You’re standing at the bottom of a drainage, looking up a three-hundred-foot scree slope, and you’ve just tagged a buck. It’s 2:00 PM. The sun is doing its best to cook the meat before you even get it to the truck. This is the exact moment when the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 either becomes your best friend or a very expensive mistake. Most "day packs" in the hunting world are just school backpacks with some camouflage printed on them. They’re fine for a sandwich and a water bladder, but the second you throw forty pounds of hindquarter on them, the stitching starts screaming.
The Pop Up 28 is different. It’s weird.
If you look at it in the store, it looks like a standard, slightly overbuilt 28-liter pack. But there’s a secret hiding behind the back panel—a telescoping frame that turns a compact bag into a legitimate load hauler. I’ve seen guys try to use this for everything from tree stand hunting in the Midwest to chasing coues deer in the desert. Some love it. Others find the mechanical nature of the frame a bit finicky. Honestly, it depends on how you move in the woods.
The Frame Is the Whole Point
Let’s talk about those stays. Mystery Ranch uses a trekking-pole-style aluminum system that "pops up" (hence the name) to provide leverage. When you're just hiking, the frame stays low, tucked behind your head. This is huge for bushwhacking. Have you ever tried to crawl through thick alder with a full-sized internal frame pack sticking six inches above your skull? It’s a nightmare. You get snagged on every single branch.
With the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28, you keep that low profile until the work starts. Once you have a heavy load, you flip the levers, extend the stays, and suddenly you have the functional lift of a much larger pack. It shifts the weight from your shoulders down to your hips. If you aren't using the load shelf properly, though, you're wasting your money. The "Overload" feature allows you to pull the bag away from the frame, creating a sandwich-like space for meat bags or an elk quarter.
The physics are simple. Longer frame equals better leverage.
Why 28 Liters Might Be Too Small (Or Just Right)
Volume is a funny thing. 28 liters is about 1,700 cubic inches. For some hunters, that’s barely enough for a first aid kit, a puffy jacket, and a spotting scope. If you’re a "gear junkie" who carries three different knives, a portable stove, and a massive tripod, you’re going to hate the organization on this pack. It’s tight.
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However, if you’re a minimalist who wants to move fast, it’s a dream.
The pack features a classic shroud access and a lid (or "brain") with zippered pockets. You've also got stretch-woven side pockets for water bottles or a tripod. One thing to watch out for: when the pack is fully compressed, those side pockets get really tight. It can be a struggle to shove a wide Nalgene in there if the main compartment is stuffed to the gills.
- The Weight: It’s around 4.9 lbs. That’s heavy for a 28L pack, but light for a pack that can carry 80 lbs.
- The Material: 500D CORDURA. It’s loud when it’s brand new. It takes a season to "break in" and quiet down.
- The Belt: The Redirect waist belt is probably the best in the industry. You pull forward to tighten it, which uses your own body's mechanics much better than pulling backward.
The Reality of the Meat Haul
Let's be real about what happens when you actually put meat on this thing.
I’ve heard people claim they’ve hauled 100-pound loads on the Pop Up frame. Can you do it? Technically, yes. The frame won't snap. But is it comfortable? Not really. The Pop Up series is designed for that "first trip out." It’s meant to get a significant chunk of meat back to the truck so you can come back with a dedicated heavy-hauler like the Mystery Ranch Metcalf or a Marshall.
If you try to hike five miles with 90 pounds on this short-stay system, you’re going to feel the sway. Because the frame is telescoping, there is a tiny bit of "play" or movement compared to a solid, one-piece carbon fiber frame. It’s the trade-off for having a pack that doesn't hit every branch over your head.
Common Misconceptions About the Pop Up Series
A lot of guys think the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 is a replacement for a multi-day pack. It’s not. Don't try to strap a tent and a sleeping bag to the bottom and call it a week-long kit. You'll run out of room before you even get your food packed.
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Another mistake? Not tightening the load lifters correctly once the frame is extended. If you leave those straps loose, the load will pull away from your back, and you’ll be fighting the pack the whole way down the mountain. You want that meat squeezed tight against the frame.
Comparison: Pop Up 28 vs. Pop Up 38
Choosing between the two sizes is usually where people get stuck. The 38-liter version gives you more room for gear, obviously. But here’s the kicker: the frame is the exact same.
If you’re hunting in cold weather and need to carry a heavy parka, go with the 38. If you’re a desert hunter or a high-buck hunter in September where you’re wearing light layers, the 28 is much sleeker. It feels like a part of your body.
Durability Concerns
There’s always a worry about moving parts. Telescoping poles have a reputation for seizing up if they get too much dirt or dried blood in them. I’ve found that a quick rinse with a garden hose after a hunt usually solves this. Mystery Ranch uses high-quality locking levers, similar to what you'd see on high-end Black Diamond or Leki trekking poles. They’re adjustable, too. If the frame starts to slide under load, you can tighten the tension screw on the lever.
Who Is This Pack Actually For?
It’s for the guy who hunts "deep-ish."
If you hunt 200 yards from your truck, buy a cheap daypack. If you hunt 10 miles in, buy a 70-liter frame pack. But if you’re that guy who roams 3 to 5 miles from the trailhead, the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 is your sweet spot. It allows you to hunt effectively without the bulk of a "big" pack, but it saves you an extra trip to the truck because you can take a full load of meat on the very first walk out.
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It’s also great for "scout-to-hunt" scenarios. You can carry your glassing gear and a tripod comfortably all day, then unexpectedly haul out a shed antler or even a small deer if the opportunity arises.
What Experts Say
Many backcountry hunters, including those who follow the "Fast and Light" philosophy popularized by guys like Ryan Lampers or the crew at Rokslide, point out that the Pop Up fills a very specific niche. It’s about versatility. The ability to change the geometry of your pack in the middle of a hunt is something very few other brands offer.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
Before you drop the money on a Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28, do these three things:
- Measure Your Torso: Mystery Ranch packs are sized. If you buy a Medium and you’re a Large, the load lifters won't work, and the pack will be miserable. Use a tailor’s tape to measure from your C7 vertebra down to your iliac crest.
- Test the "Pop": When you get the pack, practice extending the frame and cinching the load shelf before you're in the dark with bloody hands. Learn how the buckles route.
- Check Your Gear Volume: Lay out everything you take on a standard day hunt. If it doesn't fit in a standard school backpack, it’s not going to fit in the 28. You might need to step up to the 38.
The Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 isn't a perfect pack—no such thing exists. It's a specialized tool for a specific type of hunter. It’s for the person who values mobility over storage but refuses to be "that guy" who can't help carry the load when the real work begins.
Maintain the levers. Keep the CORDURA clean. It'll likely last you a decade of hard hunting.
Technical Specifications Summary
- Volume: 28 Liters (1710 cu-in)
- Weight: 4.9 lbs
- Frame System: Pop Up Frame
- Fabric: 500D CORDURA®
- Access: Top Loader
- Best Use: Day Hunting / Meat Hauling
Make sure to adjust the tension on the frame locks periodically, especially after temperature swings, as the metal can expand or contract, affecting the grip of the levers. If you find the pack squeaking, a little bit of wax or dry lubricant on the frame joints usually silences it immediately.