Best Hunting Backpacks · #3
Metcalf
Mystery Ranch
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The Guide Light frame with a tri-zip bag that opens flat — the easiest pack here to load meat into.
Pros
- Exceptional load-carrying comfort with heavy weights
- Robust Guide Light MT Frame effectively transfers weight
- Tri-zip access allows full, easy loading of game and gear
- Highly durable materials and construction for harsh environments
- Overload shelf securely carries meat separate from main bag
Cons
- Heavy empty weight compared to minimalist packs
- Higher price point than many alternatives
- Can feel bulky for lighter, day-use loads
- Limited external quick-access pockets
Best uses
- Multi-day backcountry hunting
- Heavy meat hauling
- Expeditionary hunting trips
- Rugged terrain expeditions
Specifications
- Capacity
- 71 Liters
- Weight
- Around 6.8 lbs
- Frame System
- Guide Light MT Frame
- Access
- Tri-Zip
- Recommended Use
- Multi-day hunting, heavy hauling
Pricing
We don't publish a price we haven't verified. The retailer links below open the live listing for this exact model.
Best for
Multi-day backcountry hunting, Heavy meat hauling, Expeditionary hunting trips, Rugged terrain expeditions
Where to buy the Metcalf
Prices and stock change often, so check the current Amazon offer before you buy.
Some links are affiliate links. Buying through them supports our testing at no extra cost to you.
The Mystery Ranch Metcalf has earned its spot as a perennial favorite among serious backcountry hunters, and for good reason. It balances substantial carrying capacity with a design that remains manageable and comfortable under load. At its core is the Guide Light MT Frame, a proven system that effectively transfers weight to the hips, allowing users to carry heavy, awkward loads of meat, camp gear, and hunting essentials with surprising stability. This pack is not built for ultralight minimalist treks; it's engineered for multi-day excursions where you anticipate packing out significant weight over challenging terrain. Its design prioritizes durability and functionality, showcasing Mystery Ranch's commitment to building gear that performs when it truly counts. While it might seem like overkill for a day hunt, its versatility allows it to scale down for lighter loads, though its true strength shines when pushed to its capacity.
Who It's For
This pack is designed for the hunter who regularly ventures deep into the backcountry, often for multiple days, and expects to pack out meat. It caters to those who prioritize load-carrying comfort and robust construction over ultralight aesthetics. If your hunts involve substantial gear lists, a need for secure weapon carry, and the potential to haul heavy loads of game across uneven ground, the Metcalf is built for your kind of demanding experience. It's not a casual daypack; it's a serious tool for serious hunters who push the limits of their gear.
Materials & Build
Mystery Ranch employs a combination of durable nylons in the Metcalf's construction, specifically 500D LP CORDURA and 500D CORDURA, known for their high abrasion resistance and tear strength. All stress points are heavily reinforced, and the stitching is robust, reflecting the pack’s intended use in harsh environments. The Guide Light MT Frame features a rigid composite frame sheet and carbon fiber stays, which work together to create a stable platform for heavy loads. YKK zippers are used throughout, ensuring reliable access and closure even when exposed to dirt and debris. This is a pack built to withstand abuse.
Real-World Performance
In the field, the Metcalf truly shines when loaded down. The Guide Light MT Frame does an excellent job of transferring weight to the hips, making 70-80 pound loads feel more manageable than they have any right to. The pack’s tri-zip opening is a game-changer for accessing gear quickly and efficiently, especially when loading a carcass. It allows the main compartment to open wide, minimizing fumbling. The overload shelf is simple yet effective, providing a secure way to carry meat between the frame and the pack bag, keeping blood off your main gear and maintaining optimal weight distribution. Suspension adjustments are intuitive, allowing for a personalized fit.
Weight & Packability
At around 6.8 pounds empty, the Metcalf is not a lightweight pack, nor does it claim to be. This weight is a direct consequence of its robust frame system and durable materials, which are crucial for heavy hauling. Despite its size, the pack itself compresses down reasonably well for lighter loads, though it will always occupy a significant footprint. Packability for your gear within the bag is excellent thanks to the tri-zip access; you can get to items at the bottom without emptying half the pack. For its intended use as a heavy hauler, the weight penalty is a worthwhile trade-off for the increased comfort and stability it provides.
Durability & Longevity
The Metcalf is built to last. The chosen materials and construction methods are geared towards resisting tears, abrasions, and general wear and tear over many seasons. We've seen these packs endure countless trips through thorny brush, over sharp rocks, and under heavy, blood-soaked loads without failing. The YKK zippers are tough, and the frame system, while rigid, is designed to withstand significant stress. While no gear is indestructible, the Metcalf comes about as close as you can get for a backcountry hunting pack. It’s an investment that pays dividends in reliability and performance over the long haul.
Honest Trade-offs
The primary trade-off with the Metcalf is its empty weight and bulk. It's a substantial pack even when empty, which can feel like overkill for day hunts or lighter loads. For hunters focused on ultralight pursuits, this pack will simply be too heavy. The price point is also on the higher end of the spectrum, which might be a barrier for some. While the tri-zip is great for access, some users might miss external pockets for quick-grab items, though ample lashing points and accessory attachment options help mitigate this. Its specialized design means it excels at heavy hauling, but less so as a general-purpose hiking pack.
How we chose
We started with a long list of best hunting backpacks that people actually buy, cut anything that could not clear our baseline for durability and field performance, then ranked the 10 that were left against the same criteria. Rankings are editorial. No brand pays for placement, and affiliate links never move a pick up or down.
- Load carriage
- How the suspension handles the loads the pack is actually rated for, over long days.
- Real-world durability
- How the material, stitching, or steel holds up after a season of hard use — not how it looks new.
- Performance in bad conditions
- Wind, rain, cold, and grit are the test. Anything that only works on a nice day gets marked down.
- Weight and packability
- Every ounce has to earn its place in the pack, but not at the cost of something that fails in the field.
- Ease of use
- Setup, adjustment, and maintenance with cold hands, in the dark, without the manual.
- Value at its price point
- Compared against the closest competitors in the same tier, not against cheaper gear in a different class.
Metcalf — frequently asked questions
- Is the Metcalf worth it?
- We rank it #3 in Best Hunting Backpacks. The Guide Light frame with a tri-zip bag that opens flat — the easiest pack here to load meat into.
- What is the Metcalf best for?
- Best for multi-day backcountry hunting, heavy meat hauling, expeditionary hunting trips and rugged terrain expeditions. Standouts: exceptional load-carrying comfort with heavy weights and robust guide light mt frame effectively transfers weight.
- What are the downsides of the Metcalf?
- Heavy empty weight compared to minimalist packs, Higher price point than many alternatives and Can feel bulky for lighter, day-use loads.
- What are the key specs of the Metcalf?
- Capacity: 71 Liters · Weight: Around 6.8 lbs · Frame System: Guide Light MT Frame · Access: Tri-Zip · Recommended Use: Multi-day hunting, heavy hauling
- Who It's For?
- This pack is designed for the hunter who regularly ventures deep into the backcountry, often for multiple days, and expects to pack out meat. It caters to those who prioritize load-carrying comfort and robust construction over ultralight aesthetics.
- Materials & Build — what should I know about the Metcalf?
- Mystery Ranch employs a combination of durable nylons in the Metcalf's construction, specifically 500D LP CORDURA and 500D CORDURA, known for their high abrasion resistance and tear strength. All stress points are heavily reinforced, and the stitching is robust, reflecting the pack’s intended use in harsh…
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