ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag vs Badlands ATX 25
Quick take: The Badlands ATX 25 costs $10 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag carries more (86 vs 41 liters); the Badlands ATX 25 is lighter (3.85 vs 7.94 lbs).
Which one to buy
A $10 gap hides two packs built for different halves of a hunt. The Badlands ATX 25 is a 41 L framed day pack at 3.85 lb with a built-in blaze-orange meat shelf. Owners report it comfortable on long approach hikes, but its minimalist T-6 frame flexes under truly heavy loads, which makes it a deer-and-quarters tool. The ALPS Commander + Pack Bag is a freighter, an external aluminum frame with a fold-out shelf and a detachable 86 L bag, and owners report lashing 100+ lb loads to it over multiple elk seasons. If you hunt elk and need to bring a quarter out on your back, the Commander is the one that's built for it.
Fit and warranty pull the other way. The Commander's torso adjusts from 17 to 23 in with a 33-60 in belt, so it fits nearly anyone. The ATX gives you nothing to adjust: one size, a fixed suspension and a sewn-on waistbelt, which suits an average build and not much beyond it. On warranty, Badlands covers defects for life and promises a best-effort repair of field rips and tears, while one long-term Commander owner had strap failures after four years dismissed as normal wear under ALPS's defects-only coverage.
Neither is quiet. Reviewers call the ATX's fabric crinkly for archery and still-hunting; Commander owners say its pins jingle until taped and bowhunters pass on it. The Commander also snags brush and treestand ladders, has no hipbelt pockets, and gets punishing past 80 lbs over a mile. The ATX has no weapon boot, so a rifle or bow gets rigged with compression straps, and it has no raincover or hipbelt pockets either. At roughly half the Commander's weight, the ATX is the pack you'll still want on at noon on a deer hunt, which is exactly where the Commander's freighter frame turns into dead weight.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag
The better fit for elk hunters who need a real pack-out frame and an adjustable fit, and who will live with the weight and a noisy, snag-prone walk in.
Badlands ATX 25
For deer hunters of average build who carry their pack from dark to dark, the ATX's light frame and lifetime warranty with best-effort field-damage repair matter more than freighter capacity.
| Spec | ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag | Badlands ATX 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $270 | $260 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 86 L | 41 L (2,500 cu in) |
| Weight | 7.94 lbs | 3.85 lb |
| Max Load | Not published by the manufacturer | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | 17-23 in adjustable | One size, fixed suspension |
| Material | Ripstop polyester | Durable 2-layer fabric with C0 (PFAS-free) DWR finish |
| Back Panel | Padded straps and waist belt on an aluminum external freighter frame with fold-out freight shelf | Comfort-focused molded foam suspension over an internal T-6 aluminum frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (materials and workmanship defects) | Badlands Unconditional Lifetime Warranty: defects in materials or workmanship for the life of the product; field rips and tears repaired on a best-effort basis |
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.
Badlands ATX 25
- ✓Genuinely light for a framed meat hauler - 3.85 lb with an internal T-6 aluminum frame is closer to ultralight brands than typical Badlands weight
- ✓Built-in blaze-orange meat shelf deploys for hauling quarters without buying any add-ons
- ✓Streamlined, uncomplicated layout - reviewers like that it skips the pocket overload of older Badlands packs
- ✓Unconditional lifetime warranty covers defects for life, with best-effort repair of field damage, a standout at this price tier
- ✓Comfortable molded-foam suspension - owners report all-day comfort on long approach hikes with elevation
- ✓SWAP accessory system and Bino Connect compatibility let you bolt on pouches and a bino harness cleanly
- ✓C0 PFAS-free DWR sheds light rain and morning brush moisture well
- ✓At $259.99 it undercuts most framed hunting packs with a meat shelf by $100 or more
- ✗Fabric is noticeably loud/crinkly for still-hunting and archery-range encounters - a repeated reviewer gripe
- ✗Fixed one-size torso and suspension - very tall or short hunters can't fine-tune the fit
- ✗Built-in waistbelt is not removable, so you can't strip it down for treestand use
- ✗No dedicated rifle or bow boot - weapons have to be rigged with the compression straps
- ✗Minimalist internal frame flexes under truly heavy pack-out loads compared to Badlands' MRK series
- ✗Small review base so far (28 reviews) since the ATX line is relatively new
- ✗No raincover or hipbelt pockets included
- ✗41 L is a stretch for anything beyond a single overnight, and the ATX line offers nothing bigger
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag vs Badlands ATX 25: common questions
Can the ATX 25 pack out an elk quarter like the Commander?▾
Owners report carrying moderate-heavy loads comfortably, but the minimalist frame flexes under truly heavy pack-out weight, which makes it a deer tool. Commander owners report lashing 100+ lb loads to its external frame across multiple elk seasons.
Which warranty is better?▾
Badlands covers defects in materials and workmanship for life and promises to try to repair field rips and tears. ALPS covers materials and workmanship defects only, and one Commander owner had strap failures after four years dismissed as normal wear.
Which one fits a hunter who is shorter or taller than average?▾
The Commander adjusts from 17 to 23 in, so most torsos can be dialed in. The ATX 25 is one size with fixed suspension and a non-removable belt, so it suits average builds best; try it on if you're at either end.