Mystery Ranch
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.
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Specifications
What do these specs mean? →Sizes Available
| Capacity | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 50 L | $550 | 5 lbs |
| 75 Lthis pack | $575 | 5.3 lbs |
| 100 L | $625 | — |
Features
Pros
- ✓The Overload meat shelf is the feature owners rave about most — quarters ride between frame and bag, tight to your back, without bloodying the pack interior.
- ✓The 2024 Ultra Light MT frame cut roughly three-quarters of a pound versus the old Guide Light while keeping the load-hauling feel; several owners say the Metcalf actually 'carries better the heavier you pack it'.
- ✓At $575 complete it's meaningfully cheaper than a comparable Stone Glacier Sky 5900 or Kifaru system, which several owners name as the Metcalf's main advantage.
- ✓330D CORDURA construction wins the durability argument in nearly every Metcalf-vs-Stone Glacier thread — owners describe dragging it through deadfall for seasons without a blowout.
- ✓The telescoping yoke dials torso length in seconds, and four sizes plus a women's-specific version cover a wider fit range than most bag-and-frame systems.
- ✓Detachable lid and roll-top let it compress from 75 L multi-day rig to a clean day pack, so many owners run it as their only hunting pack.
- ✓Mystery Ranch customer service and repair reputation draw praise from owners, including some who moved on to other packs.
- ✓Blaze-orange internal ribbon loops and frame tabs plus a side-zip into the main bag make gear staging faster than single-opening roll-top rivals.
Cons
- ✗Several owners report frame squeak under 50+ lb loads: the frame stays rub the covering fabric, and owners resort to graphite powder or literally washing the pack to silence it for stalks.
- ✗At 5.3 lbs the complete pack weighs about the same as a Stone Glacier Sky 5900 system that holds 96 L to its 75 L.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets come stock; Mystery Ranch sells them as add-on accessories, as Exo and Stone Glacier also do.
- ✗The redesigned single-piece hipbelt uses softer foam that divides opinion; several owners describe the belt slipping down under heavy meat loads.
- ✗No full-length front zipper means reaching gear at the bottom of the bag goes through the roll-top or single side zip, a frequent access gripe; Exo's K4 opens the main bag with a horseshoe zip.
- ✗Mystery Ranch publishes no official max-load rating, so buyers comparing against Stone Glacier's 150 lb spec are left with owner anecdotes, which vary.
- ✗The foam back panel has zero ventilation, and early-season hunters consistently report a soaked shirt on warm-weather pack-ins.
- ✗Some owners raise post-YETI-acquisition QC worries, with recent reports of noisy frames and stitching on new units fueling 'they aren't what they used to be' sentiment.
Common Questions
Compare the Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75
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