Mystery Ranch Coulee 30 Review (2 Weeks of Use)

[@StevenAllen-z6b]

I have several MR packs. I use them as a long distance thru hiker, I climb 14ers and I use them as daily carry exploring abandoned factories in Detroit. The new Coulees were a huge disappointment. I have been using the new Coulee 30 for three months and it has already started falling apart. The new recycled material feels flimsy and has developed a few holes in the bottom. The material does very good in the rain and legitimately outperformed my sea to summit dry bags, but what good is a water resistant material with holes in it? Another issue I have been dealing with is everything falling out of the bag. With no internal organization or retention to keep gear secure the bag must be laid flat on the ground to open. Having items fall out at 13000 feet is not a good day. The Coulees are hands down the most comfortable pack I have ever used, so I can say from direct experience that the pack is very comfortable as I down climb to retrieve the items that keep falling out. I’m still a MR super fan, but objectively some of the bags being produced are being made as consumables that are designed to be used up and replaced after a few seasons. My 3DAP has survived thousands of miles, fire, the modern abandoned industrial landscape, explosions, and two girlfriends. My Coulee 30 didn’t survive the walk to the climbing gym.

[@Mark-hj7hi]

Very informative and well written. Noice!

[@shiveringisles3509]

Welp, back to the 2DAP it is then.

[@mtnboy123]

Good summary. It will be interesting to see how Yeti handles warranty issues. Might want to send it in for repair/replacement prior to the dissolution of MR.

[@poserdad29]

I purchased the Coulee 30 after your great review, thank you Eric! It has been a great purchase and my new favorite backpack!

[@Antenox]

I have a Coulee 25. It’s probably my favorite outdoors backpack.

[@Rob-ji7fx]

I like this pack for trapline treks where I may stay a night or two scouting and checking traps. It is comfortable and provides fast access to my stuff. I can keep tools and lures at the ready on the hip belt and my axe on the side pocket so I don't have to worry about being cut by it.

[@DevanGoodwin]

Regarding it being difficult to break the velcro and adjust the back panel: I believe you'll find a velcro tab behind the top of the harness, lift up and there's a black plastic shovel like thing that provides the curvature of the upper back of the harness. It's meant to be pulled out, then you can shove it down between to break the velcro easily, very handy.

[@Ony3Felonies]

Exactly what I thought when he said that. Maybe they made the instructions better, but it was very clear that's how it works.

[@dchang4667]

Perfect is the word... Perfect backpack!!

[@no.9516]

Basically. This and the Saddle Peak were near perfect packs. I have day/daily packs from MR, Arcteryx and Fjallraven...and I keep coming back to these two. I'd say the only down sides for both are colorways.

[@dchang4667]

@@no.9516 i agree!

[@jmax850]

What do you like so much about it?

[@mikeymo4]

Would you prefer this pack or the Scree 32/33 as a summit hiking daypack?

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

Love my Coulee 40.

[@fillinthebe]

Do you use it as a carry on?

[@seechangenyc280]

I wish they had made the belt pockets bigger for a phone. As an urban hiker, getting to one’s phone is key. I’m sure there are other solutions (right?). Osprey made the same mistake. Gregory nailed it. Did you find the front pockets stretch out/get floppy with use? Looks like a potential winner for me (if it comes in 25 - but only for weekends/trail), though their bags, even with the slider, often run long on me. Lil strappy. Seems like such an easy fix for them. I wish they would take things like that and adding a pocket or two into consideration. We shall see. I’ve been long awaiting for this release. Nice review, as always.

[@ZUCChinishrIMP]

There's a Mystery Ranch Coulee 25 you could check out

[@seechangenyc280]

@@ZUCChinishrIMPyeah, thanks for writing! I was waiting for this new version but it's 20, which is too small, sadly (last version was 25). Was hoping MR might have come out with a smaller Scree (30L). Nope...argggghhhh.

[@silverflash1675]

@@seechangenyc280 Theres a scree 22 coming

[@tammyliu9016]

Can you check if a Tom Bihn Cache is compatible with those loops at the top?

[@KlePhys]

I wish it had a laptop sleeve. It would be the perfect backpack for absolutely every use! Nice Review:)

[@PackHacker2]

Thanks for watching 😃 -Eric

[@jgsk78]

@@PackHacker2 2DAP or Blitz is what you want.. the only plus on this one is padded hip belt and lightness but both blitz and 2DAP are excellent enough in carry comfort to take for hikes too other than edc.. I've done 9hr hike with mine..

[@mrfarmer8895]

Very nice colorway but doesn't seem available on the website 😢

[@manueldelgado5336]

It looks awesome! Only problem i’n finding is the backpanel airflow. Does it get very hot?

[@salami5050]

I have it and while my back does get sweaty when it's hot out, it's 100 times better than any other backpack I've tried.

[@manueldelgado5336]

@@salami5050 awesome thanks! Just got the Scree, and loving it!

[@HyliAir]

Can the orange loops at the bottom for the ice axe be tucked inside to hide them like other packs do?

[@georgeseriani2482]

When it rains the front pockets ?

[@mrfarmer8895]

@PackHacker2 would you kindly tell us which size harness Eric is reviewing please?

[@blessedarmadillo8257]

Where'd you get your packing cubes?

[@elmestengo]

Man. I waited 8 minutes for that middle zipper.

[@Mark-hj7hi]

So good, it made my legs tingle.

[@Emeraldpilgrim242]

Hey. What packing cubes did you use in the video? Great review btw 🤘

[@PackHacker2]

Heimplanet Packing Cubes - packhacker.com/travel-gear/heimplanet/packing-cubes-5/

[@iuseyourname]

Nice! Request for a coulee 50 review

[@cowboyarcher1]

How would this serve as a carry-on?

[@stevehicks9374]

What kind of packing cubes are those

[@chrisjmccord]

Yes please, what kind of packing cubes were you using in this video?

[@PaulBeiser]

Thanks, best review - by far - of this pack.

[@PackHacker2]

Thanks for watching! 😃 -Eric

[@PaulBeiser]

Hi Eric, a question, what size (S/M or L/XL) pack are you wearing? I'm about the same height (18.5" torso length as well) and trying to determine which size pack to get. Thanks again.

[@mrfarmer8895]

Which size did u get in the end?

[@PaulBeiser]

@@mrfarmer8895 L/XL

[@silverflash1675]

Did you guys get the L/XL harness ?

[@wendellbaker9279]

I did. I'm 6'0" and it's perfect

[@andrew78219]

I think this might be the pack for me! Does anyone have any other recommendations for a proper hiking pack (i.e. not the MPL30) that can be stripped down for edc use?

[@manng1214]

Check out the Bellroy Venture Ready

[@georgeseriani2482]

Not a pack I would take out ine rain with open pockets on the outside

[@mikeymo4]

those pockets on the outside are for your rain jacket/windbreaker dude. you know, stuff meant to get wet.

[@danielpearson4972]

Does the shoulder harness hide away. You are a 60s hippie left over with your language

[@nobodyatall7039]

The orange accents are ugly

[@HowHingPau]

wikipedia .org/wiki/Coolie Coolie (also spelled koelie, kuli, khuli, khulie, cooli, cooly, or quli) is a pejorative term used for low-wage labourers, typically of South Asian or East Asian descent "Coolie" is now regarded as derogatory and/or a racial slur in the Americas (more so in the Caribbean), Oceania, and in Africa and Southeast Asia, in reference to other people from Asia.

[@PackHacker2]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. As we replied above, we weren’t aware of the homophone for the word-but given Mystery Ranch’s other product names and response to F L, it seems they might not have either. Regardless, it’s essential to consider and inspect these things. Again, thanks for sharing this with us. -Eric

[@michaels9574]

Okay. That isn't the name of the bag though. It's "Coulee", which is a stream.

[@jboss628]

Coulee, or coulée is a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley or drainage zone. The word coulee comes from the Canadian French coulée, from French couler 'to flow'.

[@youwebz]

Yes but your race batting attempt has fallen flat. It’s “Coulee” so clearly you don’t know what they are but have tried to ‘worm hole’ the name into something else. Shame on you - get a life also, GFYC

[@ericbuckner8182]

There talking about a backpack. Not a rally for the klan . Weirdos