Mystery Ranch

Terraframe 65L Backpack

Great load hauler, pack feels small.

I bought this pack to train to carry heavy loads for Denali, etc. On its maiden voyage I carried 18 Liters of water over 20 miles for a dry camp. I was able to use the overload feature to place two, one-gallon jugs of water next to the frame, along with my tent and sleeping pad. Total pack weight including gear/food was around 60 lbs. The pack carried it comfortably; my glutes and knees took the beating. The Terraframe 65 was designed to haul heavy loads and it excels at it. The build quality is solid, the pack feels like it should last a decade or more. The pack frame didn’t squeak. After having used it in the field I have a few areas I would love to see improved: Add a dual lid pocket like the Terraplane. I would love to see some additional storage/organization options here. Make the torpedo pockets a little larger, as they are now they are barely useful. Deepen the water bottle pockets a little more, at some points I felt like my taller water bottles were tipping out. My major complaint is this: The pack feels a lot smaller than the Radix 57. When I found out about the extended water carry, I transferred everything from my already packed Radix 57 to the Terraframe 65. What easily fit in the Radix, I could barely fit in the Terraframe 65, in fact I had to carry my tent in the overload tray because I could not get it to fit in the main pack. I regret not getting the Terraframe 80 because the 65 feels so much smaller than a lot of packs I own in the 55-60 L range. Overload is great, but I don’t want to have to use it every trip because the pack is simply too small. For that, I must give it a 4/5. I’m not saying the 65 is false advertising, just saying the space that is available is more difficult to utilize to its fullest and makes the advertised volume feel smaller than you would expect.

Well built & designed

Almost 2 years of usage. No issues. Versatile use for top admin pouch as well. Amazing backpack.

Versatile

Had this pack for three months now, used it from short 3 day trips in nice conditions to 6 day solo trip in freezing temperatures. I personally love the versatility of the pack, for shorter trips I don’t really use the overload feature, but for longer trips I carry all my heavy stuff like food extra water and bulky items in a 50l dry-bag and stuff it between the pack and the frame. Really happy with the pack and can’t wait to get out and abuse the pack again!

Don’t buy anything unless it 25% off!!

They will sell a pack for 10% off then drop the price 25% off two weeks later and tell you tough luck.

Out performed my Osprey pack!

Never looking back to Osprey!! This back is much more durable than your standard rei pack, never once had to worry about it tearing open when I would place it along sharp rocks. The pack itself is really comfortable with its large, thick, shoulder straps & belt straps. It really tightens down firm to your body, doesn’t have any sway or feels like it’s pulling away from you when you’re moving side to side. Holds a lot of gear for 4 days of adventure in the seven devils too. Had 3 pairs of clothes, 4 days of food, plenty of snacks, water, tent, sleeping bag, stove, camera equipment with 2 lenses (20mm, 24-120mm, 70-200mm), a tripod, having it balanced it carried me all the way through the range (34 miles) and back to the car without a SINGLE issue. Some people are worried about how it may way an extra 1lb than your standard 75L Osprey bag, but the extra 1lb helps you with its form and function / comfortability. Don’t sacrifice your comfort over a lightweight flimsy bag. Go durable, go comfort, take care of it and it’ll take care of you. 10/10 bag.

It’s good but no wow!

I’ve used it with a 22 kilos weight for the first time, I hiked almost 15 kilometres 5 km uphill and 5 km downhill and around 5 km flat My first impression was it’s a good backpack, but it was very squeaky, I was walking on a gravel road and I measured how much noise it did while I was walking, this is not science, but it was 57 decibels

Amazing versatility

I just finished my first trip with the Terraframe. The pack is very comfortable, durable, and versatile. As someone in their sixties (and a little overweight) it was easy to get adjusted for my height and size. This pack balanced the load really well over steep and rough terrain. We camped for three days, using our base camp to hike out to various lakes for fishing. As such, one feature I loved was removing the lid and mounting it to the yoke, making a great day pack.

Great pack

Love the pack. Ive been using mystery ranch wildland fire packs for 15 years and have loved the way they fit and the craftsmanship / warranty that they offer. The terraframe yolk was just like fitting my fire pack. As soon as I adjusted everything, it was a perfect fit.

Mystery Ranch makes a great pack.

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

M

Weight:

170

Dana Design was my go-to pack in the early 2000s; when it came time for a replacement of course I looked to Mystery Ranch. I utilized the Terraframe 65 for a 10 day hike covering Yellowstone's Thorofare and a portion of the Teton Wilderness in August 2023. I am not an ultralight hiker by any means and I was worried about hauling 10 days of food/gear in a 65L pack, but the overload feature did it's job and provided the perfect place to hold my Ursack. I hauled along some nonessential camera gear and probably started out at 55lbs but was very comfortable the entire (roughly) 100 mile trip. The pack was very stable when hiking off trail/over uneven terrain. My hiking group must have thought I was too comfortable and tried to stash a rock in the pack to slow me down. . . it did not stay there but I probably could have carried it with ease. The base weight is heavy for a pack, but I'm willing to haul it based on the quality and versatility the Terraframe offers. It can also be mildly tedious to fiddle with all the different straps to utilize the overload feature -- but the opportunity to to expand your carrying capacity makes up for that. I used the Terraframe for a second Yellowstone backcountry trip in September 2023. This one was a simple four mile hike into a several night basecamp. The overload feature was put to use once again for a critical piece of gear. . . a case of Cold Smokes!

Good Basic Mountaineering Pack, Would Make Changes

I was a mountain guide in 2023 leading trips up Mt. Shasta, CA. I purchased this pack in 2022 in preparation of the season. Overall, I was very satisfied with the pack and would buy another, but I wish there were some changes. Pro’s: The overload feature is fantastic. At first I was worried that 65L wouldn’t be large enough, but with the overload feature I was able to carry more than enough. In the photo, I was actually able to fit an entire other 65L pack to carry down when a client was injured. The torpedo pouches on the outside are great for ready access for extra snacks, gloves, sunscreen, or anything else you need readily accessible. The waist strap is very padded which feels great, it makes carrying heavy loads a breeze. The build of the pack is great, being one large cavity for the whole extent of the bag and not having a lower separate sleeping bag section. The large zipper allowing access to the interior of the bag is great because I can stash a large med kit deeper in the bag for better packing but still allowing for rapid access in an emergency. There are a lot of straps, allowing for a variety of gear attachment ideas. Cons: This pack is HEAVY. If you are into ultralight traveling or want a lighter pack this is not for you. Secure tool attachment is very limited. There is a center attachment for an ice axe but it is held by bungee and I had issues with it coming loose. If you are planning to carry multiple ice tools or larger gear, you will have an issue. Also carrying crampons is an issue. I prefer carrying crampons on the outside of my pack to not risk damaging other gear, but there are limited options on this pack. You can attach them to the mole webbing on the pack but this can be difficult it you are already carrying an ice axe there and is not as fast as hanging a pouch on the outside of the pack. The straps can be a little confusing, not terrible but the buckles on the left and right sides are opposite (male/female) limiting some “creative”ways to carry gear. Overall though I really enjoyed this pack! It was a great product and I would recommend as a good mountaineering pack!