20 Best Wildland Fire Packs (2022 Updated)

The main reason I got this bag was as a daily commuter to bring around a laptop, laptop stand, keyboard, mouse and headphones. Occasionally, I need to bring additional layers and often do a grocery or errand trip.

I commute mostly by bike, but sometimes by public transit as well. I’m 6’0″ and it sits pretty high on my back. The harness system is one of the best. The straps hold away from the bag so putting it on doesn’t require flailing around for where your arms are meant to be.

There are also load lifting straps to get the top of the bag even closer to the body for a better carry. The one caveat is that there’s no hip belt to prevent swaying on my bike. This gets really noticeable when I’m bringing all of my work gear plus I have two bags of groceries in there.

The laptop pocket is big enough for a 16″ MBP, my headphones, laptop, mouse and foldable laptop stand. It sits close to the body so the carry is quite comfortable. The tri-zipper opening allows you to get stuff from the bottom of your bag without removing everything above it.

I honestly thought it was a gimmick but liked the look but found it really useful to pull additional layers from the bottom of my bag before getting on my bike after putting a bunch of groceries in. The bag on it’s own is a little heavy at nearly 3 lbs, but that’s likely due to the additional strap padding, heavier exterior fabric and heavier zippers.

Overall, the best commuting backpack I’ve had that has enough space for additional items on top of my work stuff. If I know I’m going to be doing errands after work where I might need to carry additional stuff, I always grab this one.

I wanted to wait a year or so to review this pack so I had plenty of time to field it. I have to give it 5 stars, it’s the entire package if you’re shopping in this category. How I use it… -Started life as my “get home bag” with boots, technical clothing, water and gear to travel 30mi on foot.

Not taking up much space in my truck -started to use when visiting construction job sites nationwide with a laptop, iPad, change of clothes , rain jacket and a night or 2 of hygiene/gear/chargers -Used as daypack for deer hunting packing warming/rain layers, optics, food/water and gear -Use all the time as a dump pouch” style bag when moving family and kids gear as well.

Tuck the top into the main compartment and shove it all in! Why it gets 5: -Small enough as a personal item on airlines and tucks perfectly under seat in front of you with access to bag -Main compartment with the tri-zip only has 2 rectangular mesh pockets up high.

This makes you pack light and simple and is easy to see or modify your load. -Top compartment is easy access for phones/optics/mags and can be reached overhead while wearing -this price point is dead on for this quality and a great entry into mystery ranch packs.

-Small size again makes you pack light and simple and not load yourself down with unneeded items. -the toughness, technical features and design of a military pack with options to blend in and not stand out.

My favorite size pack for my lifestyle day to day. MR hit it out of the park on this one!.

I purchased this backpack to use for work and to replace a messenger bag that I was using. I much prefer backpacks because they don’t put pressure on just one shoulder like a messenger bag. I wanted a backpack that had a decent amount of space for things like my laptop, notebooks, and lunch.

But I also wanted a backpack that was easy to open and access, as many backpacks are only accessible via an opening at the top and you’re always digging through the main compartment for whatever you need.

I liked this backpack because Mystery Ranch has designed their backpacks to have multiple zippers so you can fully open the front/main compartment for easy access to the whole things from top to bottom.

But, at the same time, you can open just the top zipper to access the whole compartment if needed. I also like all the other pockets and sections within the backpack, one of which is the easy access top zippered pocket where I put my masks and keys.

In this specific backpack, there’s a separate compartment for my laptop and notebooks, which makes them easier to access without opening the other zippers. My only complaint, and it really isn’t a complaint, is that the backpack could be slightly larger.

This is a 24L backpack, which is a decent size, but is a wee tad small for work-related items. I would have preferred something that was maybe 28L or so, but there isn’t one available in this style/design/brand.

I just returned from a 5-day, 4-night trip with this pack. This is an excellent pack if you envy ultralight packs but aren’t quite ready to give up your luxury or comfort items. Overall it performed well.

The heaviest comfortable weight for me was around 35-38 lbs. Any more than that and you could feel the straps start to strain. The main compartment can hold a BV500 on its side. If you use a water bladder though, there’s not enough room at the top for it.

The trampoline mesh back is comfortable and ventilates extremely well; it really has few peers. I also found the hip belt very comfortable, more so than Gregory packs (which pressed into my bony hipbones) and Osprey’s own Atmos, which was a little too firm.

There are an assortment of versatile loops and ties on the outside to accommodate whatever setup you prefer. The brain is removeable if you want a smaller pack. Without it, it’s almost as light as some daypacks like the Talon 22.

I wish though the compression straps on the side were anchored independently of the hipbelt. The pockets on the hipbelt are small, and when the pack is full, the compression straps tend to flatten the pockets, making access more difficult and crushing the items inside.

While this is fine for durable items like a multitool or lipbalm, it’ll crush more delicate snacks. I also wish the same compression straps could be routed inside the side pocket like prior year packs.

This seems like a step backwards. I saw the review about the harness attachments not being square. This is probably the result of the lighter frame being bent in transit. It’s easy to correct though by laying the pack on its side and shifting the top forward or back to square it back up.

This happened to me and is not a dealbreaker. I’m 5’7″ and the S/M fit me well. There are multiple adjustments in the harness to let you really dial in the fit. It’s best to go to a store to try on several different ones.

I almost got a Gregory, but after finding hipbelt was less than ideal, I ended up back with Osprey again.

I am posting this in the hopes Osprey corrects the problem next year. I thru-hiked the PCT in 2015 and beyond with an Exos and loved it!!! It held up great for well over 3,000 miles. It’s been overdue to be replaced for a long time, but meanwhile Osprey had gotten rid of the hipbelt pockets and shoulder strap mesh pockets.

I’ve been waiting years for them to bring the pockets back, writing letters, complaining to helpless REI staff, etc. Well, this year they finally brought hipbelt pockets back! Problem is, you can’t zip them back up one-handed.

It’s also really hard to do two-handed. It is a huge, glaring design flaw. It’s like no designer ever put it on their body to see how it all felt and worked. I wish they were stretchy mesh and able to zip close.

Or mesh with no zipper. Just not this design. I also miss the small shoulder strap pockets for misc chapstick, sunscreen, compass. When I’m long-distance hiking, I don’t want to stop and put my pack down to grab this little stuff out.

The rest of the pack, the feel, etc. is mostly how I remember and I like it. Fits my gear the way I want it to fit. Ultimately I’m keeping it, but I’m pretty annoyed. I would still recommend this pack because it feels great on your back and is lightweight with good structure.

If they fix the pockets, it will be a 5 star pack.

I have owned many packs in my 50+ years of backpacking, but I think I have found my favorite. I’ve been using an Osprey Kestrel 48 for up to 6-day trips, and while I really liked it I was searching for something with a bit more capacity and lighter if possible.

I’ve looked at ultralight packs and even bought two different ones to try but they just didn’t have the support or comfort needed for my usual 30-35 pound pack weight. I was excited when I saw the new revamped Exos and decided to give it a try.

I just returned from a 5 day trip and pushed the limits with 37 pounds (I was carrying fishing gear and a few luxury items, hello single malt). The pack fit everything I needed and had extra room as well.

It carried beautifully, snug to my back with no sway or motion. Not too hot on the back, reasonable ventilation. The hipbelt pockets are great even if they are a bit tough to zip closed, not really a big deal.

I can’t wait to see how this pack performs when I carry closer to 30 pounds, it should ride like a dream! I’m very happy with this pack. I got 20% more capacity and saved nearly half a pound over my Kestrel.

Highly recommended!.

This rucksack is brilliant in all ways, EXCEPT ONE. Of the very many times I have looked at Mil-Tec bags online, I cannot believe I missed this design flaw. The shoulder straps go straight down. They are not sewn in at an angle.

This is a serious problem for weight distribution and shoulder comfort. It is not anatomically correct for the shoulder straps to descend straight down. No human is built like that. When I received the bag, I loaded it up and put it on, but the straps pull at an angle, as they are meant to do, but because of the design of these, all the weight is moved to the inner edge, digging into the shoulders, rendering the padding useless.

I only had the bag on for about 5 minutes, and my shoulders were hurting in that short time. This is seriously disappointing, because I love everything else about this bag. I love the size, rectangular shape (so much more practical than rounded top bags), separate compartments, build quality, zip quality, ratcheting straps, and I LOVE the CCE camo colour (much more than HMTC).

And the price of the Mil-Tec assault packs is reasonable. I normally buy Highlander rucksacks, because they are outstanding quality, but they don’t offer the CCE camo, and I know that Mil-Tec are popular bags, so I bought this one.

If Mil-Tec redesigned the straps and sewed them in at an angle, this would the perfect rucksack for short outings.

I love this pack and use it on every hunt. I have carried it on hot days as well as below freezing. It has so much room and is very comfortable to carry. Extremely light weight too. The best part about this pack is how quiet it is.

It never makes noise at all and keeps the gear inside quiet as well. However… a few negatives… if this pack gets wet it will take days to dry. Yes, I mean days. Second, I’ve only used this pack for one season and I discovered a significant tear in the side already.

I take extremely good care of my gear and for the price this was very disappointing to me. Durability is just not where is should be for the price. With all that being said, I will continue to use this pack and would recommend it to anyone.

I just don’t expect it to last more than a couple seasons. Other than that it is perfect in every way.

This is a great hunting back. It has plenty of room to store my incinerator set plus the Celsius jacket for when it’s really cool. Plus it has plenty of space for anything else needed for the hunt. Love the large pocket on the side for my coffee thermos.

The reason this is a 4 star review is because it’s not a one size fit all. If I only hunted from hang on stands it would be the perfect bag for me. Unfortunately I only hunt pre hung stands about 25% of the time.

This bag does not have the capability of carrying even just tree sticks into the woods. After two years of using the bag I always switch to another bag for my mobile set up. That being said if I only hunted out of pre hung stands this would be the perfect bag for me.

Pack is sized well and is very quiet. I also like the pocket layout. However this pack does not have any structure when full as it takes the shape of the sum of its contents. The most disappointing part is it soaks up water and will not dry for days.

I would have highly preferred a reasonable trade off of structure and weather protection at the expense of sound.

Received my Danner Wildland Tactical Firefighter 8″ full leather boots. I have had Danner Acadia boots in the past (still have them 26 years old) so i had a good idea that these boots would be of the same quality as my old Acadia boots.

Well i was pleasantly surprised that the quality, workmanship and comfort strait out the box was better than what i was expecting. superb quality boot. highly recommend these boots, with exceptional comfort from the first time you put them on.

I am usually a size us 10. 5 but in these boots i’m a size us 11. Shopping through Sheplers for these boots was effortless and a great experience. The shipping to Australia was fast and the boot was well packaged.

Not for firefighting at all. They’re more of a winter boot. The padding is so thick it cuts off circulation to my calf. My feet get very hot wearing these. At the same time they do not protect from outside heat very well, and once they get hot from coals they take a long time to cool off due to the insulation padding.

The lace hooks on the side are too low and get caught on brush, and even your other boot if you put your feet together. I feel like I got robbed buying these boots. Oh also the soles wear out quickly.

Complete garbage. Danner is phasing these out because they know they’re bad that’s why you can buy them for 200 at some stores. If you want comfortable and sturdy danners for firefighting get Quarries.

I want a refund or exchange for a different boot.

This boot protects my feet on SAR duty in rough wilderness terrain. It’s a big, high, warm boot, so not ideal for long mileage days in the heat, but the comfort and protection makes up for it if you’re working.

You will not roll an ankle in this boot. Many miles on this pair and they are still in great shape. The wide fit is perfect for my beat up feet. Unlike other Wildland boots, these things are comfortable out of the box.

I further customized the fit and manage heat with a pair of aftermarket insoles and light cushion hiking socks. If you need a burly, comfortable wilderness boot, or you have messed up feet / toes, then I highly recommend these boots.

The Good: this pack is absolutely perfect for a day hunt, it fits exactly the essentials (IFAK, booboo kit, full zip hoody, Bail Rain Jacket, Kill Kit, 1L water bladder, headlamp, extra bow release, Bow repair kit, #1 bottle, #2 wipes, Small tripod, and I like to attach my quiver to it instead of my bow, and there is still a small amount of room to spare for some snacks/jerky) all that and I’m right under 11 pounds.

The Less Good: does not come with the quality badlands water bladder and a 3L bladder filled up pretty much takes up the whole main compartment just about, I opted to get the 1L Bladder from badlands and am very happy with the way it gives me just enough water for 1 day without taking up the whole bag, would love to see it come with the good 1L or 2L bladder but at this price the fact that it comes with a quality (but not “badlands” quality) bladder is kind of a steal.

I would recommend getting the official badlands bladder as the quality is unbeatable compared to the near dozen that I have had in the past.

i have been field testing a variety of packs for short day hiking. All from waist backs to the scout, monster, the 2200 and other in the badlands line that i have. As well as some of the smaller ALPS , First Lite Gear.

All outstanding packs, especially from BADLANDS. this is the absolute best so far. You can hike all day, nothing riding on the hips. This pack is barely noticeable even with the included 3 L hydration bladder.

I carry the following in mine. 1- trauma kit full water bladder overnight emergency kit – fire starter rope, two space blanket types , matches , tender etc Camp Work style knife (my choice it the Glock) spotting scope or bino depending on type of hike small high tech light weight compact tarp for shelter small first aid kit – cuts, bruises , and blister treatment thermocell attached to the outside of during bug season Still have room or a lite lunch for two No better choice for this.

great day hike unit.

These days you see hunters buying the biggest pack they can get there hands on! Which I find hilarious, because the truth is you don’t need such a big bag. Unless your going into the woods for a week or a month you don’t need such a big backpack! You lose a lot of agility with a giant bag on your back! With the Scout Pack I am able to fit the following: 3 liters of water sleeping bad Food small box full of broadheads small metal cup/pot for cooking rain jacket first aid kit bow master mini bow press flash light lighter/ matches map socks And strapped to the bottom a one person tent!! I could last about 2-3 days comfortably with this pack and with all this stuff I still have some room left!! of course you have to organize your stuff!! This is hands down Badlands best pack ever!! I hate backpacks with hip belts so I love this bag even more!!!.

Brought this for fishing and roving the river. excellent. better than any backpack by any tackle manufacture, and at a great price. holds everything you need for a days fishing, if not the molle system means there is a pouch or some sort of add on to solve your issue.

I added some D rings and elastic retainers (very cheat) so I can attach bank sticks and unhooking mat. second one I have brought as its also an excellent backpack for day to day work use. my only negative is that the to external pockets at the front don’t seem to have the waterproof lining that the main pockets have.

One of guys I work with has the same bag. Plenty of space in it, the external pouches are good for segregating you frequently used items. Main storage space is a good size. The middle space, not sure how much I’ll be using that.

The compression straps are handy for air travel. Velcro external panel great for name tags and moral patches. Extra molle on the rear, can’t see that getting used unless I find a Velcro panel for more patches.

This is the worst fire helmet I have ever had. Bullard has added too much junk to these lids. every ounce adds up. The suspension system can not be adjusted enough to get the center of gravity close to your head.

It already has to ride high with a SCBA facepiece, so the only thing holding it on your head is the chinstrap. With a face shield and small AA light this helmet weighs close to seven pounds. There is a reason why Bullard does not publish the weight on their spec sheet, and they have a rather detailed flyer telling you that fit is more important than weight.

They don’t want to get a whole bunch of them back. Buy a different lid. Or you will be scrounging around the station looking for a helmet you can actually wear to fight a fire. I’d rather wear a mop bucket than this thing.

This helmet replaced our Bullard Firedome helmet we had previously. I like the UST better. It has the traditional look and I prefer the bourkes to the shield. I no longer have embers and hot debris/water running down my back.

We don’t have a choice in helmets. We take what our department issues. I prefer this lid. The slight increase in weight is a non-issue.

I am an Explorer with the Lexington Fire Department in Lexington Kentucky. This was my very first helmet. I absolutely love it! Thank you so much! I would highly recommend buying products through The Fire Store! Great company and great service!.

I was in need of a pack that could be used to carry a laptop, books, etc for office work but then could easily be used to guide an outdoor day trip. I have used this pack for a month now doing just that and it has worked perfectly.

I also used it to travel internationally and it worked great for me. I used it as my carry-on. I placed it in the overhead compartment because I had no room for my feet when it was under the seat in front of me.

The brain has two zip pockets which are great for carrying your “quick to get” items. The two long “bottle pockets” on the inside are great too but if you pack them full it fills most of the space within the pack.

The two internal zip pockets are bigger in size and when full, are still out of the way. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the external pouches. They appear to be designed for 32oz bottles but unless you attach your bottle with a carabiner the bottles will fall out.

The pack is comfortable to carry all day when used with the chest strap and waist belt. You can easily remove both as I did this for the international flight. FYI, Some international flights wanted me to gate check my bag due to full flights.

Because I knew they were doing this and due to me wanting to keep my bag because my laptop was inside, I used the cinch straps (external compression with clips) to make my bag smaller. As I was passing through the line they stopped me to look at my bag.

They shared that they thought the bag was bigger than that, and let me go on through. I share this because I almost bought the MR pack that didn’t have the Molle webbing with compression straps or external pockets but I am glad I didn’t.

I wanted those features and it still worked. If you are looking for a pack you can carry around town through the week and within the wilderness for a weekend, this pack is for you.

Pack has more capacity than I expected from online pics. It worked very well when I used it, but it was much more than I (personally/subjectively) needed for day to day, so i recently ordered something smaller for (what I personally/ subjectively require for) every day use.

It is well made and seems plenty durable, so I plan to use it for overnights and trips. The extra pockets within the main part of the pack and on the lid offer many options for organizing with easy access.

It took a while for me to acclimate to the lid and the way it opened. I (personally/subjectively) didn’t like operating the lid as frequently as I need to through each day, something i feel would be easily tolerable if used as a long hike/camp bag with accessory pouches strapped on.

The torso adjustment system was very effective for me to achieve a perfect fit in a short time. The straps are padded almost to luxury lol. All of the zippers and buckles are high quality. I would recommend some aftermarket zipper pulls , or making some out of cord as the zips can hang up slightly because of the covering that keeps water out and the meeting point of three closures at the lid.

There are grab tabs sewn at the end of each zipper to made operation easier. I really like this pack and look forward to taking it out into these West Virginia highlands for some of the harder use it was obviously built for.

This is the first Mystery Ranch backpack that I have in my possession, and I am totally satisfied with the backpack. I had done an extended amount of research on the Mystery Ranch backpacks, and I could not decide which one to invest in.

After a few weeks of deliberating, this 2DAP was given to me as a present, and it has been the best present thus far. The 2DAP has exceeded all of my expectations. I, still in High School, use it mainly as a school backpack.

It has taken countless beatings on the daily travels, and it has held up. I usually carry about 2 32L Nalgenes, a computer, several books, notebooks, folders and more. I have more than enough space for ll of my school items, and there is still room for more.

The sharp edges of the binders have yet to cause any wear on the bottom or sides of the bag, and the zippers have beautifully broken in due to the daily opening and closing. the computer sleeve comes in great handy, and the two pockets on the lid are unbeatable.

They offer quick access to many misc things, and expanded more than they seem to hold. What really sold me on this bag was when I took it to Big Bend Nat’l Park, on a small backpacking trip. Although it is not meant for it, the bag held up over the 3 day hike, and it carried the load perfectly.

This revealed to me the possible versatility of this bag and how proficient it is in many ways. Overall, I do recommend.

Pack is very comfortable and can take heavy loads, but I’ve had this pack for about 6 months now and slight design choices are really annoying to me, as with all overengineered Osprey packs. The flap doesn’t need to be there, and gets in the way if you try to use the strap in conjunction with it.

The compression straps are too high when strapping down the rope. Also, the pack is wider at the top. Which is generally annoying. I’ve had the kestrel before this and it seemed bigger despite being listed as the same volume.

The last thing I hate is not being able to remove the hip strap when stripping down the pack. The pack is comfortable, but I would think a streamlined pack that is a little lighter would be better. Overall, not super satisfied.

I bought this to replace both my Kestrel 32 daypack, which is lovely but has very little overload capability and is uncomfortable north of 30lbs or so, and my Aether 60, which was overkill as my primary pack.

(I have a Mystery Ranch hunting pack for when I need to carry silly amounts of gear). The goal was to have one pack that could serve as 1) my mountain rescue pack, 2) my long day hike pack, and 3) my summer overnight/weekend/alpine pack.

It does nicely for all those. Key thoughts, in no particular order: – the lack of outside pockets requires a different style of packing and a willingness to sling the bag off your shoulders to get at gear.

– Osprey FINALLY put strap retainer bands on the compression straps so they don’t slap around in the wind and get snagged on things. – I’m stunned by how well this thing carries weight. In the attached picture, you can see my load for a recent mountain rescue mission.

I crammed my standard personal gear (layers, PPE, IFAK, emergency shelter + pad, ~4000 Calories worth of bars and snacks, ditty sack with repair kit + toilettries + etc), glacier travel gear (harness, helmet, associated hardware, ice axe, crampons), and some edge pro for the team ropes into it without any trouble.

I was then asked to carry a dry suit, as the mission required lowering a ranger into a waterfall. To my surprise, the Mutant managed to swallow a full dry suit including boots, suit, helmet, strobe, and rescue rope on top of all my existing gear.

That brought the total weight into the guestimated 45-50lb range, and the frame carried it with aplomb. – it absolutely disappears on your back with normal dayhiking loads (5-20lbs). Limited to 4 stars because you jokers keep fitting your hipbelts to a 25″ waist.

I’m 6’2″ and wear a 34 pant; the hipbelt is effective, but it would be a lot more comfortable if it was an inch or two longer on each wing.

The re-designed Osprey Mutant 38 Alpine pack is extremely versatile. I can get a day of Alpine Climbing/Trekking in or even an overnight with out a problem. The pack is small and streamlined yet it can be loaded up with what seems like an excess amount of gear for a mid-sized climbing pack and yet this packs handles the larger volumes and weight with ease.

The pack carries weight very well and also has the ability to carry skies for Mountaineering missions or ski touring trips. I’ve extended the use of this pack to many more activities other than Alpine trips as I often carry the pack while Mountain Biking for backcountry trips.

The pack can be stripped down to go lighter if you don’t need the Lid/Brain compartment or the hip belt. There is a built in protection flap that seals the open rucksack style top/opening when you remove the Lid/brain compartment.

I use this option all the time on lighter trips. I have many other climbing/alpine packs and this feature isn’t available and it can be a problem with unpredictable Mountain weather. Osprey added the protection flap on the redesigned Mutant and it works great.

You can also take out the rigid stay support if you don’t need the support for heavier gear. The pack is a solid performer and really is tough and well made. It has the typical climbing/alpine pack tool attachments, has a rope attachment in the top of the pack and as I said it is designed to carry skies.

I really enjoy heading out with the Mutant pack. I’m always finding other activities that I can take this pack out on as it is just a comfortable Reliable pack that is small enough to take on quick short trips yet can still handle more clothing and gear intense activities like climbing and Mountaineering and ski touring.

I do like these backpacks from this company and I can see them really advancing all their gear in time. So, as for this packback, it is interesting to have the little pouches on the sides and the two larger pouches, although I do not like the one very large dump pouch in the center.

I wish they had made it like the other style that is this size but has two large center compartments for dividing up your belonging and organizing them more conveniently. The one size large compartment is still useful for staring larger items, say a tent, or bivys and other things.

It makes it easier to re-organize everything back in if you have to pull out the camping gear and such. It just isn’t all the wonderful if you need to place in smaller items and want to find them again or rapidly.

I suppose that is where the 4 small side pouches will come in hand. Anyway, keep it up vism brand. It is still durable and sewn well. And the zippers don’t seem to have any issues. Also in case anyone needs to know, this one does have the armor plate pouch inside in case you want to toss in those 11×8(or whatever size the big ones are) armor plates for the wearer.

This is a very good spacious backpack. While it’s not a heavy duty backpack, those who need a bag for weekend walks or to carry school books will get a lot of use out of it. The zippers seem to be well made, the straps are padded so it’s comfortable to wear.

It’s very adjustable although it might be a little big for smaller children. It looks great and your teenagers will be in style with it. All in all, a very good value.

The back pack is exactly as shown. My son loves it. He’s looking forward to using it during the upcoming school year.

Honestly I’m new to backpacks like this. I got it for a multi purpose pack. I wanted something I could use for backpacking in the summer. Hunting in the fall. Plus a bug out bag year round. I’ve got to say it’s just perfect.

While definitely a little heavier than most backpacking bags it’s more durable and sits perfectly after proper adjustment. Was able to carry a heavy load of gear on a 10 mile hike with little ware. The hip pads do wonders at taking the load from the shoulders and still worked with my holster and mag pouches for my Glock 17 with no interference.

Only thing I’d like to change is the zippers for easy attachment of the short shotgun sabered is to have a little better way to keep it locked at the top. While the zipper hold worked they did unzip a few inches right away.

But it’s not worth removing a stare. 10/10 would recommend and worth the money!.

I like the size of this pack. I picked it over the XL version because, the XL extends too tall vertically for my taste. I was nervous the sleeping system compartment would be too small on this one, but was pleasantly surprised that it was able to fit my USMC sleeping system (to include the tan sleeping bag, bivvy sack, and poncho liner in a compression bag).

However, I still wish the zipper opening for that compartment was larger. Additionally, I wasn’t expecting to get much use out of the zipper side flaps, but found that they fit a set of Frog Fins perfectly (although they do constrict the internal storage compartments some).

Sizing the pack was very simple, and it feels great on my back. Overall quality pack, it’s very versatile and gives you alot of options for storing team gear and quick access items in external pockets.

I was looking for a long-term ruck/recce bag. Due to nothing being in stock across the industry, I ended up testing out the RMFE 5 Elk or whatever it’s called and I… liked it… ish… it wasn’t right, and it had a weird weight distribution putting a lot of strain on my low back and rotators.

I ended up returning that and switching to this, and I absolutely love this. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a high end pack. It’s not cheap, but it’s durable, comfortable, and trustworthy. It won’t come cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Got to use this on a 21 day line assignment that spanned two fires hiking with Hot Shot Crews. Pros: Has compartments for days! Can fit both BLS and ALS gear including small 4 lead monitor and a defribillator.

It’s weight is centered so it doesn’t feel too heavy and won’t sway you back and forth when hiking. Cons: Because it has compartments up the ying yang, you have the propensity to carry everything which could lead to a 60lb pack! I found out the weight of this fully loaded bad oscar when I was being flown up to a spike camp.

Overall it’s a great, well built pack. I didn’t fear ripping any of the shoulder straps while putting on the pack. The craftsmanship is on point. Besides looking like I was carrying a baby hippo on my back, it was quite comfortable.

If partnered with another line Medic or EMT I’d be sure to split the load so you’re not carrying double of anything.

I finally had the opportunity to use this out on the line this year. I’m a dedicated medic to Divisions as needed and was looking for a medical line pack that would allow me to carry everything I needed.

It’s comfortable to wear and has more room than I need. It has a spot for a hydro pack that does not squish up against the bag the way I thought I would. I even took the top off about half way through the fire bc it wasn’t needed but I’m happy to use it when needed.

I would definitely recommend for a dedicated medical line pack. I also appreciated the weatherproof/dustproof zippers.

We bought this for our IHC about one month ago. We needed an option that could store our small oxygen bottle, all our trauma stuff and have a shelter so that someone could drop their bag and grab this one with everything included.

It has more pockets than we have med gear which is a good thing in my opinion. We have it outfitted with a headlamp and basic gear so whoever is humping this can ditch their gear if need be and just use this.

I have to say after running a true north bag that my contractor provided me to this beautiful masterpiece, there can be no comparison. The strap’s design makes it extremely comfortable, the padded waist is extremely comfortable and bears great weight while hiking.

I will order this pack the rest of my Wildland career. Loading is a breeze, lots of space to store ppe and gear. The zippers are extremely tough as far as I see. Overall this pack is a 10 of 10 in my opinion.

I recommend if you are starting out that the initial sacrifice to purchase this pack or similar pack is worth it by far. Your body, feet, back, mind will thank you greatly.

This has been in near-constant use for three weeks on west coast fires. The great things: The zippers don’t get jammed with ash, retardant, sawdust, or other debris, and the contents stay clean. The harness is superb, better than any of the competition.

I’ve had two Stihl 652’s strapped to the top plus a 10-gallon fuel can tied to the back of the harness and it still worked well. A few suggestions: The large side pockets get junked up quickly, especially with oily sawdust, so it would have been great if they were removable to be washed or replaced.

There isn’t really any room on the belt for a traditional side-mount shelter pouch; if you aren’t tall the undercounted shelter pouches tend to drag on things more as you push through brush or climb over logs.

There really could be an accessible pocket for a cell phone — let’s face it, we all have them and carry them with us; in a pants or shirt pocket they get bashed by tools or brush so a safe accessible pocket in the pack would be great.

The top lid I swapped out for the bigger volume one — the packs can really use the increased capacity, even if you are picked up at the end of the day — there’s too much to carry these days. The front buckle is ok but when I snagged and broke it, I swapped it out for an Austr-Alpin Cobra buckle.

That buckle is a couple ounces heavier but it breaks. Last, I didn’t need it but a very sturdy haul handle would be good — I have one on a tactical jacket and if I had to pull someone out, a strong handle to haul a big firefighter would be a great addition.

Overall, though, this is the best pack out there. I swap to an older pack at times so others can try it out and nobody ever offers to give it back.

I bought this as my very first “red bag” for fire assignments. I am new to fire and will be in camp, so I needed something to hold a tent, bag, clothes and other items but still needed to be able to manage it all myself without looking like the one of the Clampetts.

This bag is awesome. The zippers are sturdy, the pockets are numerous and roomy. I keep finding little features like a pocket to put a name tape. I LOVE the backpack straps that stow away and the duffel straps as well.

I like that I can cinch everything down too. So far I’ve fit my boots, nomex, a 4 person tent (because I’m a princess like that), my sleeping bag, a woobie that will double as a pillow, and some other clothes and shower items.

I can carry it all with no problems. I’m not certain of the weight, so I hope I’ll be able to drive to an assignment, but I’ll be able to carry it all myself.

Bought this to replace a large red bag that i’ve used for the past 15 years. Because it didn’t maintain a shape i always threw it up on top of the engine where it got blasted by the elements over the years.

Flight monster holds my MR fireline pack with shelter, helmet, boots, two pairs of wildland pants. 4 days worth of shirts, chonies and socks. Couple of small things here and there. Side straps cinch everything down, depthwise, so that I can now stow it in a compartment in the engine.

Shoulder strap is most useful to haul it around to other stations. I don’t see myself ever using the backpack straps so i have them stowed. Only been using it for a few weeks now but really dig it. I have a secondary bag as my “out of County” bag that I can actually now add more creature comforts to now that my Flight Monster is carrying a couple of ziplock bags of shirts, chonies and socks.

In typical cheap fireman fashion I waited until my original red bag was almost bleached pink from the sun and straps falling off before I bought the Flight Monster. Should’ve done this sooner.

I own the original flight monster already. This bag was for my daughter, who is just starting her wildland career. When I first open the box, I was a little taken back as the bag is shorter than the original but is it much deeper.

I see many advantages to the updated pocket arrangements. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star review is the shorter length. If MR had kept the original length and just made it deeper, it would have been perfect.

I have used this pack over two hunting seasons now and several summer backpacking trips in CO. I like the pack, it is durable, works well for hauling meat. Although I have the same issue as another reviewer.

The waist belt gradually slips down my hips under heavy load and requires readjustment. But my working assumption is this is due to my body type, slender without prominent hips, as I have this issue with other packs as well.

Something to consider but your mileage may vary. Overall, I find the top pocket useful but a little strange, with the very long straps running from near the bottom of the pack holding it in place. Any loose items can also slide around in it, making noise, and need to be combined into separate smaller pouches anyway.

I would appreciate an optional flap to replace it for keeping off precip when I want to go without the lid, which is frequent, especially on early season bow backpacking hunts or day hunts. Overall the biggest issue I am running into, apart from the hip belt not staying in place, is that the fabric of the pack is EXTREMELY loud going through brush.

I have managed to make this work in CO, but I would not hunt with the pack back in AR where I used to deer hunt, and no telling how many deer and elk in CO have heard me from a long way off and slipped away.

This is also generally problematic for the frame, even if a separate pack were attached, as the shoulder straps and hip belt are made from the same material. For this reason, I am giving this pack 3 stars, because this is supposed to be a pack specifically designed for hunters and hunters need to be quiet in the woods.

Perhaps this could be resolved to some extent by offering a separate pack of quieter material and covers for the straps? Its not a bad pack for western hunting, but I would not hesitate to tell folks to look around for other options.

I received this backpack as a gift from a relative that passed away. I have been wanting a Mystery Ranch Metcalf for a long time, so I was so disappointed when I received this pack. It is so uncomfortable and difficult to use.

I was miserable this entire hunting season and just wanted to light it on fire to be rid of it! This pack was not at all what it was described to be. It does not matter how many videos I watch or how much I adjust this pack, it just is not comfortable and was terrible to work with.

I hate trying to get anything out of this pack and it does not matter how much I try to adjust the weight in the pack it just will not secure so when you are walking anywhere it just wants to move around on you.

You are supposed to be able to compress this pack down for a day hunt or expand it for a week hunt. When doing both this year, the straps would not work properly so your pack was either to big or to small for your equipment.

You also better be sure that you have 20 minutes to get anything out or put anything back into this pack as well. It is just not user friendly at all. Not only was this pack terrible but working with Mystery Ranch customer service was just as bad.

After explaining how terrible this pack is and how I can not get it to fit right. They told me since I bought if from a third party there was nothing I could do and they were not willing to help out at all.

I will never recommend a Mystery Ranch pack after my experience with the Metcalf. So disappointed!.

Great bag for wandering and running but I still get wet on the back. I also think it needs some smartpockets inside for keys or creditcard maybe even the phone and some earphones. 1-2 small dedicated pockets had been nice.

I NEVER use the belt and have honestly thought of just cutting it off. The pocket on the belt seems useless to me. The outer pouch at fist seemed risky and unreliable. But testing this for around a month I wtill have not lost the waterbottle (Outside so no water gets to the ipad and other stuff inside.

,) And the umbrella and some shoppingbags that I seem to carry around because of the uncertain weather and need for groceries on the way home without the need to buy unsustanable plastic bags. What I love the most is that it is fairly slim and very light.

I would like a thicker layer or just a double layer in the bottom, I get the feeling that the bottom will get a hole first and then my things will risk falling out from inside the bag, but we will see.

It is hard to fit a bath sheet in the outer pocket. especially going from the beach. It was bought as a general bag that could both fit my ipad from work and my boxing gloves. I still look forward using this bag for my boxing gear.

I bought the same exact backpack 4 years ago and this version is even better. Unlike the original model they seemed to have reinforced the bottom of this bag. Which is great because my other bag has a hole in the bottom from doing some hiking in Alaska.

I love this bag because I can use it for hiking, to carry my snow shoes, for backcountry skiing, and as well as I can use it for professional travel. It comfortably fits my laptop headphones and other carry on items.

The only reason I bought a new one is because the grey color is showing a lot of dirt I can’t wash away. Otherwise I’m still planning to use both bags. It’s one of the only few backpacks out there that has really good hip straps for 20L capacity.

I also really love the new green color, I’m hoping it will hide away the dirt better.

I bought this as a secondary pack to my main travel backpack, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but I’m really impressed with it! Really lightweight but very well made, the textile construction is consistent with all of my other Norrona products.

Im going a lot of “work from anywhere” travelling at the moment and what I really like)” (and I’m surprised at) is that this tiny pack quite comfortably fits my laptop! The water repellency of the fabric is excellent, even on the stretch fabric stuff pocket on the outside of the pack.

It’s the smallest pack I’ve ever had so it took a while to get used to wearing something so tiny but it’s very comfortable and hugs the body really. A good little pack for trail running as well!.

In the last year I’ve used this pack in desert, temperate and cold weather/mountainous environments. In a 15 year career I’ve never experienced a pack that comes close to eliminating back/shoulder discomfort under heavy loads like this does.

I recently used it for a 4 day mountain training package covering 55km, 10000 ft of elevation gain and loads of 55-70+lb with zero issues. Pros: Load bearing is phenomenal if set up correctly. Exterior pockets and lid are more spacious than they appear in images.

For a 100L pack it compresses down for smaller loads with minimal fuss. Pack is extremely stable under heavy loads, even on a ridgeline traverse in high winds. Impressive for an external frame. Cons: The lack of hook and loop web keepers for the straps on a pack at this price point is a joke.

EVERY strap should have one and they should ALL be attached to the straps permanently. The sternum strap is really long even accounting for plate carrier use and I ended up having to tape it down. Not a chore but on a pack that cost nearly 1000 USD it stings.

External pockets should have drainage holes. Pack should come with a rain cover. Detachable lid has routing for a water bladder but the standard 3l bladder won’t fit. Pack could benefit from ice axe attachment loops.

Hip pad adjustment system is neat and innovative, but difficult to adjust and store excess on the fly, especially with gloves on. Most cons are minor details that highlight s need for MR to consider usage of their packs in all environments, but the web keepers for strap organisation is a real let down on such an expensive pack considering they’re all but standard on military packs now.

Also as a general point I would like to see international purchase options even if it’s on a case by case with proof of mil service.

I purchased this ruck about a month ago and I’ve used it on two training events. I had a buddy get the BlackJack 80, which was the bag that I wanted but when I went to order it, the multi-cam pattern was already sold out.

I chose to go big or go home. I snagged up the BJ100 and I’m loving it. I’m also stationed in Ft Drum and I can pack the complete winter packing list plus have room for extra snivel and my jet boil. I’ve enjoyed this bag that much my buddy and I recommended the blackjack series to another pal of ours and he purchased one as well.

The 3 pouches on front solid for small pelican cases for phone chargers or MREs, I also use one for my poncho. The “claymore pouch” holds most of my hand warmer and gloves plus snacks. The sleep system pouch holds the Army’s complete sleep system, plus my woobie and a sea to summit sleeping pad all rolled up into my stuff sack, And there’s still room on the sides.

Main compartment holds 1 complete uniform, silks top and bottom, waffle top and bottom, wet weather, top and bottom, windbreaker, cold weather jacket, hygiene bag, jet boil, ramen noodles, water and other equipment I need to sustain myself.

Top flap is the best because I can fit a lot of random things in the two pockets there as well. I also can loosen the straps on it so that way I can pack an assault pack or my range chair under it if I need too.

I’m very pleased with the bag and I’m a huge fan of mystery ranch, They make quality equipment for anyone’s needs.

The quality of the materials and workmanship on the pack are to Mystery Ranchs usual high standard, the fit and comfort are also. The interior mesh pouch is quite useful for hexi tabs and things like a solar recharge battery set etc.

The internal MOLLE is useful for the attachment of a variety of things (i have a machete a field knife and a bladder pouch attached there). I chose to attach the machete inside because the overley small size of the two lower canteen pouches makes it difficult to make use of the provided sleeve, when a canteen with cups canteen metal, hexi stove and cover are placed inside, the pouches need to have more belly at the base and to be taller to provide better fitting for a canteen (its too tight) and to allow space at the back for the sleeve to be used.

Because the canteen pouches are too short the canteen tends to stick out on an outward angle at the top and must be secured with the strap to prevent it popping out. To me it looks like they sized the pouch on just a plastic canteen without the rest of the associated gear that normally goes with it, and is therefore rather too small.

For a high quality military pack manufacturer, that outcome is unexplainable as surely they keep a stock of basic equipment to test fit to new designs. The internal bladder sleeves are a very useful feature, but are too small to fit source 3 ltr bladders, even the 3 ltr camelback bladders are a difficult fit, (though they will go in eventually).

I understand that there is limited width between the zip and wall of the pack, but that could have been compensated for by providing much more belly in the sleeve which would allow easier fitting of bladders, the bladder will squash around in the sleeve to provide zip access when required.

The removable day pack lid is a useful feature (it makes a handy pillow) and the mesh pouch inside is well placed to hold small items, however its method of converting into a daypack is vastly inferior to the previous system used on the 6500 and other packs ( i prefer the shoulder straps) and i wont be using it as a daypack.

I dont know why the Blackjack 80 has been fitted with only two pouches at the rear capable of holding issue 24 hour ration packs ( its a bit of a squeeze to get them in but they fit) , (the Blackjack 100 has three so clearly three could have been fitted) however the smaller center pouch is useful for holding a variety of equipment.

The rear side zips are really useful for loading the pack, and the d rings are really useful for securing the zip toggles. The real failure with this pack is the deliberate decision to fit so little MOLLE on the pack sides, and that limits its usefulness in the bush, the pack sides are open space which allows the fitting of small pouches, so useful to hold gear which is easier accessed from outside the pack, but thats not possible with insufficient MOLLE.

The MOLLE should run from just above the side sleeve up to the top zip, in addition on either side of the upper pouch on the back of the pack there is enough room to fit an RFAK or other pouch but no MOLLE webbing.

So i have had my pack professionally fitted with MOLLE there and now carry an RFAK on either side. I will in the future have MOLLE run right up the side of this pack. I myself would prefer to pay more for my pack and have a full suite of MOLLE fitted as standard, after all Mystery Ranch sells pouches if there is insufficient MOLLE webbing on their product they are going to sell less pouches.

The new frame type is very comfortable to carry. I have used my Blackjack 80 for a couple of years now and apart from issues mentioned above i am very happy with it.

This is a fantastic product. The attention to detail when attaching accessories is impressive. Too bad one of the reflective labels is peeling a little…

I bought this pack as I like to do back country hunting. I knew one day I would need a meat hauler as well as a backpacker. 2021 season was awesome. I killed a spike Thanksgiving day. I hauled out one hind and one front quarter (bone-in)in one trip along with the backstraps.

It was a one mile down hill haul. I was extremely impressed with the pack. The pack is very durable and stout. I would highly recommend this pack for the back country and hauling heavy loads. I’m a stout person and used to carring heavy loads.

I must say that this pack made my work easier and making two trips of a haul that might make other packs seem inadequate. My thanks to Mystery Ranch for making an awesome pack.

I waited to write a review for a few months now to make sure I wasn’t just trying to justify to expense of this purchase. but let me tell you, I am genuinely satisfied with this pack. I got this pack anticipating western game hunts; however, because of the design of the compression straps it compresses down nicely for quick trips, thru-hikes, or other non-expedition style trips.

To date, I’ve put around 75 miles on it in two months. I use it to ruck every few days. The comfort of this pack is unlike any other I’ve experienced. I’ve experienced the yoke system on the Hotshot packs our state crew uses, which sold me on MR Packs.

For comparison, I ruck with 60-80 pounds regularly, and the pack before this one was a Vietnam era Medium size Alice Pack. After the second mile you could feel every ounce of that weight. With the Marshall, it feels almost like half the weight.

Its distributed so well I can ruck twice as far and harder because I’m not in discomfort, my shoulders dont feel assautled, and it conforms to your body well. The flexible frame is awesome when I take my Dane on the trail with me.

She has to be leashed and her tension on the leash changes my posture. With the Marshall, its not as big of a deal, she tires out and quits pulling before I become uncomfortable unlike my old pack. Lastly, I purchased the MR large Hooded Fly since we’ve had so much wet weather.

Holy cow, that combination is a game changer. Nothing but quality from MR. I’ll be purchasing more packs for my Fiancé and my step daughter.

I bought this pack because I stayed going out west to hunt big game. Just got back from my first antelope hunt and I’m glad I had this. 25 miles of hiking in just over 2 days and I couldn’t have done it without this pack! Definitely made equipment hauling a much less painful task.

It had all the room I needed and more. Between the two outside pockets, the lid pockets, and the side access pockets to the main compartment everything was quickly accessible as I needed it. I attached a water bottle holder and one of their extra compartments to the belt which made certain items even quicker to access.

The side pocket for the rifle worked incredibly well. The belt was really comfortable. I admit the load carrying system is a bit tricky to figure out but once I had it down I carried my quartered out antelope no problem.

Couldn’t go anywhere to physically hold or try out bags so I did a ton of research and am extremely happy with my purchase!.