Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 32L Review: The Ultimate Travel and EDC Companion

Ryan Humphries

Color: Foliage
Size: S/M
MSRP: $269
Dimensions: 21” x 14” x 9”
Weight: 3.8 lbs
Capacity: 32 Liters

Overview

The Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 32L is a hoss. In classic Mystery Ranch style, it blends a tactical design with everyday functionality. As the largest in the Rip Ruck lineup, this pack is engineered for those who demand more from their gear — whether it’s for daily commuting, travel, or rugged outdoor adventures.

Key Features

• Spacious Main Compartment: The 32-liter capacity provides ample room for gear, clothing, and essentials, making it ideal for travel and EDC. I’ve stuffed it full of an entire week’s worth of clothing and still managed to put it under the seat in front of me on the plane.

• Dedicated Laptop Sleeve: Accommodates laptops up to 15″, featuring a waterproof seal across the zipper to protect your tech from the elements (Bonus, the laptop sleeve doesn’t touch the bottom so if you drop your pack, your tech is safe).

• Magnetic Rip-Zip Pockets: Three external pockets with magnetic closures offer quick and secure access to frequently used items. You don’t know your life isn’t complete until you have magnetic closures on your pockets.

• Adjustable Harness System: Ensures a comfortable fit, distributing weight evenly across your shoulders and hips. I’ve read conflicting reports from others online, but for me and my frame (5’6, 150lbs the S/M was perfect).

• Webbing and Daisy Chains: Allows for modular attachments and customization to suit your specific needs (You could attach dozens of carabiners to this thing if you wanted to).

Real-World Performance

Having put the Rip Ruck 32L through its paces — from hiking to air travel to heavy workouts — I’ve been consistently impressed by its performance. As a huge fan of pockets, having the ability to both magnetically or zipper close (or both) is a feature that you don’t know you need until you have it. I’ve traveled with the Rip Ruck to the gym, on airplanes, on the range, and in coffee shops. One thing that it has in common in all of those places. People take notice of it because it’s a good looking pack.

The most weight I’ve personally packed was 60lbs. That was via a sandbag at Axistence Athletics. We have a benchmark conditioning workout that we do in the summer called “Rivendell”:

• 500m Kettlebell Carry

• 500m Run

• 500m Row

• 500m Sandbag Carry

• 100 Step-ups

I used the Rip Ruck for both the sandbag carry as well as the step-ups and it worked splendidly (well, as splendidly as a conditioning test can be).

I’ve traveled with it, I’ve camped with it, I’ve used it in my training to climb mountains, and I’ve actually climbed mountains with it.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Robust construction suitable for just about any outdoor activity.

• Thoughtful organization with multiple compartments.

• Quick-access magnetic closures enhance usability.

• Dedicated, waterproof laptop compartment.

• Adjustable harness customized to your specs.

Cons:

• Shoulder straps may lack sufficient padding for heavy loads.

• Side water bottle pockets could benefit from retention features.

• Limited availability due to being an older model.

Final Verdict

The Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 32L excels as a travel and everyday carry backpack, offering durability, organization, and comfort. While it has minor drawbacks, such as less-padded shoulder straps, its overall performance and versatility make it a top choice for anyone seeking a reliable and functional pack.

*I feel like I should also mention the “Ruck” component as it’s in the name 🙂

Personally I took this pack on several 5-10 mile rucks with 40lbs. It should not be confused with something like a Goruck pack which is built specifically for carrying heavy loads. When rucking I used a 20lb weighted blanket and wrapped it around two 10lb metal plates. When using it for shorter distances and in workouts, I put a sandbag in it. While the bottom of this back is solid, I wouldn’t just go tossing in metal dumbbells.

At the end of the day, I know which pack I’m traveling with. I know which pack I’m taking on my weekend camping trip. I know which pack I can load up for a workout. I know which pack is almost always in my car. It’s easy, it’s the same pack, it’s the Rip Ruck.

Ryan Humphries

Growing up in southeast Missouri, Ryan spent most of his days playing in the woods, swimming in creeks, capturing wildlife, and dreaming of adventure. His asthma kept him from playing a lot of sports as a kid, but it didn’t stop him from achieving the ranks of both Eagle Scout and a Black Belt in Taekwondo by the age of 16.