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Posted: 10/30/2008 11:09:38 AM EDT
I only have time for a quick post right now, but I wanted to throw some pics up of the new Mystery Ranch Big Sky in Multicam I received yesterday. This is one of the first 5 produced; the initial production run is 25. I have owned a Kifaru Pointman, Zulu, and Marauder (Gen 1 & 2). All great packs and a great company. I still have E&Es and both Tailgunners as well as a couple of their shelters and numerous pouches. However all of the packs mentioned offer little to no shoulder lift. As a civilian backpacker, I was looking for something in the 3,000 cu. in. range for 3 season multi-day use in the mountains of Colorado. I have been waiting 3 months for the Mulitcam Big Sky to come out. Upon first inspection it seems to be constructed mostly from 500d cordura with some parts utilizing 1000d. It is a light pack for its size and construction (sub 5 lbs.), IMO. It utilizes MRs X-Frame suspension which specs it for 50lb. loads. The capacity is 2,800 cu. in. + whatever you can throw in the "stick-it" panel. Anyway, here are some pics for now:
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well that might be the perfect 'little brother' to go with his big brother
I was hoping they would come out with a pack that size. |
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Quoted:
Okay I'm dumb, what does "shoulder lift" mean? I agree that the black zippers were a bad choice. Thanks for the review, hope to see more as you get a chance to use it Shoulder lift is achieved by tightening the lifter straps (the webbing that runs from the shoulder strap to the top of the stays). In combination with a properly tightened waist belt, this helps to keep the load off of the shoulders. On a pack whose stays do not extend above the top of the shoulders, there is no shoulder lift. The Big Sky has a 23" stay length. It has a tall narrow profile for its capacity. |
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Good looking pack, but I'm going to have to echo the comment about the zippers.
Black zippers seem to ruin the whole effect of the Multicam, a particularly vexing touch considering the significantly higher cost of Multicam when compared to other patterns or colors. |
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AFAIK, even Kifaru is still using the black zippers on their multicam packs. I saw a recently produced Navigator in multicam with black zippers, and I have several Kifaru MC pouches, all with black zippers. Would I prefer CB? Sure. MR is using a special YKK zipper that has a built in "rubberized" tape closure that would seem to protect the closure and provide a more water resistant "seal". Perhaps this type of YKK is not made in CB yet. The Kifaru zips are of standard cloth design and then there is sewn material that overlaps the zipper.
Regarding Multicam being more expensive, MR does not up-charge for MC. This version of the Big Sky is priced the same as the other colors, and they also added extra PALS webbing for the same price. At any rate, initially, I am happy with the job MR has done with the MC Big Sky, and I suppose that is all that matters  . If the black zips end up getting me killed when the SHTF, perhaps I'll have wished that I had rethought that sentiment.  
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yep, +1 to all of that 
I'm more concerened about thing like what color the straps and pals are my self. MR uses that weird greenish khaki that changes color as the light hits it ( the stuff Tacticail Tailor, and others use ) maybe you could just zap the black with some krylon to tone it down. I did that with the drinking tube on my camelbak bladder. yeah I know that those are offered in different colors cause I got one, but they are shorter then the one I got with the bladder 
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