. I have 7 holes in the bottom of my pack after just a couple of months of use. Also, I do not like the way the pack sizing is accomplished by moving the hip belts up and down rather than adjusting the shoulder straps. And I hate the accessory straps and how they connect to the pack. On the plus side it carries very well and the frame pad is nicer than anything else I have seen. One can do much better for 2/3 the price.

I sorta like my BD Epic 45. It is small for the size rating mostly due to the top pocket being sown directly to the pack rather than free floating. It has been much more durable than the cilogear pack and I like it better. It has a heavy duty rotating gimmickey waist belt which works find. Overall the pack carries fine and climbs ok. No holes and used much more than the cilogear.

I like my BD speed 45 better yet. It has a free floating top pocket and seems much bigger then the Epic 45. It has a lighter duty waist belt. I get along with the pack much better than the Epic 45.

I liked my Osprey Mutant for 2 years until the frame-sheet because permanently deformed. It carried well and climbed well and had no holes in two years.

Both the BD speed and Epic use the same material as the mutant for the frame-sheet but also have a metal stays to prevent it from deforming.

Of the set I would go with the speed or the mutant if I were to buy today.

Nick Stayner · · Wymont Kingdom · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 2,315

Fair enough Jbird. Your loss.
Mystery Ranch builds packs for climbers, skiers, hikers, wildland firefighters, military, and yes, even hunters. In fact the company is able to pay for good old American skiers and climbers to build your packs in Bozeman because of their contract with the military.

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
jbird wrote:Yea, I know a little about Dana Gleason, to me he seems like a sell-out. Everybody loves his packs but he sold the designs and company to K2 which were then sold to Marmot and moved production over seas. So once he could legally start producing packs again he did, I assume because of some copy rights he also sold. I'm sure he wont miss my business, I just like to look into the companies I do support. It's a shame because some of the packs look sweet.
Well which is it, you just went there and found the hunting stuff or you know a little bit about Dana Gleason? Sure sounds like you have a personal issue. Dana employs folks over in Bozeman, Americans in fact, can you say the same thing about yourself? What are you doing for your community that compares?

By the way, I see that you're selling a Granite Gear pack. Did you know that Granite Gear supplies the US Armed Forces and hunters? You might want to go dig around their site a little and report back the information. Better be quick though, you really don't want to be associated with the ethics of those awful "right-wingers." granitegearstore.com/Granit…
Nick Stayner · · Wymont Kingdom · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 2,315

Good reading for anyone interested in Mystery Ranch/Dana Designs history: outsidebozeman.com/winter-2…

Jbird, maybe you could use it to clear up some of the assumptions you made earlier.

From the article: "Will production ever move back overseas? Dana doesn’t think so, and for him, staying local comes down to the quality of the product. “This isn’t about wrapping ourselves in the flag,” he says. “We want the absolute best, and that is much easier to guarantee when it’s produced here.” If Mystery Ranch were producing what Dana calls “fashion bags,” then production could feasibly move abroad. But with a strong customer base that places such a heavy reliance on the reliability of the product, they need control at every point of production. “Really, it’s a pain in the ass doing things right every step of the way,” Dana admits. “But it’s worth it.”

cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654

50L packs for cragging?
I use a BD Hollow point 20L pack for that. Draws, double rack, harness, personal gear, shoes, first aid kit, water, extra jacket, helmet and a 70 over the top if I need to carry the rope too.

jbird · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

Yea, I'm sure it's difficult to maintain high quality and compete in such a huge industry. . . I think their products look great, I just don't support the same values.

If people don't have a problem with it they should purchase merchandise from them. I think this is great, more people know more about Mystery Ranch than they did earlier today and that is loosely what the OP was about.

Chris Graham · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 545
evolution wrote: I recently bought the Cilogear 30L worksack and really like it as a climbing pack and how it carries weight. I will say though I've only brought it on a couple of 'real' alpine rock climbs and on the first one I returned to find 2 minor tears in the fabric. The climbing was easy and in retrospect I can't even imagine when it happened. My point is, though I haven't owned it for long, durability is certainly in question. I've owned Cold Cold World bags for years,under tons of abuse, with none of these issues. Just my experience....
Bummer. I have two that are made of the NWD fabric and have had one hole popped into it from a cottonwood or something at Red Rocks two years ago...a patch of cuban fiber and it is good as new. Sorry to hear that you hav eexperienced durability issues. I have put mine through the paces and have had no issues to date. CCW are great packs and are made here in Jackson. Can't go wrong with either IMHO.
Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

I haven't had any durability issues with my Cilo 30L GS.

When I first got the pack I was pretty unsure of the durability. Four months later and it's still holding up great.

jmeizis · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 230

What do you need a 50L pack for? For just trad or sport climbing you can easily fit the whole shebang in a 30L pack like this.

Otherwise, try the Gregory Alpinisto. It's a nice 50L pack with some good ooring options.

climber pat · · Las Cruces NM · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 286
cdec wrote:50L packs for cragging? I use a BD Hollow point 20L pack for that. Draws, double rack, harness, personal gear, shoes, first aid kit, water, extra jacket, helmet and a 70 over the top if I need to carry the rope too.
I prefer packs with a better suspension system because most of the climbing I do is about 1 hour hike generally off trail. Also I put the rope in the bottom of the pack to protect the pack from getting holes by rubbing the pack again a rock with a hard object on the inside. The rope inside the pack also eliminates the getting caught on branches while hiking.
Mark Wyss · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 255
cdec wrote:50L packs for cragging? I use a BD Hollow point 20L pack for that. Draws, double rack, harness, personal gear, shoes, first aid kit, water, extra jacket, helmet and a 70 over the top if I need to carry the rope too.
You can't pull off fitting all that gear in a 20L pack. Sorry.
cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654
Mark Wyss wrote: You can't pull off fitting all that gear in a 20L pack. Sorry.
Can and do almost daily. Also squeeze in a cell phone, small headlamp and a small knife.

Learned to pack from one of the best. It's really easy if you take a second and use the space that's there rather than throwing all your stuff into a bag 2 times the size that is actually needed.

Just did and overnight to climb in Lone Peak Cirque with a BD 35L pack. All that gear plus a sleeping pad, bag, food and a puffy.
Michael C · · New Jersey · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 340

My first climbing pack was a Black Diamond Speed 30L. Even for "cragging" it was way too small. Packing a lunch bag and water left very little room. I sold it to my buddy and upgraded to a Mountain Hardwear Super Scrambler 50L. I can easily pack my rack, draws, rope, shoes, helmet, water, lunch, and even throw in a medium-weight jacket. The internal "frame sheet" isn't very supportive, but the pack is considered to be lightweight and they do recommend adding additonal support panneling. I'm dissapointed that after only a year there's already rip and plenty of wear that's close to ripping. I can always patch it up, but I expected a lot more life out of this pack. I just ordered a Mammut Trion 40L. A little smaller, more supportive, and much burlier. I'll post a review once it arrives and I've put it to the test.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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