New mystery ranch packs

[machinethomas]

I'm surprised with the prices as well. I thought the perks of going offshore was to lower price, guess not. I lost interest quickly when I saw the lack of price decrease. Too bad. Still looks like awesome packs though.

 

[airlocksniffer]

Seek Outside (SO) is sewn mostly in house with packs, with a couple components domestically outsourced to high quality domestic cut and sew places.
I am not standing up for MR, after all they are somewhat a competitor, but Bozeman like Grand Junction is not a large town. It's possible, there are only so many people that can or have the desire to do it well. I know from our end, we actually pay a pretty good wage and we have a very good and flexible working environment for our crew. A lot of our seamstresses are very good and have been involved in the construction outdoor gear for a long time, however, there are only so many that want to and can do it well with reasonable training.

Thanks Kevin. Not too many companies will pay decent with benefits for perceived "low-skill" jobs. As my first few stuff sacks will attest, sewing is not easy!! Not running Seek Outside but mad respect for what you guys and gals are doing. Definitely on my recommended list for folks looking for packs and shelters. We as hunters have so many great options for nice packs and other gear, much made in the USA.

 

[mfolch]

Also struck by the (lack of) price drop, but they're probably not trying to become a budget pack company. They're offshoring for the same reason everyone else does: not to drop prices in absolute terms but to gain a competitive advantage over other companies. And if you look at the categories their packs are competing in, looks like they've done just that. The scarecrow is for instance significantly lighter, more feature rich, and less expensive than a full price spike camp (not to mention a xing or tahr with frame) esp when you start adding side pockets. Same thing in comparison to a stone glacier approach. Lighter, larger, better built, better materials and only 30 bucks more than a Sitka flash 20. Somewhere in between, and lighter, and significantly less expensive than kuiu' icon pro 1850 and 3000. If I were in the market for a dedicated day hunting pack, I would have a hard time saying it's not the best deal in its category. Not only does it beat the competition in terms of weight, price, or overall quality--or all of the above--it incorporates the best design features of all of its competitors.

As for the question of offshoring, I like to think that MR may lift some decent human beings out of desperate, third world poverty, but I hate that it might come at the cost of some potential US jobs that do not yet exist. On the other hand, I'm typing this on an iPhone that was manufactured entirely abroad, and I'd rather see high tech manufacturing return to this country. Not sure I'd be able to afford my iPhone if it did...

 

[Kevin Dill]

I have no concerns about the offshore issue. The economy is global and complex. I'm not anti-American and will be swayed by country of manufacture only after about 2 or 3 other more important criteria:

Quality of product and company.

How well the product satisfies me and meets my requirements.

Price.

If an American pack builder is still in the mix at that point, they'll have an edge with me. They won't have it solely because of being on-shore.

 

[Shrek]

Also struck by the (lack of) price drop, but they're probably not trying to become a budget pack company. They're offshoring for the same reason everyone else does: not to drop prices in absolute terms but to gain a competitive advantage over other companies. And if you look at the categories their packs are competing in, looks like they've done just that. The scarecrow is for instance significantly lighter, more feature rich, and less expensive than a full price spike camp (not to mention a xing or tahr with frame) esp when you start adding side pockets. Same thing in comparison to a stone glacier approach. Lighter, larger, better built, better materials and only 30 bucks more than a Sitka flash 20. Somewhere in between, and lighter, and significantly less expensive than kuiu' icon pro 1850 and 3000. If I were in the market for a dedicated day hunting pack, I would have a hard time saying it's not the best deal in its category. Not only does it beat the competition in terms of weight, price, or overall quality--or all of the above--it incorporates the best design features of all of its competitors.

As for the question of offshoring, I like to think that MR may lift some decent human beings out of desperate, third world poverty, but I hate that it might come at the cost of some potential US jobs that do not yet exist. On the other hand, I'm typing this on an iPhone that was manufactured entirely abroad, and I'd rather see high tech manufacturing return to this country. Not sure I'd be able to afford my iPhone if it did...

Better built ? Higher quality materials ? Are these claims based on personal experience ? Price and published specs are all we have to go on as far as I know.

 

[mfolch]

True, I haven't seen the new packs, so my speculating on the reason for the small price drop is just that--speculation. But in the last year I decided to replace all of my hunting and camping equipment, and I have looked at--by which I mean buying, testing, and usually returning--Sitka, Kuiu, stone glacier, and packs from a half dozen other companies. The only reason I didn't switch over to mr was that their packs were so heavy. Otherwise I found them to be second to none in terms of quality. If the new line up manages to maintain the same quality at a lower price and weight, all I was saying is that that is something people shopping for new packs might find very competitive. Personally, I wasn't impressed by sitka's packs, but others might have different opinions. I ended up staying with kifaru because of the quality, modularity, comfort, and weight.

 

[LBFowler]

I doubt their sourcing any different materials (matching color zips is the only change I can see)

I figure they are just trading the off-shore discount for the retail markup, there is a reason so many of the USA made places have a direct to consumer model.

 

[Flyrod]

Not the best MR rep showing off the product…. but you get a good idea on the revised frame.
MR at Shotshow2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ASGwhaD8cI

 

[jquarnberg]

Love that pintler bag... with the frame lighter and presumably improved I am tempted to try MR again. Much prefer the bags to anything kifaru offers by way of bags.

 

[fillthefreezer]

Love that pintler bag... with the frame lighter and presumably improved I am tempted to try MR again. Much prefer the bags to anything kifaru offers by way of bags.

im thinking pintler on bikini frame *mindblown*

 

[jquarnberg]

I tried a long bow. I assume the pintler is the same thing. I know many say the longbow works great on a kifaru frame but I didn't think it was a match made in heaven by any means. I mean its definitely not like they were made for each other.

 

[Phantom X]

I tried a long bow. I assume the pintler is the same thing. I know many say the longbow works great on a kifaru frame but I didn't think it was a match made in heaven by any means. I mean its definitely not like they were made for each other.

I agree. I am using that setup right now and it does take some effort to figure out some of the attachment points. Much more than I thought it would have at first. I am thinking about trying it on their new frame.

 

[michaelc10]

I seen and tried on the new frame at the denver sportsmans show , baicky it looks exactly like the old frame with the load lifter kit built in

 

[michaelc10]

The load lifters are located alot closer to your head than most packs

 

[michaelc10]

I tried it on with 55 pounds , carries wait well, just didnt like the way it fit me on the shoulder straps near my arm pits, seemed alittle tight there. My duplex fits better for me

 

[michaelc10]

I do like thier bags though

 

[michaelc10]

They said they wont sell thier bags seperate until next year

 

[todd kelly]

Anyone pre-order the new stuff yet? Would be great for someone here to do a review comparing the old vs the new frame and bags....

 

[sr80]

Anyone pre-order the new stuff yet? Would be great for someone here to do a review comparing the old vs the new frame and bags....

ive got a buddy that ordered one from grouse river (we live in kamloops)

 

[Josh Boyd]

Anyone pre-order the new stuff yet? Would be great for someone here to do a review comparing the old vs the new frame and bags....

I've been using a pre-production Metcalf on a guide light frame since September. I'd love to compare the new to the old but the last MR pack I used was a Gen 1 with a Crewcab sans lift kit, circa 2005. In my mind this isn't even a close contest. Once I get a little spare time I'll write up my thoughts on the new frame and pack and how it compares to the the other packs in my collection (Stone Glacier 5100 & Kifaru T2). But it may be a little while.