ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
Quick take: The ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag costs $99.99 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack carries more (66 vs 63 liters); the ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag is lighter (5.8 vs 9.2 lbs).
Which one to buy
The cheaper ALPS freighter here is also the lighter one by more than three pounds. The Elite Frame + Pack Bag is about $450 for 63 L at 5.8 lbs; the Commander X + Pack is about $550 for 66 L at 9.2 lbs. Neither has a published load rating, but ALPS says the Elite's composite frame is 30% stronger than the Commander frame, and owners report full-deer pack-outs, and a long-term reviewer carried a bighorn on the bare frame. For most hunters the Elite is the better buy.
Fit is where that could flip. The Elite's yoke spans 14-20 in, which finally gives short-torso and youth hunters an ALPS freighter that fits. The Commander X runs 17-21 in with belts to a 54 in waist, so a torso just over 20 in only fits the Commander X. Slim hunters should also know the Elite's standard belt starts at 31 in, and the smaller one is an extra purchase.
One long-term reviewer named the Elite's g-hook bag attachment, which strips off in seconds for a meat haul, his favorite feature. The organization is strong too: interior and front mesh pockets, a spotting-scope sleeve and a two-way zipper that opens the bag flat. The complaints are small: the yoke feels slightly less stable than premium makers', there's no floating lid, and it's sold only in Stone Gray, which bothers bowhunters who want camo. The Commander X offers compression wings plus a lower shelf for meat, but nothing on its spec sheet makes up for the weight and the extra $100.
ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag
For nearly every hunter with a torso between 14 and 20 in, this is the lighter, cheaper and better-organized ALPS freighter.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
Only worth the extra $100 and weight if your torso runs past 20 in or you need its belt range up to a 54 in waist.
| Spec | ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag | ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $450 | $549.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 63 L | 66 L |
| Weight | 5.8 lbs | 9.2 lbs |
| Max Load | Not published by the manufacturer | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | 14-20 in, 6-position removable-strap yoke marked XS-XXL | Adjustable, 17-21 in; waist 31-54 in |
| Material | 500D nylon CORDURA, PU-coated and water-resistant, over a thermoplastic composite frame | Heavy-duty fabric (denier not published) with hypalon-reinforced stress points |
| Back Panel | Ultra-quiet 3D air mesh suspension with contoured lumbar pad and anti-slip surface | Molded foam suspension over dual aluminum stays in a channeled ABS frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | Yes | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | ALPS Brands limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship (normal wear, UV damage and commercial use excluded) | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (defects in materials and workmanship) |
Pros & cons
ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag
- ✓A long-term field reviewer called the g-hook bag-to-frame attachment his favorite feature of the whole system - no threading webbing through ladder locks, and he detached it on a Sonoran mountainside for a bighorn load without hesitating.
- ✓Organization is far ahead of the dump-bag designs Stone Glacier and Kifaru sell at this size: five interior mesh pockets, three front-panel mesh pockets, a huge top lid pocket, and a dedicated spotting scope sleeve that swallowed an 85 mm Vortex Razor.
- ✓The horseshoe two-way main zipper opens the bag flat so you reach the bottom without unpacking - a feature most sub-$500 hunting packs skip entirely.
- ✓At 5 lbs 13 oz minimum the Elite is roughly 2 lbs lighter than ALPS's own Commander system and about 3.5 lbs lighter than the Commander X, a real generational jump for the brand.
- ✓The 6-position removable-strap yoke spans a 6-inch torso range (14-20 in) against the Commander X frame's 4 inches, and it finally gives short-torso and youth hunters an ALPS freighter that actually fits.
- ✓Extras that are $40-$80 aftermarket add-ons on premium frames - two hip pockets, rain cover, drop-down weapon holder, two extension lashing straps - all come in the box.
- ✓500D PU-coated CORDURA held up to being used as checked-and-carried luggage for a 6-day Mexico sheep hunt with the zippers 'screaming,' per one owner, with no failures.
- ✓The frame works as a standalone hauler with the load panel already sewn on, so you never carry a separate meat shelf accessory the way you do on some internal-frame systems.
- ✗One long-term reviewer's only real complaint was frame weight - at just over 4 lbs on his scale with the hip pouches, the frame is a half pound to a pound heavier than what 'elite' pack makers ship.
- ✗He also judged the adjustable yoke 'slightly less stable' than yokes from premium makers, though not uncomfortable under load.
- ✗There is no separate floating lid - the top zippered pocket has to do that job, so you lose the overflow capacity a true extendable lid gives you on a Mystery Ranch Metcalf.
- ✗3,800 ci is a long-weekend bag, not a week bag; several owners were explicit that 'you'll not get a week's worth of backcountry hunting necessities' inside without the 5800.
- ✗Owner reviewers also noted it may not be the pick for extreme weight hauls, where dedicated freighters like the Kifaru or Exo frames still have the edge.
- ✗The system is only sold in Stone Gray - there is no camo option, which matters to bowhunters who want pattern matching.
- ✗The standard waist belt starts at 31 in, so slim hunters have to buy the separate small belt (down to 27 in) as an extra purchase.
- ✗It is very thinly reviewed at retail - Sportsman's Warehouse has 4 reviews and ALPS's own site 3, so long-term durability data is thin compared to the 620-review Commander.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
- ✓A raincover stows in its own bottom pocket.
- ✓The removable belt carries pockets.
- ✓Drop-down pocket holds a rifle or bow hands-free.
- ✓Compression wings plus a lower shelf give two ways to carry meat.
- ✓Torso adjusts from 17 to 21 in with belts to a 54 in waist.
- ✓Costs less than most carbon-stay systems.
- ✗9.2 lb empty is among the heaviest packs in the hunting category.
- ✗ALPS publishes no load rating or fabric denier.
- ✗66 L is modest for a pack this heavy.
- ✗Torso range stops at 21 in, shorter than the old Commander's 23.
ALPS OutdoorZ Elite Frame + Pack Bag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack: common questions
Is the Elite strong enough to replace the Commander X for meat hauling?▾
For deer and sheep, yes. A long-term reviewer stripped the bag off mid-hunt and carried a bighorn on the bare Elite frame, which ALPS rates as 30% stronger than the Commander's. Owners still send anyone planning extreme triple-digit hauls to a dedicated freighter, and ALPS publishes a load rating for neither pack.
Will the Elite fit a 21 in torso?▾
No. The Elite's six-position yoke adjusts from 14 to 20 in. The Commander X adjusts from 17 to 21 in, so a 21 in torso is at the top of its range and it is the one of these two that fits.
Is 63 L enough for a week-long hunt?▾
Several owners say the Elite's bag is a long-weekend to 3-4 day bag, not a week bag. The same frame takes the larger Elite 5800 (95 L) bag for longer trips.