The Sweetpea is Mystery Ranch's very respectable first attempt at a three-zipper pack, but the 2,000 cubic-inch bag still has room for improvement.
I took this pack up Old Rag Mountain in Virginia in early January. The trail, particularly on the boulders near the summit, was covered in snow and ice so it was tough to get a good footing. (I really recommend that you hold off on that hike until you have better conditions).
Despite the poor conditions -- scrambles, crawling on my belly under overhangs, climbing up boulders, squeezing through crevasses and regular slips through the day -- this bag felt like it was a part of my back and it never pulled me any way I didn't want to go.
Fit
It wears very well, even as you work through tough terrain. You'll need a friend to help adjust the size, but with the waist belts I didn't strain my shoulders or back and the pack felt like it was firmly in place. Besides a good fit, it's well-made, and I didn't notice a snag or scratch even after plenty of brushes against rock.
Function
The three-zipper access to the main compartment meant that I could snag food or my camera without having to root through everything I brought along. There aren't any internal pockets, so you can't easily keep items organized, but it was easy enough to open up the Sweetpea and look inside to find what you wanted. The Stick-it Pocket was extremely handy and made it easy to quickly stow my jacket, gloves and hat when I got warm, or retrieve them when it got chilly while eating lunch at the summit. I just had to unfasten two clips, grab my stuff, fasten the clips and head back out. The lid pocket is a little smaller than I'm used to for similar-sized packs, but there's enough space to stow a map, sunscreen, lip balm or other small essentials. It doesn't have them, but hip pockets would be a great addition, as would a pocket that you can use to reach to retrieve a camera or phone without taking the pack off.
In all, the pack is very convenient and it didn't feel like retrieving stuff was a chore getting in the way of the hike.
Besides a day hike, I took Sweetpea on a two-day road trip. There was enough space for my clothes, a light sleeping bag and other odds and ends. Mystery Ranch says the three-zipper system makes it easy to fit awkward items in the pack. My experience fetching a sleeping bag from the bottom of the pack -- without having to make a mess while taking everything else out -- proves that claim.
Cons
That said, Sweetpea's hydration system could use some work. The pack has a hydration sleeve but it only comes halfway up the pack's interior. Also, there isn't any sort of hook to hang the water bladder, leaving the bladder's top half to flop over the top of the hydration sleeve. You could use a carabineer or a rope to fasten the bladder in place, but it's just one more detail to think about. I sidestepped this problem by using a water bladder with a stiff plastic stint, but it was tough to fit a 3-liter bladder into the hydration sleeve, and even then I couldn't fill it all the way up.
Also, the location of the hydration sleeve makes it puncture-prone. The problem is that there's PALS-style webbing right where the bladder goes, which means there's a chance that you could end up with a watery mess if you pack any gear with sharp edges nearby. This leaves you with a dilemma: Do you want a secure water bladder or secure gear?
Pros
That said, the side water bottle pockets are deep and do a good job of keeping bottles in place, and if you don't care about water bladders, this problem is nothing to worry about. There is also a small lid pocket, plus ski slots. Also, some versions have beefier, fluffier waste belts for extra comfort and a snugger fit.
The Sweetpea is a nifty day pack and will work well on a day hike or skiing, if comfort and feel are a priority and you're not fixated on using a water bladder. If Mystery Ranch can figure out a fix to the hydration system storage, then it will be a solid pack all around.
Get it at mysteryranch.com for $225 – $259.
Josh Stewart is a staff writer for Navy Times, avid hiker, and good entertainment on road trips.
