Mystery Ranch Gallagator Daypack Review

Bottom Line

The Mystery Ranch Gallagator 25 is one of the most unique and versatile packs on our guide to the best daypacks for hiking. If you dislike rifling through your backpack from the top, the Gallagator solves this issue – simply unzip at the front to reach items at the bottom easily. The wide shoulder pockets and strategically placed lash points make the Gallagator a stellar choice for hobbyists. It’s great for shlepping photography gear, backpacking fishing poles, and binoculars. After hiking and traveling over 200 miles in Utah, Texas, and Colorado with the Gallagator, Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer loves how its tri-zipper design gave him unmatched access to the main compartment. 

But it’s not perfect for everyone. The Gallagator trades the stability of a waist strap for double chest clips, which means it’s a bit floppy on technical terrain. This frameless bag also can feel saggy when under-packed, and we also find it isn’t the most water resistant.

Still, if you need an easy-access daypack with one of the most versatile designs we’ve reviewed, the Gallagator might be what you’re looking for.

Comfort

If you like frameless daypacks, the Mystery Ranch Gallagator 25 is a good choice for casual day hikes and traveling. It doesn’t have a hip belt – instead, Mystery Ranch uses adjustable and removable double sternum straps to keep the bag feeling stable. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer found this unique design took a bit of getting used to. Adjustable load lifters added a bit of comfort, and we appreciated the lighter materials that make the Gallagator easy to carry. 

However, the Gallagator isn’t comfortable for all situations. The lack of a waist strap means this pack doesn’t have the lateral stability of similar daypacks. It also placed more weight on our shoulders and chest than packs with internal frames and waist support. For example, Ian experienced occasional shoulder and upper back pain after wearing this pack while hiking North and South Arapaho Peaks in Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness. Also, the frameless design falls short when you only have a few items to carry. 

That said, this daypack is fine for mellow trails and moderate loads for a few hours at a time.

Organization

The Mystery Ranch Gallagator 25 has excellent external organization. This bag has lots of straps and lash points to attach almost any extra equipment on the outside of the pack. We also love the two wide cinch pockets on the shoulder straps – a feature we usually only see on fastpacks and running vests. However our favorite feature is the Y-shaped zipper design at the front which replaces a traditional mesh pocket. It’s incredibly efficient for quick access to bulky items at the bottom of the main compartment. Whether you need to pull out a puffy jacket or a sit pad, you won’t need to unpack everything on top. On an especially snowy winter hike to Black Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Gallagator made it easy to pull out our camera bag and extra layers without having to dig from the top like classic daypacks. Ian has also used this pack for walking and biking around Denver – it’s easy to pack away a jacket, a bike lock, and some food with no issue.

We love the size of the internal compartment, but the lack of a frame and internal dividers means we needed to pack carefully. This design also made the bag feel fairly floppy. Ian also found the large brain pocket a bit frustrating because it didn’t have enough structure to support heavier items like a phone charger or headlamp. Finally, we were underwhelmed by the side mesh pockets – they are too wide and shallow for holding water bottles securely, though they work well for lighter items like a hat or gloves.

User-Friendliness

The Mystery Ranch Gallagator 25 is user friendly for short to moderate hikes.  As noted above we like the external organization- we’ve used the straps to hold tripods, fishing poles, bulky winter gloves, and even spikes for traction. The numerous zippers and straps are a bit busy and technical-looking – but it’s a highly practical design with good functionality. Our testing over dozens of hours showed this pack didn’t overcomplicate the process of getting our gear in and out.

However, the Gallagator 25 isn’t the best choice for minimalists. Ian has found repeatedly that it takes more time to pack the spacious main compartment. For those seeking a more intuitive or low-maintenance bag, this one demands a bit more attention.

Weight and Compressibility

Weighing in at just 1 pound, 6.9 ounces, the Gallagator 25 lands squarely in the middle of the daypacks we’ve tested. Thanks to nylon textiles and lightweight metal and plastic components, it offers a solid balance of lightweight design and durability.

Despite all the extra features like lash points, zippers, and gear loops, it still packed down small, about the size of a football. Ian used this bag when he flew to Vancouver and hiked on Stanley Island. Its foldable design made it easy to pack into his luggage. In other words, the bag itself doesn’t weigh much and does a good job shrinking down when not in use.

Durability

Our testing showed the Gallagator 25 is built to last – whether bumping against rough rocks and trees on a hike or being tossed into TSA security bins. After a year of regular use, the more vulnerable soft mesh, straps, and lash points have held up well. The zippers also remain smooth, strong, and snag–free. That said, the Gallagator is a bit thin compared to other daypacks we’ve reviewed, so we don’t expect it to last as long as models built with stronger materials and frames. Though the Gallagator 25 we’re testing isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon, we’ll keep you posted as we continue to test.

Despite being so lightweight, this pack is a good choice for folks who need a reliable, lightweight, and long-lasting daypack for both casual and adventurous activities.

Should you buy the Mystery Ranch Gallagator?

The Mystery Ranch Gallagator 25 is a great choice if you want a versatile daypack with excellent accessibility. This thing is built to handle adventure, from urban bike commutes to travel to long day hikes. With its triple-zipper front access, you’ll have no trouble fishing out gear at the bottom of your bag without having to empty your whole pack, and the 25 liter size and average weight makes it manageable on trail or around town. For folks who prefer the fit and feel of traditional daypacks with a waist strap and internal frame, the Gallagator may miss the mark. Because it’s frameless, it puts more pressure on your shoulders and chest, and it can feel a bit awkward when carrying only a few items. However, when it comes to gear access, this pack is tough to beat.

What other day packs should you consider for hiking?

If the Mystery Ranch Gallagator didn’t catch your eye, check out our guide to the Best Daypacks for Hiking for some outstanding alternatives: 

REI Flash 22 Review: This bag weighs much less and is half the price, making it our go-to for smaller adventures when gear accessibility isn’t as important as fast, agile movement.

Osprey Daylite Plus Review: At 20 liters, the Osprey Daylite Plus has a smaller capacity than the Gallagator, but it’s a bit comfier for heavier loads thanks to a more traditional design with a waist strap and traditional backpack design.

REI Trail 25 Review: The REI Trail 25 is the same size as the Gallagator, but we prefer the Trail 25 for better durability and straightforward organization on longer treks with heavier loads.