How do I get the right fit on the Beartooth 85?

Mystery Ranch covers a wider range than most: four frame sizes (S/M fits roughly 15-20 in torsos, L/XL about 17-24 in) plus an adjustable yoke for fine-tuning, and there's a dedicated women's version. That's a real advantage over one-frame competitors like Stone Glacier — measure your torso and use their size chart rather than guessing from height.

What's the realistic load ceiling, since Mystery Ranch doesn't publish a rating?

Owner reports put comfortable carry around 70-80 lb — an early GOHUNT reviewer had 70 lb riding well on the new MYSTERIUM frame. Long-term testing of the outgoing Beartooth 80 found comfort degrading past 80 lb with loads sliding down the back, which is why hunters routinely packing 100+ lb still gravitate to Kifaru or Stone Glacier frames with published ratings.

Is the 270-degree zipper actually better than a roll-top in the field?

For finding gear, yes — it opens the 85 L bag like a suitcase from the top, side, or bottom, which owners consistently prefer over digging through a roll-top Metcalf, Stone Glacier, or Kifaru. The catch, carried over from the Beartooth 80: you have to unclip several compression buckles before the zipper will open, which gets old for quick grabs.

Can it double as a day pack, or is 85 liters just too much bag?

It compresses surprisingly well. Hunt Talk users favor the Beartooth over the Metcalf largely for this versatility, and one GOHUNT owner said it cinches to 'a sleeker profile than smaller Mystery Ranch packs.' Plenty of owners run it as their only pack for a full season — day hunts through pack-outs.

How does it handle rain, and is a cover included?

No rain cover comes in the box, and the 330D Robic/CORDURA fabric is weather-resistant rather than waterproof. For sustained wet weather plan on internal dry bags or Mystery Ranch's separate pack fly — the same approach reviewers recommend across the Mysterium line.

Hunting Pack

~$650

Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch Beartooth 85

Name: Mystery Ranch Beartooth 85
Brand: Mystery Ranch
Price: 650 USD
Availability: InStock

Mystery Ranch's flagship expedition hunting pack, reborn for 2025 on the new MYSTERIUM frame that replaced both the Beartooth 80 and its Guide Light MT chassis. The signature 270-degree duffel-style zipper opens the 85-liter bag like a suitcase, and the patented Overload shelf sandwiches meat between frame and bag for 5-10 day backcountry hunts. It took Hunt Alaska's Editor's Choice award for 2026.

Approx. price

~$650

Capacity

85 L

Weight

6.2 lbs

Best For

Multi-day western and Alaska hunters who want expedition capacity with suitcase-style access instead of digging through a roll-top

Check price on Amazon →

We may earn a commission.
Price and availability on Amazon’s site may differ.

Specifications

What do these specs mean? →

Type

Hunting Pack

Frame Type

Internal Frame

Capacity

85 L

Weight

6.2 lbs

Max Recommended Load

No official rating (owners report 70–80 lbs carried comfortably)

Torso Fit

S–XL frame sizes with adjustable yoke (S/M ~15–20 in, L/XL ~17–24 in torsos); women's version available

Material

330 HT CORDURA 5PM and 330D Robic Kodra ripstop with YKK zippers and SJ Autolock buckles

Back Panel

MYSTERIUM frame (2025 successor to the Guide Light MT) with breathable harnessing and adjustable yoke

Warranty

Mystery Ranch lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects

Raincover Included

Fits BV500 Bear Canister

Yes

Features

Adjustable TorsoHydration SleeveRemovable LidFits Bear CanisterMeat ShelfRifle & Bow Carry

Pros

✓The 270-degree duffel-style zipper is the pack's calling card — owners and reviewers alike say loading and finding gear beats digging through the roll-top-only Metcalf, Stone Glacier, or Kifaru bags from the top, side, or bottom.
✓The patented Overload shelf captures quarters between frame and bag with quick-attach autolock straps, keeping meat tight to your back without bloodying the pack interior.
✓The new MYSTERIUM frame carries forward the Guide Light lineage Mystery Ranch built its load-hauling reputation on; an early GOHUNT reviewer reported 70 lb loads riding comfortably.
✓The split dual-compartment removable lid draws specific praise — the center split stops the lid from compressing your quick-access items and makes headlamps and water filters easy to grab.
✓Hunt Talk users consistently favor the Beartooth over the Metcalf for versatility — it compresses down to a legitimate day pack, and one GOHUNT owner said it 'compresses to a sleeker profile than smaller Mystery Ranch packs'.
✓Organization is a step above bag-and-frame rivals: internal mesh pockets, front organizational pockets, and MOLLE webbing for customization out of the box.
✓Four frame sizes plus an adjustable yoke and a dedicated women's version cover a wider fit range than most one-frame competitors, backed by Mystery Ranch's lifetime guarantee.
✓Early Mysterium-line reception has been strong — the Beartooth 85 took Hunt Alaska's Editor's Choice 2026 for hunting packs, and prototype testers in 2024 reported positive results.

Cons

✗The most repeated gripe carried over from the Beartooth 80: you have to unclip several compression buckles before the 270-degree zipper will actually open, which gets old for quick gear grabs.
✗At 6.2 lbs it is one of the heaviest packs in its class — roughly 1.5 lbs more than a Stone Glacier Sky 5900 system and nearly a pound over Mystery Ranch's own Metcalf 75.
✗At $650 ($700 in OPTIFADE Subalpine) it costs $75-125 more than the Metcalf, and Rokslide value threads have long questioned the Beartooth premium over the simpler pack.
✗Reviewers of the outgoing Beartooth 80 found the load shelf sits too low on the frame, letting lighter meat loads ride below the ideal carry position — an area to watch on the new frame.
✗The same long-term testing found comfort degrading around 80+ lbs with loads sliding down the back — hunters routinely packing 100 lb loads still gravitate to Kifaru or Stone Glacier frames.
✗No hipbelt pockets come stock; Mystery Ranch sells them as add-on accessories while Exo and Stone Glacier include belt storage.
✗Mystery Ranch publishes no official load rating, so buyers comparing against Stone Glacier's 150 lb spec are left with forum anecdotes.
✗The 2025 MYSTERIUM platform is brand new with a thin long-term track record — forum discussion is still mostly first looks and classifieds, and post-YETI-acquisition QC chatter on Rokslide hasn't died down.

Common Questions

Compare the Mystery Ranch Beartooth 85

vs Muley Freak Cheat Code Hunting Pack vs Mystery Ranch Marshall 105 vs Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75

Related backpacks

Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75

Mystery Ranch's flagship western hunting pack, rebuilt in 2024 on the lighter Ultra Light MT frame with a roll-top closure and the signature Overload shelf that sandwiches meat between frame and bag. At 5.3 lbs and $575 complete, it undercuts most bag-and-frame competitors on price while keeping the brand's tank-like 330D CORDURA construction.

75 LOverload Shelf5.3 lbs

Weight

5.3 lbs

Capacity

75 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in Metcalf 50 (50 L) / Metcalf 100 (100 L)

Best for: Elk and mule deer hunters who want one durable do-it-all pack that hauls quarters without a la carte frame shopping

View details

~$750

Hunting Pack

Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch Marshall 105

Mystery Ranch's largest and most feature-rich expedition hunting pack, rebuilt for 2025 on the MYSTERIUM frame at 103 liters (6,285 cu in). It pairs the patented Overload meat shelf with a bottom speed compartment for a sleeping bag, dual full-length side zips, and a removable lid that converts to a daypack for spike-camp stalks. Built for 10+ day hunts, sheep and moose expeditions, and guide duty.

103 LOverload ShelfLid Converts to Daypack

Weight

6.7 lbs

Capacity

103 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Expedition and Alaska hunters on week-plus trips who need to carry camp, gear, and meat in one enormous hauler

View details

~$550

Hunting Pack

Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45

Mystery Ranch's day-to-overnight meat hauler, refreshed for 2025 on the new MYSTERIUM frame with lighter Robic Kodra ripstop and a weatherproof CORDURA 5PM coating. The U-shaped 270-degree zipper opens the bag flat, and the patented Overload shelf turns a 43-liter day pack into a legitimate elk-quarter hauler. A 63-liter Sawtooth 65 joined the line in 2025 for multi-day trips.

43 LOverload Shelf5.1 lbs

Weight

5.1 lbs

Capacity

43 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in Sawtooth 65 (63 L)

Best for: Backcountry day hunters who hike in light but want real quarter-hauling capability without carrying a full frame pack

View details

~$499

Hunting Pack

Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch Pintler

A streamlined overnight-to-multiday hunting pack on Mystery Ranch's proven Guide Light MT frame, with a 3-ZIP front opening for fast access and the Overload sling that sandwiches game quarters between frame and bag. At 38.6 liters it splits the difference between day pack and multiday hauler, built from burly 500D CORDURA. As of mid-2026 it's out of stock direct from Mystery Ranch with remaining inventory at retailers.

38.6 L3-ZIP AccessOverload Shelf

Weight

5.6 lbs

Capacity

38.6 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Overnight and 1-3 day western hunters who want a compact, tank-tough pack that can still haul a quarter out

View details

~$475

Hunting Pack

Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch Pop Up 40

The Pop Up 40 replaced the discontinued Pop Up 38 as Mystery Ranch's whitetail-focused hauler: a 40-liter daypack whose telescoping aluminum frame pops up in seconds to deploy the OVERLOAD load sling between bag and frame. That turns a treestand day pack into a legitimate 80-pound meat hauler without carrying a dedicated frame pack to the stand.

40 LPop-Up Overload Shelf80 lb Rating

Weight

5.3 lbs

Capacity

40 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in Pop Up 30 (30 L)

Best for: Whitetail and treestand hunters who hike in with a stand and may drag out a deer the same day

View details

🎒

~$375

Traditional Pack

Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch Bridger 65

The Bridger is Mystery Ranch's mainstream backpacking pack and the heaviest-hauling pack in this catalog. Reviewers carried 70 lb loads for miles with only mild discomfort, and the torso range spans 13 to 24 inches across men's and women's fits -- wider than anything else here.

65 L5.5 lbs50+ lbs

Weight

5.5 lbs

Capacity

65 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 35 L / 45 L / 55 L

Best for: Carrying genuinely heavy loads, 50 lb and up, over long distances

View details

← Back to All Backpacks