Many packs and accessories to choose from, Mystery Ranch has what you need to hold your gear.  Really like the look of their Firefighting line packs and the Military style packs they carry.  Check out their website, too many to list here.  Thanks DC!

Here is what they say about themselves:

Dana has been a leading designer in the backpacking industry for more than 30 years, beginning as a repair tech in gear shops – often improving the packs in the process! He went on to create Dana Design, a company whose packs still are recognized for their ruggedness and breakthroughs in load carrying technology. K2 Corporation bought Dana Design in 1995 and Dana formed Mystery Ranch in 2000 to further hone his design skills and to satiate his need to tinker with packs.

Dana’s design philosophy is simple: make exceptionally comfortable, incredibly durable packs for people who depend on their gear. And keep in mind that those people will probably be carrying very, very heavy loads and odd-shaped items: skis, hunting rifles, even military radio equipment.

Easier said than done, but Dana works hands-on with Mystery Ranch designs every day, striving to bring his philosophy to each new pack. That requires constant innovation, fresh thinking and a willingness to try new techniques, materials and technology. For feedback on his innovations, Dana relies on the Mystery Ranch crew and other pack users who use our gear in the most extreme conditions imagineable.

Mystery Ranch | Mystery Ranch Backpacks.

I already know what you’re gonna say, AA batteries, what’s the point?  Well during the summer AA batteries are readily available and run our GPS, Camera, Weather Station etc.  Having a quick and easy way of giving your Iphone juice so you can make that call to FireCenter,or text the Zone Responese officer or to send an email in the Heli after the fire, I say is a good idea.  Koldsmoke especially likes the USB port so you can use your Ipod brand cable in the event your after market case (lifeproof) accepts only this or you need to use the phone as it’s charging and don’t want to have a clunky battery hanging off the end of your iphone.  At $50 how can you go wrong?  One set of 4 AA’s gives 100% battery life to your phone.

Elecom DE-A01D-1908 iPhone, iPod AA Battery Charger – DE-A01D-1908 | AudioCubes.com.

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The Zeal Transcend goggle was revolutionary, but gigantic on your noggin.  Enter the new improved Z3 goggle from Zeal, and gps guts from Recon Instruments.  Smaller, sleeker and with remote wireless controls, the Z3 is what the Transcend wanted to be all along, thinner, easier and lighter.  Not true HUD but a small screen to the side of the lense shows altitude, speed and other info while you’re hammering down the slopes.  From what I can gather the GPS navigation aspect is only accessible after the fact when you hook the goggles to a computer and upload the info.  Apparently with an upgrade from Recon, if you pair the device with an Android phone via bluetooth, real time navigation will stream through the goggle display.

I can see this being a real benefit for snowmobilers, and skiers and riders who want to claim speed.  At well over 500$ I’m not rushing out to grab a pair, but soon the price will go down.

via Zeal Optics Z3 GPS Goggle – YouTube.