At the Outdoor Retailer '09 Summer Market, the senses are overwhelmed at the giant booths stuffed with gear from well-known companies that stretch to the convention-center horizon. Walking the aisles, it's easy to stop and look at products that we will eventually see in stores. But some of the coolest gear comes from small outfits that fly under the radar, like Mystery Ranch Backpacks.
Headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, Mystery Ranch is the latest company founded by legendary pack-maker, Dana Gleason. Most outdoorsy types have probably heard of, or owned a Dana Design pack, but the K2 Corporation bought the company in 1995, leaving Gleason free to build a new backpack company, which became Mystery Ranch.
Mystery Ranch is still a small company. In fact they're so small, they don't even have a booth at Outdoor Retailer. Instead, Mystery Ranch employees wander the showroom floor with the packs on their backs, meeting interested parties and promoting the backpacks by word-of-mouth. This concept of using little advertising seems to be working, making consumers feel like finding out about Mystery Ranch is equivalent to discovering an industry secret.
One of the employees at Mystery Ranch, Patrick Odenbeck, showed off a few of their more popular backpacks. The Sweet Pea is a good-looking pack for long day hikes or backcountry skiing. It's main design feature is a 3Zip system that allows the top to open really wide, allowing easy access to fit large gear. It also has a Futura Ruck, which is a plastic framesheet that supports the bag and spreads loads more evenly.
The other pack shown is the Saddle Peak. Inspired by the awesome side-country skiing at Bridger Bowl, the Saddle Peak was built for skiing and riding both in and out-of-bounds. It features a low profile, an exterior compartment with sleeves to fit backcountry gear, and bomber diagonal ski-carry straps.
Both packs are fitted with the Futura Yoke, which is a pretty innovative way to fit a pack. Essentially, the Futura Yoke is a Velcro anchored system that telescopes up and down, allowing the pack to be micro-adjusted to fit any torso length. The yoke's aluminum stay also contours to match the shape of the wearer's back, providing unsurpassed comfort.
Looking at the packs, the quality of the workmanship is clear. Every pack is designed and handmade in the U.S. which is great because it keeps ski-town dwellers employed. Each pack also comes with a lifetime warranty and can only be bought directly from Mystery Ranch (which cuts out the retail middle-man and keeps costs low). If Mystery Ranch continues to make such well-built and innovative packs, it won't be long before they too are a household name with a giant booth in the sea exhibitors at Outdoor Retailer.
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Comments
Way to support piracy, theft and teaching people how to break the law.
There is no question that Dana Gleason is a legend in the industry and makes great packs. My feathers get a little ruffled that he's poaching on the show by doing business without paying for it. Yes, big brands have the capital to have elaborate booth space. But for every big brand there are 6 independent brands that are busting their butts and dedicating cash (booth space) to becoming that next big brand. Further more, the show primarily about brands selling to retailers. Cutting out the "middle man", the retailers that work hard to promote great products, is a slap in the face to the hundreds of small, specialty retailers who often take risks to bring on newer, independent brands because they know good product when they see it. If it wasn't for these guys, the big boys like Marmont, The North Face, Mtn Hardwear, etc., would never be where they are.
Dana Gleason is a design genius and I'm certain he makes great products, but it's a mistake to praise him given his tactics.
BWAHAHAHA.... Megan and Jim make me want to twirl my evil mustachios. However, they may be more clueless than virtuous. Most times when a manufacturer is working the aisles at OR, it is to sell to retailers without paying for a booth. This years most blatant example starts with a T and ends with a 2. We do not attend Outdoor Retailer to sell to retailers , as we sell direct to our users. We ARE a retailer... who happens to build most, but not all of what we sell. We compete with other retailers, just as retailers compete with each other, to provide the best possible product and service.
We come to OR to buy, just like the traditional retailer. Our suppliers have booths with names like Brookwood, ITW, Cordura, YKK, and Duraflex. They support OR by actually paying for booth space, just like TNF or the smallest independent. Are they second class exhibitors? And is Mystery Ranch a second class member of OIA? The show may be called Outdoor Retailer, but don't let it go to your head.
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