While my legs and back do not always agree with the choices I make while hunting in the backcountry, they do concur with my backpack choice this past season. I’ve always been a fan of larger backpacks, particularly those exceeding 6000 cubic inches. I absolutely despise having to tie or lash extra gear onto the outside of my pack for extended hunting trips; I prefer all gear to be stowed on the meat shelf or inside the main bag of the backpack. It may seem trivial to some, but I’ve found it crucial to maintain a centered, balanced load while traversing steep slopes and windy ridgelines. Fatigue from load shifting can quickly exhaust your lower back and outer leg muscles, not to mention gear getting tangled or held up by brush.
This past year, I switched from the Mystery Ranch Marshall backpack to the redesigned Metcalf 100 backpack edition. This one has become my go-to pack for hunts involving Dall sheep, elk, mule deer, and Alaska moose. I’ve thoroughly tested it in the rainstorms of the Alaskan wilderness and in the dust bowl of New Mexico during early season elk hunts. Rather than reiterate the basics or specifications of the pack, I’ll focus on the key features that stood out to me with this new model.
ROLL-TOP MAIN BAG
The roll-top main bag may seem excessively tall and large at first glance, with a wide-mouth opening at the top; however, the wider top allows for using gravity to drop in a large quarter bag or a bulky item without forcing a zipper that just won’t close. The large main bag facilitates easy packing with compression waterproof bags or Zoid bags.
FRAME AND HIP BELT
The new ULTRA LIGHT MT frame continues to impress me from the innovative minds at Mystery Ranch. While many other manufacturers seem to go with thinner straps and lighter weight materials, I feel you must be careful when selecting a pack that you intend to haul heavy loads with in the field. A sturdier frame with a little bit of weight and rigidity to it will hold together better with a multi-day load. The five-piece hip belt has been retired to a three-piece hip belt that allows for less rough contact points with a softer touch around your entire waist. This is probably my favorite feature of the new Metcalf. I prefer to run the waist belt extremely tight around my hips to make sure the pack is secure and my shoulders do not bear the load alone.
The new ability to adjust the height of the load lifters while in the field helps to get the angle that you want based on the width of the load and the height of your torso. No two hunters are alike, and it’s critical to be able to compress the load and adjust it to sit as preferred on your back. The pack is arguably the most durable internal frame hunting pack that I have ever used. The load shelf bottom sling has also been adjusted up so it can fit higher on your back and not sag down to your tailbone while in use. This is a simple, yet effective change that was made to improve the versatility of this new pack.
The new line offers three frame sizes (small, medium, large) and three bag capacities (50L, 75L, and 100L), ensuring a combination that meets any hunter’s requirements. It is available in three solid colors – Buckskin, Ponderosa, and Foliage – as well as the Sitka Subalpine pattern. If you haven’t experienced a Mystery Ranch pack and are in the market for a new multi-day option, our team at Gear Fool is fully stocked and ready to assist you in finding the perfect pack this week.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
· Metcalf 100L – 6.1 lbs.
· Metcalf 75L – 5.3 lbs.
· Metcalf 50L – 5.0 lbs.
See more at www.gearfool.com/collections/mystery-ranch.
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