d_rek
Well-Known Member
The Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 has been getting a lot of love here lately. And it looks like a really well made pack with some great features. But I know availability has been spotty (saddlehunter.com strikes again!) and I got a barely used Horn Hunter Full Curl Combo frame pack for a steal off ArcheryTalk.com. I had flagged this pack as one of interest a few months ago, but really couldn't justify dumping several hundred dollars into a pack this year. So when this popped up I jumped all over it.
The one I bought is an older model, and is missing the torso adjustment, but essentially has the same features as the newer ones. Here's a brief list of features:
Now onto the stuff that saddlehunters care about.
Like the MR Pop Up series, there is a collapsible meat shelf for hauling additional loads. The bottom of this shelf has a heavy-duty panel with a series of quick-release buckle attachment points for various configurations. There are also two wings that fold out from the side of the pack that provide additional structure, support, and compression straps to secure loads tight to the frame. Lastly, there is a removable pack which can be loaded up with additional gear - saddle, layers, etc. All things considered it makes what is a western load-hauling backcountry pack into the perfect saddle gear hauling pack for mobile hunts.
Here I have loaded up the Horn Hunter combo pack with a set of 10 wild edge stepps, a DIY XOP platform, and an aerohunter kestrel with pouches for linemans belt and tree tether.
The one I bought is an older model, and is missing the torso adjustment, but essentially has the same features as the newer ones. Here's a brief list of features:
- Internal aluminum frame stays
- Removable 2000 cu. in. "Curl" pack w/ molle loops and removable bow/rifle boot.
- Collapsible 'Flex' Shelf (meat shelf)
- Compression panels (kind of like wings on the side of the pack)
- Plenty of compression straps all over
- Total weight is listed at 8lbs
- Made in USA (if you care about, though it's not clear if it's from materials sourced domestically, globally, or some combination of the two. I suspect the third.)
Now onto the stuff that saddlehunters care about.
Like the MR Pop Up series, there is a collapsible meat shelf for hauling additional loads. The bottom of this shelf has a heavy-duty panel with a series of quick-release buckle attachment points for various configurations. There are also two wings that fold out from the side of the pack that provide additional structure, support, and compression straps to secure loads tight to the frame. Lastly, there is a removable pack which can be loaded up with additional gear - saddle, layers, etc. All things considered it makes what is a western load-hauling backcountry pack into the perfect saddle gear hauling pack for mobile hunts.
Here I have loaded up the Horn Hunter combo pack with a set of 10 wild edge stepps, a DIY XOP platform, and an aerohunter kestrel with pouches for linemans belt and tree tether.
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