Mystery Ranch or EXO for Hauling out Deer

[Ty17]

I've real pretty much every thread on here about frame packs and the general consensus seems to be that EXO is the best and MR is ok but not great. I am looking for a pack to mainly use for whitetail hunting on public land just to pack a quartered deer out a mile or 2 or maybe shorter distances of the terrain sucks and dragging the whole deer would be too bad. I would like to eventually venture out west and try elk hunting, but that won't be happening for several years yet I don't think. I've can get the MR for $450 with the meat shelf, and the EXO is $690. I could get the EXO frame only and then buy the bag later on if I end up going out west eventually and get the EXO frame and meat shelf for $405. For those of you who have tried both, for my situation would you get the MR for the EXO?

 

[elsb0048]

You should check out Mindful Hunter backpack review. He talks about both MR and exo there and makes a good comparison as far as load carrying and frame flexibility.

I think based on your description the MR would likely be good enough, especially if you're on a budget and the real heavy duty use case is more fringe for you.

I haven't tried the exo (yet, I'm seriously considering it). But I've had a MR for ~4 years and packed a few deer and an elk all 1-2 mi and it's done the job.

 

[shax2lex]

I don’t know about the MR but I’ll share my EXO K4 experience. I’ve had one since they came out and I use it to hunt whitetails on WMA’s in SC. I strap my climber to the frame and use the 2200 bag and crib panel.

I’ve carried out field dressed deer by tying their feet together and holding them to the pack with just the crib panel. If you are day hunting and don’t need a clothes bag then the crib panel and lid could be all you need. Heck you may be able to put a molle bag on the crib panel.

I think it’s a good pack system and gives good flexibility.

 

[justinspicher]

I’m a huge fan of my MR pack. In fact, I traded my Exo for it. So far it’s carried out a couple of elk, a few deer, several turkeys and a bear. I’ve even carried live fish to a stream for CPW in mine.

I’ve used most of the main pack companies and I always come back to my MR.

 

[Taudisio]

I’ve packed out elk/deer/bears with both. Still have both. Either way would work fine for your specific use case. I find the exo a touch more comfortable and it handles heavier weight better, so the MR is a backup/loaner. A single deer though, I wouldn’t complain with either option.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Get the EXO. You will still have it when you come west and will be glad you do. It’s head and shoulders better than the MR and they will always have your back if something fails.

The MR is a decent option. But if you can get the best performance without buying twice, why not?

 

[eaglemountainman]

Instead of listening to the advice of strangers on the internet, try on both packs, with some weight, and decide for yourself which pack is more comfortable for your body type.
If there are no stores near you for a direct comparison, order both models and send back the one you dont want to keep.
And remember... more expensive does not always equate to better gear.

 

[mtnbound]

I've real pretty much every thread on here about frame packs and the general consensus seems to be that EXO is the best and MR is ok but not great. I am looking for a pack to mainly use for whitetail hunting on public land just to pack a quartered deer out a mile or 2 or maybe shorter distances of the terrain sucks and dragging the whole deer would be too bad. I would like to eventually venture out west and try elk hunting, but that won't be happening for several years yet I don't think. I've can get the MR for $450 with the meat shelf, and the EXO is $690. I could get the EXO frame only and then buy the bag later on if I end up going out west eventually and get the EXO frame and meat shelf for $405. For those of you who have tried both, for my situation would you get the MR for the EXO?

I have had multiple EXO systems and I have used a MR for many years before that and for the money the MR gets the job done, is the EXO better, yes but the most important thing is to use what works for your needs, including financially.
If you were gonna be doing multiple backpacking trips a year along with hunting then yes I would go with the EXO but that doesn’t sound like what you are doing.

 

[SawatchSasquatch]

Realistically, how long do you think an EXO would last? 20 years? If you’re leaning there you probably won’t regret that extra $240 on ten years. That price is tough to deal with though. I just bought an old Kifaru for $320 and sort of wish I would’ve just saved a little more and bought a newer exo or Kifaru.

 

[solostalker]

you can consistently get used MR for around $200 in the classifieds which is a steal. Exo's hold their resale value much better so deals are harder to come by. For what you described, I'd go MR.

 

[UpTop]

Sometimes these forums get a little out of hand with only buying x or y brand. Mystery Ranch seems to fall in the just out of making that cut. Personally I really like mine. I packed out a mule deer last fall with a pop up 38 and it did fantastic. I really don’t think you would regret the Mystery Ranch if you go that route.

 

[flyfisher117]

Do your best to test any and all brands out with some weight in them. Everyone is a little different.

I had a MR Popup and sold it after one pack out. It just didn’t work for me. I know guys who bought into the Exo Hype and sold them fairly quickly to change to another brand. I also know guys that tried every cheaper pack option and after 3-4 years they broke down and bought Exo. My main hunting buddy swears by Exo K2. He’s picked up a few of them for cheap off Rokslide. He’s got a lifetime supply of K2 frames and bags now lol

 

[JAMESNAVARROJR]

I have a Mystery Ranch pack with the Guide Light MT frame and have hauled whitetail and elk quarters with it. It manages whitetail well. The elk quarters (around 65-70 pounds) less so. The main problem with it is that the frame squeaks or creaks with every step, especially when it has 50+ pounds in it. I reached out to MR customer service — its solution was for me to send in the pack back, and they would put some kind of dry lubricant b/w the fabric and the stays to minimize the rubbing. But could give me a timeline for how long it would take to remedy. When I asked for an exchange, the customer service rep said that they never claimed that it was a quiet backpack, so it wasn’t actually covered under the warranty. This was in 2023. They may have improved the situation since then. But a quick google search will show that the noise isn’t an isolated problem.

Here’s an excerpt of a review from Outdoor Life: “Noise Unfortunately, this is not a quiet backpack. The frame squeaks near the shoulders and at the hip. At first, it was mildly annoying, but became down-right irritating the further along the trail I went.”

I switched to the SG system, and I think it carries the weight better and is way less noisy.

I also never write reviews, but I found MR’s customer service for a $500+ backpack less than stellar.