ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS
Quick take: The ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS costs $40.01 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag carries more (86 vs 74 liters); the ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS is lighter (7.8 vs 7.94 lbs).
Which one to buy
Do you want one pack for the whole hunt, or a hauling rig you put on when something is down? The Traverse EPS is the first kind: an internal H frame with a 54 L bag that opens to 74 L for meat, plus a raincover, hydration sleeve, hipbelt pockets and a weapon carry, for about $230. The Commander + Pack Bag is the second: an external freighter frame with a fold-out shelf and a detachable 86 L bag, listed at $270. Owners call it a budget pack-out favorite and report lashing 100+ lb loads to the frame.
That difference in frames matters most. ALPS gives the Traverse no load rating, and its tubular frame isn't built for freighter loads, so a heavy elk quarter is a job for the Commander. The Traverse's torso range also runs 15-20 in against the Commander's 17-23 in, which settles it for hunters at either end.
The Commander has well-known weaknesses. It snags brush and treestand ladders, the clevis pins jingle until you tape them, the ripstop is noisy, there are no hipbelt pockets, and the thin padding gets punishing with 80+ lbs over a mile. One long-term owner had strap failures after four years dismissed as normal wear, and the same limited warranty covers both packs. For deer-sized hunts and short torsos the Traverse is the easier pack to live with. For elk country, where one bad pack-out costs more than $40, the Commander is the safer frame.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag
Made for elk hunters and anyone over a 20 in torso who needs a frame that can take a lashed quarter and doesn't mind a noisy, snag-prone carry in.
ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS
A good fit for shorter hunters and deer-sized game, where a single pack that expands for a modest load beats switching to a freighter.
| Spec | ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag | ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $270 | $229.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 86 L | 74 L |
| Weight | 7.94 lbs | 7.8 lbs |
| Max Load | Not published by the manufacturer | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | 17-23 in adjustable | Adjustable, 15-20 in |
| Material | Ripstop polyester | Not stated by the manufacturer |
| Back Panel | Padded straps and waist belt on an aluminum external freighter frame with fold-out freight shelf | Padded back panel on a tubular aluminum H frame with a three-layer waist belt |
| 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 | Yes |
| Warranty | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (materials and workmanship defects) | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (defects in materials and workmanship) |
Pros & cons
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag
- ✓A budget pack-out favorite: owners report hauling multiple elk and deer over five-plus seasons on one.
- ✓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 makes it a popular loaner.
- ✓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 pricier 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 owners as genuinely usable rather than gimmicky.
- ✓Simple clevis-pin frame construction means field repairs need nothing more than hardware-store pins — a durability advantage owners 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 15 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; owners 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 contrast with Badlands, which also covers defects for life but promises to try to repair field rips and tears.
- ✗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 — many bowhunters pass on it for close-range work.
ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS
- ✓The expandable section adds 1,200 ci for meat without a separate frame.
- ✓Under $230 with a raincover included.
- ✓Torso adjusts from 15 in, shorter than most hunting packs reach.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets, hydration sleeve and weapon carry included.
- ✓Three-layer waist belt.
- ✗7.8 lb empty is heavy for the volume.
- ✗No load rating, which matters on a pack sold for hauling meat.
- ✗Tubular aluminum frame is not built for the loads a freighter carries.
- ✗Torso tops out at 20 in.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Traverse EPS: common questions
Is the Commander worth $40 more than the Traverse EPS?▾
If you hunt elk, yes. Owners report hauling 100+ lb loads on the Commander's external frame, while the Traverse has no load rating and a tubular frame that isn't meant for freighter loads. For deer and day hunts, the Traverse's raincover and hipbelt pockets make it the better everyday pack.
Does the Commander's noise matter for still-hunting?▾
Yes. The clevis pins and rings jingle until owners silence them with cotter pins and tape, the stiff ripstop is loud, and bowhunters generally pass on it for close-range work.
Which one fits a 16 in torso?▾
Only the Traverse EPS, which adjusts from 15 to 20 in. The Commander's torso range starts at 17 in, so a 16 in back sits below its shortest setting and the hipbelt would ride too low.