Exclusive: Yeti’s New EDC Backpack Is Proof the Brand Takes Bags as Seriously as It Does Coolers

Last year’s limited-edition Bozeman is back. Only it has a new name and bevy of changes that enhance its everyday functionality.

By Jack Seemer

Published February 28, 2025

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Updated February 28, 2025

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Last year, before Yeti had acquired Mystery Ranch, the two brands began working together on a limited-edition adventure pack called the Bozeman.

Named after the town where Mystery Ranch was founded by Dana Gleason and Renee Sippel-Baker, the Bozeman (which eventually released in late 2024) boasted all the makings of a could-be classic: Yeti’s 700D TuffSkin Nylon, removable compression straps, self-standing functionality and plenty of pockets for internal storage.

yeti ranchero backpack — Self-standing functionality is becoming a hallmark of Yeti backpacks. Pictured: the new Ranchero 27L Backpack.

The Bozeman bag also showcased two of Mystery Ranch’s signature innovations: an adjustable harness system to dial in the fit and a three-way zipper system that has endeared its packs to countless smokejumpers, military personnel and EDC enthusiasts who appreciate the quick-access design.

Bet the ranch

First conceived as a one-off, the sold-out Bozeman is back, sort of: it has a new name, as well as some choice adjustments that improve upon its already-excellent functionality for everyday carry.

Meet the Ranchero, which joins the Crossroads collection in Yeti’s full-time roster and confirms the brand takes its bags as seriously as anything else in its overengineered product portfolio.

Easy access

In many ways, the Ranchero picks up where the Bozeman left off. The bulk of the exterior is still made with Yeti’s high-abrasion TuffSkin Nylon; the bag still stands up on its own; and a bounty of pockets can still be found on the inside.

Of course, its defining trait is the ease at which the user can access them, namely by way of the three-way zipper made famous by Mystery Ranch’s Assault series.

When I look at product attributes, there are a lot of common formats out there,” says Layne Rigney, Yeti’s head of softgoods and the former CEO of Osprey.

“There are panel loaders, roll tops … The tri-zip that Mystery Ranch is known for is an access story that nobody else has,” he adds.

The beauty of the design, according to Rigney, is how the “RipZip” (Yeti’s new name for it) allows the user to quickly access belongings on the bottom of the bag without taking everything out — all with a swift rip of the top panel.

“I think it’s one of those things that it is just a weird zipper until you use it,” Rigney says. “We are calling it ‘RipZip’ because, literally, when you get at it and you learn how to do it, it’s a really quick singular motion.”

And though Yeti doesn’t promise full waterproofness, as it does with the Panga series, coated zippers on the Ranchero work in conjunction with the nylon exterior to keep moisture and dirt out.

EDC-focused from the start

All that said, the Ranchero isn’t just the Bozeman by another name.

“As we learned about how people were using Bozeman, it was much more of an everyday bag that they would deploy on airplanes, in the car, light hiking and light trails,” Rigney says.

As a result, Rigney and his team decided to drop the harness system to not only lower the learning curve but streamline the bag’s overall shape and functionality.

“We went away from the harness into more of an everyday type of deployment. You get a more compact design fits better in tighter spaces, whether that’s on a plane or train or in your car,” he says.

“A lawyer can carry this bag into a law office but it’s equally at home on the back of an e-bike zipping around Denver after work.”

Following that theme, Yeti moved the laptop sleeve to an external pocket for swift access; it also added a newer, smaller size. Like the Bozeman, the Ranchero comes in a 27-liter capacity but a 22-liter option is available for users who prefer to lighten the load.

Fortunately, features like the stretch-woven pockets on both sides of the bag were largely left alone. Made from the same mesh found inside the Crossroads backpack, it can expand to hold up to a 36-ounce Rambler bottle but lays flat if unused.

“I love the material suite for this bag,” Rigney says, who compares the meshes used by competitor brands to “loose underwear hanging off the side of the bag.”

black yeti backpack with water bottle — The stretch-woven side pockets can expand to fit up to a 36-ounce Rambler bottle.

“If I’ve got a bottle in here,” Rigney adds, referring to the Ranchero, “it’s clean, it’s elegant. But if I don’t have drinkware in here, the thing sort of becomes instantly sublimated.

“A lawyer can carry this bag into a law office but it’s equally at home on the back of an e-bike zipping around Denver after work.”

Pricing and availability

The Ranchero is now available to purchase with a Yeti account (free to sign up). It comes in two sizes at launch — 22 and 27 liters — with prices starting $225.

Both variants are available in three colors: black, olive-green and taupe.