Advertisement

Field Tested: Mystery Ranch Superset 30

alison osius
·1 min read

This article originally appeared on Climbing

Too big! That was my first thought upon seeing the Superset gym--excuse me, urban work/life--bag, simply because my previous gym bags have been smaller. Then the 1695 cubic-inch pack opened to a bounty of storage options; and when I went bouldering, it tucked just fine into a folded crash pad. So why not?

The pack--new this past fall from Mystery Ranch (established in 2000), of Bozeman--comes roughly in the shape of a haul bag. The front panel (padded for carrying) splits down the middle, so, as per the company's Tower 47 crag pack, you can splay the flaps and pull items out from the inside rather than digging top-down. You could also use the pack, which has a laptop pocket, around town or for a travel carry-on.

The Superset 30 truly has a place for everything. Three interior mesh pockets hold bigger stuff like gloves, while a horseshoe-shaped exterior pocket would fit a guidebook and also has compartments for all the small stuff, from low-profile items like a phone or gym pass to fat rolls of tape.

A separate bottom compartment can, the manufacturer suggests, hold a change of clothes, though I stash a chalk bag there. The outer bungee cord is for a yoga mat, but I usually strap a jacket there. An outer sheath holds a water bottle.

At $165, the pack is spendy (you can get a nice satchel gym bag for $70), so you are choosing versatility. And to get organized.

Also Read

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.