Great simple backpack. comfortable, adjustable, and more volume than advertised. - Mystery Ranch Ridge Ruck 17 Backpack

Pros:
This is a 4.5 stars rating, but still not 5.

This backpack offers a decent amount of adjustability for its size. I am 5'9" and bulky and I was able to find the right fit for me being comfortable on the trail. The shoulder straps paddings are quite comfortable and somewhat ventilated. Once adjusted, the pack moves with you without this "off balance" feeling that certain bags produce. Moreover, it adapts pretty well if you add or remove layers during the hike.

It does feel like a bigger backpack than the advertised 17L. The minimalist approach makes you looking for the extra zipped compartements but you should appreciate the large open volume available for your stuff. External daisy chains are a plus for sure.

I retrofitted the bag with a 2.5L Osprey bladder and it was just fine. The reinforced back support does help to keep everything quite sturdy compared to my Camlbak. This is an overall well made, high quality hydration pack.

Cons:

The routing for your bladder's hose is quite tricky. I could not get a proper setup for my hose as there is not loops or dedicated hooks for the hose. The hose exits straight up from the backpack which limit your routing choices. My bladder's quick connect was right at the pack's hose outlet.

The foam and mesh back support does not breath well and tend to accumulate sweat and take quite a time to dry. Not having an air gap between the pack and your back keeps the bag close to you, so as the sweat. No bag is perfect regarding this point, it is still better than other backpack IMHO.
Storage: I personally would appreciate an extra pocket inside to stack small items like matches, batteries, and things that you don't use all the time during your activity.The outside compartment is large enough for a ell phone and a wallet but I would like to separate my keys from them. The belt pockets are practical but the front zipped pocket is made out of mesh which is a little weird for snacks or else.

And not 100% sure how a 3L bladder would fit (if needed) with the hose routing system, but this has to be determine.

Overall, I do recommend this hydration backpack. It stands above its competitors based on my comparison.