snappypepper
Trail Wise!
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Posts: 208 
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Post by snappypepper on Apr 18, 2016 5:33:39 GMT -8
I bought one for my SO about 2 years ago, as he had one way back in the day and was always talking about it wistfully. Unfortunately, it was not comfortable and no amount of adjusting could make it work. He sold it on Ebay and got an Osprey Atmos 65 that rides like a dream in comparison. It's not as bombproof, but he feels like he'd rather replace it every few years than be miserable every single trip. You can check out the review he wrote on the new terraplane here |
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 18, 2016 7:47:27 GMT -8
I bought one for my SO about 2 years ago, as he had one way back in the day and was always talking about it wistfully. Unfortunately, it was not comfortable and no amount of adjusting could make it work. He sold it on Ebay and got an Osprey Atmos 65 that rides like a dream in comparison. It's not as bombproof, but he feels like he'd rather replace it every few years than be miserable every single trip. You can check out the review he wrote on the new terraplane hereI would be impressed if the Osprey Atmos 65 rode like a dream with 80 or even 60 lbs in it. Please update us on this. Your MR Terraplane is almost identical to my MR G5000----same weight empty, same cubic inches etc.  Here's my G5000 in the Big Frog wilderness of TN. Looks very close to the new Terraplane. To address your problems with the pack, I would first off make sure the hipbelt is small enough to tightly hug your hips and gut. The front buckle needs to be right in front of your belly button, which means the weight of the belt is just above your hip bones. I went with the Small hipbelt version. Second, you will get a better more comfy fit if you always loosen your load lifter straps before putting on the pack, and then tighten the shoulders straps and hipbelt AND THEN at the end tighten the load lifter straps. If you always leave the lifter straps tight or unadjusted the hipbelt will ride lower causing more pain. I have used all G model series packs with weights up to 100 lbs and never had any problems, and my next trip will be with a 90 lb G7000 pack on a long 25 day trip. |
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snappypepper
Trail Wise!
www.alltheadventures.com
Posts: 208
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Post by snappypepper on Apr 18, 2016 10:13:59 GMT -8
I bought one for my SO about 2 years ago, as he had one way back in the day and was always talking about it wistfully. Unfortunately, it was not comfortable and no amount of adjusting could make it work. He sold it on Ebay and got an Osprey Atmos 65 that rides like a dream in comparison. It's not as bombproof, but he feels like he'd rather replace it every few years than be miserable every single trip. You can check out the review he wrote on the new terraplane hereI would be impressed if the Osprey Atmos 65 rode like a dream with 80 or even 60 lbs in it. Please update us on this. Your MR Terraplane is almost identical to my MR G5000----same weight empty, same cubic inches etc. Here's my G5000 in the Big Frog wilderness of TN. Looks very close to the new Terraplane. To address your problems with the pack, I would first off make sure the hipbelt is small enough to tightly hug your hips and gut. The front buckle needs to be right in front of your belly button, which means the weight of the belt is just above your hip bones. I went with the Small hipbelt version. Second, you will get a better more comfy fit if you always loosen your load lifter straps before putting on the pack, and then tighten the shoulders straps and hipbelt AND THEN at the end tighten the load lifter straps. If you always leave the lifter straps tight or unadjusted the hipbelt will ride lower causing more pain. I have used all G model series packs with weights up to 100 lbs and never had any problems, and my next trip will be with a 90 lb G7000 pack on a long 25 day trip. My SO was carrying only around 50-55lbs in his Terraplane. Since switching to the Atmos, he has upgraded his sleeping bag to a lighter version and the lower weight of the pack along with the lighter bag has brought his total weight to around 48lbs (less than that generally, but that's including a bear barrel and more fuel and water than we usually need). He called Mystery Ranch to address the issues, they had him send pics of him wearing it, went over his measurements and how he was wearing it and they basically told him "with a load of 50lbs, you can't expect it to be comfortable". Kind of a shitty answer considering the pack is big enough and strong enough to carry far more weight, the suspension just can't keep up in a way that makes long trips bearable. It was disappointing that it didn't work for him, because they are durable and built to haul a lot, but in the end overall comfort won over the ability to fill a pack with more stuff. |
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 18, 2016 12:24:49 GMT -8
Your post sort of reflects my loss of respect for Mystery Ranch in some ways. I sent my G6000 in for minor repairs and they sent it back missing the hipbelt, MY hipbelt. They had to find it and ship it out. In the meantime I used my G5000. Then they discontinued all of the G series models, bummer.
And in no way should they have said that "with a load of 50lbs you can't expect it to be comfortable." This is just a flat out cop out. Like they don't won't to deal with you. Remember, these packs are designed for 80 lb loads, period. 50 lbs is nothing. An Army ALICE could carry that no problemo (uh, a few comfort issues ha ha).
I'm not so sure MR is invested in the backpacking crowd per se as their website and their facebook pages are full of hunter pics with dead animals, antlers and the heads of animals attached to their packs. This does in no way serve me or my interests since I've been a vegetarian for 43 years.
Maybe I need to rethink a big pack load hauler and go with a different brand, but I probably never will as I have all three of the G series packs and an older Dana Terraplane LTW and I'll be dead before these packs wear out.
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snappypepper
Trail Wise!
www.alltheadventures.com
Posts: 208
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Post by snappypepper on Apr 18, 2016 16:54:03 GMT -8
Your post sort of reflects my loss of respect for Mystery Ranch in some ways. I sent my G6000 in for minor repairs and they sent it back missing the hipbelt, MY hipbelt. They had to find it and ship it out. In the meantime I used my G5000. Then they discontinued all of the G series models, bummer. And in no way should they have said that "with a load of 50lbs you can't expect it to be comfortable." This is just a flat out cop out. Like they don't won't to deal with you. Remember, these packs are designed for 80 lb loads, period. 50 lbs is nothing. An Army ALICE could carry that no problemo (uh, a few comfort issues ha ha). I'm not so sure MR is invested in the backpacking crowd per se as their website and their facebook pages are full of hunter pics with dead animals, antlers and the heads of animals attached to their packs. This does in no way serve me or my interests since I've been a vegetarian for 43 years. Maybe I need to rethink a big pack load hauler and go with a different brand, but I probably never will as I have all three of the G series packs and an older Dana Terraplane LTW and I'll be dead before these packs wear out. Yes, as a long time MR/Dana Design fan, my SO was pretty put off by the lack of customer service. You summed it up, the pack should carry 50, even 60lbs with minimal discomfort, and it just doesn't. The fact that they have ZERO return policy doesn't help. It was a tough decision to get rid of the pack due to brand loyalty and the fact it was a gift from me, but I just wanted him to get something that would make hiking enjoyable and not miserable. As a long time military veteran, he's used to being miserable, so it wasn't an issue of it being minor, it was quite literally ruining every trip for him. Also, I think you are spot on about their target market. I don't think those guys are as concerned with comfort as they are with getting their kills carried out in an organized fashion. Not something we ever have to worry about in our lifestyle. |
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 18, 2016 17:06:16 GMT -8
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Post by bradmacmt on Apr 20, 2016 5:42:35 GMT -8
Unfortunately, it's a Terraplane in name only. What made DD packs so special was its suspension system. The current Mystery Ranch is, IMO, nowhere near the suspension of the old Dana's. It's a "fits-all" approach, and carries as such by comparison. Too bad, though I know why they went that route. It was/is cost prohibitive to offer so many pack sizes, and about impossible to train sales staff scattered all over the USA to fit the adjustable packs well. Hence, the new frame/suspension design.
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 20, 2016 10:55:47 GMT -8
I disagree 100% at least when it comes to the older MR G series packs like the G6000 etc. My MR guide yoke frame and hipbelt (or whatever it's called) is substantially beefier than the old Arcflex Dana Design frame used with the Terraplane/Astralplane. I know this fact intimately because I have hauled real-world weight with both packs---in the 90 lb range. No comparison. Why? Because the suspension system of the old Danas tended to sag at anything over 70 lbs, whereas the MR G series packs do not sag with 85+ lbs. What is sagging? It's the bane of most big load hauling packs which tend to fail at any weight above 75 lbs. Keltys have a real tendency to sag with heavy weight. I had a Kelty Tioga and it chewed up my hips and wanted to sink to my butt cheeks. Not good.  Here I am loaded up for a long trip with my Dana Terraplane. One of dozens of such trips with this behemoth fully loaded. Ouch. But a very nice pack really. In fact I used it recently for an 18 day April trip in 2015 as shown here---  Then I went the MR route and never looked back.  Here's the MR G-6000 with some expedition weight. Final diagnosis? G series handles weight better than Dana Designs. Next time you have both packs handy, turn them over and lay them down and compare hipbelt beefiness and shoulder strap configurations. You will notice the stronger harness system of the older MR packs as compared to the Dana. Btw, when you say "the new frame/suspension design" are you talking about the usual MR guide frame or the newer "mountain" frame?? I have no experience with the newer mountain frame (on both the Terraplane and the T-100), although from looking at the pics the mountain hipbelt looks almost identical to my guide hipbelt---except the webbing is much smaller width-wise which is not good. And the plastic hip buckle is indeed smaller. But you could be right, I judged your comment only in regards to the older G series MR packs and not the newer MR packs. Heck, maybe MR has sold out!!! And you're right all along!! |
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 20, 2016 11:21:39 GMT -8
Here's a comparison---  My G7000 MR pack on left with the guide frame and beefy hipbelt. Notice the bigger stronger buckle and wider webbing of belt---ample for 85 lb loads. It seems the first MR Terraplanes had the Guide frame and Futura yokes, like with the G series. The updated Terraplanes use the Mountain frame which seems less stout. See below pic with smaller hipbelt material. So you just may be right and I learned something new (and more depressing) about MR.  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2016 0:53:48 GMT -8
When you land you might look for a shoe repair or leather shop which has the type of sewing machine that can handle the heavy fabric. Years ago I had strap on my day pull loose - too much weigh or a too long a period. For €5 a shoe repair guy sowed it back together and it still works today. Even if it is a rip, they can put some reinforcing fabric behind the tear and sow it back together.
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Post by gcsaylor on Apr 22, 2016 1:54:42 GMT -8
Sail maker can do the same.
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 22, 2016 7:14:42 GMT -8
When you land you might look for a shoe repair or leather shop which has the type of sewing machine that can handle the heavy fabric. Years ago I had strap on my day pull loose - too much weigh or a too long a period. For 5E a shoe repair guy sowed it back together and it still works today. Even if it is a rip, they can put some reinforcing fabric behind the tear and sow it back together. And this post is in reference to what?  Who are you speaking to? |
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Post by kumachan on Aug 10, 2016 19:51:01 GMT -8
Now that I'm packing my 5 year old's gear with my own, my old Astralplane is back on the trail!
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Post by UpperPeninsula on Aug 12, 2016 4:32:21 GMT -8
I'm getting back into backpacking after many years away. For a few months I've been preparing to retire my 30-year-old North Face. A week ago I read this thread and thought, never heard of Dana Designs.... The next day I was in an outdoor-gear store and went to their used equipment section. Thrown in the corner was a black packback. I pick it up. Dana Designs Astraplane. I look in one of the pockets and found the original price tag: $489, which was marked down to $379. But the "used" price tag said it for sale for $100. I grabbed it. I then found out it was being sold on commission and was from a guy who never used it because it was too big. Brand spanking new. HUGE backpack. Exactly what I was looking for.
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Who are you speaking to?
