Yeti Ranchero backpack review: Clever, comfortable, and tough as nails

Standing in the woods in light rain, searching for prickly branches to run through is not my typical weekend activity. However, I am currently testing the impressively sturdy new Yeti backpack. Born from the company’s acquisition of tactical gear maker Mystery Ranch in 2024, the new Ranchero backpack (available in 22-liter and 27-liter models) offers super-heavy-duty build quality and a clever zipper design that allows for easy access to gear while on the trail. Yes, it comes with the typical Yeti price tag, but it’s built with the company’s trademark zeal for making ultra-burly gear that’s still somehow aesthetically pleasing.

The verdict: This heavy-duty backpack is great for hiking and travel if you don’t mind the weight and the price tag. The clever zipper design provides quick access to gear that’s much better than digging through a top-loading bag. I also really like the way it looks.

The build

The first thing everyone notices about this bag is the zipper setup. There are actually three zippers on the face of the bag that intersect to form a Y shape. By pulling down the vertical zipper and lifting the top of the bag to open the horizontal zippers, this bag offers instant access to just about everything inside. If you’ve ever spent time trying to dig a Clif Bar out of your bag from under the rest of your gear, then you know why that’s such a clever idea.

This design comes directly from the Mystery Ranch bag that existed before, and I’m glad it hasn’t changed. I brought a camera with me into the woods and tucked it under my jacket inside the bag for protection. When I wanted to get the camera out, I could simply unzip the bag, grab it from the bottom, and return it when I was done shooting.

Storage and pockets

Inside the main compartment, you’ll find just a few stretchy pockets. The smaller zippered pockets on each flap are good for things like multitools or memory cards. Another stretch pocket at the back of the main compartment has more room for things like notebooks.

The stretchy pockets on the outside are flexible enough to encompass a full-sized Hydro Flask, which was surprising because they lay so flat. They look a little silly stretched out to fit a thick bottle, but they hold on nice and tight.

A laptop pocket inside another tall compartment easily accommodated my 14-inch MacBook Pro along with an iPad and some charging cables when I used this for non-trail travel.

Lastly, a zippered pocket in the main compartment lid is handy for things like keys, wallets, and earbuds.

It’s a very solid amount of pockets that don’t get bogged down with granular compartments for things like pens. Those often feel like a waste to me, but this bag is very efficient in its layout.

If you want to carry additional gear strapped to the outside of the bag (something I often do with tripods on my camera bags), the Ranchero comes with extra straps for doing so. They stow in the top pocket and attach to sturdy nylon loops on the sides of the bag. I like the flexibility they offer, but I also hate the idea that I might lose them because I tend to lose everything.

The feel

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