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.
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Specifications
What do these specs mean? →Sizes Available
| Capacity | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pop Up 30 (30 L) | $425 | 4.9 lbs |
| 40 Lthis pack | $475 | 5.3 lbs |
Features
Pros
- ✓The signature pop-up OVERLOAD shelf deploys in seconds, letting whitetail hunters haul a boned-out deer between bag and frame without ever owning a separate frame pack.
- ✓Treestand users say it carries hang-on stands and climbing sticks better than anything in its class, and its low profile lets you actually look up to climb a tree while wearing it.
- ✓An 80-lb load rating in a 40 L daypack footprint is unmatched by mainstream daypacks — some buyers cross-shop it against the far pricier Kifaru Stryker.
- ✓The Hunting Light Yoke micro-adjusts torso length across S-XL sizes, giving a dialed fit that whitetail packs like the Badlands 2200, which comes in two fixed frame sizes, can't match.
- ✓An integrated 1/4"-20 optics thumbscrew on the frame lets you mount a spotting scope, camera arm or rifle rest directly to the pack — a favorite detail among saddle and video-heavy hunters.
- ✓The updated 40 adds a removable, adjustable lid over the old 38 and tweaks the frame's upper attachment to reduce the load slop owners complained about.
- ✓Face compression straps carry a bow or rifle cleanly for hands-free stand hangs, and interior loops accept Mystery Ranch Quick Attach void bags for organization.
- ✓Mystery Ranch's build reputation and lifetime guarantee carry real weight with owners, and the Pop Up 38 it replaces stayed in demand after discontinuation.
Cons
- ✗At 5.3 lbs it's a heavy 40-liter pack — nearly the weight of Kuiu's complete 57 L ICON 6 3500 frame kit — and owners feel it on all-day hikes to the stand.
- ✗At least one longtime Pop Up owner calls the newest 40 'bulky, heavy, with poor buckles and straps' and says it doesn't carry weight as well as the outgoing 38.
- ✗The 4.2-star owner rating on Mystery Ranch's own site trails competitors, with strap and buckle complaints the recurring theme.
- ✗Price jumped to $475 from the Pop Up 38's roughly $325 street price, eroding the value story that made the 38 popular.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets, so rangefinder and calls go in shoulder or lid pockets unless you buy add-on pouches.
- ✗Hauling near the 80-lb ceiling on a daypack yoke and belt is punishing compared to a true external frame like a Kifaru or Seek Outside, per owner comparisons.
- ✗The pop-up frame hardware rides along on every sit even though most whitetail hunts never use it — dead weight the minimalist crowd resents.
- ✗The plain foam back panel has no ventilation channels, so early-season and mobile hunters report a soaked back by the time they reach the stand.
Common Questions
Compare the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 40
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