I’ve had this little fella for a good couple of months. While not perfect (what pack is?), it is truly awesome in many ways. So I guess it’s about time to drop a line about it, isn’t it?

In a last couple of years I’ve had multiple Mystary Ranch packs, including at least 3 daypacks (Spartan, ASAP, 1DAP) and all of them were bombproof, overbuilt and with a really heavy duty harness system. All of them are simply great as stand-alone daypacks.

But this one is completely different animal… It’s a daypack, which shines as a backup or summit pack you can take as an extra with you. It is not just lightweight, but also easy to roll down and strap to your main pack – something virtually impossible with other MR ‘military styled’ daypacks.

One quick look at Hitchhiker 20 is enough to confirm a Mystery Ranch pedigree – Tri-Zip construction and the overall proportions leave no doubt. However, technically speaking, it’s a very different pack.

First of all it doesn’t use that puffy yoke, which MR is so famous for. Also, you won’t find a framesheet (called ‘spade’ in MR’s nomenclature) and no heavily padded mesh panel on the back. Instead, you will find a double layer of Cordura as a back panel and soft, broad and just very slightly mesh-padded shoulder straps. The classic framesheet was substituted with two carbon composite rods running alongside in webbing tubing. It’s quite a substantial change, but thanks to that the Hitchhiker is a full 1 lbs lighter than same-sized ASAP.

As I mentioned before, it can be easily rolled and strapped to another big base-pack, duffle or simply put inside any other multi-day luggage system. The shoulder straps can also be stowed in the double-layered back and a pair of specially designed compression straps can be used to attach the HH20 to a basecamp pack or bag as a huge 20L extra cargo pocket, or as a so-called ‘evade & escape’ detachable pack, which is actually the intended use by Mystery Ranch.

OK, now back to carry mode: withdraw the shoulder straps from back panel’s hide, cinch bottom buckles back in place, stow away compression straps – and you’re ready to roll! By the way, there are couple of ways you can organize the side straps – my preferred way is to connect them alongside the carbon stays, that way I can use and adjust them to whatever I might carry outside the pack: rolled jacket, hiking poles, water bottle, extra pouch or even a hunting bow & arrows.

I also tried another trick and changed the fastex side buckles to metal G-hooks, and strap them on back to the front. It works, looks very clean, but doesn’t offer the same versatility. And last but not least, you can just stow the side straps in between the back layers. Just try and use whatever works for you – there is more than one way to skin that cat.

As the name suggests, it’s a 20 liter pack so quite standard for a lightweight daypack. As an outdoor/military oriented pack it’s a rather simple one organization-wise. One big main compartment with the Tri-Zip access system which works great in top-loader mode and allows for unrestricted access to any part of the pack by using the vertical zipper. The lid is fairly simple too, with one (spacious) pocket for items you need close at hand: wallet, small camera, energy snacks, headlamp etc.

All zippers are of premium quality (YKK), rubber coated and, together with 500D Cordura, provide good weather resistance in snow and moderate rain. But keep in mind, it’s not a waterproof pack – so when using it under heavy Autumn showers for a prolonged time you should put a dry-sack (or just a plastic bag) inside to protect your crucial items from humidity.

The Hitchhiker’s bottom has webbing daisychains stitched on, which can be used to strap extra items (like a rolled sleeping mat) or as an attachment point for a beavertail-style gear tarp. It can be either MR stick-it pocket, or the universal OV Innovation Cache beavertail as pictured here.

Also, beware of the drain grommet at the bottom, hidden behind that webbing. I learned that there is one the hard way… when I put my pack in a small puddle for a second or two. So just remember that.

In a lightweight cargo-extension pack, simplicity is the way to go. It’s not an EDC pack so don’t expect it to carry all your daily items neatly organized together with a Macbook Air, beard comb and fancy headphones – it’s not that kind of pack. Instead you can just stuff it with selected outdoor equipment required for that daytrip, or with crucial mission gear… even including lightweight collapsible sub-carbine and some ammo.

A 20L pack can also be used as a dedicated bolt pack or as an E&E backup pack (it’s equipped with full-size grab & go handle) – depending on your needs. And for all scenarios like that, there is nothing better, in my honest opinion, than just one spacious compartment, which can be filled with variety of gear.

This is not the first review where I praise simplicity in a pack designed for backcountry use. A multi-pocket style is good for the city streets and office use, but it limits versatility and adds a lot of weight, none of which you want in the great outdoors. And if you really need perfect organization in your pack one day… you can always use an admin insert of some sort.

The Hitchhiker, if not overloaded, carries surprisingly well considering it’s simplicity and lack of full suspension. The straps are wide and softer than I thought, they also distribute weight evenly on the shoulders. The harness is equipped with an adjustable chest strap. There’s also strong webbing running along the straps, which can be used as lashing points for a small knife, a slim pouch or a radio.

I used my Hitchhiker as a daypack in a forest, in the mountains and also for long family walks at the seaside. Even as a hide-away gun pack for my compact EdGun Leshiy. Of course, it’s not as comfortable as the ASAP or a similar yoke-equipped pack, but if worn on something more than just a t-shirt, and if ‘padded’ with soft cloths inside (at the back side) it is absolutely enough as a lightweight daypack. It also served me well as a lightweight summit pack in the Summer.

And downsides? Well, yes there are some but it’s just a consequence of the design and intended use. First of all there’s no hip-belt, even a webbing strap just for stabilization. While not necessary on a pack like this, it’d be nice to have for winter use (skiing). It’s also not compatible with a hydration systems, since there’s not port for tubing. So both are not really deal-breakers here, but they could make it the most perfect lightweight backup / daypack if implemented in the next generation of the Hitchhiker (if I may suggest).

Final conclusions:
I like this pack and it’ll stay with me for good. Yeah, I like it a lot actually! It’s been on my back more often than any other daypack this season. It has surprisingly comfortable straps (really more than you think, you need to try them to believe it!); a Tri-Zip opening; lightweight construction and carbon side supports. Together these things make it quite a unique and versatile pack.

Since the Hitchhiker belongs to the military line of Mystery Ranch it’s still built like a tank (despite being light-weight), comes in mil-spec colors (coyote and MultiCam) and comes with a loop panel for patches as standard (and who doesn’t like a cool patch on a pack?). While not really cheap, it’s still the cheapest daypack in the Mystery Ranch military line of packs. And what you get for your $150 is a high quality piece of gear, designed to withstand a tough military life. Oh, and last but not least it’s made in Bozeman, US, so it’s fully Berry compliant too. All in all, it’s a solid link between stand-alone daypacks like the ASAP, and ‘just pockets’ (like the RipZip), which was missing in MR’s offering… till now.