Packs are one of those items that can make or break an adventure. With a pack too small, one can risk not packing all the necessary equipment to survive for extended durations.
On the other hand, if a pack is too large for the adventure, one can risk packing too much. And tiring out due to lugging around the extra weight.
Mystery Ranch’s 2-Day Assault Pack, for $219.00, is one option on the market that works for day hikes, vehicle go-bag, or 48-hour patrols.
2-Day Assault Pack Overview
On the exterior of the 2 Day, Mystery Ranch placed five MOLLE panels on the front. And three MOLLE panels on both sides. The MOLLE panels provide options to mount additional pouches onto the pack.
Or in my case, threading carabineers through the panels. Along with the MOLLE paneling, there are two compression straps to tighten the pack. The compression straps help to keep packed gear from shifting around while on the trail or on a mission.
The 2 Day incorporates built-in pouches to hold water bottles on either side.
On the 2 Day’s back is an adjustable yoke with load-lifting straps, shoulder straps, and a plastic frame sheet. One item to note about the 2 Day is that while it comes in two sizes, S/M and L/XL, users will need to make several adjustments to the frame sheet to get the pack to fit exactly right.
The chest strap retainers on the shoulder straps include bungee cords to retain communication wires or hydration hoses. In addition to the shoulder straps, the 2 Day has a removable waist belt. This belt is not a padded waist belt but distributes some of the pack’s weight to the wearer’s hips.
On the right side of the 2 Day’s back, you’ll find a quick-access zipper to the internal sleeve in the main compartment.
“The new 2-DAY is a scaled-down option for non-military enthusiasts built into a smaller, everyday urban size and functionality.” ~ mysteryranch.com
At the top of the 2 Day Assault Pack, one can find the apex of the 3-ZIP and Y-design that Mystery Ranch uses in most of their packs. Two zippered pockets and a loop tape patch are built into the top flap.
The two zippered pockets help store small pieces of equipment or navigation tools for easy access. Mystery Ranch has also waterproofed all the external zippers using urethane to protect gear from getting wet. The 2 Day’s loop tape patch provides a space for morale or call sign patches.
To open the 2-Day, pull the top flap up and away from the pack’s body. With the 2 Day top flap open, the user can access the main compartment to grab items at the top of the pack. Pull down on the center zipper to open the main compartment more and spread out the pack’s two sides.
The inside has two internal dump pouches that can hold Nalgene bottles, three M4 magazines, or three .308 magazines. The main compartment also has two mesh pockets for storing smaller gear such as pens, 3×5 cards, or extra batteries. I would have liked the mesh pockets to be a little deeper, but it is not a deal-breaker for me.
“All the bells and whistles you would expect in a 3-DAP with the integrated floating computer sleeve for a non-combative lifestyle.” ~ mysteryranch.com
Along with these four pockets, the 2 Day has two hanging sleeves in the back of the main compartment. The first sleeve is for storing a tablet or documents.
Behind this sleeve is a padded sleeve that can hold a laptop, up to 15” in size, or a hydration bladder. Mystery Ranch also includes a hanging tab for the hydration bladder when storing it in the padded sleeve.
Mystery Ranch 2-Day Assault Pack Specs
- Two zippered lid pockets
- VELCRO® pile on top of lid for morale patches
- Interior dump pockets
- Adjustable yoke
- Main compartment and side zip access to floating, padded sleeve that fits laptops up to 15” and document/tablet sleeve pocket
- Two interior mesh pockets
- Full-length plastic frame sheet
- Removable web waist belt
- Compression straps
- MOLLE on exterior
- MSRP: $219.00
Final Thoughts
My wife and I enjoy going on day hikes in the PNW. As we have hiked around the area, I have not found a daypack that was satisfactory for my needs.
Recently, I took the 2 Day Assault Pack on a day hike and was pleased with how it performed. It had enough space to pack what we needed for the hike. And other backup equipment in case our trek took us longer than expected.
Additionally, the 2 Day works well as a get-home bag to store in a vehicle in the case of an emergency. For my purposes, the 2 Day will serve me well for day hikes that my wife and I will complete in the future.
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