MYSTERY RANCH  Catalyst 26 Pack

$179.00
Members get an est. $17.90 in rewards

Featuring organized storage and a durable exterior that can hold up to your travels, the MYSTERY RANCH Catalyst 26 pack is perfect for road trips, weekend getaways or your daily commute.

Color: Hummus
Size: One Size
Quantity
Shipping restrictions apply.

Members get an estimated $17.90 (10%) back on this item as a part of your annual .

Members get an estimated $17.90 (10%) back on this item.
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Features

  • Made with 500-denier recycled CORDURA® nylon
  • 3-zip design for rapid access to the interior
  • YKK coated zippers
  • Zippered lid pocket keeps your important items readily accessible
  • 2 internal zippered pockets to hold those small-but-important items
  • Padded laptop pocket fits up to 17 in. laptops
  • Interior organization sleeve includes a small, zippered mesh pocket; a dump pocket for a charging cord or water bottle; and 2 rows of elastic for pens, wires or pocket knives
  • This item meets carry-on size restrictions for most airlines (size not to exceed 45 linear inches when adding L+W+H; this is subject to change, so check with your airline)

Imported.

View the MYSTERY RANCH Catalyst Product LineView all MYSTERY RANCH Travel Daypacks

Technical Specs

Best Use

Travel

Bag Style

Backpack

Gear Capacity (L)

26 liters

Gear Capacity (cu. in.)

1,575 cubic inches

Number of Exterior Pockets

2 + main compartment

Laptop Compartment

Yes

Fits Laptop Size (in.)

17 inches

iPad / Tablet Compartment

Yes

Carry-On

Yes

Raincover Included

No

Material(s)

500-denier recycled CORDURA nylon

Dimensions

20 x 11.5 x 9.8 inches

Weight

2 lbs. 9 oz.

Gender

Unisex

Reviews
50 reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

43 out of 45 (96%) reviewers recommend this product

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Customer Images

Giulia Navy Nurse
Up North Minnesota
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

The Everyday Carry That Tops All

2 years ago

First of all, this is not orange. I promise. It is a brownish bronze or tiger eye colored, just like the stone. I own the Mystery Ranch 2 day Assault and find it to big to carry around for daily use as a nurse. I love the Urban Assault pack, but I miss the outside water bottle pockets, then Mystery Ranch must have read my mind. The Catalyst 26 pack holds it all. My 17 inch HP laptop fits fine and is well protected because the laptop sleeve floats, so when I place my pack on the ground, the laptop never hits the bottom! I love this thing.

Helpful?
Tony
Harrisburg, PA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Catalyst 26 Backpack – The Ideal Teacher's Compani

1 year ago

The Mystery Ranch Catalyst 26 Backpack is a teacher's best friend, offering durability and ample storage in a sleek design. Its rugged build with high-denier nylon and reinforced stitching ensures it can withstand the demands of a school year, whether you're carrying textbooks, lesson plans, or a laptop. The weather-resistant coating is a practical touch for those sudden rain showers during your commute. Comfort is key for teachers, and the Catalyst 26 delivers with its adjustable harness system and padded shoulder straps. The ergonomic design ensures the backpack stays comfortably on your shoulders, even when fully loaded. The top-loading design and multiple internal pockets help keep you organized, making it easy to find what you need between classes. For a teacher, having a dedicated laptop compartment is crucial, and the Catalyst 26 provides just that. The secure laptop sleeve keeps your device safe from bumps and scratches, while the main compartment offers plenty of space for binders and other materials. Exterior stretch pockets are perfect for a water bottle and other quick-access items, ensuring you're always prepared for a busy school day. The Catalyst 26 does come with a higher price tag compared to other backpacks, reflecting its superior quality and durability. While the cost might be a concern for some, the investment is worth it for a backpack that can withstand daily use and still look great. If you're willing to pay a bit more for a reliable and long-lasting backpack, this is an excellent choice.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Ross
Richmond, VA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Amazing Quality!

10 months ago

I bought this pack before a long vacation with a couple of intended uses: * Carry-on backpack for air travel * Day pack for city tourism * Day pack for light hiking I think that it nailed all 3 of these uses perfectly; after weeks with the pack I have zero complaints about its function. I kept it with me at all times during my trip and there were many occasions where I was happy to have my rain gear, water bottle, or a book so close. Some of my favorite features were: * The large admin pouch and 2x left/right internal zipper pockets were great for keeping a large quantity of smaller items like chapstick, snacks, small electronic devices, etc. close at hand. * The tri-zip main compartment was awesome for stuffing rain gear, cold weather clothing, a travel pillow, and other bulky items. * The center internal zipper pocket was good for keeping my passport and other important items in a secure location deep within the pack. * The non-stretch water bottle holders were the perfect size to securely hold a 1 L Nalgene. This water bottle has over time stretched out the elastic on several other backpacks that I own, so I personally LOVED the non-stretch design. I was additionally really impressed by how well the pack carries weight; even when loaded up to capacity it distributed weight extremely well across my shoulders and back. I do think that if I were going on longer hikes then I would want a pack with a hip belt, but for shorter ~5 mile hikes this was more than sufficient. Since returning from my vacation I have used the pack several times as my only bag for short weekend trips, its size is perfect for carrying a couple changes of clothes and other essentials like toiletries and chargers. Lastly, the build quality seems to be outstanding. After throwing this pack around for several weeks I can't see even a speck of wear on it. This was a great for purchase and I will be getting a lot of use out of it hopefully for the rest of my life.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Lisa
Indianapolus, IN
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Catalyst 26 in Tiger's Eye

1 year ago

This is a great backpack! I use it for commuting but I also plan to use it for outdoor adventures and travel. At first I wasn't sure about the color as displayed online. In-person, it's a brownish-grayish shade of orange (like rust). I have attached photos taken outdoors and indoors to give you a better idea of the color. Here's what I like about this backpack: *It seems very tough and durable so far. I believe I will get many years of use out of this backpack. *I love it that it's made of recycled material. *Since it's 100% nylon, I've been able to use DEET bug spray without worrying about damaging the backpack. *The main compartment is very spacious and can hold all my stuff. *There are lots of useful little pockets, which helps me stay organized. *The laptop sleeve works well and was my top priority in a commuter backpack. *The backpack has a vertical central zipper that is way, way more helpful than I realized it would be. No more digging around to find stuff lost at the bottom of the backpack! *The cup holders are working just fine for me; I found bottles that fit, and the nylon will last much longer than elastic materials would. *The backpack is comfortable to carry. I don't know anything about correct backpack fit, but I was able to adjust the straps to make the backpack comfortable for me. *The covered zippers seem useful to keep rain, dirt, and bugs out, and give a unique look to the backpack. *The Tiger's Eye color is great. I've received compliments on it, and it's unique enough not to get mixed up with others' backpacks (important during air travel). Here are some things to watch out for: *If you put a lot of stuff into the top pocket and not in the main compartment, the backpack can be a bit top-heavy. (You can see this in my photos) *It took me forever to figure out that the laptop sleeve has its own zipper at the very back of the backpack. D'oh! Overall I'd recommend this backpack as an excellent multi-use backpack for commuting, travel, and/or outdoors.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Jason
Dayton, OH
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

A Coulee with a laptop pocket

2 years ago

I’m a long time fan of the Coulee series, owning both a Coulee 25 and Coulee 30. I’ve often felt that the two things that would make the Coulee even better are 1) adding a laptop sleeve, and 2) adding some internal organization. So when the Catalyst 26 launched, it appeared my wishes were answered and I jumped on it. It added both of the features I’d been wishing for the Coulee, but unfortunately it doesn’t have the two additional exterior pockets which the Coulee has and I find very useful. I’ve only had the Catalyst for a week but so far I’m highly impressed. For all intents and purposes, it’s basically a Coulee with a laptop pocket so I recommend reading Coulee reviews since at the time of this writing there are no Catalyst reviews but plenty of Coulee reviews. If you like what you’re reading about the Coulee and you need a laptop pocket, then the Catalyst is probably the bag for you. I will mention a couple of minor quibbles I’ve noticed so far: 1. I wish the material for the water bottle pockets was the same stretchy material that the Coulee uses. (I’ll add for reference that my 26 ounce Yeti tumbler fits fine in the water bottle pockets). 2. I wish it had the 2 extra exterior pockets that the Coulee has. (I also realize some people prefer a sleeker look without those pockets). 3. The upper brain compartment pocket on the lid is not as spacious as the one on my Coulee 25. It feels like there’s less material on the lid and the pocket doesn’t expand upwards as much. 4. I wish the vertical zipper of the 3-zip opening extended all the way to the bottom of the bag. The Catalyst doesn’t open as wide as my Coulee’s. Having said that, the Catalyst will stand up on its own and the Coulee doesn’t, so perhaps the design of the bottom of the Catalyst and the slightly shortened zipper are what allows it to stand up on its own. 5. I wish the main pocket had some Zoid attachment loops like the new Coulee 30 does. And frankly I wish ALL MR bags had those loops. It should just be a standard thing that all bags have internal attachment loops and offer several size Zoid bags that can attach to them. But all things considered the Catalyst will probably completely replace my Coulee’s, as well as probably replacing the other laptop bag that I use for work, becoming my single “do it all” bag for travel, work, and EDC.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Mkane
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great bag!

2 months ago

I bought the Catalyst 26 a few weeks ago. It’s great - these packs actually have a vibe. It’s comfortable with lots of room for my nomadic lifestyle.

Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Troy
Colorado Springs, CO
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great all around bag

2 years ago

I purchased this bag for three uses and found that it fits all of my requirements. I use this bag for EDC (around town and work), personal bag on flights, and day trip bag for hikes. I really like the laptop compartment and side bottle holders. You can easily fit the Nalgene bottle in either side. The quality is spot on with no defects. The zippers so far are a little more difficult to pull compared to a pants or jacket zipper. I got the all gray color and wished they offered some different colors that what they currently have. Maybe some earth tones.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Jackie28
Free State of Texas
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Good all around pack

1 year ago

I’ve enjoyed this bag over the past few weeks traveling through multiple countries and for outdoor activities. The organization inside is beneficial, as well as the top access zipper. One point of improvement I would suggest is the limitations and negatives with the exterior pouches, presumably for carrying water bottles. The pouches fit some of my skinner 32oz bottles, but I wish the pockets were wider and had a way to zip or tighter the opening to prevent bottles from sliding or falling out. This has happened on multiple occasion. Overall a good pack.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Humble Banker
Hong Kong
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Simple, functional, perfect!

4 months ago

As a long-time loyal Arc’teryx customer, I’ve always appreciated their build quality. However, recent experiences pushed me to explore other brands, leading me to the Mystery Ranch Catalyst 26 after extensive research. I’ve been using this bag as my daily EDC for the past few months, and I have nothing but good things to say. Design & Accessibility The tri-zip access is outstanding, allowing incredibly easy entry into the main compartment. The zippers feel solid, smooth, and well-engineered—Mystery Ranch clearly put thought into every detail. Build Quality & Durability No surprises here—the craftsmanship is fantastic. From the materials to the stitching, everything feels built to last. I have no doubt this pack will withstand the test of time as an EDC workhorse. Comfort & Fit At 5’7” and 175 lbs, the Catalyst 26 fits me perfectly. The weight distribution is spot-on, and the padding makes it extremely comfortable, even when fully loaded. Ventilation is another huge plus—unlike my experience with Arc’teryx, my back stays noticeably drier even after hours of hiking. Minor Drawback: Water Bottle Pockets The only shortcoming for me is the water bottle pockets—they’re a bit too loose to securely hold a standard bottle, especially when bending over. That said, I personally prefer carrying my bottle inside, so this isn’t a dealbreaker. Plus, this design choice contributes to the pack’s sleek, streamlined look. Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars The Catalyst 26 is an absolute winner. With its thoughtful design, top-tier build quality, and exceptional comfort, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable EDC or hiking pack.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
Energybanker5
Washington
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Designed for the role, purchased 4

1 year ago

Bag is designed for its role. The role was a 3dap pack, which is tfsa compliant and has enough load suspension to be used as a E+E or executive travel bag. In this situation the bag has worked as designed and intended. I've used it at full capacity for 1 year of intensive work in Ukraine and the middle east, and I have issued this to my key employees for their work use. No failure, no stress points and outlasted MR 3 competiors for the role. Cheap enough to be mass issued, durable enough to be used in field conditions and does not stand out unlike the assault line of bags or hiking color palates. Hope this bag configuration continues on with the recent acquisition by Yeti. Thanks D3 for approving this design and getting it out to field before the acquisition

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on mysteryranch.com
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