Mystery Ranch Guide Lite or Guide Lite MT Frame

[#publiclands]

Hello! I am in the market for a used MR pack on the Guide Lite frame. Currently considering the Terraframe, Mule, and Plintler. I have heard a lot of people saying that the newer MT frame is much improved and should hold out for one. Most say that they are a lot more comfortable especially if when weighted down? If the difference is minimal between the two and not worth the extra cash I would like to know that as well. Any suggestions or recommendations on the frames and the packs would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[BadTostada]

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the newer bag only options are only compatible with the MT frame. So if you think you’ll ever want to swap bags it may be worth it to go with the MT. I like my pintler but the terraframe 50 on the MT frame is hard to beat for the price.

 

[Desk Jockey]

To make older (NICE and guide light) bags work on an MT frame, You would need a buckle adaptor set (or buckles) which is about $20. Called the time machine and MR sells them from their repairs department. Same thing to make new (MT) bags work on an older frame. You can brew your own if you like.

NOTE - I am a bit of an MR fanboy and have owned several packs and frames going back to 1997. I am also selling two MT frames in the classifieds so my comments are a bit self serving. So…

My $0.02 The guide light was fine. Lighter and better than the NICE frames With built in load lifters. My only real issue was the hip belt slipped. The guide light MT is better IMO. More refined. Lighter. More padding in the belt and a better belt design. the MT wasn’t a full scale revision but it was a nice refinement of the guide Light. Unless I got a screaming deal on the guidelight, I wouldn’t buy one because then you have to factor in the cost and pain in the ass of adaptors going forward. I would also stay away from nice frames. built or overbuilt for military specs. They are great. I still keep one as a shit hit the fan pack and one for training but they are #2 heavier than an MT and you really need to add load lifters to get them to carry well IMO, which is another $50, more weight and harder to find these days.

 

[#publiclands]

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah the Terraframe sounds like a good compromise since it is intended as a light duty backpacking pack. I actually don’t see how it would be that much different in load hauling capacity and comfort. I think the only thing different than the guide lite on the hunting pack line is the belt Is a bit different from what I understand.
Can anyone confirm this? Pros or cons?

 

[Desk Jockey]

So, to be clear. MR started with the NICE frame. Then they released the Guide Light And still make the NICE frame for military packs. They updated to the Guide Light MT in 2019. The guidelight MT is lighter and uses a different type of buckles And is the same frame for the current hunting and backpacking line (Terraframe packs). Any new pack you buy in the hunting line is going to be the guide light MT frame now. The hunting and hiking lines (Terraframe) use the same frame and are rated for the same load carriage weights.