Gear Review: Mystery Ranch Sphinx Backpack
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Patagonia
Duration of Test: 1 year
Product Name: Sphinx
Product Brand: Mystery Ranch
Best Use: Backpacking/Mountaineering
The Full Review:
There’s just so many things to like about the Mystery Ranch Sphinx. The Sphinx is made by Mystery Ranch, a Montana-based brand making durable packs that carry weight extremely well. The brand was founded by renowned backpack designer Dana Gleason, of Dana Designs. Dana began to make packs under the name Mystery Ranch in 2000, designing packs specifically for the military, wildland firefighters, and hunters. They now have a retail line of backpacking and mountaineering packs.
I purchased the Sphinx last May and carried it traveling through Europe, a few mountaineering trips, and then for 4.5 months traveling through Patagonia and Peru. My extended South America trip included many nights backpacking, carrying the pack fully loaded with 35-45 pounds.
At 5.3 pounds, the Sphinx is only slightly heavier than its competitor’s counterparts, like the Osprey Xenith 75. Though Mystery Ranch reports the Sphinx’s capacity to be 70 liters, I found it to be a very generous 70 liters—it easily fit my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping bag, mountaineering boots, crampons, technical layers, a pot, a light trad rack, harness, climbing shoes, rope (outside) and various other travel items. All these items are made easily accessible by the feature that makes this pack stands out from all others, and to me was the major selling point: the burly waterproof zipper running down the center of the pack. Though it made me a lazy packer, this feature allowed me to access anything in my pack, quite easily, at any time. I found Dana’s signature “torpedo pockets” on the outside to hold a significant amount of stuff as well, which I greatly appreciated. For example, one held all my underwear, socks, long underwear, shirts, and a pair of shorts and pants, while the other held several days worth of food.
One great thing about the Sphinx is the simplicity of the design. The pack features the perfect number of pockets and no more. It has the outer torpedo pockets, one sizeable pocket in the brain, a small mesh pocket on the underside of the brain, one inside the pack built to be compatible with a hydration bladder (although totally functional in other ways), two large hip-belt pockets, and two sizeable water bottle pockets.
Ultimately, packs are about carrying weight. This is where the Sphinx truly excels. Setting aside all the wonderful features and durability, the Sphinx is an amazingly comfortable pack. It has a simple harness that is easily adjustable, a great hip belt, and handles 45 pounds like a champ (hopefully you aren’t carrying much more than that on a backpacking trip...).
From the moment I saw that zipper running down the front of the Sphinx, it was love at first sight and I knew this would be the next pack I would buy. When I eventually did, I was not disappointed. The pack comes at a competitive price point and is truly a bargain for what it is.
The Good
Super durable, very comfortable, perfect number of pockets.
The Bad:
I honestly don't have a bad thing to say about this pack.
The Bottom Line:
This is a super rad pack that will last you a long time, is comfortable even when fully loaded, and will treat you well on your next adventure.
The Full Review:
There’s just so many things to like about the Mystery Ranch Sphinx. The Sphinx is made by Mystery Ranch, a Montana-based brand making durable packs that carry weight extremely well. The brand was founded by renowned backpack designer Dana Gleason, of Dana Designs. Dana began to make packs under the name Mystery Ranch in 2000, designing packs specifically for the military, wildland firefighters, and hunters. They now have a retail line of backpacking and mountaineering packs.
I purchased the Sphinx last May and carried it traveling through Europe, a few mountaineering trips, and then for 4.5 months traveling through Patagonia and Peru. My extended South America trip included many nights backpacking, carrying the pack fully loaded with 35-45 pounds.
At 5.3 pounds, the Sphinx is only slightly heavier than its competitor’s counterparts, like the Osprey Xenith 75. Though Mystery Ranch reports the Sphinx’s capacity to be 70 liters, I found it to be a very generous 70 liters—it easily fit my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping bag, mountaineering boots, crampons, technical layers, a pot, a light trad rack, harness, climbing shoes, rope (outside) and various other travel items. All these items are made easily accessible by the feature that makes this pack stands out from all others, and to me was the major selling point: the burly waterproof zipper running down the center of the pack. Though it made me a lazy packer, this feature allowed me to access anything in my pack, quite easily, at any time. I found Dana’s signature “torpedo pockets” on the outside to hold a significant amount of stuff as well, which I greatly appreciated. For example, one held all my underwear, socks, long underwear, shirts, and a pair of shorts and pants, while the other held several days worth of food.
One great thing about the Sphinx is the simplicity of the design. The pack features the perfect number of pockets and no more. It has the outer torpedo pockets, one sizeable pocket in the brain, a small mesh pocket on the underside of the brain, one inside the pack built to be compatible with a hydration bladder (although totally functional in other ways), two large hip-belt pockets, and two sizeable water bottle pockets.
Ultimately, packs are about carrying weight. This is where the Sphinx truly excels. Setting aside all the wonderful features and durability, the Sphinx is an amazingly comfortable pack. It has a simple harness that is easily adjustable, a great hip belt, and handles 45 pounds like a champ (hopefully you aren’t carrying much more than that on a backpacking trip...).
From the moment I saw that zipper running down the front of the Sphinx, it was love at first sight and I knew this would be the next pack I would buy. When I eventually did, I was not disappointed. The pack comes at a competitive price point and is truly a bargain for what it is.
The Good
Super durable, very comfortable, perfect number of pockets.
The Bad:
I honestly don't have a bad thing to say about this pack.
The Bottom Line:
This is a super rad pack that will last you a long time, is comfortable even when fully loaded, and will treat you well on your next adventure.