Engineering

 

Ovis Mountain packs are hand made in Palmer, Alaska and use Made in the USA parts whenever possible. Being made in America is something we take very seriously and will never compromise on.

Carbon Fiber

At Ovis Mountain, our R&D background in the aerospace industry enables us to independently design and test all of our carbon fiber components in-house. This expertise allows us to meticulously experiment with various types of carbon fiber, epoxies, and layup techniques to achieve the optimal balance of performance, weight, and durability in our products. By managing our carbon fiber design and manufacturing processes internally, we maintain complete control over quality and innovation. This autonomy enables us to swiftly implement adjustments based on real-world testing feedback, allowing us to return to field testing the very next day. This rapid iteration cycle ensures continuous improvement and maintains the highest standards of quality for our backpack frames. As a result, we deliver cutting-edge, high-performance gear that meets the rigorous demands of mountain hunting, reflecting our commitment to excellence and our customers' needs.

 

Fabric and Components

Ovis Mountain uses Made in the USA MIL-SPEC 500D and 1000D CORDURA® fabric to craft our premium backcountry hunting pack systems. Known for its exceptional durability and reliability, CORDURA® fabric is a trusted choice among outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike.

The MIL-SPEC designation guarantees that these fabrics meet stringent military specifications for strength, abrasion resistance, and tear resistance, making them perfect for the demanding conditions of backcountry hunting. The 500D variant offers a balanced combination of durability and weight, providing superior strength without adding unnecessary bulk to the pack. The 1000D variant, on the other hand, is more rugged and is used for the frame sheet cover and high-stress and abrasion areas on our bags.

Both types of CORDURA® fabric undergo treatment with durable water repellent (DWR) and a urethane coating, ensuring high water resistance to keep your gear dry. These fabrics are also designed to withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight and harsh weather conditions, ensuring that your backpack remains in top condition even after years of use.

In addition to our use of MIL-SPEC fabrics, Ovis Mountain incorporates MIL-SPEC webbing and heavy-duty MIL-SPEC polyester Tex 90 thread in our backpacks. This ensures that every component of our packs meets the highest standards of reliability, providing gear that you can trust in any situation.

All of our packs feature heavy-duty #10 water-resistant zippers for added reliability and security. These zippers are equipped with reflective zipper pulls, aiding in accessing your bag in the dark and helping to locate your pack at night.

We didn't just focus on the fabrics; we also prioritized the reliability of our side release buckles too. Observing that the outdoor industry commonly employs Duraflex’s Mojave buckles, we wanted to validate if they were indeed the optimal choice or something that could be updated. To determine this, we conducted rigorous testing on the top side release buckles in the industry, yielding unexpected results. Our tests revealed that the Mojave buckles consistently failed at 70lbs, exhibiting a recurring breakage pattern. In contrast, the Stealth buckles never broke but rather began to slip at weights exceeding a hundred pounds. Using this data, we made the informed decision to utilize Stealth buckles across all our pack systems.

 

 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 palces 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.