Fit
As I mentioned earlier, one thing I like about the Blackjack is its functionality as a backpack as well as an airbag, and a big part of that is fit. While I’m not usually taking ski packs on big expeditions with heavy loads, I always wanted a ski pack that fits well. This makes heavier loads much more tolerable when I do carry them, makes the pack ride better, and, when things get fast and bumpy, makes you forget about it all together.
The Blackjack is available with various sizes of waist belts and shoulder yolks (both available in S, M, L), which offer a fair amount of adjustability. I’m 6 foot, 185 pounds, with a 32-inch waist, and the small waist belt (29–34-inch waist) and medium yolk (men 5’9” to 6’4”) fit perfectly. I have ski partners ranging from a 5’3”, 110-pound girl to a 6’4”, 180-pound guy who have both found great fits with proper sizes of belts and yolks. When we ordered, the guys at Mystery Ranch were super helpful over the phone or email with fitting questions and were right on with their suggestions.
Regardless of whether I have nothing but a shovel, probe, and few energy bars in the pack or it’s full of camping and skiing gear for a three-day solo winter mission, the Blackjack fits tight to my back, doesn’t wobble when things get crazy, and stays comfortable on long days.
Load carrying
This is one of the coolest things about this pack. The predecessor company to Mystery Ranch, Dana Designs (who had the same principle pack designer, Dana Gleason) used to make a pack called the Terraplane. I’ve owned one since I was 14 years old and have used it for everything from nine-day, self-support pack raft trips and months of touring around Chile with all of my WW kayak and camping gear, to hauling huge packs full of moose meat.
Similarly, a few years ago I bought a Mystery Ranch NICE frame as a designated hunting pack, and have hauled many hundreds of pounds of moose and caribou meat over rough terrain for hundreds of miles in total. Nothing I’ve ever used (Arc’teryx Bora, GoLite Odyssey, big Osprey packs, various external frame packs) come even close to being as comfortable.
So when I saw that the shoulder yolk on the Blackjack looks identical to the NICE frame, and knowing the history with Dana Designs, I was stoked. The waistbelt is much sleeker, and the suspension simpler and lighter, but it still shifts weight well to hips, if needed. I’m not hauling moose hind quarters in my ski pack, but three days of food, a stove, a tent, a sleeping bag, plus all ski gear and minimal climbing gear for solo trips fit nicely and carry as well as my NICE frame for long days of skinning.
Also, the extra long compression straps (with clever Velcro tabs to roll them up out of the way) carry Verts on the back of the pack even while carrying an axe and skis. (The first time I had to do that I was a little surprised it worked so well and bummed that I hadn’t planned better for my day!)
Brilliant review, Paul. Bravo.
Just curious if you’ve tried the float 32 yet. Seems like quite an improvement over past years BCA packs.
Hey Adam, Thanks for reading. I haven’t tried this year’s BCA packs yet. They look good. I think one of my partners is getting one soon and I can update here if I get my hands on it. Have a great winter. Paul
Pulled the trigger on a Blackjack thanks in part to this review. Strong work.
Hi Paul,
Where did you end up refilling the canister in Argentina? this is where I mostly do my touring and that’s a big concern for me. I’m in the process of choosing my first Airbag Backpack, and was thinking about the snowpulse pack, but after reading your review I might change my mind. Let me know, thanks!
Hi Pepe,
I’m not sure if this will always work but I called a few places and ended up talking to BCA and got in contact with their rep in Santiago. My understanding was that he’s hoping to do refills through a new shop there but I don’t know if/when that will happen. I think that any snowpulse, WARY (MR), or BCA pack can be filled by the same type of equipment so that might not influence your decision too much between a snowpulse and MR pack. Have a great winter. Paul
Hi Paul,
thanks for the excellent review, specially the general thoughts on pack quality and it’s importance for having the airbag on you on all days out.
I am in Europe, where Mystery Ranch isn’t available, but I know the quality from my old DANA pack. Here, ABS or Snowpulse would be the obvious choices. I trust their systems, but dislike their packs.
On the Mystery ranch packs, the airbag sits all way up on the top of the pack, unlike ABS (two bags at the sides) or Snowpulse (a U-shaped bag, around the head). To me, this seems to increase the chance of the airbag floating on the avalance, while the head is slill getting buried. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Cheers, Felix (Hamburg, Germany)
Hey Felix, Thanks for reading and for your comments. My understanding is that all of the current airbag designs provide enough bouyancy to help keep someone on top in the event of an avalanche. I’m not aware of any data or studies showing real evidence that one style of bag is superior to another. I’ll keep reading on the topic too. Cheers, Paul
Hi Paul,
Great review, I agree that an airbag pack needs to work as a pack first otherwise something like the Wary AviVest would be the way to go:
http://www.thewary.com/vest/index.php
Since I happen to be near Bozeman at the moment, I’m going to swing by and have a chat with MR about their packs, seems like a good option based on your detailed review.
Thanks again!
Any idea what the future is looking like for MR with Wary being out of the business now?