I bought a Bridger 45 a few months ago, and took it on a couple trips. But I have since purchased a new tent, and wanted a bigger pack. Well, my 55 arrived today, and I can't wait to get back on trail! You are absolutely correct about Mystery Ranch packs being well-designed, well-built and comfortable. I now have 5 of them!
This is a video the community sorely needed. I'm thinking also that a great pack will make a load feel lighter and put your body in a better position all trail long. My only query with this is the back ventilation. Well done on supporting smaller brands too!
It took me a year to get my hands on the same rig you got, a green 65L Bridger. I was happy to pay full MSRP for it, but managed to get something like 20% off + free shipping when they finally did come in. Honestly, the hype on the Bridger is real. It's my 5th Mystery Ranch pack now.
Yesssss! Love your intro! And yes, you describe me to a T! I just cant afford the really light gear plus I need to be comfortable due to the effect of chronic tick diseases on my body. I don’t imagine I’d be doing anything more than a week anytime in the next few years but I do want to go out for a few days plus I’m interested in winter backpacking. I currently use decathlon 50L which has worked well for 1-2 nights in warm weather but definitely need something bigger for longer trips or for cold weather. Got fitted at REI and they recommended Gregory Deva but something about the fabric pattern on the hip belt did not feel comfortable. So now I’m looking at mystery ranch Bridger 65… so far the reviews say the women’s is super comfy… I’ll have to look at the return policy bcs I doubt I’ll be able to go somewhere to try it on first unfortunately- I live in rural upper Midwest and no close stores of this nature. I really appreciate the review and the humor ❤
I have a Dana Design alstralplane overkill from the 90's..loaded it with 80lbs of gold prospecting equip/food for 35days and was very manageable..Mystery Ranch is the new co. And the terraplane is my next pack.
Love my Bridger 65. Been using for the last 6 months and have nothing negative to say. I am 191cm tall and got the XL and it fits me perfect. I had a hard time getting hold of one, but was lucky and came cross a new and unused one on ebay.
My preference is having light weight gear that is comfortable and efficient, many of these gear items may very well be ultralight. However I carry light weight gear in a heavy (5 lb) but comfortable bag.
I’m really tempted to get this pack just because it’s so cool. But I’m not sure what I can really bring with me that would make the misery of hiking with a heavier load worth it. If you think about it, how much more comfortable can camping really get unless you are car camping? It just feels like lighter packs enhance the overall comfort and enjoyment of a backpacking trip more than heavier packs just because they make the hike to the camp (which is probably where the majority of the time is spent on a backpacking trip) so much easier. Besides, you can still bring a few luxury items even with a lighter backpack. For example, my ultralight pack can hold 40 pounds. My pack weight with a few days of food and two liters of water is usually around 27-30 pounds(keep in mind I only do weekend trips so this doesn’t apply to longer trips). If I wanted to, I could still bring a chair, a saw, and maybe even a camp shower which would probably bring the weight to about 35. I really don’t see anything else that could enhance the camping part of the trip dramatically. For longer trips though,since more food is required, a pack capable of handling a heavier load is definitely worth it.
New dyneema packs have weight limits..40lbs feels heavy.,but not in a highend pack.. Gleason first Co. Dana Design made best packs money could buy ..mystery ranch is making The same quality packs that Dana Designs made back in the day.
Been wanting a MR bridger pack haven’t pull the trigger yet but I do use the crap out my scree32. The only MR pack I’ve bought so far. That bridger 45 & 55 look mighty enticing.
I own a slightly older Mystery Ranch pack, about 60L I have had it since 2019. I find it very comfortable and the two entry points into the bag is handy at times. However, over the many trips I have taken I find that the easiest way to manage any pack is to simply open the top and pull all the contents out. This is faster than searching into the pack. The best points of the Mystery Ranch are the strength of construction and the comfort level of the shoulder/waist strap combination.
@@Austin_Kohler Me too. It popped up on Optics Planet, but I also go ton Optics Planet's notification emails and heard from them first. I already had it in my cart for months.
Try more packs. I prefer the Atmos AG for comfort and breathability after trying a friend's Bridger. I do have a Mystery Ranch SATL that is pretty damn comfy though.
He said right at the beginning that he used the Atmos for a long time and found it super uncomfortable. Of course everyone is going to have their own experience and preference.
