Engineering
Ovis Mountain packs are hand made in Palmer, Alaska and use Made in the USA parts. Being made in America is something we take very seriously and will never compromise on.
Carbon Fiber Frame
Every detail of our carbon fiber frame is designed, tested, and manufactured in-house. We create our own molds and experiment with every possible carbon fiber layup to find the perfect balance of strength, weight, and durability. All of our carbon fiber stays are made on-site, giving us full control over quality and precision. This hands-on design process allows us to rapidly iterate based on field testing, refining every detail until it meets our exacting standards.
Each frame features eight carefully engineered stays, two vertical and six horizontal, that work together as a single, integrated structure. Our vertical stays have been tested to over 300lbs of breaking strength, ensuring the frame performs under the heaviest loads. By designing the frame as a unified “stay” system, the weight is distributed efficiently, giving hunters a pack that moves naturally with them without sacrificing strength.
The result is a lightweight, high-performance frame system designed to be incredibly strong and stiff where it needs to be while still moving with you regardless of if you're carrying an empty pack or the heaviest load of the season.
Fabric
Fabric selection shouldn’t be about trends or marketing buzzwords, it’s about proven performance in the field. Every material we use is Made in the USA and meets military specification (MIL-SPEC) standards. Before committing to CORDURA®, we tested nearly every modern outdoor fabric we could source, including XPAC, Dyneema®, and various other “designer” laminated composites. Each was evaluated for abrasion resistance, water repellency, flexibility in cold weather, and long-term seam integrity.
The testing told the story clearly. Laminated fabrics like XPAC performed well initially, but under heavy use, the needle holes in high-stress areas expanded over time, leading to the seams leaking. They also had nowhere near the required abrasion resistance, and they tend to stiffen and become load in cold temperatures. All unexpectable material properties for the level of pack we were creating.
Our packs use 500D and 1000D MIL-SPEC CORDURA® fabrics, each used strategically to optimize strength, abrasion resistance, and weight savings. The 1000D CORDURA® is DWR-coated for excellent water resistance and is used in high-stress and abrasion zones on our packs, as well as our frame cover. The 500D CORDURA® is both DWR and urethane-coated, which provides excellent weather protection while reducing overall pack weight is used in less critical locations.
For the roll-top closure and internal pocket liners, we use 210D waterproof silicone-treated ripstop nylon, selected for its lightweight toughness and superior resistance to water penetration. Every seam is sewn together with an extra heavy-duty MIL-SPEC thread, ensuring maximum seam strength and long-term reliability under the harshest conditions.
Buckles and Webbing
Every strap and buckle is selected and tested to perform under the most demanding conditions. We use MIL-SPEC webbing throughout, sewn into at least one layer of 1000D CORDURA® for maximum strength.
Our 1-inch side buckles have an anti-break design that holds firm until well over 100 pounds. As opposed to the most commonly used buckle from other pack manufacturers that breaks at only 70 pounds of force.
Our forward pull hipbelt design uses 2-inch webbing to provide extra slip resistance, while 1.5-inch webbing is used for hipbelt accessory straps to accommodate holsters, and a wide range of universal attachments.
Foam
Foam is by far one of the most critical components of any frame suspension system, and at Ovis Mountain, we treat it with the same engineering rigor as every other part of the pack. All of our foam is Made in the USA and carefully selected for type and density to provide optimal comfort across a wide range of loads.
Both our shoulder straps and hipbelt use extra-thick, closed-cell EVA foam. The density was carefully selected to provide consistent comfort under a wide range of loads. The shoulder straps are thick enough to reduce pressure and fatigue under extreme weight, while the hipbelt is not so thick that it causes slipping but still thick enough to remain comfortable during the extra-long, heavy pack-outs.
Testing Grounds
Testing components in the lab is just part of designing the most effective backcountry packs. Ovis Mountain's true advantage lies in its location in Palmer, Alaska, nestled between the formidable Chugach and Talkeetna Mountain ranges. This region is renowned for its rugged terrain, vast glaciers, and world-class sheep country, offering unparalleled testing grounds. But we don’t just test locally, Alaska is a very large place and we like to utilize all of it. From the Arctic Ocean in the north to the rainforests of the southeast, Ovis Mountain packs have consistently demonstrated their capability to withstand Alaska's harsh and diverse landscapes. While some companies like to name their products after these places or showcase brief hunts before leaving, we conduct daily testing in these environments. This unique approach ensures that our gear meets Alaska's demanding standards for durability and performance, day in and day out.
When you choose an Ovis Mountain backpack you can trust that you're getting a product engineered to meet the highest standards of quality and performance, ready to accompany you on your most challenging backcountry hunts.