My Beloved Black Ridge(Badlands) Lynx. . . my first review

Looking through all my outdoor adventure pics the other night my first review post became an easy choice. My Black Ridge pack has been with me through some very good times. Since we first becamse acquainted in 2005 and it's been with me on hundreds of camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting trips. How could I possibly have a blog without first featuring my bow, bait, beer, binocular, brown wooly bugger toting companion? I couldn't. This review carries more weight than any you have ever read before because it has been a five year test period. I didn't get this thing new in the mail and take it on a leisurly hike through Zion, snap a few pics making it look like I was really roughing it, and then put it in my closet. . . no, no no. This pack has been strapped to four wheelers, dunked in rivers, carried through rain storms, bounced around in the back of my truck, loaded down with antlers, and over worked for. . ..  YEARS.

Here she is folks. The Lynx, produced by Black Ridge in 2005. Yes, it is 2012 and yes, I am still putting this thing through the gauntlet on a "weekendly" basis. That in and of itself would give it a 4 Star review in my book but wait. . . there's more.

When I bought this pack I was regretting the price tag but I was treating myself. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm cheap. Not figuratively but literally. If I can get it two dollars cheaper online I'll shop for two weeks. I gulped hard and reached for my wallet as I handed it to the checker at Sportsman's Warehouse. "Eighty double cheeseburgers, sixteen Little Caesar's pizzas, that's food for two months!" Clearly the thinking of a college kid. Ass clenched and wallet ready I was surprised by the checker when she smiled and said "Hey this just went on sale today, that'll be $40, please."  The love affair began.

I bought the pack because it had heavy zippers, a place to carry my bow, was plumbed for a water bladder(I stole it out of an ex gf's Camel Back) and enough straps to adapt to whatever I might be doing. I had never heard of the brand but it had an elk on it. . . I'm an elk guy.

Perhaps you need a good pack to carry you tent and camping gear on a back country trip to the High Unitas?

Maybe you need a versatile pack to carry a PBR, a jacket, fly boxes, and your girl's camera during an afternoon fishing excursion on the middle Provo River?

Ohhhhhh, I see; you're after a pack that can carry your bow! How about a pack that will evenly distribute the load while securing it nice and tight without directly contacting your sights and rest?

Ok, you are looking for something light enough to carry up steep rough country that can still handle a heavy load with ease?

And finally, maybe you just want to look like a bad ass in a sweet silhouette pic?

This pack has seen, done, carried, and survived it all. Hands down: Best pack I've ever owned. I would gladly trade eighty, a hundred, or two hundred double cheese burgers for it to this very day.



The "Monster" Fanny Pack



The Ever Popular "2200"



Recently I've heard a lot about Badlands and the packs they make. I haven't paid much attention though as I've been perfectly happy with mine. Badlands? Nah I'll stick to my Black Ridge. When I find something I like I tend to be very loyal to whoever made it.

As I was getting ready to write this review though I hopped on Google and made a discovery : Black Ridge IS Badlands. Yes, folks, it's true. Badlands, the same folks that have revolutionized the scene with products like the Monster fanny pack and the 2200 Hunting Pack. The bad news is, you can no longer purchase a Black Ridge Lynx like the one that I love so much. The good news is there are now 30+ packs by the same manufacturer that are every bit as good if not better! Having field tested my own pack for years now I can very honestly say that I would not hesitate to purchase ANYTHING made by Badlands.

How confident are these guys in the products that they put out? Let me share an excerpt from their warranty information on their website. http://www.badlandspacks.com/ .

"We don't care what happened, or whose fault it was, we will fix it for free forever. We could care less if you bought it at a garage sale or a gear swap, as long as it says Badlands, it's covered. All we ask is that you use and abuse your pack as much as possible so we can learn how to make our products even better."

What more could you ask for from any company doing or making anything? For the people and by the people. Go check their site out, it feels organic and you can tell the guys making this stuff actually use their own products. Need a pack? Get a Badlands. End of story.



Will I upgrade to a shiny new Badlands pack this year. . . . it depends on whether or not I can break the emotional bond with my good ole' Black Ridge. When do you pull your veteran ace off the hill to give the million dollar signing bonus kid, fresh off the farm, a start in the bigs? Although it is a little faded, after all of the use and abuse, there is not a stitch out of place on my pack. It's not a matter of spending the money. . . . if I NEEDED a pack there would be no thinking required. If I do make the move I'll be here posting what I would expect to be another rave review.