Few things go together quite so well as Mystery Ranch and SITKA. It only makes sense that the two Bozeman brands would team up, yet again, for the release of a much-needed upgrade to soft bow cases.
I’ve had a few soft bow cases, and I’ve never been impressed with any of them. They’re oversized, offer odd, inconvenient storage, and end up being a flop I use once or twice before I toss them in the donate pile. When I heard of this new upgrade to the conventional soft bow case, I was optimistic but only cautiously. So, what did this collaboration do differently?
“We wanted a soft-shell bow case that offers trustworthy storage without looking like an oversized convention tote bag,” said Brad Christian, SITKA STUDIO Brand & Creative Director. “So we collaborated with Mystery Ranch to design the Ryder, a case that secures your bow, organizes your essentials, and looks worthy of housing the rig you spent all summer tuning. I couldn’t be more amped with how it turned out.”
I have the bow case in hand and haven’t had a chance to thoroughly test it yet, but I wanted to be sure to get a first look out the door. After all, this is a limited-edition piece. If you want one, you’ll have to jump at the opportunity.
In short: Without testing this much in the field and having only a short time to check out the Ryder Bow Case, I can say it seems pretty rad. If you’re in the market for a soft bow case and you can stomach the price tag ($379), I’m not sure you can really go wrong here.
Mystery Ranch x SITKA STUDIO Ryder Bow Case
Specs
- 3 customizable daisy chains with 2 removable rubber hook-and-loop straps
- 840D Ballistic Carbonate Coated Nylon
- Padded on all sides
- Exterior padded zippered pocket for arrows/arrow case
- Two zippered mesh pockets for other accessories
- 40" long x 20" wide
- Stretch-woven cam-securing corner protectors
- Inner lid has 2 zippered mesh pockets and a large padded zippered pocket
- Removable shoulder strap
- Back of case features 8 web loops
Pros
- Ample, well-thought-out storage
- Compact
- Seems very protective for soft case
- Modern, cool look
Cons
- Expensive for a soft case
First Look: Mystery Ranch x SITKA STUDIO Ryder Bow Case
Well, it survived shipping, which is a feat all its own.
Again, I’ll reiterate that this isn’t a full review. This is a half-review, half-first look. If this were a product that wasn’t only going to be available in limited quantities, I’d put through a whole lot more before I even opened my mouth about it.
The Ryder Bow Case
I tend to be rather cynical about these limited-edition products/collaborations. It seems like so often, they’re a whole lot of marketing and not near enough practicality or value. At just sub-$400, I was worried this would be the case here.
At first glance, in total honesty, this thing seems rad. The look is clean and understated, with an almost urban meets industrial feel. The black-on-black with small blaze details and inner sub-alpine touches are understated and cool-looking. Nothing about this case screams SITKA or Mystery Ranch, and there’s something kind of neat about that.
The included Range Bag is slick. I can see using it for my range finder, my release, a spare, and maybe a few extras like field points and chapstick.
The cam pockets have a nice stretchy “yoga pants” feel. Combined with the anchor straps, they feel super secure, like they’ll keep your bow from wiggling loose.
For me, the additional, nearly full-length storage pockets are a huge plus. Not only can I store my arrow case/quiver, but I think I might be able to fit my recurve and longbow (broken down) in here as well.
Overall First Impression of the Ryder Bow Case
At $379, I had high expectations and low hopes for my initial meeting with the Ryder Bow Case. That being said, I am pleasantly surprised so far. I assume these things will sell out fast, so my advice would be to get one on order, even if you’re on the fence.
If you have the spare change lying around, I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed in grabbing one.
Once I get this thing put through my normal, brutal, abusive tests, I’ll be sure to update this first look with a full-blown review. For now, I think this bow case is a good one.
