The winning name is SPARTAN and the generous folks at Mystery ranch are going to award packs to the three contestants who suggested the name.
PF, ML, and PG need to contact us here at SSD to arrange for your prizes. Thank you to all who entered! For those of you who want a Spartan of your own you are going to have to wait 4-6 months for full production to be ramped up.
Unit and agency orders can be handled by ADS.
Mystery Ranch has decided on a winning name, and the winner is….
Tune in Monday morning to find out
There are a lot of folks who still prefer ALICE over any of the new stuff. As we all know, the weakest link in the big green tick was the frame. On top of that, ALICE was designed in the late 60s of state of the art materials for the time, which is essentially parapack and so is prone to developing holes in high wear areas. Well, Mystery Ranch has ALICE beat in both areas and has taken inspiration from the classic design but developed an entirely new pack from the ground up. Naturally, like ALICE, the Mountain Ruck is available in two sizes, Medium and Large. The Large came first, but immediately they had customers come back and tell them that they needed a smaller pack with the same features.
The Mountain Ruck sits atop the highly popular NICE frame which can be used with a variety of Mystery Ranch bags as well as to transport awkward loads like the old issue packboard. They also made the Mountain Ruck backward compatible with the ALICE frame for you diehards. The Large pack offers 5300 cu in of cargo capacity but PALS webbing is available for those who need additional space. The pack also features three external Rip-Zip pockets that are a cinch to open in a hurry.
Available in Coyote and MultiCam. Be sure to inquire about the medium size of it fits your needs.
It’s true, one lucky winner is going to receive their very own Mystery Ranch pack in Coyote. We don’t know what to call it and that’s the catch. To win the pack, you have to name it. Visit here for pics as well as the rules. Good Luck!
Mystery Ranch has asked us to sponsor a contest to name their newest pack. The pack is currently referred to internally as the “two zip” and while it does describe the pack well, we are pretty sure you guys can come up with something better.
We wanted you to get a good look at this pack. It is a lightweight, simple affair that you will want to toss over your shoulders and carry on to the objective. In fact, it is great for the “fight off your buddy’s back” concept as you can easily pull down on the handle and open the pack to access the interior. Additionally, its limited size means you won’t overload yourself and narrow profile won’t hangup on obstacles. Yet, it still features a frame sheet to keep its shape no matter what you stuff into it. This panel loader is accessed via two full-length #10 zippers and is secured at the top with a combination of velcro and a side release buckle. It can also be rolled before it is secured. The outside takes it easy on the PALS webbing so you won’t over do it. Conversely, the interior also features PALS webbing to make it easier to compartmentalize your kit in pouches. Naturally, like all Mystery Ranch packs, it is Berry Compliant and available in a variety of colors.
All contest entries have been received and a winner will be selected by Mystery Ranch who will win one of the packs in Coyote.
According to a Sources Sought Notice released in November, it appears as if the Marine Corps has decided on a way ahead for a replacement for the Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) pack.
From the Notice:
The Program Manager Individual Combat and Equipment (PM ICE), Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), is seeking industry input that identifies potential sources and best practice information regarding the manufacturing of a government-designed USMC Pack System. The USMC Pack System is similar to the US Army’s MOLLE Large and Assault Packs. The resultant System must be Berry Amendment compliant and as well as be produced at a rate which will result in a total of 108,000 Systems being delivered within 12 months of contract awards. It is anticipated that production would be satisfied through multiple contract awards.
Ironically, Marine Corps dissatisfaction with MOLLE spawned the ILBE program in the first place. Based on commercial backpacking technology, ILBE was developed by Arc’teryx and manufactured under license by Propper. The system includes a large internal frame pack, assault pack, hydration system, and waterproof liners. Issues with the design began to arise after the Marines began to use body armor with integral rear plates as standard issue. The internal frame ILBE was not designed to accommodate the added bulk of the plates and the Marines chose not to undertake a Product Improvement Program. The Marines Corps has looked at dozens of designs over the last two years including a proposal called the ‘WELBE‘ that would have modified their existing packs to accept the Mystery Ranch NICE frame.
Over the summer they announced they were going to conduct a limited test of “five Government owned pack designs”. This is a natural step in the development of a new material solution to avoid starting a new program when there is already a product that satisfies the requirement. If this Sources Sought Notice is any indication, they found their solution with MOLLE, or at least something similar.
The issue MOLLE has been given a makeover by Mystery Ranch similar to the one afforded last year to the Marine Corps’ ILBE. The Mystery Ranch WELBE was unveiled at last year’s Modern Day Marine and is a program designed to adapt the ILBE to a more versatile carrying system; the NICE frame. At this year’s Modern Day Marine, Mystery Ranch showed us their latest adaption; the NICE MOLLE. They have mounted an issue MOLLE Large pack to a NICE frame. As you can see, the NICE frame is more armor friendly and can be used for a variety of other functions such as a pack board for outsized loads.
We constantly attract new readers at SSD so every once in awhile we go back into the archives and resurrect an old post. The Mystery Cinch is more poignant than ever and once you look at this video you will hit yourself in the forehead with your palm and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” In fact, simplicity might be its elegance but it has garnered Mystery Ranch with a patent.
Designed to work with any pack, the Mystery Cinch routes the straps close to the center of of the chest and prevents the straps from creeping up under the arm. Additionally, pack straps don’t adjust tight like they would during normal wear so when released from the Mystery Cinch they fall right off the arm. Its single motion, quick-release design sheds the pack smoothly. Because the Mystery Cinch uses the armor’s PALS grid it offers the flexibility to accommodate a variety of armor vests, pouch configurations, and pack straps.
