Review: Mystery Ranch Pintler

Hunting packs come in innumerable flavors, and I've sampled a lot of them. By far, my favorite is the Pintler. Mystery Ranch really got it right with this pack. The five-point waistbelt eliminates slippage over the hips, offers solid weight distribution, and is easy to adjust throughout the day. The 3-ZIP system allows easy access to the entire pack. Rip it open quickly to grab gloves or a hat on top or a rain shell stashed in the bowels. Inside, there's organization galore: four mesh pockets for smaller items, a bladder compartment, and two long pockets for a tripod or spotting scope.

On the exterior are side-pockets for water bottles, which also hold shooting sticks or a rifle when hiking in the dark. The top flap has two compartments for necessities like a headlamp, snacks, and TP. As for the main compartment, the adjustability is second to none. Numerous well-placed compression straps expand and contract with the volume of the pack.

When it comes time to haul game, the best and most functional aspect of the Pintler becomes clear. With a couple of snaps, the pack pivots off the frame, and an adjustable load sling allows you to sandwich game quarters between the frame and the anterior pack body. This keeps the weight close to your back, for a pain-free packout.

The only beef I have with this well-designed beauty is the lack of waistband pockets, for items like a windchecker, calls, and a rangefinder. Fortunately, Mystery Ranch offers them as an add-on accessory. I highly recommend you get them when ordering your pack.

The combination of comfort, functionality, and engineering makes the Pintler a masterpiece, which has come into my life far too late. Well done, Mystery Ranch.

Available at mysteryranch.com; $500-$525, depending on color.