Mystery Ranch to sell REI type packs to the masses of asses.....

That's a bummer. My Marshall just showed up and I'm pretty impressed. I sold all my MR stuff last year to try a SG which was nice but felt "different" and the solo bag wasn't quite big enough for me. The MR loses a good amount of weight when you trim off all the extra material and buckles. The durability and fit make it the pack for me.
 
what happened to Dana Design?

or Mountain Smith? didnt they move off and then the main guys start up a new company?
i'm not a business guy..but i love my DragonSlayer..MR makes the toughest pack.
 
Alright, here are the details(primarily because I'm tired of seeing the misinformation).

Mystery Ranch will be launching a revised 5 pack hunting line in 2016 at ATA. What that means for you is a decrease in weight(3.9, 5.2, 5.7, 6.1, 7.1), increase in hunting-specific feature sets and a hunting specific frame. These packs will be at exclusive top-shelf dealers in US and Canada. No Bass Pro, Cabelas etc. Reasons for change: 1. because its a better end product for hunters(better function, materials and pass rate) 2. to allow you to have a hands on experience in a quality shop(because fitting is paramount) 3. to have a benefit for pro purchase and G&O 4. To have a decrease in MSRP so you don't have to take out a second mortgage for a backpack... you can do it for optics instead.

Personally I feel that if its a BETTER PRODUCT at the end of the day, what is there to complain about? We have materials sourced from across the world(US, Europe, Asia etc) being used in a factory that is exclusive to Mystery Ranch, with US Mystery Ranch employees present for quality management purposes. As much as it is a downer for the non US made hunting packs, we are still running at max capacity for Mili and Fire packs in our Bozeman and US factories.

Hopefully this clears the air on some of the aforementioned comments...oh yeah, and the tri-zip will be in the 2016 line as well.

Good Hunting,
Andrew @ MR
 
bigskyarcher said:
Alright, here are the details(primarily because I'm tired of seeing the misinformation).

Mystery Ranch will be launching a revised 5 pack hunting line in 2016 at ATA. What that means for you is a decrease in weight(3.9, 5.2, 5.7, 6.1, 7.1), increase in hunting-specific feature sets and a hunting specific frame. These packs will be at exclusive top-shelf dealers in US and Canada. No Bass Pro, Cabelas etc. Reasons for change: 1. because its a better end product for hunters(better function, materials and pass rate) 2. to allow you to have a hands on experience in a quality shop(because fitting is paramount) 3. to have a benefit for pro purchase and G&O 4. To have a decrease in MSRP so you don't have to take out a second mortgage for a backpack... you can do it for optics instead.

Personally I feel that if its a BETTER PRODUCT at the end of the day, what is there to complain about? We have materials sourced from across the world(US, Europe, Asia etc) being used in a factory that is exclusive to Mystery Ranch, with US Mystery Ranch employees present for quality management purposes. As much as it is a downer for the non US made hunting packs, we are still running at max capacity for Mili and Fire packs in our Bozeman and US factories.

Hopefully this clears the air on some of the aforementioned comments...oh yeah, and the tri-zip will be in the 2016 line as well.

Good Hunting,
Andrew @ MR
Click to expand...

Will you be able to purchase just bags in 2016 or no?
 
bigskyarcher said:
Personally I feel that if its a BETTER PRODUCT at the end of the day, what is there to complain about?
Click to expand...

Andrew,

Somehow you missed the very obvious point that some people like American-made products for that very fact.

For the record, I don't necessarily hold it against MR for going overseas. I'll wait and see what the new packs look like before I pass judgment.
 
I'm no fan of the bottoming out of the American middle class, which is the longterm effect of outsourcing, but I see this process as inevitable. You can't expect to make $40-80k a year doing the exact same job that someone in Asia is willing to do for $8k or less. At some point labor costs between the developed and the developing worlds will even out, and people in the first will be sunk down significantly and people from the latter will rise up marginally. We'll all make $12k a year but everyone will have cheaper products which they could not otherwise afford.

The quality will go down, and that's unfortunate, but there will always be a small, niche market for people who are willing to pay top dollar for higher-quality goods. And that means that there will always be a place for high-quality american manufacturers, like kifaru, stone glacier, and mystery ranch's military line.

The real question is whether MR's quality will in fact be as high from their non-us shops. The question is not whether they are becoming REI--the question is whether they're going up against Sitka and KUIU, which outsource their manufacturing to developing countries. Maybe that's the only way MR can really move out of the niche, super-expensive backpack hunting community and make products that most Americans can afford.

For what it's worth, I recently bought a KUIU pack system which I thought was more nicely designed, more versatile, and much less expensive than my Kifaru BT1. I sent it back after two days because it just did not seem like it was anywhere near as durable nor as comfortable. If MR manages to drop hundreds of dollars and several pounds off their packs, and still maintain their reputation for the toughest gear available, Kifaru and SG will have much more serious competition. If not, many of us will buy, try, and return, and hold out for the best packs around.
 
bigskyarcher said:
Alright, here are the details(primarily because I'm tired of seeing the misinformation).

Mystery Ranch will be launching a revised 5 pack hunting line in 2016 at ATA. What that means for you is a decrease in weight(3.9, 5.2, 5.7, 6.1, 7.1), increase in hunting-specific feature sets and a hunting specific frame. These packs will be at exclusive top-shelf dealers in US and Canada. No Bass Pro, Cabelas etc. Reasons for change: 1. because its a better end product for hunters(better function, materials and pass rate) 2. to allow you to have a hands on experience in a quality shop(because fitting is paramount) 3. to have a benefit for pro purchase and G&O 4. To have a decrease in MSRP so you don't have to take out a second mortgage for a backpack... you can do it for optics instead.

Personally I feel that if its a BETTER PRODUCT at the end of the day, what is there to complain about? We have materials sourced from across the world(US, Europe, Asia etc) being used in a factory that is exclusive to Mystery Ranch, with US Mystery Ranch employees present for quality management purposes. As much as it is a downer for the non US made hunting packs, we are still running at max capacity for Mili and Fire packs in our Bozeman and US factories.

Hopefully this clears the air on some of the aforementioned comments...oh yeah, and the tri-zip will be in the 2016 line as well.

Good Hunting,
Andrew @ MR
Click to expand...

I'd love for you to point out all this misinformation you speak of... Your moving hunting packs overseas..Fact. Your currently not selling bags without frames.. Also a fact, and you are in fact planning on moving your hunting line into retail areas... Yep fact

And seriously I'm not trying to be a dick but a bunch of what you stated is really just spin talk.

1. It's a better product? It's designed in the U.S. Correct? So better function doesn't correlate to the move. Better materials?? Well I assume your using the same materials... So again the move doesn't matter. Better pass rate... Well I had not realised that over seas sowers were that much superior to the American work force.

2. This is actually a good thing but is also a moot point since your inception. You had an amazing return policy and if it didn't fit you sent it back. And where exactly are they going to be offered?

3.pro purchase I assume is for professionals, guides and such I would assume. That doesn't really effect me or most of your hunting pack consumers. Don't know what G&O is. If I'm wrong feel free to correct me.

4 seriously? No one that is interested in purchasing an MR is concerned with the MSRP. That's the whole point why they chose MR. They were willing to pay more for a pack made to the MR standard. Exactly why people choose kifaru or SG.

Look most of us would have no problem with this but cut the spin job act. MR is moving production for MONEY, to reach a wider range of the public and sell more packs, that's awesome, but don't try and act like it's going to be a "better product".

Finally are you going to be able to buy just bags in the future? Or are you going to give the screw job to customers that have been with you for years?
 
They've already put the screws to people that have been with them for years.
 
If any of you mistreated individuals who are currently disgusted with MR would like to give away your MR pack, pack w/frame or frame alone......feel free to send it to me and I'll promise to let the world know that you stood your ground and made an honorable point.
 
hobbes said:
If any of you mistreated individuals who are currently disgusted with MR would like to give away your MR pack, pack w/frame or frame alone......feel free to send it to me and I'll promise to let the world know that you stood your ground and made an honorable point.
Click to expand...

hilarious!
 
I love my dragon slayer. It's the most comfy pack I own. Meat capacity is sadly untested. I've strapped a ground blind to it, so I know the straps can fit a quarter.

I just want MR to bring back their hunting caps. Super cool caps. Seen only one in my life.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1441207592.424010.jpg
 
mmw194287 said:
Why don't you only transport made in the USA products on your truck? You are insisting that other business owners prioritize values over their bottom line, and meanwhile you are driving full containers to ports and leaving empty--making a living by participating in the very processes of global outsourcing that you so fervently oppose.
Click to expand...

Pretty good argument right there.....
 
There are quite simply some products that are not made here in the states and probably never will be, and quite frankly I don't care as much about those products. I am definitely a proponent of bringing back mfg and production to the states and will do what I can to support it. I think most of us are interested in pure quality, regardless of the origin, and will pay extra for that quality (and service). However, the quality issue seems to diminish when certain products are produced in certain countries. I like German made tents, boots, cars, etc. I don't think they would be any better made in the U.S. I do feel they would be of lesser quality if made in other countries where the labor force is cheaper.
Quality and craftsmanship is where it's at....regardless.
 
Thank you jim thorpe. I'm 100% about functional quality first and country of origin second. I've seen some terrible quality outdoor gear made in the US and won't waste money on it simply to wave a flag. All things equal, I will buy US made...but it ends right there. Our economy is already so inextricably global that no amount of posturing or attitude will affect it. Maybe it feels good and waves a personal flag of patriotism, but it's certainly not how the entire planet functions in this millennium. Insulting a good company for making a business decision comparable to many, many others (which go on to succeed tremendously) provides no incentive for US loyalty. Instead it sends a message of hatred and sour grapes. I most appreciate those American businesses which don't pound their patriotic chests continuously, but continue to simply innovate and compete with ALL comers to bring the best products to market at the best possible price to consumers.

And for all this bs about country of origin and such: I see no way for a true red-white-and-blue American to complain about an Asian backpack while pridefully loving a European scope, Aussie shiraz, Brazilian filet, or Chilean grapes. Wait a minute: don't I still see a vast majority of hardcore working-class guys sporting a Carhartt label? Aren't Kenetrek pac boots made in Thailand?

Mystery Ranch: Good packs. Good people. Best and tightest pack company I've ever dealt with. Outstanding customer service. Never an issue with a manufacturing flaw here. Do I wish they would stay 100% US built?...yes, of course. Will they fail overseas? That remains to be seen. My money says they will succeed. On the other hand they HAD better pay attention to their primary consumers and not allow themselves to become the Rocky Boot Company of backpacks. Badlands already has that base covered anyway, right?
 
75% of a Toyota Tundra is American/Canadian made. Tied for #1 with Ford F-150.

By comparison only 40% of the Chevy Silverado is N American made.

All BMW's sold in N America are built in N America.

I'd guess most working class Americans would prefer to build Tundra's and Beamers for a living over sewing backpacks for a living.

This bus left the terminal like 30 years ago.

Just sayin'
 
I think it's a great move and will keep them competitive. They've obviously made this decision for a reason. Nobody was gonna pay their current prices for the hunting packs over a Kifaru,SG or EXO. Can't wait to see the new lineup.
 
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