Posted: 10/5/2025 7:04:56 PM EDT
[Last Edit: pedaler][Edited]
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Blast from the past! I have a large Dana pack purchased in the early to mid 1990s. It was awesome, but has been on a shelf for awhile. When picking out a pack for an upcoming trip I pulled out the neglected Dana and some of the foam, particularly the back pad have completely degraded to dust. While I'm not afraid of a needle and thread, I'm contemplating sailing this one down the river. Do I try to replace the damaged parts? Or recognize some gear has a finite life and declare this beautiful Dana dead....? |
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Some of the back foam can come out for certain models. If the foam seems to be in a pocket, there should be a piece of black plastic forming a semi rigid panel with an aluminum stay as a back bone on it. The bottom of the foam is slightly wrapped on the bottom of this and pushed into the pack. If you can get the plastic sheet out you can then get the foam dust out and replace it with no sewing. Edit: may also be velcro involved inside the pocket and at the top to wrap over. |
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Originally Posted By Firedude: It may be worth contacting Mystery Ranch backpacks since they were the ones who bought Dana Designs and see if they have any solutions. OP, if you do this, please share the results. I heard Dana sold Mystery Ranch to a big company, I'm wondering if they will be any help now that they own MR. I'm hoping Dana starts a new company but he's getting up there in the years. Side note: My sister worked for Dana Designs in the '90s. I have a handful of seconds that were given to her and she passed on to me. I'll have to dig them out of storage and see what kind of condition they are in. |
It's not journalism, it's sensationalism
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Originally Posted By Kipple: OP, if you do this, please share the results. I heard Dana sold Mystery Ranch to a big company, I'm wondering if they will be any help now that they own MR. I'm hoping Dana starts a new company but he's getting up there in the years. Side note: My sister worked for Dana Designs in the '90s. I have a handful of seconds that were given to her and she passed on to me. I'll have to dig them out of storage and see what kind of condition they are in. About your side note: what plant did she work (Bozeman, Livingston, or Lewiston?) I was an inspector/assembler late 90s before and during the sale to Anthony Industries that later became K2 industries after they acquired them too. Almost all of us except a handful in Bozeman got laid off when they moved production to Mexico. |
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Originally Posted By Forsaken_ID: About your side note: what plant did she work (Bozeman, Livingston, or Lewiston?) I was an inspector/assembler late 90s before and during the sale to Anthony Industries that later became K2 industries after they acquired them too. Almost all of us except a handful in Bozeman got laid off when they moved production to Mexico. Originally Posted By Forsaken_ID: Originally Posted By Kipple: OP, if you do this, please share the results. I heard Dana sold Mystery Ranch to a big company, I'm wondering if they will be any help now that they own MR. I'm hoping Dana starts a new company but he's getting up there in the years. Side note: My sister worked for Dana Designs in the '90s. I have a handful of seconds that were given to her and she passed on to me. I'll have to dig them out of storage and see what kind of condition they are in. About your side note: what plant did she work (Bozeman, Livingston, or Lewiston?) I was an inspector/assembler late 90s before and during the sale to Anthony Industries that later became K2 industries after they acquired them too. Almost all of us except a handful in Bozeman got laid off when they moved production to Mexico. @Forsaken_ID she was in Bozeman. Thinking back, it was probably very late '80's into early '90's. |
It's not journalism, it's sensationalism
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Originally Posted By Kipple: @Forsaken_ID she was in Bozeman. Thinking back, it was probably very late '80's into early '90's. Originally Posted By Kipple: Originally Posted By Forsaken_ID: Originally Posted By Kipple: OP, if you do this, please share the results. I heard Dana sold Mystery Ranch to a big company, I'm wondering if they will be any help now that they own MR. I'm hoping Dana starts a new company but he's getting up there in the years. Side note: My sister worked for Dana Designs in the '90s. I have a handful of seconds that were given to her and she passed on to me. I'll have to dig them out of storage and see what kind of condition they are in. About your side note: what plant did she work (Bozeman, Livingston, or Lewiston?) I was an inspector/assembler late 90s before and during the sale to Anthony Industries that later became K2 industries after they acquired them too. Almost all of us except a handful in Bozeman got laid off when they moved production to Mexico. @Forsaken_ID she was in Bozeman. Thinking back, it was probably very late '80's into early '90's. Ah cool,I was late 90s Livingston. Small world sometimes. Op sorry for clogging your thread. 
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| OP.......keep the pack and either fix it yourself or send it in to a pack rebuilder. I have a Dana Design Terraplane that I bought in the 90's as well. The foam on the lumbar pad wound up much like yours. I called Mystery Ranch and they do not work on Dana Design packs but they gave me a couple of rebuilders to send mine into. I wound up missplacing the list. So I cleaned out the pocket where the foam was. Then went to a local craft shop and bought some high density foam. Used the lumbar pad as a template and cut the foam a bit large. It was a challenge to get it all back into the sleeve but I did it and works fine. Try that, or send off to a pack rebuilder. |
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Originally Posted By Poltax: OP.......keep the pack and either fix it yourself or send it in to a pack rebuilder. I have a Dana Design Terraplane that I bought in the 90's as well. The foam on the lumbar pad wound up much like yours. I called Mystery Ranch and they do not work on Dana Design packs but they gave me a couple of rebuilders to send mine into. I wound up missplacing the list. So I cleaned out the pocket where the foam was. Then went to a local craft shop and bought some high density foam. Used the lumbar pad as a template and cut the foam a bit large. It was a challenge to get it all back into the sleeve but I did it and works fine. Try that, or send off to a pack rebuilder. Thanks for this. I've not yet pulled it out of the basement to take a closer look, but will post the results. Didn't mean to make a safe thread....
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