Kifaru 357 Mag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
Quick take: The ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack costs $0.01 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack carries more (66 vs 63 liters); the Kifaru 357 Mag is lighter (4.8 vs 9.2 lbs).
Which one to buy
At about $550 and similar volume each, the 4.4 lb between these two is the story. The Kifaru 357 Mag is 4.8 lb complete on a sewn-in composite-stay suspension with an 80 lb comfort rating, and owners report clean 100+ lb pack-outs and call it the most comfortable internal frame they know at 60 lb and under. The ALPS Commander X + Pack weighs 9.2 lb empty and comes with no load rating at all.
The Commander X answers with kit. It has a lower shelf plus compression wings for meat, a drop-down pocket that carries a rifle or bow hands-free, a raincover in its own pocket, and a removable belt with pockets. The 357 has none of those as standard: no external load shelf, so meat rides inside against the back panel, and owners debate whether a full bone-in quarter is practical. Weapon carry and belt storage are paid add-ons.
Fit is a real difference. The Commander X adjusts from 17 to 21 in with belts up to a 54 in waist. The 357 comes with Short or Long shoulder straps, Long for 18 in and up, and swappable belts in several waist sizes, and owners note heavy loads past about 80 lb get floppy up high. For deer and 1-3 day western hunts where you walk far, the 357's weight and suspension are worth paying the add-on tax for.
Kifaru 357 Mag
For hunters who cover big miles on 1-3 day trips and want a light, proven suspension, and who mostly debone meat rather than haul quarters.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
Better suited to hunters who want a meat shelf, weapon carry, belt pockets and a raincover included, and who can carry a 9.2 lb pack.
| Spec | Kifaru 357 Mag | ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $550 | $549.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 63 L | 66 L |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs | 9.2 lbs |
| Max Load | 80 lbs comfortable (Kifaru) | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | Short or Long shoulder-strap options (Long fits 18 in+ torsos), interchangeable Omni/Duplex belts in multiple waist sizes | Adjustable, 17-21 in; waist 31-54 in |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with PALS webbing; made in USA | Heavy-duty fabric (denier not published) with hypalon-reinforced stress points |
| Back Panel | Kutthroat-derived suspension with 24 in composite stays and 3 load-lifter attachment points, sewn-in (not a swap-frame system) | Molded foam suspension over dual aluminum stays in a channeled ABS frame |
| 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 | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (defects in materials and workmanship) |
Pros & cons
Kifaru 357 Mag
- ✓Several owners call it the best internal-frame pack Kifaru has ever made, retiring comparisons to the Late Season, Timberline, and Tarryall lines.
- ✓Several owners describe the Kutthroat-derived suspension as the most comfortable internal frame they have used at 60 lbs and under, and owners report clean 100+ lb pack-outs despite the 80 lb comfort rating.
- ✓Full panel access plus top access makes packing and digging for gear dramatically easier than the roll-top-only routine on a Kifaru Reckoning or Sky 5900.
- ✓Dual 530 ci side pockets swallow a full-size spotting scope and tripod each — stock optics carry that Stone Glacier needs its front pocket and Exo needs accessories to match.
- ✓The belt is fully modular: run the burly Duplex belt for heavy hauls, the slim Omni to cut weight, or delete it entirely for truck-stand days.
- ✓Interior K-clip tabs let you strap a deboned deer tight against the back panel, and one Kifaru reviewer called it '6/5 stars for deer' hunting.
- ✓At 4.8 lbs complete and $550 all-in, it's both the lightest and cheapest pack in the flagship class — no separate $500 ARK frame purchase required.
- ✓Made-in-USA 500D CORDURA construction with Kifaru's lifetime warranty and PALS webbing everywhere earns it a perfect 5.0 rating from site reviewers.
- ✗At 3,860 ci (63 L) it is well short of a Metcalf 75 or Sky 5900 — weeklong backcountry hunts force ruthless packing or a move to the 44 Mag.
- ✗There's no external load shelf between bag and frame like Stone Glacier and Exo offer, so elk quarters ride inside the bag against the back panel — owner threads openly debate whether it can handle a full quarter.
- ✗Past roughly 80 lbs the limited upper attachment points let the load get 'floppy' up high, a documented complaint from heavy pack-out owners.
- ✗It carries bulky in day mode with minimal gear — nothing like the Sky 5900's cinched-down bivy mode, and owners say a 14'r day pack does light duty better.
- ✗Weapon carry isn't stock: the famous Gun Bearer and Sherman Pocket are paid add-ons, and Kifaru's accessory ecosystem inflates the real price fast.
- ✗The suspension is sewn in, so unlike Kifaru's Duplex Lite/ARK bag-and-frame owners you can't upgrade the frame later — a notable trade in the year Kifaru launched the ARK.
- ✗Minimal retail presence means almost no one tries one on before buying, and the 5.0 rating rests on just 7 site reviews versus 500+ for the Exo K4.
- ✗Price-per-liter is the worst of the flagship group — $550 for 63 L versus $575 for the Metcalf's 75 L — so you're paying for the suspension, not space.
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.
Kifaru 357 Mag vs ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack: common questions
Can the Kifaru 357 Mag carry elk quarters like the Commander X's shelf?▾
Not the same way. It has no external shelf, so meat rides inside against the back panel, and owners debate whether a full bone-in quarter is practical. For deboned meat it works well, with interior tabs that strap it tight to the back panel. The Commander X has a lower shelf and compression wings.
Is the Commander X worth its extra weight?▾
Only if you value its included features over carrying comfort. It adds a shelf, weapon pocket, raincover and belt pockets, but it weighs 9.2 lb empty with no load rating, while the 357 Mag is 4.4 lb lighter and rated for 80 lb in comfort.
Does the 357 Mag come with rifle carry?▾
No. The Gun Bearer and Sherman Pocket are paid add-ons, and Kifaru's accessories add up quickly. The Commander X has a drop-down pocket for a rifle or bow as standard.