Mystery Ranch Pop Up 40 vs Mystery Ranch Bridger 65
Quick take: The Mystery Ranch Bridger 65 costs $100 less; the Mystery Ranch Bridger 65 carries more (65 vs 40 liters); the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 40 is lighter (5.3 vs 5.5 lbs).
| Spec | Mystery Ranch Pop Up 40 | Mystery Ranch Bridger 65 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $475 | $375 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Traditional Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 40 L | 65 L |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs | 5.5 lbs |
| Max Load | 80 lbs | 50+ lbs |
| Torso Fit | S, M, L, XL yoke sizes with micro-adjustable Hunting Light Yoke torso length | Men's S-XL 13-24 in, women's XS-L 13-22 in |
| Material | 330D Lite Plus CORDURA nylon | 100D Robic recycled ripstop with 330D Robic reinforcement |
| Back Panel | Telescoping aluminum Pop-Up Frame that expands from daypack mode into a load hauler, with Mystery Ranch's micro-adjustable yoke and foam back panel | Mystery Ranch Guide Light frame with 3-Zip access |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | Yes |
| Removable lid | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | Mystery Ranch lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects | Manufacturer warranty; terms not published |
Pros & cons
Mystery Ranch Pop Up 40
- ✓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 on Rokslide 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 — Rokslide posters routinely 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 generic one-size whitetail packs like the Badlands 2200 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 on forums — the Pop Up 38 it replaces stayed a cult favorite for years after discontinuation.
- ✗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 on Rokslide 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 a forum darling.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets — rangefinder and calls go in shoulder or lid pockets, a step behind Exo and Kuiu belts.
- ✗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 Rokslide 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.
Mystery Ranch Bridger 65
- ✓Tested comfortably past 50 lb and reported carrying 70 lb loads for miles, the highest real-world capacity in this catalog.
- ✓A 13-24 in torso range across men's and women's fits is the widest sizing of any pack here.
- ✓The 3-Zip access opens the pack fully rather than forcing top-loading.
- ✓100D Robic recycled ripstop with 330D reinforcement puts the tough fabric only where needed.
- ✓Four volumes from 35 to 65 L share the same frame and fit system.
- ✓Mystery Ranch's load-hauling pedigree comes from military and wildland fire packs, not marketing.
- ✓Separate men's and women's size runs rather than a single unisex compromise.
- ✓The Guide Light frame is a genuine load-transfer design rather than a framesheet.
- ✗5.5 lb is the heaviest hiking pack in this catalog before anything goes in it.
- ✗$375 is premium pricing, matching the Osprey Aether and Gregory Baltoro.
- ✗Enormously over-specified for anyone carrying under 35 lb.
- ✗Only the 65 L has a published weight; the 35, 45 and 55 do not.
- ✗No ventilated back panel, so it carries warm.
- ✗No rain cover included at this price.
- ✗Mystery Ranch's hiking range is less established than its hunting and tactical lines.
- ✗Bear-canister fit is not stated.