Where Mystery Ranch Ends and YETI Begins: Ranchero EDC Backpack Review

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Those wise words often conflict with the increasingly consumer-driven, never-satisfied outdoor industry. It’s not inherently nefarious (mostly); outdoor athletes, recreational adventurers, and daily grinders will wear down, nitpick, and expose areas of improvement time and again.

Sometimes, a small change results in massive backlash, while other times, a sweeping change will drastically evolve an entire category. YETI built a reputation on the latter: coolers, mugs, buckets, even dog beds. YETI indelibly stamped its mark by rethinking how these categories could be tougher, more durable, and — if we’re being honest — pricier.

But the Austin-based behemoth treads into more delicate territory with this month’s launch of the Ranchero EDC Backpack (22L and 27L). Function aside, the Ranchero is unmistakably of Mystery Ranch origin — a Montana tactical and outdoor company YETI acquired in 2024 and a brand that enjoys a faithful, well-deserved cult following.

So I needed to know if YETI again reinvented something we all thought was good enough or if it finally pushed too far. How could an iconic pack get better, and what makes it a YETI? I used the Ranchero 27L as my daily carry for work commutes in rain and snow and as my quick-access travel hauler for weekend treks to the cabin.

In short: The Ranchero 27L edges into a new niche for both YETI and typical daily-use packs: minimalist EDC. The Ranchero is not dramatically overbuilt compared to other Mystery Ranch offerings but rather trimmed down on internal organization. It offers just the right amount of pockets and space to carry what you need and some of what you want, but won’t leave you with a bunch of unused features. It’s an uncanny cousin to a retired Mystery Ranch favorite, but some might balk at its decidedly YETI price tag.

Check out GearJunkie’s Guide to the Best Backpacks.

YETI Ranchero 27L Backpack Review

While the Ranchero may say “YETI,” you’d be forgiven for immediately thinking “Mystery Ranch,” thanks to the hallmark, Y-shaped “RipZip” opening its packs are known for. And for those really keen on Mystery Ranch’s lineup, the Ranchero looks nearly identical to the Urban Assault 24 (UA24) — inside and out.

As recently as last year, that pack received very high marks from our sister site, Packhacker. It’s also the current EDC du jour of some GearJunkie editors. But alas, you won’t find it within the Mystery Ranch lineup anymore — seemingly a bummer until YETI announced the Ranchero.

Here’s a look at its key features and construction, with callouts to similarities and differences to the UA24.

Design, Features

Just like the UA24, the RipZip offers two ways to open and access the pack’s main compartment. Two adjoining top zips overlap the single vertical zipper, which works like an eave on a house to prevent rain and precip from entering the pack.

But the longer vertical zipper gives the Ranchero that special Mystery Ranch flavor. It provides an alternative to digging through the top of the pack to get to whatever is on the bottom.

Inside, the main compartment has a single, stretchy mesh pocket that lines about the top third of the compartment’s height. Smaller zippered pockets also grace the external flaps when the bag is fully unzipped and opened. Unlike the UA24, the Ranchero does away with smaller quick-access accessory pockets for wallets, pens, notepads, and the like.

Meanwhile, the lid has a single zippered pocket with a deceptively large volume. This is identical to a lid pocket found on the UA24. The Ranchero 27L also carries over a very similar external device pocket with a single padded sleeve that can fit “most” 15-inch laptops, according to YETI.

Two external water bottle (or stash) pockets line either side of the Ranchero. While these are a similar height to the UA24’s, the Ranchero’s pockets have just a bit more stretch while still being fairly stiff and clean aesthetically.

One final design hit that’s unique to the Ranchero is a stowable, clip-together pass-through loop for affixing the pack to roller luggage. More on this below.

Testing Impressions

The Ranchero launches in two colors — olive (tested) and black. Additionally, YETI offers a seasonal taupe color as well.

Off the shelf, the Ranchero comes with slide-buckle accessory straps detached and stuffed into the top pocket. These include a single chest strap and two compression straps that go over the vertical zipper on the face of the pack. The Ranchero is plenty small to fit into an overhead bin on a plane, but the compression straps could be useful for squeezing the pack to fit under a seat as a personal item.

I also see great utility for these straps for buckling on a layer or affixing other oversized gear items to the outside of the pack.

For the most part, I left the compression straps unattached, as I like the cleaner look and easier front access without them. During testing, I took the YETI out on several frigid days and plopped it on icy concrete and snow. The 840D TPU-coated base was awesome for standing up the pack confidently in everything but deep, standing water.

I did get one drizzly, 45-degree March day to try out its water resistance. The Ranchero’s 700D Cordura body and coated zippers shed light mist fine, though YETI notes it’s not suitable for downpours.

Being a YETI pack, the water bottle pockets were designed with modern, burly bottles in mind. They’ll fit Ramblers, Hydro Flasks, Stanleys, Thermoses, and virtually any other bottle you have. They’re also deep enough to stash or clip a multitool or store a few granola bars.

As for the interior, the main compartment held ear protection, extra shoes, gloves, and a packable layer for some wood-felling up north. I also crammed my laptop, a couple of notebooks, a phone and computer charger, and a Kindle inside the laptop sleeve.

What I Liked

The first and easiest thing to like about the Ranchero is its stance — that is, upright. The damn pack stands up on its own, full or empty. That’s thanks to YETI’s Ground Control Base. It’s easier to access gear inside and set down anywhere you want it, a big win and a noteworthy upgrade from the UA24.

Second, as noted, the water bottle pockets are big enough to accommodate most bottles. But they offer just enough stretch to carry a bit more than you’d expect without being a floppy mess.

Next up, organization: I love that YETI bucked the trend of adding multiple little stash pockets throughout the pack. I understand they’re harmless, so why not have ’em? But, real organization falls apart with too many options. There are only a few places to store smaller items like pens, wallet, sunglasses, or snacks.

There are still a few choices to organize it the way you’d like — interior panel pockets, larger stash pocket, lid — but overall, the Ranchero is not overrun with hidey holes.

Keeping in line with the clean aesthetic, the removable straps give you extra utility when you need it and remove unsightly excess when you don’t. You’ll have to keep track of the straps you remove, but again, there’s a couple of pockets for that. Similarly, YETI kept the daisy chain loops on the shoulder strap to add a little more carry potential without adding any bulk. I found this worked great for a camera clip.

Lastly, the construction. The materials are solid, the handle is double-stitched, and the zippers are plenty big. In true YETI form, the Ranchero tips the scales at 3.8 pounds, outweighing the UA24 by a full pound. But it’s not unwieldy, and I’d rather have a pack that can take a punch than one that can stand on eggshells.

Drawbacks?

No pack is perfect for anyone. While not major, there are two design choices that I’m not fully sold on. First and foremost, the pass-through buckle. I have never seen this on a pack, and I can’t decide how I feel about it. This stretchy strap has a loop and clip that, when joined, allows the pack to pass over wheeled luggage.

But why not just make regular strap out of the same material? It would lie flat against the back panel when not in use. As-is, there’s a large, plastic buckle that sits right at mid-spine. At first glance, I was sure I’d hate it. But YETI did two things to address this.

First, the Ranchero’s back panel is concave, so it curves away from your back. When that strap is buckled, it still hasn’t contacted my back. Second, YETI made the strap stowable, so you can tuck either end into the back panel when not in use. But this takes an extra step, and I haven’t opted for it.

As a silver lining, I found the strap somewhat useful as a “belt” carrier for tool sheaths. It doesn’t stay put, but if you move the sheath to the side, it stays within reach on the pack while you walk. This is a hack and not a true feature of the strap.

My other gripe is minor: I want a duffel-carry handle option. There’s no room for it on the face of the pack (because of the zipper), but I would like to see a grab handle along one or both sides so I can carry it horizontally if it’s not on my back. This is a personal preference, and your mileage may vary.

There is one more aspect that could turn away shoppers, and that’s price. This is, after all, a YETI. And that means this 27L pack costs a little over $10 per liter — $275 to be exact.

YETI Ranchero Backpack: Who’s It For?

Will the Mystery Ranch faithful embrace the new name on a beloved design? I’m not sure; change ain’t easy and fans of the good old days don’t always come around. I get it. While the UA24 is out of commission, Mystery Ranch still offers other comparable EDC backpacks, like the Catalyst 26. Unlike the Ranchero (and UA24) the Catalyst is loaded for bear with organizational extras.

For the rest of us, though, the Ranchero looks, feels, and performs like another solid YETI. It’s not as bombastic as the brand’s other category disruptors, but instead, it takes the best of Mystery Ranch and subtly improves upon it.

As a go-to commuter bag, urban daypack, or quick-access hauler for any old trip, it has a lot to like. It’s easy to use, comfortable to carry, and offers just enough utility to excel in a variety of environs and applications.

If you are willing to pay a little extra for the YETI brand and all that comes with it, the Ranchero should be the first in a long line of EDC packs within the brand.