Randy, have you heard if they're keeping production of the hunting line in Bozeman? Kind of feels like they're trying to get all non military/government pack production overseas.
Most people know that MR's primary business is military and firefighting packs. They have outgrown production capacity for those pack lines many times. They have expanded as they can, and each time, the production capacity for hunting packs gets more difficult.
As a result, they are moving the production of hunting packs to the Philippines. This is not a decision they came to without a LOT of research. It has been a few years that they have been working on it, with the biggest issue finding a facility that they can have full ownership of the production. The facility they have worked with will only be making MR packs. They have spent a lot of time and effort to examine many possible production partners, as Dana will take no substitute for quality.
The demand for hunting packs has been very high. Yet, production capacity has not been able to keep up. Many retailers have asked for a high-end hunting pack. To this point MR had to decline. Now, they will be able to provide high-end packs to retailers, making MR more available to the hunting user.
I will be picking up my new Metcalf next week, sporting the new Guide-Light Frame. The first test run will be in Wyoming on a bison hunt later this month. I used the Gen2 Metcalf with a NICE Frame all year, while Tyler, my camera guy, used the new Guide-Light Frame (GLF) prototype and another prototype bag all year. Those who know Tyler and what abuse he puts on equipment, realize he is about as good of a testing ground as you can get. He gave it a big thumbs up.
The GLF is lighter and taller than what you have seen before. It is designed to get stiffer as you add more weight. I am excited to try mine.
I hear all the chatter about the hunting pack production being moved to the Philippines. Personally, I'm not worried about it. I've known Dana for many years, watching him build amazing packs right here in Bozeman; first with Dana Designs (1990s) and now with Mystery Ranch. He has succeeded by making no compromise to quality. That will continue. He is a smart business person and is not going to risk his brand reputation of super high quality by doing something that is below his standards.
Yeah, I share Dana's wish that there was US production capacity to do what is needed at this quality level. Yet, just like the textile, clothing, and boot businesses, almost all of the production capacity and infrastructure is overseas. There just is not the production capacity domestically that can do it to the standards MR requires. I understand that might be a pivot point that drives the decisions of some. Not much can be done about that. I suspect when people get these packs and start using them, the chatter over foreign v.domestic production will go away.
