ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit vs Kuiu Divide 1200
Quick take: The ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit costs $39 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit carries more (44 vs 20 liters); the Kuiu Divide 1200 is lighter (1.94 vs 4.4 lbs).
| Spec | ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit | Kuiu Divide 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | $139 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (2,000) | 4.8★ (956) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 44 L | 20 L |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs | 1 lb 15 oz |
| Max Load | No official rating (day-pack loads; not a quarter hauler per forum consensus) | Not rated (frameless; light day loads) |
| Torso Fit | One size, adjustable harness (fits best under ~6 ft per reviewers) | One size, sternum-strap track for adjustment |
| Material | Quiet brushed tricot fabric | 330D CORDURA with waterproof CORDURA-lined Divide pocket |
| Back Panel | Padded back panel and lumbar pad over an internal aluminum frame with extension lashing straps | Multi-density foam with breathable Spacer Air Mesh and a flexible framesheet |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | No | Yes |
| Raincover included | Yes | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (materials and workmanship defects) | Kuiu Lifetime Guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship |
Pros & cons
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.
Kuiu Divide 1200
- ✓Kuiu's most-reviewed pack: 4.8/5 across 956 kuiu.com reviews, with many owners buying a second one for travel or ranch use
- ✓At $139 it undercuts nearly every name-brand hunting day pack while keeping 330D CORDURA construction
- ✓Under 2 lb - lighter than almost anything else in Kuiu's pack line
- ✓Expandable Divide pocket with quick-release compression straps and a hidden zip bottom carries a tripod, spotter, or extra layers outside the main bag
- ✓Well organized for the size: two zippered compartments with five internal mesh pockets plus expandable side stuff pockets
- ✓Spacer Air Mesh back panel and padded mesh straps wear comfortably all day (rackcamp.com's reviewer uses it daily for scouting, hiking, and workouts)
- ✓Full 3 L hydration compatibility with a bladder clip - uncommon at this price
- ✓Blaze Orange colorway available, which owner reviews call ideal for scouting and rifle-season visibility
- ✗Smaller than buyers expect - multiple reviews call it 'super small,' and one questions how anyone fits a scope-on-tripod in it; consider the Divide 1500 if in doubt
- ✗Frameless design (flexible framesheet only) sags and gets uncomfortable if you load it heavy
- ✗Waist belt is thin removable webbing with no padding and no pockets
- ✗The open-top Divide pocket confuses some owners and collects rain, leaves, and debris since it never fully closes
- ✗Gun and bow carry requires Kuiu's separately sold holder accessories - only webbing attachment loops are built in
- ✗A few owners report the light-colored fabrics stain easily
- ✗No rain cover included, and the expandable pockets that make it versatile also soak up weather
- ✗Too small for all-day cold-weather sits once bulky layers are involved - it is a fair-weather scouting size