Mystery Ranch or Osprey?

[Farmingdale's Finest]

Going on a trip elk hunting this fall with my son. I need to get a pack for him unfortunately for me he is a freak at 6'5 with a 23 inch torso. Almost no one makes a pack large enough for him at a reasonable price.

I have it narrowed down to 3 packs the Mystery Ranch Stein 62, Mystery Ranch Glacier and the Osprey Aether 70. I am leaning towards the Stein because i can find it for $177 in burnt orange, the Osprey for 232 and the Glacier for for 262. I personally own the Glacier after talking to MR about this hunt. I have been doing weighted hikes with about 50 pounds and it is super comfortable. The MR packs are rated to 90 pounds and the Osprey 70 pounds.

I am not sure if a 3700 ci pack is large enough for a 6 day hunt in the Stein? I don't know if I am giving up too much weight carrying capacity or any quality with the Osprey and am pretty confident the Glacier is all we need but I am not sure its worth spending the extra money for him for two reasons. First I don't think he would use it other than this hunt and second he will be getting my stuff when I am no longer able to do this? Such first world problems.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I guess I answered my own question and ordered the Glacier for him after discovering the Osprey only went to a 22" torso. He has a 23"torso. I misread the description of the Osprey and felt the MR Stein may be too small. It came in tonight and he is very happy with the Glacier.

 

[couesbitten]

I would have looked at the Seek Outside packs, you can get them with a 28" frame.

https://seekoutside.com/lightweight-backpacks/

 

[jjjjeremy]

They're all going to be too short. Kifaru will make a 28" frame. I'm 6'3" and use the 26" frame. If I was any taller I would want the 28 for sure.


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[thinhorn_AK]

I’m 6’4 and I use a kifaru fulcrum with a 28” frame.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

They're all going to be too short. Kifaru will make a 28" frame. I'm 6'3" and use the 26" frame. If I was any taller I would want the 28 for sure.


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I’m 6’4 and I use a kifaru fulcrum with a 28” frame.

What size Torso's do you have? I just spoke to someone at Kifaru because the Mystery Ranch Frame has no lift above his shoulders and was suggested to get a 26" frame. He is 6'5" 34inch inseam and I measured him with a 23" torso.

If I go new I think I would do the Hunting Frame, the Grab It with some straps and a dry bag for just under 500 which is almost double what I paid for the MR. But significantly less than what a Kifaru bag would add. As I said I am trying to get the best bang for my buck. I am gearing up for two and have no idea how often we could do this in the future since we live in NJ and neither of us have done this before so I have no idea if this is going to be a one and done with him or not?

 

[jjjjeremy]

What size Torso's do you have? I just spoke to someone at Kifaru because the Mystery Ranch Frame has no lift above his shoulders and was suggested to get a 26" frame. He is 6'5" 34inch inseam and I measured him with a 23" torso.

If I go new I think I would do the Hunting Frame, the Grab It with some straps and a dry bag for just under 500 which is almost double what I paid for the MR. But significantly less than what a Kifaru bag would add. As I said I am trying to get the best bang for my buck. I am gearing up for two and have no idea how often we could do this in the future since we live in NJ and neither of us have done this before so I have no idea if this is going to be a one and done with him or not?

Torso size? I can't remember. I measured it at REI a few years ago when they tried to convince me that off-the-rack packs would fit me. I'm 6'3" with a 32-34 inch inseam. All I know is that the MR frame stops right at the top of my shoulders. That was with the GLS frame that has the built-in frame extensions. I think the older frame has some extenders that you can buy.

I think I went through 2-3 MR packs before I gave up trying to make them work. It's definitely worth going one-and-done with Kifaru than trying to fudge any other pack on a taller guy. It's just not going to work. I've gone through at least 5 packs in my life, each one marginally better than the first, but never experiencing what it's like to have the weight fully of the shoulders until I went with Kifaru. Kifaru is pretty good with returns and exchanges, but with that said, even with my size I feel like I wouldn't have any problems with a 28". Loaded with 60lbs like I was this weekend, the top of the frame is at ear height.