Mystery Ranch Selway Opinions

[EmperorMA]

Wondering what folks with a Mystery Ranch Selway think about it? I’m mostly concerned with the usefulness of the zippered side pockets. Will each hold two fly rod tubes or one fly rod tube and a set of tent poles? Will one hold a rifle?

Also wondering about ease of use on the trail. Is it easy to get at often-used items?

Last, do you use it for trips up to three nights? Is there enough room knowing I’ll have both side pockets filled with non-essential (but required) gear?

It doesn’t matter which frame you have. I just want to know about the bag. If it isn’t quite there, then I’ll go with the Beartooth.

 

[bitbckt]

The Selway is my go-to bag right now. I couldn't tell you about fly rods, but either pocket will fit the butt of a rifle.

I can't physically reach either side pocket or the brain pocket with the pack on - I drop the pack to access either. My arms just don't bend that way...

I'm a big believer in the three-zip design. Being able to treat it as either a top-loader or a duffel is very convenient. I don't really find it possible to bury anything too deep in the pack that one or the other zipper can't conveniently get me access.

I can do three nights in it, sure. The Beartooth is probably a better "if I only bought one pack" option, but I have a bag habit...

 

[Desk Jockey]

I use an overload, which is the 50L military Selway. Not sure about the pockets and fly rods. I have used mine for a cold weather day pack up to 4 days backpacking but needed to pack food on the shelf on the way in. I think they are pretty solid for access. As mentioned above that zipper gives you access to the length of the pack interior. It is tough to stash something somewhere that you can’t get it out with a little bit of effort. Far better than a top loader where you might have to do a bag dump to find something.

 

[Mt Al]

Have one and use it as my only pack. A bit big for a day pack, but fits puffy jacket, pants, small coffee stove for winter coyote hunts. Maybe a bit small for 3 days but ridiculously easy to strap gear to the top, sides, back and bottom, not to mention just open it up to use the load shelf. I love the Selway, find it about perfect for my use (want only one pack) but haven't done any side-by-side comparisons with other brands.

Tri-zip is a good compromise for access all over the inside of the pack, IMHO. However, if I was buying now I'd go for the sawtooth kind-of-duffle perimeter zipper. Only problem I have with that one is the straps not jumping the zipper. Easily fixed with repair/split bar buckles and webbing though.

I like open top side pouches vs. zippered. No clue why they did that. Aerodynamics for speed? They work fine, can fit a rod tube, tent poles, tripod, etc..