Large clam-shell travel pack.
Spacious, Versatile
During a months-long long trip to Europe I was happy to have the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack with me. It’s a handy second bag when I have lots of gear, and it’s ideal for weekend getaways.
I used the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack for the first time as a checked bag to carry lots of extra items that I’d need for open water swimming and for an assortment of gadget-related items. The clam-shell opening made packing easy. There was plenty of space in the two large main compartments.
I packed all of my swimming gear into the top compartment, including: a bulky thermal wetsuit, a swimsuit, a swim cap, a thermal swim cap, a thermal hood, thermal gloves, regular gloves, two pairs of neoprene socks, a hooded thermal vest, my snorkel and goggles, and my favorite water shoes. I also added a large Turkish towel, an electric toothbrush in its case, a stainless steel water bottle, a pair of socks, a couple pairs of underwear, a computer speaker, a few small gifts, a notebook, a jewelry pouch, and a few large chocolate bars.
I used the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack’s other large compartment for an assortment of of other items, including a huge toiletries bag (including five jars of face cream, an irrational “must-have” at 3 am the night before the trip) and several padded packing cubes filled with adapters, chargers, cords, and bike lights. I also added my laptop stand and a large bag of supplements and prescription medicines.
This compartment contains a large chute, accessible from the outside of the pack, that can be used for shoes or dirty clothes. I didn’t use it since I planned to check the bag, but it’s nice to have the option of having a place where items can be packed and removed without opening the entire pack.
Organization for Small Items
Each of the large compartments is covered with a full-length, full-width zippered sleeve. That means I can get by without using packing cubes. I just zip the compartment closed, knowing they will remain inside until I remove them. Love that.
The tops of the covers feature full-sized, flat zippered sleeves. I used those for: a sketchpad, a notebook, a couple of folders, a pack of laundry detergent sheets, and several waterproof device bags that I use for open water swimming. I appreciated the organization these sleeves provided me.
There are two more zippered sleeves inside the zippered compartment on the front of the pack. I used those to store flat, small items such as a handful of Kind bars, pens, and my keys. There’s a handy key lanyard in the top zippered compartment.
Tight Fit
The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack’s top compartment has a slim computer sleeve with very thin, dense padding on top and bottom. A Velcro-style strap allows me to secure my 13” laptop inside. The sleeve covers but about 1/2 an inch of the computer. Underneath this sleeve there are two small, flat sleeves where I can stash cords and a charger. I liked that the sleeve suspends my computer above the bottom of the pack so it doesn’t get bumped when I put the bag down.
For people who travel light, I think this compartment provides the basics. However, I tend to travel with several devices, so I struggled with the lack of depth and protective options. When the pack is full it’s tight getting my 13” laptop into the sleeve. Also, I am paranoid and keep my laptop in a protective case when traveling. I couldn’t fit that into the flat sleeve. So that was a bummer.
I also travel with an iPad mini encased in a chunky OtterBox case, and there just wasn’t enough depth for it in the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack’s top compartment. There is so much space in the rest of this hearty bag that I wanted more protection and space for my laptop and other devices, too. Packing lighter would have helped, but the compartment just isn’t designed with enough depth for extras.
Heavy When Full
I used the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack as a second checked bag on my trip, and it was quite easy to plop it on the top of my wheeled suitcase and hook a long side strap over the vertical suitcase handle. It stayed in place, and I had easy time gliding along on smooth airport walkways.
I had a much harder time with cobbled European walkways around train stations. They were absolute nightmares. When I had to traverse those terrains, my suitcase usually fell over after about five steps. This usually happened at night after a long journey when all I wanted to do was find a hotel. It was easy to pull out the padded straps and waist belt and wear the pack. I really appreciated being able to adjust the straps and belt to get the fit I wanted. (Also, love how I can tuck them all back under their storage panel on the back of the pack when not in use.) I’m really tall, so I found that the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack fit me well and carried well in pack mode.
There are three handles: one on each side of the pack and one on the top of the pack. I loved having options when retrieving the pack from train storage racks.
The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack is HEAVY when full, as any bag of its volume would be. I learned the hard way on one trip when I wore a backpack with my devices inside, and I tried to carry the pack with a side handle. The half mile to the bus stop was brutal. I made it, but I made a note to myself to wear it next time and carry the computer bag by hand or in a wheeled carry-on bag.
Bottom Line
I really appreciated the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack during my almost four-month long adventure. It holds a lot, and it’s versatile. I admit that I wasn’t sure how attractive it was in website photos, but its look has really grown on me. Now I like the worn canvas look of the material that reminds me of old school canvas work bags. I appreciate the low-key design, too. I mostly travel in cities, so I don’t necessarily want a bag that makes me look like I just stepped off a mountain trail. Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack is plenty rugged, of course, but I think it looks a bit more sophisticated than some of my other packs.
The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack worked well as a checked bag and as a weekend getaway pack, especially for road and train trips when I didn’t bring lots of devices. It’s perfect for airport travel because there’s nothing on the outside of the bag to snag on baggage machines. It’s also handy for weekend trips because I can pack my swimming gear and a change of clothes or two.
I can use packing cubes or not. I have some organization for items I want to keep separate and accessible. I can carry it or wear it. (I attribute my few issues with the bag to my poor packing skills, thinking of it more as a soft-sided suitcase than a pack, and packing devices in a small backpack that precluded me wearing it as a pack when I needed to do that when traveling by train and bus. I need to be smarter about planning out how and where I use the bag before I pack it.) Now, I’ll contradict myself….one of things I liked most about this pack is having the space to be a bad packer. So, there you go. Pack smarter to carry lighter. Or do the 3 am tornado packing, and bring it all with you (and plan to wear it.)
Finally, the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45L Pack is tough. It got abused at seven airports and countless bus and train stations, and it still looks great. There are no tears or abrasions.
Details
Available in black, grey, and brown. Also available in 30L and 60 Plus.
Brand Site: mysteryranch.com/mission-rover-bag
$249 available at Amazon.