Written by Jessi Cole
DANA GLEASON MAKES WAVES WITH INNOVATIVE DESIGNS
Dana Gleason, the co-founder of MYSTERY RANCH, is a highly respected figure in the outdoor industry, especially in the backpack space. He began his legacy in 1975 by creating backpacks under the name Kletterwerks, which later became Dana Designs and eventually MYSTERY RANCH in 2000. His aim then, as it is now, is to make life easier for the users of his backpacks.
The original shop in Bozeman, Montana, 1975.
One of Gleason's most successful innovations is the 3-zip pack design, originally developed for back-country skiing. This design exemplifies his innovative approach to making life easier for the user. Dana created the grab-and-pull-open zipper to allow for easy access to his ski pack, especially for those with less nimble, gloved hands. This design remains a key feature in many of MYSTERY RANCH’s packs, earning a significant following in Japan among daily commuters.
Another ground-breaking invention is the Overload system, which arose from a poignant image that deeply affected Dana - "It practically made me cry. It's an image of human agony." Upon seeing a soldier in Afghanistan weighed down by 130 pounds of gear, Dana was moved to take action, determined to alleviate the human agony depicted in the image. The soldier's 60-pound mortar plate, positioned at the back of the backpack, created a lever that strained the soldier. To address this issue, Dana promptly developed the Overload system to provide a more comfortable way to carry heavy loads, by strategically placing the heaviest items between the straps and the bulk of the backpack, close to the wearer’s back. This innovative solution is now widely used, not only by the military, but also by hunters packing out elk or other heavy loads in the backcountry.
A back country skier sports one of Dana Gleason's early backpack designs in 1985. The need for easy pack access while back country skiing inspired the infamous 3-zip pack system still in use today.
Dana’s designs and work have been building an unbelievable word-of-mouth reputation, customer loyalty and a “if you know, you know” sense of pride among those who own a MYSTERY RANCH pack or even one of his earlier KletterWerks or Dana Designs packs. The incredible functionality alone sold and marketed his packs; in fact, it wasn't until 2012 that MYSTERY RANCH got into the wholesale market, built a website, and joined social media. The company's commitment to constantly innovating and producing a quality product is what has built its legacy.
Titans and extremists in the outdoor realm have all heard of Dana Gleason’s dedication to ultimate functionality. In 1980, under his short-lived camera bag company, Mojo Systems, he created a camera pack for a photographer going to Everest. In 2023, under the guidance of his son, Dana Gleason III, MYSTERY RANCH once again produced a pack for a cinematographer climbing Everest. These one-off packs were built thirty years apart, but both featured impressive technology of their time. The latest pack incorporated features from MYSTERY RANCH military, hunting, and ski packs to create a perfect hybrid pack to meet the needs of the photographer and cinematographer.
MYSTERY RANCH'S MILITARY AND WILDLAND FIRE USAGE
In the early 2000s, the Navy Seals approached Dana for a custom order of packs based on his innovative approach to outdoor backpacks. Since then, MYSTERY RANCH has built thousands of packs for elite soldiers requiring the best frames, technology, and comfort to keep their loads as secure, stable, and pain-free as possible. Over the past two decades, MYSTERY RANCH has become one of the most trusted pack makers for tip-of-the-spear users, including Hotshots in Wildland Fire teams. This firefighting pack program is now one of MYSTERY RANCH’s strongest programs, developing packs for international Wildland Fire teams in Australia, Europe, and of course, here in America. At MYSTERY RANCH, their mission is to support your mission – be it occupation or recreation. The packs have a job to do, and in many cases, the job is helping to keep a person safe and comfortable so they can perform their best in a very harsh line of duty.
MYSTERY RANCH has been entrusted by the military to create several customized pack systems designed to keep the user safe and efficient. The packs featured here include the innovative 3-zip pack system.
Mystery Ranch's HOTSHOT pack is essentially the only pack used by wildland firefighters; one user called it the "Cadillac" of firefighting backpacks. Their product has now spread internationally as firefighters in Europe and Australia outfit their teams with the MYSTERY RANCH packs.
The MYSTERY RANCH product team, led by Dana's son Dana Gleason III ("D3" as nicknamed by the RANCH team), has an entire research and development department dedicated to constantly improving and innovating pack designs to best serve soldiers and Wildland Fire hotshots.
In the constant research and development of these packs, thoughtful and careful work and design come into play. In certain cases, the reliability of the pack becomes crucial in potentially life or death situations. For example, the hotshots' backpacks have fire shelters attached to the bottom of the packs. It is crucial that the functionality of the release and carry of the fire shelter works correctly.
MYSTERY RANCH and Mossy Oak Partner
The MYSTERY RANCH team noticed an opportunity in the hunting market after hearing numerous stories about military personnel and veterans using their MYSTERY RANCH military packs for hunting. The Overload System, designed to help shoulder the weight of a base plate, worked well for hauling harvested meat in the backcountry. The pack's design and organization also made it suitable for carrying bows, rifles, and gear for hunting whitetail deer, bears, or western game. As a result, MYSTERY RANCH started developing their hunting line.
When MYSTERY RANCH began redesigning and producing their whitetail hunting line, the TREEHOUSE series, they realized the need for a reputable camo pattern. Mossy Oak immediately came to mind for Tim Sakai, the product manager for the hunt and outdoor product lines. Tim, Dana, and their hunting team felt that the two heritage companies were a perfect match. Gleason emphasized, “We don’t do a lot of collaborations, and we won’t put just any product out there. For the whitetail space, Mossy Oak was a really clear choice for a partner for us.”
The MYSTERY RANCH x Mossy Oak collection features a backpack chock full of features, like the ultra quiet fabric that repels stickers and other brush and a tree strap so you have one less thing to carry.
This collaboration between the two brands is not their first. In 2004, MYSTERY RANCH built a covert version of their 6500 N56 packs for the SEALs featuring Mossy Oak’s Break-Up pattern. Around 40 packs were made; if you’ve ever seen one, you could consider yourself lucky.
This first official collaboration, however, is exciting for both brand giants. Like Dana says, the values of the two companies line up. Authenticity is paramount for both. One of Mossy Oak’s first ads says, “Forget what their business card says. Everyone that works here is in research.” And you’d be hard-pressed to find an employee in-office before lunch on opening morning of turkey season.
One of Mossy Oak's early advertisements highlights the authenticity of their employees.
Mystery Ranch strongly believes in authenticity. One of their long-standing traditions is for every new employee, regardless of their title or department, to spend a week or two learning how to sew backpacks. It’s a point of pride and a source of many laughs among employees to compare their experiences on the production floor. Every employee comes away with a profound understanding and appreciation for what goes into the creation of each and every pack.
These two well-established, value-driven brands have created an excellent line of whitetail hunting backpacks suitable for both serious bowhunters and rifle hunters. The packs were designed with great thought and care for functionality. Mossy Oak’s iconic Bottomland pattern firmly establishes the backpacks in the whitetail hunting space.
Shop the MYSTERY RANCH x Mossy Oak TREEHOUSE collection now.
