ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit
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Quick take: The ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit costs $50 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag carries more (86 vs 44 liters); the ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit is lighter (4.4 vs 7.3 lbs).
| Spec | ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag | ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $100 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (1,400) | 4.6★ (2,000) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 86 L | 44 L |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs | 4.4 lbs |
| Max Load | No official rating (owners routinely lash 100+ lb loads to the frame) | No official rating (day-pack loads; not a quarter hauler per forum consensus) |
| Torso Fit | 17-23 in adjustable | One size, adjustable harness (fits best under ~6 ft per reviewers) |
| Material | Ripstop polyester | Quiet brushed tricot fabric |
| Back Panel | Padded straps and waist belt on an aluminum external freighter frame with fold-out freight shelf | Padded back panel and lumbar pad over an internal aluminum frame with extension lashing straps |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (materials and workmanship defects) | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (materials and workmanship defects) |
Pros & cons
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag
- ✓The undisputed budget pack-out king on Hunt Talk and Rokslide — owners report hauling multiple elk and deer over five-plus seasons from a system that often sells under $150.
- ✓The bag detaches in minutes, leaving a dedicated freighter frame with a fold-out shelf and full lashing system that carries a lashed elk quarter more securely than most internal-frame meat shelves.
- ✓True adjustable suspension with a 17-23 inch torso range and 33-60 inch belt — it fits nearly anyone in camp, which is why it's the most-loaned elk pack on the forums.
- ✓At 5,250 ci (86 L) the bag swallows a full multi-day camp plus a spotting scope in its dedicated pocket, capacity that costs three times as much from Mystery Ranch or Stone Glacier.
- ✓For pure weight hauling it outperforms same-price internal-frame day packs like the Badlands 2200 class — the rigid external frame transfers triple-digit loads to the hips instead of collapsing.
- ✓The drop-down rifle holder and front organization pockets earn consistent praise from Amazon reviewers as genuinely usable rather than gimmicky.
- ✓Simple clevis-pin frame construction means field repairs need nothing more than hardware-store pins — a durability advantage forum users cite over welded or carbon frames.
- ✓Reviewers consistently describe the ripstop fabric and zippers as holding up beyond what the price suggests, with several multi-year owners reporting zero blowouts.
- ✗At 7 lb 5 oz empty it is one of the heaviest systems in its class — nearly three pounds more than modern bag-and-frame hybrids like an Exo K4 3200.
- ✗The clevis pins and metal rings jingle as you walk — a known out-of-the-box annoyance that owners silence with cotter pins and electrical tape.
- ✗The tall, rigid external frame snags brush and treestand ladders constantly; Rokslide users are blunt that this is a hauling rig, not a stalking or timber pack.
- ✗Padding is thin by modern standards — hunters who carry 80+ lbs more than a mile say the shoulder straps and belt get punishing compared to premium suspensions.
- ✗ALPS's limited warranty draws complaints — one long-term owner had every strap failure after four years dismissed as normal wear, a sharp contrast to Badlands' unconditional policy.
- ✗No hip-belt pockets or modern ergonomics — rangefinder and calls end up in bag pockets you can't reach with the pack on.
- ✗The 33-inch-tall bag rides high above your head when stuffed, making the loaded pack top-heavy and a sail in open-country wind.
- ✗Stiff ripstop and a creaky frame make it audibly noisier than brushed-fabric packs — bowhunters on Archery Talk generally pass on it for close-range work.
ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit
- ✓The drop-down bow and gun boot is the standout feature — Rokslide users call it a system that 'works great and keeps everything tight' for hands-free climbs to the stand.
- ✓A blaze-orange raincover comes in the box at ~$100 — a feature the $400 Badlands 2200 doesn't include at four times the price.
- ✓The brushed tricot fabric is genuinely quiet in brush, which is why whitetail bowhunters repeatedly pick it over stiffer, crinklier packs in its price class.
- ✓Reviewers single out the lumbar and lower-back padding as far better than a sub-$100 pack has any right to have.
- ✓The waist-belt pocket swallows a rangefinder or release, keeping essentials reachable without dropping the pack.
- ✓At 2,700 ci (44 L) it carries more than most similarly priced day packs, with a big front pocket, mesh bottle pockets, and a hydration sleeve keeping it organized.
- ✓At 4 lb 7 oz it undercuts the Badlands 2200 by well over a pound while offering nearly identical volume.
- ✓Amazon owners consistently rate it among the best value hunting packs sold, with years of reviews describing it as 'more pack than the price suggests'.
- ✗The Rokslide verdict is unambiguous: it will not comfortably pack out elk quarters — the thin harness collapses under real meat weight despite the aluminum frame.
- ✗Cheap plastic buckles are the recurring failure — multiple forum owners report broken buckles and shrug it off as 'you get what you pay for'.
- ✗The one-size harness runs short: reviewers over about 5'11" consistently say the torso and shoulder straps don't fit them properly.
- ✗The zippers are noticeably loud — an ironic flaw on an otherwise quiet pack that bowhunters call out at close range.
- ✗ALPS's limited warranty only covers manufacturing defects, a big step down from the unconditional lifetime coverage Badlands offers in the next price tier.
- ✗The solid foam back panel has no ventilation channels, so early-season hunters report a sweat-soaked shirt on warm hikes in.
- ✗There's no meat shelf or load sling — hauling anything beyond backstraps means improvising with the lashing straps.
- ✗Forum users generally treat it as a starter pack — most who get serious about western hunting replace it within a couple of seasons, so don't expect it to grow with you.