Mystery Ranch Sawtooth review: the 45 and the 65 on the MYSTERIUM frame
Our verdict: 4.2/5. The Mystery Ranch Sawtooth is a framed hunting pack for carrying light gear in and meat out, and the Sawtooth 45 is the one most hunters should start with: Mystery Ranch calls it a day-hunt pack that is roomy enough for a fast and light overnighter. The Sawtooth 65 shares its frame, fabrics and feature list in a larger bag for the 2-3 day or light week-long hunt. Both are the current MYSTERIUM versions that Mystery Ranch launched for 2025. Mystery Ranch lists the 45 at 2625 cu in (43 L) and 5.1 lb, and the 65 at 3845 cu in (63 L) and 5.4 lb, so the 65 holds about 46% more for 0.3 lb more (our arithmetic). Both use the patented OVERLOAD feature for packing out meat. The trade-offs: Outdoor Life's tester, on a women's Sawtooth 45, found the frame squeaks and called it heavy for a daypack, neither product page gives a load rating in pounds, and the OpticsPlanet record is a single review. For a roll-top pack built for longer hunts, see our Mystery Ranch Metcalf review.
OpticsPlanet shoppers rate the Sawtooth 45 listing 5.0/5 from 1 review; the Sawtooth 65 listing has no reviews yet. The Sawtooth 45 row we price (Ponderosa, Small) sells for around $550, and the Sawtooth 65 row (Ponderosa, Small) for around $600. On both listings the OPTIFADE Subalpine colorway costs more than Ponderosa. Check price and availability on OpticsPlanet.
How we reviewed it: a research-based review built from Mystery Ranch's current Sawtooth 45 and Sawtooth 65 product pages (description, features, materials, part numbers and specs), its fitting and sizing page and FAQ, Mystery Ranch's archived page for the previous Sawtooth 45, Outdoor Life's January 2025 test of a pre-release women's Sawtooth 45, and the two OpticsPlanet listings with the one review they hold between them. We have not carried this pack ourselves. Where a point rests on one person or one tester we say so, and claims we could not confirm on a primary source are left out. See how we evaluate.
Which Sawtooth this is: the MYSTERIUM version
There are two generations of the Sawtooth 45, and it matters which one you are reading about. Mystery Ranch's director of product told Outdoor Life in January 2025 that the company was "launching the four Mysterium packs for 2025", and the Sawtooth 45 and Sawtooth 65 are two of those four. Mystery Ranch's current pages list both on the MYSTERIUM Frame, as part numbers 113183 (Sawtooth 45 Men's) and 113184 (Sawtooth 65 Men's). The previous Sawtooth 45, part number 110889, was built on the Guide Light MT frame, according to Mystery Ranch's own archived product page from 2024.
Mystery Ranch describes the new frame as continuing "the load-carriage tradition" of its GUIDE LIGHT FRAME, "but with a few discrete changes", using custom-developed SJ Autolock buckles and a 500D Light Plus frame fabric. Outdoor Life adds that the new frame has "carbon-fiber vertical stays and a horizontal flat bar", a detail Mystery Ranch's Sawtooth 45 and 65 product pages do not spell out, and that the series was designed in Bozeman, Montana, and manufactured overseas.
The OpticsPlanet rows we price carry the current part numbers: the Sawtooth 45 row code ends in 11318334120, which matches Mystery Ranch's part 113183-341-20, "SAWTOOTH 45 Men's-Ponderosa-S". Much of the text on that listing, however, matches the previous Sawtooth 45: its feature list, fabric name and cubic-inch volume figure are the ones on Mystery Ranch's archived 2024 page for that pack, and its description names the Guide Light MT frame. The Sawtooth 65 listing's spec block gives a weight and volume that differ from Mystery Ranch's. Where the retailer and the maker disagree, this page uses Mystery Ranch's current figures, and we suggest you do the same.
Sawtooth 45: the day-hunt pack
Mystery Ranch calls the Sawtooth 45 "the perfect day-hunt pack for the backcountry hunter who carries light essentials in and hauls heavy meat out", suited to dawn to dusk hunts and "roomy enough for a fast and light overnighter". Its spec block lists 5.1 lb (2.3 kg), 2625 cu-ins (43 L) and 26.75" x 14" x 13.75". The "45" is the model name; Mystery Ranch's own volume figure is 43 liters. Its product page does not say which size the weight and dimensions are measured on.
Mystery Ranch's feature list for the 45 reads: breathable harnessing, attachable compression straps, internal mesh pockets, hydration reservoir compatible, an adjustable yoke for custom fit, a girth hitch and loop web for attaching a daypack lid, front pockets for more organization, and dual autolock compression straps on the frame for securing meat. Access to the main bag is through a 270° wrap-around zipper. The materials list names 330 HT CORDURA 5PM, 330D Robic Kodra Ripstop, YKK zippers and SJ Autolocks.
What the one OpticsPlanet review says
The Sawtooth 45 listing has exactly one review: five stars from a reviewer with OpticsPlanet's Verified Owner tag, who recommends the pack. About the pack itself, they write two sentences: that it is "awesome as described on the website", and:
“Very light and very comfortable to wear.”
Rob N. (CA), verified owner, Sawtooth 45 listing, via OpticsPlanet
The rest of that review is about the box arriving torn open in transit, not about the pack. One review is one person's experience, so it carries little weight on its own; the Sawtooth 65 listing has no reviews yet.
What Outdoor Life found
The independent hands-on report this review relies on is Outdoor Life's review by Alice Jones Webb (January 15, 2025). Two limits first: the tester got a "sneak peek" before the official release and received a women's XS/S Sawtooth 45, not the men's pack we price, and they did not have time to take it on a backcountry hunt. They loaded it with hunting essentials and a 5-pound plate, to 25.2 pounds in all, and wore it on a 5-mile hike, then ran durability and garden-hose tests.
- Weight: their women's XS/S pack weighed 5.2 pounds on a bathroom scale, against the advertised 5.1, and they called the Sawtooth 45 "heavy for a daypack."
- Carry: they found it comfortable and well-balanced enough that they barely noticed the extra weight, and say its five-piece segmented padded waist belt kept the load from slipping over their hips.
- Durability and weather: fabric, buckles and zippers held up to their testing (which they say was not what a full season of rough hunting would bring), and after the hose test the fabric kept their gear dry inside.
- Noise: "The frame squeaks near the shoulders and at the hip." They found it irritating on the trail and wrote it could be a deal breaker on a hunt.
Their summary: the packs are "sturdy, well-balanced, and super comfortable", aside from the squeaky frame. Outdoor Life also writes that a squeaky frame is a common complaint from hunters with other Mystery Ranch models and that many users said it eased as the pack wore in; the tester had not carried the Sawtooth far enough to say whether theirs would.
Sawtooth 65: the multi-day version
Mystery Ranch calls the Sawtooth 65 "the ideal pack for the multi-day backcountry hunter who carries light essentials in and hauls heavy meat out" and a "versatile workhorse perfectly suited for the 2-3 day or light week-long hunt". Its spec block lists 5.4 lb (2.5 kg), 3845 cu-ins (63 L) and 28.75" x 14.75" x 14.75", again without naming the size measured. Against the 45 that is about 46% more volume for 0.3 lb more weight, by our arithmetic from Mystery Ranch's figures.
Mystery Ranch's feature list, materials list, frame, access zipper and OVERLOAD wording for the 65 are word for word the same as for the 45. On its product pages the published differences are volume, dimensions, weight and the use each pack is pitched at. The evidence for the 65 is thinner still: no reviews yet on its OpticsPlanet listing, and the hands-on test this review draws on covers the 45, not the 65. What this page says about the 65 rests on Mystery Ranch's own pages.
Sawtooth 45 or Sawtooth 65?
Pick by trip length. Mystery Ranch pitches the 45 at day hunts with room for a fast overnighter and the 65 at 2-3 day or light week-long hunts, and both share the frame, fabrics and feature list. In our view the 45 is the default choice for a hunter who sleeps at home or at the truck most nights; the 65 earns its larger bag and higher price if you regularly spend nights out.
Key specifications
| Spec (Mystery Ranch) | Sawtooth 45 Men's | Sawtooth 65 Men's |
|---|---|---|
| Mystery Ranch part number | 113183 (Sawtooth 45 Men's) | 113184 (Sawtooth 65 Men's) |
| Volume | 2625 cu-ins, 43 L | 3845 cu-ins, 63 L |
| Weight | 5.1 lb, 2.3 kg | 5.4 lb, 2.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 26.75" x 14" x 13.75" (68 x 36 x 35 cm) | 28.75" x 14.75" x 14.75" (73 x 37 x 37 cm) |
| Frame system | MYSTERIUM Frame | MYSTERIUM Frame |
| Harnessing style | Framed | Framed |
| Main access | 270° wrap-around zipper | 270° wrap-around zipper |
| Meat hauling | Patented OVERLOAD feature, quick-attach frame capture | Patented OVERLOAD feature, quick-attach frame capture |
| Materials | 330 HT CORDURA 5PM, 330D Robic Kodra Ripstop, YKK zippers, SJ Autolocks; 500D Light Plus on the frame | 330 HT CORDURA 5PM, 330D Robic Kodra Ripstop, YKK zippers, SJ Autolocks; 500D Light Plus on the frame |
| Colors (Mystery Ranch) | Gneiss, OPTIFADE Subalpine, Ponderosa | Gneiss, OPTIFADE Subalpine, Ponderosa |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL | S, M, L, XL |
| Mystery Ranch's use case | Dawn to dusk hunts, roomy enough for a fast and light overnighter | The 2-3 day or light week-long hunt |
| Row we price | Ponderosa, Small (MPN 11318334120) | Ponderosa, Small (MPN 11318434120) |
| OpticsPlanet rating | 5.0/5, 1 review | No reviews yet |
| Price, Ponderosa Small row | around $550 | around $600 |
Specifications are Mystery Ranch's, from its two current product pages; the rows, ratings and prices are the retailer's. Weights and dimensions are the figures Mystery Ranch lists without naming a size. The two OpticsPlanet listings offer Ponderosa and OPTIFADE Subalpine rows; OPTIFADE Subalpine costs more on both, so confirm the color and size in your cart. Mystery Ranch also sells women's Sawtooth models, which this page does not cover.
Hauling meat: the OVERLOAD feature
Both sizes are sold to pack out a harvest. Mystery Ranch's description says you can "pack out your harvest with easy access to the patented OVERLOAD® feature with quick-attach frame capture", and its feature list adds dual autolock compression straps on the frame for securing meat. The product pages do not describe the steps. Outdoor Life does: you unsnap a few straps, pop the pack loose from the frame and expand the shelf, secure a hide, head or game bag with the auto-lock compression straps, then reattach the pack up and over the load. Once the meat is home, our LEM MaxVac Pro review covers a chamber vacuum sealer for packing it in home batches.
How much weight is too much? Neither Sawtooth product page gives a load rating in pounds; the spec blocks list only weight, volume, dimensions, frame system and harnessing style. The heaviest load we can report is Outdoor Life's 25.2 pounds on a 5-mile hike with the women's 45, which is one tester's day, not a rating.
Fit and sizing
Both listings come in S, M, L and XL. Mystery Ranch's fitting page says to measure your waist "just above the top of your hip bones" and to have a friend measure your torso from the bony bump at the base of your neck (the C7 vertebra) to the spot on your spine just behind your belly button. Its general Men's/Unisex chart, which is not labelled for the Sawtooth, reads:
| Size | Torso | Waist |
|---|---|---|
| S | 15 to 20 in | 26 to 32 in |
| M | 15 to 20 in | 31 to 36 in |
| L | 17 to 24 in | 35 to 40 in |
| XL | 17 to 24 in | 39+ in |
Three points from Mystery Ranch's fitting FAQ: it recommends sizing down if you are between sizes; the chart ranges are not the minimum or maximum adjustment, so there is a little room for extra layers; and the volume of the bag does not change between sizes, because only the yoke and the waist belt change. The Sawtooth feature list includes an adjustable yoke for custom fit, and Mystery Ranch's general FAQ says to call its customer service if you need a different size yoke or waist belt.
Warranty
Mystery Ranch's FAQ says its warranty "guarantees everything we build against defects in materials and craftsmanship for the practical lifetime of the product", with repair or replacement for issues with materials or craftsmanship. Damage from normal wear and tear or misuse can be repaired for a reasonable charge, and Mystery Ranch warns that modifying your pack "may void the lifetime warranty".
Trade-offs, plainly
- A frame that squeaked in the one independent test (Outdoor Life, pre-release women's XS/S Sawtooth 45). One tester and one pack is not a pattern.
- Heavy for a daypack, in Outdoor Life's words: the 45 is listed at 5.1 lb, and the tester found it heftier than some comparable daypacks.
- No load rating in pounds on either product page.
- A very thin record: one OpticsPlanet review for the 45, none for the 65, and no hands-on test of the 65 among the sources this review uses.
- Confusing retailer text: much of the Sawtooth 45 listing's text matches Mystery Ranch's archived page for the previous version, and the figures on both listings do not match Mystery Ranch's current ones.
- A premium-priced pack, and the OPTIFADE Subalpine colorway costs more than Ponderosa on both listings.
Should you buy it, and what else to consider
- Buy the Sawtooth 45 if you want a framed day-hunt pack that can carry meat out and stretch to a fast overnighter.
- Buy the Sawtooth 65 if your hunts run two or three nights and you want the same design with more room.
- Skip both if a quiet frame is critical and you cannot test one first, if you need a published load rating, or if you want the lightest possible daypack and do not need a frame.
What else to consider for the same hunt:
- A bigger pack for longer hunts: our Mystery Ranch Metcalf review covers a framed, roll-top pack in 75 and 100 liter sizes for multi-day hunts and for carrying meat out.
- A pack for everyday carry instead: if you want a pack for the commute and the range rather than a hunting pack, see our best tactical backpack guide.
- Boots for the pack-out: our Kenetrek Mountain Extreme review covers a boot built for steep ground and heavy packs.
- Carrying a binocular with a pack: our best binocular harness guide covers chest packs and harnesses.
FAQ
Is the Mystery Ranch Sawtooth worth it?
For a hunter who wants a framed pack that carries light gear in and meat out, it is a strong candidate. Mystery Ranch builds the current Sawtooth on its MYSTERIUM frame with a 270° wrap-around zipper and its patented OVERLOAD feature, and backs it with a practical-lifetime warranty against defects. The evidence is thin, though: one OpticsPlanet review, no reviews yet on the 65 listing, and the one independent hands-on test this review relies on, by Outdoor Life on a women's Sawtooth 45, found the frame squeaks.
Should I buy the Sawtooth 45 or the Sawtooth 65?
Buy the Sawtooth 45 for day hunts; Mystery Ranch calls it a day-hunt pack for dawn to dusk hunts that is roomy enough for a fast and light overnighter (2625 cu in, 5.1 lb). Buy the Sawtooth 65 for hunts of a few nights; Mystery Ranch pitches it at the 2-3 day or light week-long hunt (3845 cu in, 5.4 lb). By our arithmetic the 65 holds about 46% more for 0.3 lb more, and it costs more.
How much does the Mystery Ranch Sawtooth weigh?
Mystery Ranch lists the Sawtooth 45 at 5.1 lb (2.3 kg) and the Sawtooth 65 at 5.4 lb (2.5 kg), without saying which size those weights are measured on. The OpticsPlanet listings print different weights, and much of the 45 listing's text matches Mystery Ranch's archived page for the previous Sawtooth 45, so we use Mystery Ranch's current figures.
Does the Sawtooth still use the Guide Light MT frame?
No. Mystery Ranch's current Sawtooth 45 and 65 pages list the MYSTERIUM Frame. The previous Sawtooth 45 was built on the Guide Light MT frame, per Mystery Ranch's own archived product page. Mystery Ranch says the MYSTERIUM frame continues the load-carriage tradition of its GUIDE LIGHT FRAME "with a few discrete changes". The patented OVERLOAD feature carries over to both current sizes.
Does the Mystery Ranch Sawtooth squeak?
Outdoor Life's tester found that it did: on a pre-release women's XS/S Sawtooth 45, the frame squeaked near the shoulders and at the hip on a 5-mile hike, and they wrote it could be a deal breaker on a hunt. That is one tester and one pack. The one OpticsPlanet review does not mention noise. If silence matters for your hunting, load the pack and walk in it before the season.
What size Sawtooth do I need?
Both listings come in S, M, L and XL. Mystery Ranch's general Men's/Unisex chart, which is not labelled for the Sawtooth, gives a 15 to 20 inch torso for S and M and 17 to 24 inches for L and XL, with waist ranges of 26 to 32 (S), 31 to 36 (M), 35 to 40 (L) and 39+ inches (XL). Mystery Ranch recommends sizing down if you are between sizes; only the yoke and waist belt change with size.
More gear for the hunt: Mystery Ranch Metcalf review · Kenetrek Mountain Extreme review · best binoculars for hunting · best binocular harness.