At the beginning of 2006 Mystery Ranch, a well-known US company, has expanded the collection of military-tactical and hunting equipment with transformer backpacks named NICE Crew Cab BVS and NICE Crew Cab. These models are being manufactured up to the present day and still remain the most multifunctional and spacious packs designed basing on the NICE genuine frame and produced by the company. The two models differ just by availability of a removable plastic BVS system (Bolstered Ventilation and Stability), which provides the necessary support and ventilation when wearing the pack over an armor vest.
The pack Mystery Ranch NICE Crew Cab may really be considered as a backpack for any emergencies. It’s fit for military and tactical employment in various field environments, for hunting and fishing as well as for tourist hiking of different complexity levels. Due to the multi-purpose construction the overall payload capacity of the NICE Crew Cab may be adjusted within 30 and 82 liters as needed, and, according to my experience, 82 liters are not the top limit – everything depends on the physical capabilities and availability of the suitable loading. What’s more, the process of converting the simple daypack into a full-sized expeditionary backpack is quite easy and intuitive.
The NICE Crew Cab is almost completely manufactured of a durable nylon material named Cordura. The fabric density does not exceed 500D. All the backpack zippers are of premium manufacturing by YKK Company, and the exclusive, specially selected plastic hardware accessories belong to ITW Nexus production. The general quality of the backpack features a very high level of manufacturing referring both to the employed materials and their composition. The item is machine-sewn evenly, without ruptures, threaded protrusions or any other imperfections. Special favorites of mine are plastic autolock buckles.
The backpack is designed on the base of NICE external mounted frame (NICE Frame System). This frame may be completely dismantled and implemented into the construction of the company’s other backpacks. The frame mounted system is composed of adjustable shoulder pads, load-bearing belt and back piece. The shoulder pads and the belt are fully removable. They are mainly manufactured of Cordura material and a synthetic “three-dimensional” web combination with a flexible foam embedding. The all-round structural elements are six flexible carbon arc fittings, which are outstanding with their obdurability and flexibility.
The NICE system features the manufacturer’s ability to combine the backpack possible comfort and an internal frame construction – in my personal estimation it equals to the level of ILBE Tango Gen 2 backpack – with the potentials and multi-purpose employment of an external frame. The NICE frame compared with the standard ALICE frame system that I’d happened to experience before is, eventually, more comfortable and lighter, quite quicker to be adjusted vertically, and is distinctively flexible enough for the backpack to be capable of slight matching the horizontal body curves when one is moving.
The basic construction of the Mystery Ranch NICE Crew Cab is made up of four compartments, which are fitted with flexible joints and complemented with adjustable compression straps. Except for the hydration system “flat” section, the compartments internal interconnection is provided by the compression straps only; this allows the adjustable space alternation between them. The bottom is manufactured of several Cordura material layers supplemented with two rigid external stays. Thus created interior space may be loaded with full bags of various volumes, sleeping provisions and a tent in waterproof covers, several ammunition boxes, fuel or water cans, a slaughtered animal carcass – the list may be endless if to continue.
The basic compartments of the NICE Crew Cab comprise the front spacious organizer section, which is complemented with an external zipped pocket, two large side compartments of general purpose and a “flat” but bulky compartment for a three-liter hydrating system. There are special embeddings made of polymeric compound inside of the front and two side compartments. Their purpose is to create shape and maintain rigid construction. Besides, the company has created a separate, fully-detachable external flap named NICE Day Pack Lid with two zipped compartments. The lid is attached at the upper part of the backpack and may be used as a separate 15 liter-assault pack. Regretfully it is not available for presentation.
To finish it up I would say that the NICE Crew Cab is for sure a universal, spacious and durable backpack, efficient for various types of tasks. Its sole negative point’s the cost.
