Hiking Packs For Any Adventure: Mystery Ranch Coulee 20 & 30 Pack Review

In this video Eric Hanson breaks down the Mystery Ranch Coulee 20 and 30 so you can see if these options are the right day pack for you. For more information about the Coulee be sure to check out the blog articlein4adventure.com/mystery-ranc.... If you are interested in Women's Osprey hydration packs, check out Kristi's review: • Osprey Tempest 20 vs G... or read more about the packs on the In4Adventure blog: in4adventure.com/osprey-tempe...
Gear tested and recommend in this video:
Mystery Ranch Coulee 20: www.mysteryranch.com/coulee-2...
Mystery Ranch Coulee 30: www.mysteryranch.com/coulee-3...
Other gear I have tested and recommend:
Tents and Camping Gear:
Big Agnes Copper Spur bit.ly/3XWSpn4
Durston X Mid trekking pole tent durstongear.com/product/x-mid-1p
Sea to Summit Ascent AcII Sleeping Bag: 15F Down bit.ly/3JTea1h
Zenbivy 25 Degree Lightbed zenbivy.com/products/zenbivy-...
Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad bit.ly/3DbbCcO
Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow bit.ly/34n4749
Clothing:
Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket bit.ly/3iwmivF
Big Agnes Zetto Ultralight Down Jacket www.bigagnes.com/products/zet...
Arc-teryx Beta Rain Jacket
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie bit.ly/3XR4WZm
Fjallraven Keb Agile Trouser
Coalatree Trailhead Pants coalatree.com/products/trailh...
AKU Selvatica Mid GTX Hiking Boots bit.ly/3eSMmvy
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Sock bit.ly/3qLVyaI
Hestra Bike Ergo Grip Tactility Glove amzn.to/3GWeADc
Camp Kitchen:
BeanVivo: beanvivo.com/
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove bit.ly/34mBc06
Sea to Summit Alpha Pot - 1.9 Liters bit.ly/3tdCZ23
Sea to Summit Watercell X bit.ly/3wv3ost
Platypus Big Zip EVO Reservoir Water Bladder bit.ly/3t2SrxF
Grayl Geopress Water Purifier bit.ly/3DbOCun
Lifestraw Peak Squeeze Water filter straw bit.ly/3Bjk88U
Pinnacle Foods Freeze dried food pinnaclefoods.co/
Vosteed Nightshade Folding Knife amzn.to/3J7XOnn
Matador 8L Flatpack matadorup.com/products/flatpa...
Trail Gear:
Ledlenser Neo 5R Headlamp amzn.to/3Jd8Pnu
Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool bit.ly/3UGgFYO
Zoleo Satellite Communicator amzn.to/3WBDRIK
Special thanks to my Global Partners for supporting my mission of inspiring and educating people to get on the trail and enjoy the benefits of sustainable outdoor adventure.
Wiley X: www.wileyx.com/
Mystery Ranch: www.mysteryranch.com/
Cotopaxi: www.cotopaxi.com/
BeanVivo: beanvivo.com/
NOTE: These are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it's a great way to show your support. Thanks!
Produced By Heliconia Productions: www.heliconia.ca/
Become a partner: www.heliconia.ca/schedule-a-c...
Submit your gear for review: in4adventure.com/gear-review-...
Follow me on social media
Instagram: / epictrails365
Facebook: / epictrails365
Blog: in4adventure.com/
#backpackinggear #hikinggear #hiking #backpacking #ospreypacks

[@medicus5565]

Eric, your delivery and narration has gotten so good! It is relaxed, logical, and flows very well. That makes it so easy to be attentive to your messages and details that you provide. I hate it when narration is so truncated and interrupts the flow of thought. And, as always, your content is very meaningful. You remain my favorite backpacking channel! Thanks for you do.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

I have a Coulee 40. I LOVE THAT THING. For a day pack, I used Mystery Ranch's Hardscrabble 22L. It's not weight that kills, it's comfort. A comfortable pack can carry more weight while fatiguing the user less.

[@JCon34]

I love this pack, but I would love to see a bridger 20.

[@darthvader3049]

I have a coulee 25 and I love it! I use it as my day pack during the mid season and winter and I use it at school to carry my heavy engineering laptop and heavy college books. It Carrie’s so well and has been a game changer.

[@hikinginharmony]

Thank you for all the hiking tips! We enjoy watching your hiking trips. 😄

[@maggiemyrtlebeach2701]

Thank you for all your tips and suggestions!

[@natlovell122]

Thanks for the review Eric. Always hear great things about Mystery Ranch packs. I like that front zipper and how it allows easy access throughout the pack. Similar concept to the Mountainsmith Scream 55’s U-shape zipper on the front. Keep the great reviews and adventures coming.

[@LeakyWaders]

I recently got a bridger 40 and they won me over. I was an osprey guy for a long time, but pretty sure I'll be switching all my bags to mystery ranch

[@malenve6vid]

I really like the yoke system that is used. It really works for me.

[@strangerous1313]

I got my Coulee 20 a few weeks ago, and I love it. It's just the right size for my dayhikes, especially when I bring my camera and tripod. And it looks built to be very durable.

[@royvelajr956]

Thank you for the review! Maybe if possible when you are out in that beautiful wilderness show us the trail, what’s out there, etc! With the review thrown in there. I love watching your channel because of the places you explore.

[@margyg]

I have the Coulee 25. I love that pack. I want a pack with a super sturdy waist belt so I can transfer the pack weight to my hips from my shoulders. The Coulee series are the smallest day packs that have this type of waist belt. The other that are just flimsy straps or small thinly padded straps don't effectively transfer the weight. I view my Coulee 25 as a day pack with the hefty backpacking suspension which is exactly what I want. I would love for Mystery Ranch to come out with a small coulee style but with the shoulder straps with pockets like in the Bridger series. That would make be buy another day pack. I love pockets. When I go out on day trips it is because I am doing some other activity that requires me to access certain gear. having those shoulder pockets are invaluable. I bought am ultraspire Epic 2.0 pack to use as a day pack just because of the shoulder strap pockets. I like that the Coulee has deep side pockets that actually fold taller water bottles. I love the two front pockets. I keep my trekking pole (mine folds up to a short length so it is perfect) in it. I also carry a Euroshirm trekking light silver reflective tracking unbrella. When I am not using that it is also in the front pocket. I keep my pstyle, TP & shovel in the front pockets as well.

[@alexgromada5877]

Thanks for the review Eric I enjoy your common sense and honest reviews. I found myself needing to upgrade / replace my day pack this year, a 20 year old Camel Back day pack which is still in good condition but I have picked up the photography bug so the lack of a frame made it uncomfortable with the gear. I appreciated your earlier reviews of Mystery Ranch products and would not have had Mystery Ranch on my radar without your reviews. I share your same cons on the Coulee after researching many brands and styles settled on the Mystery Ranch Scree 32. It has got to be the most comfortable pack I have ever worn and the build quality is top notch. The Scree has the same zipper set-up but not the outside pockets. It has two pockets on the inside of the pack, down each side. Still has the water bottle pockets on each side and the low strap but it does have loops up high that I use to stabilize and secure my tripod. I use a hydration bladder so use the outside bottle pockets for other gear. On the outside down each side it has heavy duty loop strips that allow attachment versatility, haven’t used them yet, I like to keep as much gear as possible inside the pack. I know you like to review gear so give a look at the scree, I think its a great pack!

[@joemiller7296]

I bought the Coulee 25 (the now-last generation) for myself this past Christmas, and I mitigated the airflow issue by taking the hip belt off. I felt that the hip belt was overkill with the low carrying capacity of the pack. Brought it on an 8 mile hike yesterday at Effigy Mounds National Monument and was comfortable the whole time, despite the 75 degree weather.

[@JasonWicklund]

Perhaps adding a small bungee on each side higher up instead of moving the strap connector to the pockets will help hold longer items and still give those pockets the original size

[@JarradShaw]

❤ Maybe not the 20, but the 30 would be a cool day hiker because of the pros n cons.

[@Ronald-Reggae]

Nice review Mr. Eric. Just bought a 30" for my girlfriend. Thanks

[@ry-man4354]

You made a quick point mid way through about the difference between the hiking backpack and the backpacking backpack. I'm interested to learn the real difference between them if you have a video featuring those details.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

I think Eric just misspoke, the only real differences between a day hiking pack and a "regular" backpack is capacity, and more padding on a multi-day backpack.

[@snubblebubble4937]

The packs featured in this video are generally intended for day hiking because of their capacity. Most people are not going to be able to fit all of their gear in a 20 or 30 liter pack for an overnight trip unless they are a seriously ultralight backpacker. A backpacking backpack is generally going to be something in the 50+ liter range, although I have seen people do it with 45 liter packs. It's just about what you need to hold your gear and to feel comfortable with.

[@ry-man4354]

@Snubble Bubble very well stated. I'm always looking for those life hack approaches for different degrees of extensive packing. I have atleast one bag for each liter size pack, but I'm due for upgrades after all these years. I liked the fillet style zipper on these bags

[@gumbi8989]

You should do a a review of the Coulee 50. The very few videos of it are all in Japanese.

[@FactFinderGeneral]

It's worth noting that the elastic bits and loops on the front are where you're supposed to put trekking poles and ice axes, not the water bottle pockets. Hence the location and angle of the compression straps.

[@markcrowell2727]

Excellent review, Eric! I recently ordered a MR Rip Ruck pack, but the yoke would not slide up and down within the sleeve even after using the insert to break up the velcro. It's like the sleeve was not stitched properly. You could force it up and down a few inches. I tried everything for an hour or so, but I ended up returning it. I was super excited based on your other MR reviews, but I ended up being very disappointed based on this pack.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Mystery Ranch packs are really good, I just prefer Eberlestock, using one of their 35 liter Halftrack for most of my trips.

[@silverflash1675]

What alternative would you give to someone whos looking for the same purpose bag, but with better ventilated harness system?

[@myronhudson1067]

Hi. I need to replace a 23 year old DaKine Pro II (24L) that I bought as an XC ski and snowshoe pack but have used every weekend (unless backpacking) because of the number of internal pockets and external attachment points. The new DaKine has fewer compartments and is even more specialized for skiing so I'm looking elsewhere. Looked at the Coulee but there aren't enough compartments. Familiar with Mystery Ranch because I use a Sphinx 60 for backpacking. Looked at the Coulee but there aren't enough compartments. Looking at the Kuiu Divide 1500 now. I might be a bit over-organized, and you could call me an aggressive hiker. And I carry a lot in case I get stuck overnight. My new daypack will get used for XC skiing. Any recommendations? Thanks. Great review by the way.

[@Waynegoproductions]

I am looking at doing the Tour Du Mont Blanc and Camino next year. Looking for a pack that can handle those hikes plus still fit under the seat on an airplane. Do you think the 30L can fit or do you think the older 25L would be better? Thanks

[@dpp898]

If I have a 20 inch torso where do I put the yoke on the lines on the 20L

[@manueldelgado5336]

Any recommendations for beginner hikers on other bags?

[@danielswift3120]

Any idea if the 30 or 20 “lightly packed” would fit in an airline personal item box? Box measuring 18 x 14 x 8 inches.

[@mjreade]

are there any diffences between the 20 and 30 other then the main compartment storage volume? Need help deciding between the two? Are the water bottle pockets any larger on the 30 etc?

[@joshgonzalez2885]

Would the Coulee 20 be a good day pack for a heavy camera (full frame mirrorless + 3 sigma lenses and a tripod) set up? Just returned the scree 32 because it was too much pack

[@wuyeah-kx8es]

Can Coulee25 carry 16.5in (35.5x23.5cm ) laptop as daily bag? I understand Coulee bags don’t have individual compartments for laptops, but I am wondering if I can stuff laptop inside main compartment. If not, what other bags I should consider carry laptop with. I don’t want to buy a bag just for hiking outdoors purposes, want to use it to travel. Thanks.

[@AstraL1zard]

How tall are you??

[@irenekanel.ac.7721]

Making me nervous with the spike of that walking stick so near your face.

[@serrielu8025]

I’m always in for using less plastic, responsible farming etc…, but I’m sorry, this whole “sustainability” mantra is little more than self-gratification accounting process made to make companies, board, stakeholders, and some consumers feel good about themselves. “ See how good I am”.. And keeps the rabid environs off companies back. There are consequences, some environmental consequences, not just higher costs that’s passed on to consumers, with these efforts to “manufacture sustainably”. I love the environment as much as anyone but I’m not ridiculously naive. I like this bag tho. $$$$$$$$.

[@tatopo40]

I don't know what you're praising here. The backpack has many cool features, but it's absolutely disqualified by this "bulge" on the hip belt, too thick, you can pull it out, then you feel the adjustment system on the belt, it's hopeless, contacting the company yields no response.

[@the_gear_shak]

Curious what bulge you are speaking to? I have had my eye on this pack, but been seeing some back and forth stuff on it.

[@link2299]

Every mystery ranch pack you've ever reviewed looks: - Too heavy - Not breathable - Too expensive I doubt there are many people that would be happy with this puchase.

[@BackpackingTV]

you forget to factor in comfort. Which is where all the benefits come in and personally, "outweighs" the negatives.