Few things go together quite so well as Mystery Ranch and SITKA. It only makes sense that the two Bozeman brands would team up, yet again, for the release of a much-needed upgrade to soft bow cases.

　　Ive had a few soft bow cases, and Ive never been impressed with any of them. Theyre oversized, offer odd, inconvenient storage, and end up being a flop I use once or twice before I toss them in the donate pile. When I heard of this new upgrade to the conventional soft bow case, I was optimistic but only cautiously. So, what did this collaboration do differently?

　　“We wanted a soft-shell bow case that offers trustworthy storage without looking like an oversized convention tote bag,” said Brad Christian, SITKA STUDIO Brand Creative Director. “So we collaborated with Mystery Ranch to design the Ryder, a case that secures your bow, organizes your essentials, and looks worthy of housing the rig you spent all summer tuning. I couldn’t be more amped with how it turned out.”

　　I have the bow case in hand and havent had a chance to thoroughly test it yet, but I wanted to be sure to get a first look out the door. After all, this is a limited-edition piece. If you want one, youll have to jump at the opportunity.

　　In short: Without testing this much in the field and having only a short time to check out the Ryder Bow Case, I can say it seems pretty rad. If youre in the market for a soft bow case and you can stomach the price tag ($379), Im not sure you can really go wrong here.

　　Mystery Ranch x SITKA STUDIO Ryder Bow Case Specs 3 customizable daisy chains with 2 removable rubber hook-and-loop straps 840D Ballistic Carbonate Coated Nylon Padded on all sides Exterior padded zippered pocket for arrows/arrow case Two zippered mesh pockets for other accessories 40 long x 20 wide Stretch-woven cam-securing corner protectors  Inner lid has 2 zippered mesh pockets and a large padded zippered pocket Removable shoulder strap Back of case features 8 web loops

　　Pros Ample, well-thought-out storage Compact Seems very protective for soft case Modern, cool look Cons Expensive for a soft case Rachelle Schrute Buy Now at Mystery Ranch First Look: Mystery Ranch x SITKA STUDIO Ryder Bow Case Well, it survived shipping, which is a feat all its own.

　　First test complete: The Ryder Bow Case miraculously survives FedEx; (photo/Rachelle Schrute) Again, Ill reiterate that this isnt a full review. This is a half-review, half-first look. If this were a product that wasnt only going to be available in limited quantities, Id put through a whole lot more before I even opened my mouth about it.

　　The Ryder Bow Case

　　Welcome to the gear heap, Ryder; (photo/Rachelle Schrute) I tend to be rather cynical about these limited-edition products/collaborations. It seems like so often, theyre a whole lot of marketing and not near enough practicality or value. At just sub-$400, I was worried this would be the case here.

　　At first glance, in total honesty, this thing seems rad. The look is clean and understated, with an almost urban meets industrial feel. The black-on-black with small blaze details and inner sub-alpine touches are understated and cool-looking. Nothing about this case screams SITKA or Mystery Ranch, and theres something kind of neat about that.

　　The included Range Bag is slick. I can see using it for my range finder, my release, a spare, and maybe a few extras like field points and chapstick.

　　The cam pockets have a nice stretchy yoga pants feel. Combined with the anchor straps, they feel super secure, like theyll keep your bow from wiggling loose.

　　For me, the additional, nearly full-length storage pockets are a huge plus. Not only can I store my arrow case/quiver, but I think I might be able to fit my recurve and longbow (broken down) in here as well.

　　Overall First Impression of the Ryder Bow Case

　　At $379, I had high expectations and low hopes for my initial meeting with the Ryder Bow Case. That being said, I am pleasantly surprised so far. I assume these things will sell out fast, so my advice would be to get one on order, even if youre on the fence.

　　If you have the spare change lying around, I cant imagine youd be disappointed in grabbing one.

　　Once I get this thing put through my normal, brutal, abusive tests, Ill be sure to update this first look with a full-blown review. For now, I think this bow case is a good one.

　　The Best Bow Cases of 2023Safely transporting your bow from point A to point B can mean the difference in hitting what you’re aiming at and not. Here are our top picks for bow cases in 2023. Read more