Mystery Ranch Coulee 30 rucksack review: Tough enough for the US military

This US brand behind the Coulee range might not be so familiar to Brits, but it's well known and highly regarded stateside. Based in Bozeman, Montana, Mystery Ranch has been making high-quality packs since 2000.

In fact, it has secured several military and professional contracts over the years, manufacturing packs for US Navy SEALs and USAF Pararescue teams, as well as for fire crews, medical teams and law enforcement agencies across the USA. Which suggests it’s got to be doing something right.

The brand was created by legendary hiking backpacks designer Dana Gleason, inventor of multiple time-tested models that are still acknowledged to be some of the most durable expedition rucksacks out there. Last year, the brand was bought out by Yeti, another US brand famed for their uber-tough (and very expensive) coolers and insulated flasks.

So, while the future of Mystery Ranch is a little unclear, for now, most of the line is still available.

This includes the Coulee 30, which is a rough and tough hiking daypack built for the biggest and most demanding dawn-to-dusk adventures. It uses durable recycled nylon Robic fabrics with a double-layer base. It also has an extremely well-padded back system and harness.

In addition, a range of men’s and women’s sizes as well as an adjustable shoulder yoke pretty much guarantees a near-perfect fit.

It’s a very comfortable pack for hauling all the gear you might need for a big hill day, though the back panel prioritises stability and cushioning over ventilation. It can therefore get a bit sweaty when the mercury rises.

Otherwise, there’s lots to like. The pack has an unusual three-way zipper that makes for easy loading and rummaging, since you can open the lid bucket-style, quickly access the main body, or even open the pack right out.

Deep side pockets and two expanding wing pockets on the front panel, as well as zippered hipbelt pockets and a top lid pocket, give you loads of practical storage. Other features such as hydration compatibility and trekking pole attachments are also present and correct.

In terms of downsides, the only real negatives are price and weight. It’s a roomy pack and a capable load-lugger, but it’s also comparatively heavy and expensive too.

Back system

For a pack to be comfortable, it needs to fit right. Luckily, that isn’t an issue with the Coulee 30. You’re pretty much guaranteed a perfect fit, whether you’re 5ft 6in or 6ft 5in.

It comes in dedicated men’s and women’s versions, with two sizes available for each gender – S/M and L/XL for men or XS/S and M/L for women. In addition to that though, the pack also has an adjustable back system, with an extending shoulder yoke that offers an impressive seven inches of precision fine-tuning.

The shoulder yoke is stiffened with an internal framesheet. It slots into a sleeve behind the mid-lumbar back panel and fixes in place with a big Velcro pad.

Moving it up and down isn’t the easiest thing to do (expect scraped knuckles), although once you have it dialled in, you shouldn’t need to adjust it further. And on the plus side, it certainly won’t move around when you’re wearing the pack.

The rest of the back panel is fairly simple, even slightly old school, consisting of chunky foam overlaid with heavy duty mesh fabric. An oversized lumbar pad sits at the base of the spine. It’s soft, plush and comfortable – until things start to heat up or you start working hard.

Then the foam inevitably soaks up a fair bit of perspiration, and despite the use of wicking mesh, on test we found that it stayed damp for a long time, so on warm days you'll end up with a sticky back.

On the other hand, if you’re carrying a fully laden pack, you’ll doubtless appreciate the extra padding. The frame is also rigid enough to provide sufficient load-carrying grunt, yet simultaneously flexible enough to move well with your body. So, in terms of stability, it does a great job. It just feels a bit sweaty.

Harness and hipbelt

‘Overbuilt’ is the word we’d use here. You get really wide, thick S-shaped harness straps to help distribute heavy loads without cutting into your shoulders. They’re also fitted with load lifters and an adjustable chest strap for added stability.

There are also daisy chains and webbing loops that allow you to add a range of accessories from Mystery Ranch’s Wingman range – a series of pouches and holsters that can be used to carry for everything from water bottles and soft flasks to cameras and GPS units. It’s a clever modular system that will appeal to hikers and hillwalkers who like to keep essentials within easy reach.

Speaking of which, the hipbelt has two roomy pockets that are big enough to hold most modern smartphones. These pockets are fitted with oversized cord zip pulls and tabs that make it easy to open and close them.

Be aware that the larger sized men’s pack, which I tested, has a bigger hipbelt (and therefore bigger pockets) than the smaller size or the women’s versions, though.

The hipbelt itself uses the same foam-and-mesh construction as the back panel and shoulder straps, but it’s not as stiff or structured as some. I liked this, since it doesn’t dig in and feels extremely comfortable, while still offering a good level of support.

Intriguingly, it’s also removable, which adds versatility if you wanted to use the pack for everyday carry, or equally for more technical climbing with a harness on, when hipbelts just tend to get in the way.

Design and features

The Coulee 30 is not an ultralight pack. At 1.29kg for the men’s L/XL, it’s on the heavy side. Then again, it’s about as roomy as daypacks get.

You’re unlikely to need more than 30 litres of carrying capacity for even the longest hikes and hill walks, at least from spring through to autumn. Only for winter use might you need something larger, to accommodate multiple layers and hardware such as crampons and an ice axe.

Even so, the Coulee could work for some as a year-round pack. It’s certainly tough enough to handle winter conditions.

Similarly, the main compartment and multiple pockets swallow plenty of gear, and there are multiple external attachment points, while the robust suspension system is capable of hauling loads up to 12kg or so in comparative comfort.

By far the most distinctive design detail of the pack is Mystery Ranch’s signature Y-zip. It’s a triple-zipper access system consisting of two zips placed horizontally on each side of the pack’s bucket-style lid, and a third that runs down the centre of the front panel. They all meet in the middle.

It’s a versatile feature that enables you to unzip either the top lid or the main body, or alternatively all three so you can open the pack right out. Thanks to the use of chunky YKK #10 zippers, all of which are fitted with oversized cord pullers, access is fast, smooth and snag-free.

You might think that there’s the potential for water ingress with this design, but we didn’t experience any issues on test. For one thing, the centre zipper extends an inch or so beyond the top zippers, creating an internal flap at the point where all three meet.

The zippers themselves are also reverse coil designs with a water-repellent finish. Having said that, they’re not protected with storm flaps, so you’d be wise to keep all your kit in dry bags if venturing out in changeable weather – particularly as the Coulee 30 lacks a raincover. Still, that’s sound advice for any pack, even those fitted with lids and drawcord collars.

The main compartment is very roomy and has a hydration sleeve for a water bladder, as well as a hanging loop and an exit port for a drinking tube. The top lid has an outer zippered pocket, which is mesh-backed.

This is a minor gripe because if you accidentally leave the top pocket unzipped, it’s easy for rain to get inside and soak everything else in the main body of the pack. On the flipside, when you open the lid, it’s easy to see what you’ve got stashed in the lid pocket.

Externally, there’s some clever storage. Firstly, there are two deep side stretch pockets, made from durable fabric that is highly resistant to snags and rips.

The two buckled side compression straps pass above and across these pockets, so you can use them to securely hold larger items you might stash there. You can even fit a 1.5L Nalgene Silo water bottle in them.

Next there are two more expanding wing pockets on the front panel, either side of that centre zip. Each is deep enough to hold about two litres of stuff, which means they’re good for stashing extra layers such as waterproofs.

The side compression straps are stitched to these pockets too, so you can cinch them in tight. You also get twin webbing loops and elastic bungees for attaching trekking poles or ice axes.

Sustainability

As mentioned earlier, this pack has decent sustainability credentials by virtue of its durability alone. After all, if you absolutely need to buy a new pack, purchasing one with the longest possible lifetime is a plus for the planet.

The main fabric of the Coulee 30 is 210 denier Robic nylon dobby, with a double layer base for added resistance to wear and tear. However, this fabric is also 100% recycled, which is great to see.

Price and competition

With an RRP of £180 ($189), this is a very pricey daypack. It's genuinely unique though – there’s not another pack with Mystery Ranch’s three-zip design, which is both a distinctive and useful feature. It’s also a very capable load lugger, able to haul heavier loads in comfort than most rival 30-litre backpacks.

And it’s built for the long haul too, being extremely well-designed and made from tough and durable fabrics. Lastly, it’s pretty versatile, with the flexibility to adapt to different needs and situations.

All in all, if you’re in the market for a deluxe daypack with this much carrying capacity, it’s a compelling proposition, despite the cost. But it’s worth shopping around, as this can bring the price down to a more competitive £150 or so.

Still, you can get loads of great daypacks around the same size for that price. This includes the excellent Exped Skyline 30 (RRP £155), which is similarly well-engineered. Then there’s the handsome and nearly bombproof Fjällräven Kaipak 28 (£150).

If you’re on a tighter budget, we’d advise you to look at the Vango Mitra Air 30 (£72.50) or the Sprayway Akka 30 (£75). The Decathlon Quechua 30L MH500 is also absurdly good value at £55 – it seems crazy that you could buy three of those for the cost of one Coulee 30, but such is the world of outdoor gear.

Verdict

Robust, comfortable and versatile, with unique features, plush padding and a great fit, this deluxe daypack has many strengths. But it’s not without a few downsides either – namely, its comparatively hefty weight, high price point and a back system that gets a bit hot and sweaty in high summer.

About the author

Matt Jones is a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, he’s a vastly experienced gear tester and self-confessed outdoor kit geek.

Matt’s been one of our main gear testers for the last couple of years and is the first person we call with any complicated kit queries that need in-depth and forensic analysis.