Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 Review

The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 is a 45 L travel pack that can fit enough gear for weekend trips. While designed to meet airline carry on requirements, the bag is large, and you’ll want to double-check the requirements of the carrier you’re using. However, whether you are flying, taking a road trip, or traveling by train, this bag can adapt to your needs with multiple carry options. You can wear it as a backpack, carry it over your shoulder, or use it as a duffle thanks to grab handles on all sides. There is even a luggage pass-through for securing it over the handle of roller luggage.

This latest addition to the Mission Rover line introduces several notable improvements. Mystery Ranch used recycled materials, added lockable zipper pulls for enhanced security, and refined the harness suspension system. As part of its travel collection, the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 is an ideal spot in its three-size lineup.

Mystery Ranch is well known and has plenty of experience crafting gear for military personnel and firefighters, as well as consumer products. Its gear prioritizes durability and functionality. While the brand has expanded beyond its tactical roots to serve outdoor enthusiasts and everyday carry needs, it maintains military-grade construction standards across all product lines.

External Components

The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 is made from recycled 840D ballistic carbonate-coated nylon, providing excellent weather resistance and durability. The material has a subtle, grippy texture reminiscent of leather, though it does show scuffs and scratches somewhat easily. Large, high-quality YKK zippers are used throughout, with large metal pulls and nylon pull tabs that are super easy to use. A particularly nice touch for travelers is integrating locks into all the external zippers, which helps provide additional security when in transit.

The pack features a minimalist design with subtle branding. There is just the Mystery Ranch logo in accented orange on the front. While there are no attachment points beyond the grab handles, the bag offers excellent maneuverability thanks to their strategic placement. This includes a grab handle on the top, bottom, and one side, with an additional pair positioned on either side of the zipper on the opposite side or the top, depending on how the bag is oriented. The grab handle’s construction is fairly straightforward, with nylon wrapped around a stiff internal core. While this provides structure, it is worth noting that there is no additional padding in the handles.

The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 offers multiple carrying options to suit different situations. While the bag features convenient grab handles for use as a suitcase or duffle, they aren’t the most comfortable for extended carry. As a backpack, its harness system includes densely padded shoulder straps with a rolled design that prevents chafing. The air mesh construction adds a nice degree of breathability, and the overall comfort of the shoulder straps is quite nice for a travel pack of this size.

You can conveniently stow the shoulder straps in a zippered compartment when not in use. This compartment shares space with the hip belt storage area, meaning it’s not fully enclosed or sealed. It’s just something to keep in mind, as loose items could potentially fall out through the sides. The shoulder straps secure at the bottom via plastic buckles, which have their own storage slots when not in use, providing a streamlined aesthetic and hideaway system. The shoulder straps include dedicated load lifters with a clever carabiner attachment system at the top. While these load lifters are optional, we found it is best to keep them attached even when not actively using them, as the loose straps can otherwise get in the way during travel.

There is also a removable sternum strap that attaches to dedicated attachment points built into the shoulder straps. Using a pseudo-rail-like system, the sternum strap can connect to three sections, with some adjustability to slide up or down within each. While the attachment mechanism feels solid and secure during use, it does take some effort to attach or remove the strap altogether. However, we appreciate the option to fully remove it when we don’t need it.

The pack includes a stowaway hip belt that offers substantial padding and uses the same breathable mesh lining as the shoulder straps. A large plastic buckle in the center secures the belt, and the length adjustment on each side operates pretty smoothly. The hip belt proves helpful for load distribution when carrying heavier loads.

The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 can also be carried using the included crossbody strap attached to connection points on the side. They feature a freely rotating hinge mechanism that allows for quick and easy attachment or detachment. While convenient as an alternative carrying option when you want to give your back a break, the basic nylon crossbody strap lacks any kind of padding or sleeve, which is essential to support the weight of a bag of this size. Without it, the strap starts to dig into your shoulder when carrying the bag with heavy gear. While the shoulder carry mode can be a convenient option and a welcome addition to the bag’s versatility, it is more suited towards a secondary carrying option rather than the primary way of transporting the pack.

Lastly, a dedicated luggage pass-through sleeve allows it to be secured on roller luggage. While this works well with larger roller bags, the pack’s wide design can make it somewhat unwieldy when placed on smaller suitcases. The back panel, while functional, lacks any kind of ventilation or breathability, which could become uncomfortable in warmer climates when worn as a backpack for an extended time.

Fit Notes

{Male/Female Fit Photo}

The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45’s harness system has a few notable characteristics. The shoulder straps attach slightly lower on the pack, which creates extra space above when worn as a backpack. This can feel somewhat unbalanced for some users. Additionally, the back panel’s lack of ventilation or breathability may become noticeable during extended wear in warmer conditions. The integrated harness system presents an important and interesting trade-off. While the non-removable shoulder straps and hip belt ensure they are always available when needed, they do contribute to the overall weight and bulk of the pack, especially when not in use.

Inside The Pack

On the front of the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover, 45 is an admin compartment with a spacious tech organization panel and a laptop sleeve. The sleeve includes a hook-and-loop fastener and a rigid structure for additional protection. While officially rated to fit up to 15-inch laptops, we found it technically fit a 16-inch MacBook Pro, although this felt slightly snug for regular use. Two elastic slip pockets in front of the laptop sleeve provide storage for accessories like battery banks, hard drives, and cables.

The compartment’s horseshoe-style opening allows the front panel to fold completely back, revealing additional organization in the lid. This includes horizontal and vertical mesh zippered pockets for visible storage, plus a top pocket with a built-in key leash. The key leash is made with a plastic carabiner and nylon strap, so it lacks stretch and generally requires the complete removal of the keys to use them. There is also additional room to store loose items like notebooks or battery banks in this compartment, but that’s highly dependent on the items since this space is limited.

On the bottom (or side, depending on how the pack is oriented) is a dual-zippered compartment designed for shoes or laundry storage. This compartment shares space with part of the main section but offers impressive capacity. Unlike typical shoe compartments that typically only fit a compact pair of shoes, this one can potentially fit larger items, like boots or heels, or two pairs of smaller shoes. While the compartment lacks any kind of ventilation, it works equally well as storage for dirty laundry, which can be loose or contained within packing cubes.

The main compartment has a large horseshoe zipper that provides a convenient clamshell-style opening. The symmetrical design of both sides makes it equally suitable for storing loose clothing or packing cubes. The smooth zippers and intuitive layout allow for easy access and efficient packing, regardless of whether you prefer to organize your gear with packing cubes or pack items loosely.

Inside the main compartment are two symmetrical mono-mesh divided pockets that provide additional organization options. These pockets have durable nylon mesh dividers that offer both separation and visibility while maintaining breathability. They are particularly useful for storing smaller items or gear that might not fit neatly into packing cubes. The pockets remain accessible when needed but do not interfere with the main compartment’s functionality when not in use. We’ve found the space between these divided sections can also serve as a convenient, quick-access storage area, perfect for items like a light jacket that you might need to grab while on the go.

The Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 successfully balances versatility with thoughtful design. Its multiple carry options, durable construction, and organization make it an excellent choice for those who value flexibility. While there are minor drawbacks — like the lack of ventilation on the back panel — this pack excels as a reliable and adaptable travel bag that provides plenty of organization and capacity. The lockable zippers, multiple grab handles, and a nicely sized shoe compartment provide thoughtful features that can be utilized depending on the user’s needs.