Mystery Ranch Quick Attach Zoid Bag Review

Upon initial inspection, the Mystery Ranch Quick Attach Zoid Bags are a little confusing. They’re pouches with a large TPU window and Gatekeeper clips. While we find the materials initially bewildering, Mystery Ranch has included many features in these bags while maintaining a low-key and minimalistic use case—and we’re amped to try them out. Let’s dive in!

External Components

The primary material used to manufacture the Zoid Bags is 210D Hitra Robic nylon. This stuff is durable yet lightweight and does well to fend off water. We’ve seen this fabric on other Mystery Ranch products, and it’s held up well.

At the time of writing, there are three colorways available—Hunter, which is highlighter orange, Foliage, which is a green/gray mixture, and Black, which is, you know, black. There isn’t a ton of variety, but all three look sleek.

The pouches utilize YKK zippers, which are smooth and easy to open. There are fabric tabs on either end of the track to grab onto while opening and closing them, which is handy. You can also attach things to those tabs if you want to. The zipper pulls are made of a paracord-like material with a knot on the end. It blends in with the materials and is easy to grasp, which we dig.

There’s a large TPU window on the pouch’s front face so you can see what’s inside. This is helpful if you have multiple bags—it lets you know which one to grab. While the TPU hasn’t fogged up or gotten roughed up, it does smudge fairly easily. However, it also cleans up quickly, and seeing your gear at all times is worth the extra effort to keep it clean.

Atop the pouch are Gatekeeper hooks to attach to your pack. These integrate seamlessly into Mystery Ranch packs with Zoid quick-attach loops. This is handy, especially if you’re using them while hiking, as you might need to access your first aid kit or satellite device quickly. However, it’s helpful in the city, too. If you have an inhaler or Epinephrine pen, it’s nice to know exactly where they are at all times. Without the Gatekeeper clips, the pouch could sag or get lost between other items.

There’s a substantial Mystery Ranch Logo on the front of the pouch, but it doesn’t stand out much. It blends nicely with the rest of the pack, and the logo’s color contrasts the front face of the pouch. Some may wish it was on the back side, though.

Inside The Pouch

At the time of writing, you can choose from two sizes. The small size is about what you’d expect from a toiletry bag. It works well inside smaller travel backpacks and will fit in most daypacks. You might even be able to slide this thing into a smaller sling.

This is a good size for a first aid kit, a toiletry pouch, tech for a weekend trip, or anything you might need to keep in a small bag. With the TPU window, you can see the contents quickly, so you know what’s inside and that you didn’t forget anything. The small size has two Gatekeeper clips on the top.

The medium size is roughly the same depth but much longer than the small size. This model is better suited for larger packs because it’s pretty tall; however, you may still be able to sneak it into your daypack. The size justifies an additional Gatekeeper clip in the center—bringing the total to three.

The interior of the pouches lacks internal organization—it’s just a large open area. We dig this—as a pouch, this thing can do everything. Adding any specific organization would tailor it towards one use. Without the segmentation, you can use it for just about anything.

If you want to give every piece of gear a home, the Zoid Bags might not be for you. They’ll work to stow your larger items—like a packable jacket, hat, and daypack, but smaller things inevitably bounce around inside.

At its core, this is a modular pouch with a TPU window; we think that’s pretty rad. It won’t find its way into all travelers’ everyday carry, but it has unique uses for almost any trip imaginable. Plus, it has Mystery Ranch’s trademark durability, which is worth commending.