Mystery Ranch Scepter

Hey MP people I was in the market for another pack and I was looking at the Mystery Ranch Scepter(35L and 50L) for an all round ice climbing, crag pack, alpine pack, and just an overall beater pack. I currently have a CCW Valdez, which I am a huge fan of but I'm looking for something a bit bigger to carry some more stuff. I would also possibly be using it for some short approaches or just lugging the rack to some destinations in the Nor East.  Anybody have either the 35L or the 50L and want to mention what they like about it? Pictures would also be helpful. It looks like a pretty solid pack and I'm interested in it. Enjoy your day folks. 

-Alek

I don't have any experience with the Scepter but I do have a Mystery Ranch Patrol 45 that I can speak to.  It's touted as their halo ski mountaineering pack but is missing a good way to carry an ice axe and the ski carry is sub-par.  The pack is also noticeably heavy.  Those complaints aside (two of which would be an easy fix for MR) this pack carries a load better than any other pack I've ever had.  I walked out on the approach trail from Eldorado in the North Cascades with a full kit including splitboard and AT boots strapped to my pack and was pretty comfortable which is saying a lot.  I expect all of their packs to carry very well but watch out to make sure they have the rest of the features you're looking for. 

I would look at the Hill People Gear Umlindi or Ute as well. Hands down best carrying packs around and extremely robust.

Bump on this thread looking for anyone who's used the newer version (not sure what year it came out). Looking in regards to the 50L version for mostly hut trips and 2-3 night trips. I'd probably get the Mutant 52 if it had some kind of gear/avy pocket.

cstrach wrote:

Bump on this thread looking for anyone who's used the newer version (not sure what year it came out). Looking in regards to the 50L version for mostly hut trips and 2-3 night trips. I'd probably get the Mutant 52 if it had some kind of gear/avy pocket.

I tested both those this year. I won't bother listing my favorite packs overall (keep an eye out for the Outside Gear Guide) but I can say w/ the Scepter you might as well get the 50L (incremental weight/bulk increase vs the 35). The Mutant is nice as well, a much lighter weight fabric/product and a lot more strippable (helmet carrying web, brain, straps etc that can all come off). For hut trips and that kind of carrying I'd probably go Osprey, but I'm sure the Mystery Ranch will last you for 10+ years.

I now have a Scepter 50L in my pack quiver and much like the Patrol 45 it has some features that are really good and a few misses.  The suspension is great and it fits my body shape really well.  The simple tube concept for the main body is a proven design in many alpine climbing packs and it isn't really any different here.  The avalanche tool pocket fits a shovel, probe, and saw easily and still has room for a compact pair of crampons like the Petzl Leopards.  The straps are all easy to use and seem to fulfill a purpose.  I would like to see the lower compression strap wrap all the way around the body of the pack much like the upper compression straps or at least anchor to the shovel pocket in order to take some pressure off the zipper.  I would also like to see better coverage between the storm flap and the tool pocket.  I was able to pull my probe out easily without unbuckling any straps which concerns me that it might fall out unintentionally and it's likely that pocket will collect water in a rain storm.  I also wish there was a better way to overload the pack on the approach to a camp.  I managed to strap a 10L stuff sack down using the top flap and it worked but barely.  Slightly longer straps on those buckles and a taller collar on the main body of the pack would allow for some overloading without adding significant weight.  These are all things I can work around and are possibly things I can solve with some of the spare parts from MR.

I'm pretty sure I have no idea what an "alpine pack" is, but I'm pretty sure I understand that ice climbing pack = crag pack, because you're almost invariably rappelling back to where you left it. For that purpose, the 50L Scepter, which I've been using for a couple of winters, works quite well and comfortably. And I agree with the recommendation about that size instead of the 35L version. It holds the rack, one of the ropes, belay jacket and stuff sack, shell jacket that's too impermeable to wear on the approach, dry layers to replace the ones you sweat through, lunch, thermos, water, hex keys, helmet, spare gloves, spare gloves, and spare gloves. It supports this load adequately without being uncomfortably stiff. Packs never come with instruction manuals anymore, so I had no idea until someone showed me that those elastic cord things are supposed to clip your tools in place. And I had no idea until I read this thread that that extra slot (a mystery, get it?) was an "avalanche shovel pocket," which I've never had any use for. 

Nice, thanks for the replies. Sounds like I need to just get in to a place that maybe has both and geek out for an hour or so and see how they fit