MYSTERY RANCH  Radix 57 Pack - Men's

Garbage. The belt pulls through stitching loop making it impossible to stay on your hips. This review will probably be deleted, because it’s negative. They delete bad reviews.

All the accessories that Hyperlite is missing plus an actual frame that’s comfortable. This pack is awesome

Review by Mike (Mozzie) Review by Mike (Mozzie) I recently used the Mystery Ranch Radix Series pack on the Oregon/Washington portion of the PCT, covering nearly 1,000 miles. My initial review was not based on actual usage, but I stand by much of what I originally said. Many straps are excessively long, and a roll top with the brain would be a fantastic addition. Having spent considerable time buying and using ultralight packs, I own a Granite Gear Blaze 60, Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight, and a couple of lightweight Gregory packs. I’ve also completed many long-distance trails. When Mystery Ranch released the Radix Series, I jumped at the chance to try one, despite its heavier weight. The waist belt pockets were excellent, and the zippers worked smoothly throughout the trip. However, I found the side pockets for holding a Nalgene-type water bottle inconvenient, as I always had to remove the pack to access the bottle. I didn’t use the hydration sleeve because it’s too difficult to keep a bladder clean on a long hike. Once I got the pack dialed in, it was very comfortable. Even on resupply days when I added 8-10 lbs of food or had a long water carry, the pack’s performance remained consistent. I did encounter an issue with one of the fasteners that held the top on. It wouldn’t hold, and when it slipped, it threw the pack off balance. I ended up tying the strap to prevent it from slipping. Overall, this pack is excellent—rugged and showing very little wear even after taking falls. I highly recommend it for anyone who values quality and isn’t obsessed with ounces. PS: I carried between 29 and 35 lbs depending on the number of days between resupply.

I received my Radix 57 a couple of weeks ago and while I haven't used it yet, it is packed and adjusted for my trip. I do have some thoughts and nitpicks. First - I wish the top closure would fully close so that if you choose not to use the lid you could. A simple roll top would work to protect the inside from the elements. Second - the attachment points on the shoulder straps don't work well for a water bottle holder or phone pouch. Third - One of the waist belt pouches needs to be bigger since my Samsung A53 won't fit in the pouch and I can't use my phone pouch on the shoulder straps. My final thought is the straps really don't need to be as long as they are. I have little doubt I will love the pack since I own a Bridger and had a Dana Designs ArcFlex Astralplane I purchased in "88". This pack is much bigger than I expected, I probably could have gotten by with the Radix 47. The Radix seems comfortable and I am looking forward to using it soon.

I bought this pack to replace another popular brand's ultralight backpacking pack. I found the load carrying ability and features to be a huge step up. I have been able to carry upwards of 45lbs of gear comfortably with this pack. I find the pack to be spacious and well thought out, especially the double wide water bottle pockets. The side zip has come in handy a few times, allowing me to access a buried item without having to unpack the entire thing. However, I have one major gripe with this pack and that is the quality of the buckles. They are extremely flimsy and prone to breakage. I broke a buckles on my very first backpacking outing with this pack. Thankfully it wasn't a trip ending failure, but I expect better from a pack that is meant to be used outdoors. A heavier duty buckle for all of the straps wouldn't impact the overall weight by much, but it would give this pack much better longevity. Because of the durability issues, I must give this pack an average score.

This new pack replaces my Dana Design Terraplane bought in 1995. I just took it out on a 3 day trip in SW Colorado and am very pleased with this pack. The craftsmanship is excellent, which is expected from Dana. But, what I love are the outside pockets. These 3 pockets are roomy but can be cinched down to nothing if you don't need them. Also, the pack has a multitude of features that can shed weight if that is important to you. All of the straps, waist belt, and top pocket are removable. What is most important to me is the comfort and this pack is as comfortable and adjustable as my old terraplane. This pack distributes the weight evenly and allows the user to move weight from hips to shoulders while hiking.

Hiked 20 miles in Olympic NP with this pack. The hip belt would slide off my iliac crest way more often than on my other mystery ranch packs. I think to cut weight on the pack the hip belt wings are smaller in height, resulting in less surface area to hold on to your hips and get that locked in feeling. To be far. I had to carry someone else’s bear canister plus mine in an already fully loaded pack. Everything else about this pack is great. If this pack had the endurance yoke like the Bridger series packs, it would be a juggernaut.

After trying out many different packs (Osprey Atmos AG 65, Osprey Aether 65, Gregory Baltoro 65, Terraframe 3-Zip 50), the Radix 57 was the one that fit and felt the best for my body. Some people reported that the padding isn't enough for the Radix but for me, it's just perfect. I didn't like the thick padding like on the Atmos AG, etc.. it just felt "too much". The Radix also has just the perfect amount of loops and whatnot while still maintaining a "minimal" feel to it.

I purchased this for my son who is preparing for a backpacking trip, and so far, we, as a family, are all very impressed with the quality of the materials used, the fit as well as the overall, very thoughtful, very intelligent design/construction. We're also sensitive to chemicals, and I'm happy to report that this pack is ideal in that way, too. Nothing noxious about it - whatsoever.

Feels lighter than it is when fully loaded, as MR packs usually do. The adjustability is great which also helps make the pack so comfortable. Perfect pack for the weight conscious backpacker not looking to go ultralight, it really shines between 20-35 lbs load carry and can easily handle loads up to at least 45 pounds. And the price is at least as good as any of the competitors.