Dana DNA
Building great packs is in our genes
Innovation generator
Dana Gleason
Dana has been a leading designer in the backpacking industry for more than 30 years. He took his first steps into the design world by working in gear shops and repairing packs—often improving them in the process. He went on to create Dana Design, a company whose packs still are recognized for their ruggedness and their breakthroughs in load carrying technology. K2 Corporation bought the company in 1995 and Dana later formed Mystery Ranch to further hone his design skills and to satiate his need to tinker with packs.
His design philosophy is pretty 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 possibly some odd-shaped items: skis, hunting rifles, even military radio equipment.
Easier said than done. 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. To find out how his latest ideas are doing, Dana relies on feedback from the Mystery Ranch crew and other pack users who use gear in the most extreme conditions.
A look back
Dana Design is where we started, but Mystery Ranch is where it’s at
Mystery Ranch was founded in 2000 by Dana Gleason and business partner Renee Sippel-Baker as their successor to Dana Design, which they sold to K2 Corporation in 1995. Mystery Ranch creates packs built on the foundation Dana pioneered with Dana Design and that have been made even better with his ongoing innovation and dedication to packs that work for and with the user.
We offer the direct and much improved successors of the classic Dana Design models like the Terraplane (G5000), Astralplane (G7000), and Bomb Pack (Futura Snapdragon).
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Early 1970’s
Dana moves to the Rockies.
Amid climbing and backpacking trips, Dana slowly makes his way from East to West, working in various outdoor gear shops along the way.
Dana acquires a sewing machine.
During his travels, Dana acquires a sewing machine as well as a reputation/knack for repairing and improving gear.
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1975
Dana starts Kletterwerks.
His first backpack company, designing his own packs.
Renee Sippel-Baker joins Kletterwerks.
Dana designs the Terraplane.
Which becomes the standard by which all large packs are still measured.
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1978/1979
Dana starts Quest Systems.
Dana and Renee leave Kletterwerks, and Dana starts Quest Systems, making specialty bags for camera and video equipment. The technology used to haul camera equipment up mountains gives birth to the technology that will lead to the first internal frame backpacks.
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1985
Launch of Dana Design Ltd.
Dana and Renee launch Dana Design Ltd. The ArcFlex internal frame becomes the first multi-material frame system and the first product of Dana Design.
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1987
The Bomb Pack is born.
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1985-1994
Dana Design at the top.
They have three full-time production plants, over 200 employees and Dealers all over the world.
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1995
K2 Corp. purchases Dana Design.
Dana and Renee accept an offer from K2 Corporation to purchase Dana Design, enabling them to keep supply up with demand.
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1996-1997
Biggest manufacturers/suppliers in world.
Dana Designs becomes one of the biggest manufacturers and suppliers of backpacks in the world.
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1999/2000
Dana Gleason retires, get’s bored, and starts Mystery Ranch.
Soon after retiring Dana becomes bored and decides to come out of retirement. Along with Renee, he open a full-scale production plant just ouside Bozeman and start selling the new Mystery Ranch System (MRS), a custom-fit frame piece compatible with multiple styles of packbag.
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2001/02
The release of the Outamatic.
Dana adapts to consumer demand and designs a product better suited to the current market, a pack with an adjustable frame that easily provides a perfect fit — the Outamatic.
The Works @ Mystery Ranch.
To better compete, production is taken overseas and labeled The Works @ Mystery Ranch. But Mystery Ranch feels disconnected from their product and wants to eventually move production back to the U.S.
Navy SEALs approach Mystery Ranch.
The Navy SEALs, who Mystery Ranch has worked with before, approach Mystery Ranch about a U.S. built pack model. The SEALs place a large order for what becomes the BDSB (Big D’s Special Blend).
Mystery production back to U.S.
The initial purchase by the Navy SEALs helps fund the move of Mystery Ranch production back to the U.S. Development of Mystery Ranch’s military products is a technology driver for most of their products in general. Mystery Ranch continues to build packs for nearly every other branch of U.S. Special Forces, as well as Hotshot fire crews, Fish Wildlife and Parks employees and hunters of all types.
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2008
Mystery Ranch employs 40 people.
Who are highly dedicated to the goals of building the best backpacks in the world and personally testing all of Dana’s new products and designs.