New mystery ranch packs

[elkaholic_bc]

its been on there twice now, its not the new frame though.

Has your buddy got his from Grouse River yet? I have been debating going with the guide light frame metcalf vs exo 3500 and the option to buy locally at Grouse River is kind of a bonus of not dealing with the exchange. How does he like it? Which did he order if you dont mind me asking.

 

[sr80]

Has your buddy got his from Grouse River yet? I have been debating going with the guide light frame metcalf vs exo 3500 and the option to buy locally at Grouse River is kind of a bonus of not dealing with the exchange. How does he like it? Which did he order if you dont mind me asking.

I was at grouse river a few weeks ago and checked out the display bags and frames. I pre ordered a pintler (new longbow) Frame looks ok, definitely not as heavy duty as the original nice frame, but with being almost 2 lbs lighter that can be expected. They said mid may before they should be shipped though. And that date keeps getting pushed back.

 

[LBFowler]

Frame looks ok, definitely not as heavy duty as the original nice frame, but with being almost 2 lbs lighter that can be expected.

Is that actually true? original NICE had 3 horizontal carbon rods and 3 vertical. New frame has 3 horizontal and 4 vertical, it just has less material between the actual frame components. Unless they actually used smaller carbon rods it would theoretically be stronger, they might have but I'm always surprised just how bendy the original NICE frame is. Lots of vertical stiffness but it is actually pretty easy to bend it into a shallow "C" away from you back if you get rowdy with the vertical straps.

 

[sr80]

Is that actually true? original NICE had 3 horizontal carbon rods and 3 vertical. New frame has 3 horizontal and 4 vertical, it just has less material between the actual frame components. Unless they actually used smaller carbon rods it would theoretically be stronger, they might have but I'm always surprised just how bendy the original NICE frame is. Lots of vertical stiffness but it is actually pretty easy to bend it into a shallow "C" away from you back if you get rowdy with the vertical straps.

I just meant the belt etc, less padding, not as heavy duty of buckles and hardware. I will give it a good test, and see if I like it better than the original nice frame. If not Ill keep the bag and sell the frame.

 

[elkaholic_bc]

I was at grouse river a few weeks ago and checked out the display bags and frames. I pre ordered a pintler (new longbow) Frame looks ok, definitely not as heavy duty as the original nice frame, but with being almost 2 lbs lighter that can be expected. They said mid may before they should be shipped though. And that date keeps getting pushed back.

Good to know, I have been tossing back and forth with the pintler and the metcalf. The only reason I was leaning towards metcalf is sort of future proofing myself for hunts in the future that will require more bag. But the Pintler fits the bill any other time so my internal debate will rage on LOL. Are you on HBC with the same tag? If so I am there as well, same tag without the _bc on it.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I have a Longbow and a Metcalf. If I had to choose one it would be the Metcalf.

 

[Kevin Dill]

I'm not sure if it's been asked: Will the previous gen bags fit the new GuideLight frame?

 

[RedStag]

I ordered one of the new bags and after having checked them out in person opted to cancel that order and stick with NICE frame and Lift Kit. as SR80 pointed out, the frames seem a lil flimsy now, hard to know id they will carry weight as comfortably as the older NICE frame. Frame stiffness isnt everything, case in point is the KUIU ultra frame. Very Stiff Veritcally, in my opinion their bags dont carry nearly as well as MR.
If you are looking for a bomber expedition pack Id stick with the NICE frame or go KIFARU. If you want to rely on a company you know and trust, but need something a little lighter duty with hauling capabilities I would think the new MR frame with a Pintler (longbow) or Metcalf are the ticket

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

I've been die hard MR for 6 yrs. the new frame seems interesting to me, it's either going to work and be great or be a flop for heavy loads. I have not seen or heard a single bad thing by people that have actually worn and used the bag. I've had one ordered since day 1. I got called Monday telling me MR pushed the April 15th ship date back to May 15th. I spent hours playing with the new metcalf and I for sure thing the bag is a improvement, mainly just adding the side pockets and strap relocation sold me on the bag. The frame fit great and for being a thinner belt, it felt very secure and well made. The new metcalf is 1.5 lb (full set up with frame) lighter than the older one. They said the frame is 2lbs lighter but will carry weight just as well, and the new metcalf is .5 lbs heavy due to added features. If the frame doesn't do it for me, I'll trade it for a nice and lifters, but truthfully I don't see that being a issue at all.

 

[sr80]

Good to know, I have been tossing back and forth with the pintler and the metcalf. The only reason I was leaning towards metcalf is sort of future proofing myself for hunts in the future that will require more bag. But the Pintler fits the bill any other time so my internal debate will rage on LOL. Are you on HBC with the same tag? If so I am there as well, same tag without the _bc on it.

yep

 

[sr80]

Im sure they tested the heck out of the new frame, so maybe we're all wrong here. I will definitely give it a side by side comparison.

 

[LBFowler]

I've only briefly tried on the new frame, and not with a load, but I actually suspect I'd prefer the simpler belt. For me the main question is how stiff the belt-to-frame connection is.

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

I just contacted camofire to order another metcalf. I'll have a new style and old style, both brand new. I plan to put the same pack on both frames and see which one carries best. I know I will have zero problem selling which ever one I don't pick. These packs hold there value like Swarovski

 

[WesternHunter]

Hey guys, I thought I may be able to answer some of your questions on the NICE vs the Guide Light. I work for BlackOvis.com and we'll be one of the dealers for MR. I was able to get my hands on all the new packs and compare it to the old version. I didn't get to read through all this thread but a couple questions I did see that I can help answer.

Some guys were wondering about the old bags fitting the new frame. Short answer, they will not fit, at least not in a fully functional form. There's some attachment points that don't match up from the old to the new.

Some other guys were wondering about weight capacity of the GLF vs the NICE. The GLF should meet or exceed the capacity of the NICE frame. Testing them side by side on an Idaho Elk hunt Andrew Jakovac of MR and one of his friends loaded 2 packs, 1 NICE frame, 1 GLF, with equal amounts of weight (roughly 150lbs) and packed them 5+ miles out. They would hike 1 mile and then swap packs. He said they quickly were fighting over who got to use the GLF because the NICE frame's bulkier waist belt started causing pressure points and "raspberries" where as the single piece contoured belt of the GLF did not.

Sorry if these questions have already been answered. Just hoping to help out with the questions I saw. Check them out at http://www.blackovis.com/brands/mystery-ranch

 

[Jason Snyder]

Short answer, they will not fit, at least not in a fully functional form. There's some attachment points that don't match up from the old to the new.

Well, that sucks. Define fully functional? Could it be done with minor modifications?

Are the new waist belts interchangeable with the NICE frame?

Thanks.!

 

[BCsteve]

Some guys were wondering about the old bags fitting the new frame. Short answer, they will not fit, at least not in a fully functional form. There's some attachment points that don't match up from the old to the new.

I'm assuming it's the same for the opposite. New bags won't fit the NICE frame?

 

[WesternHunter]

Well, that sucks. Define fully functional? Could it be done with minor modifications?

Are the new waist belts interchangeable with the NICE frame?

Thanks.!

I never actually tried putting the old bag on the new frame to see exactly where they don't match up so I'll have to get back to you on that one. I simply asked Andrew if they matched up and he said that they did not. I'll see if I can get my hands on both of them again and compare to see where they don't match or if you could modify them to work.

With the waist belt, again going off what Andrew said, MR was not going to sell the GLF, or pieces of the GLF, separate from the bags in this first year. At least not through the retail channels. So guys wanting to get into the new packs would need to purchase the system as a whole. BUT that's something I'll need to compare as well. If you could get your hands on a GLF waist belt I don't know if it would fit or not. I imagine it will but I'll check. One of our purchasers has the NICE Metcalf and a demo GLF Metcalf so when he's back in town I will grab those and see what does and doesn't match up!

 

[sr80]

With the old nice frame they have that 3 bar slider with the angled webbing that you loop through it to attach bags to that part of the frame, on the new frame I dont see that. Just a male/female buckle. That is all I can see different so far. This is the first ive heard that the new bags wont work on the old frames and vise virsa

 

[LBFowler]

I'd bet good money belts are a no-go, on the NICE the outer wings are the only thing that swapped, the middle 3 segments are stationary. As complex as the belt attachment system was it was never compatible with anything else, GLF included I'd bet. GLF has a more traditional looking 3-segment belt rather then 5. Even if it was the same attachment system the new belt would overlap part of NICE belt and probably be more miserable then anything.

My bet is that the upper frame sleeve fits the same on both frames and it is just the hardware that doesn't match, no big deal.

 

[todd kelly]

That is all I can see different so far. This is the first ive heard that the new bags wont work on the old frames and vise virsa

I have talked to 2 people from MR and both have said the old won't fit on the new and vice versa. Disappointing for sure.