Mystery Ranch has a long history of working with and making packs for the US military, fire departments, and law enforcement. They also make everything from backpacks for everyday use, to packs for backcountry skiing, and the company has quite a unique culture. So we sat down with product designer, Alex Rich, to discuss what it’s like to design packs for US special forces; how their military designs trickle down to outdoor packs (and vice versa); how their design ethos reflects their sustainability culture; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Starting on the production floor (2:00)
• Durability & designing for the military (5:55)
• Resisting lightweight pack design (8:52)
• Durability & Weight: what’s the future look like? (10:20)
• “Supportive” vs. “Light” (11:50)
• Why designing for hunters is so difficult (13:45)
• Working with Special Ops (14:40)
• Urban Assault Daypacks (24:12)
• Saddle Peak Pack for resort skiing (29:25)
• Durability & Sustainability (40:22)

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