Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 vs ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
Quick take: The Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 costs $9.99 less; the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack carries more (66 vs 57 liters); the Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 is lighter (3.2 vs 9.2 lbs).
Which one to buy
The ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack costs $10 more than the Gila and weighs 9.2 lbs empty, among the heaviest hunting packs on this site. The Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 weighs a fraction of that. The question is whether the Commander's hunting features are worth carrying all that extra frame and fabric up every ridge.
Those features are real, and the Gila lacks most of them. The Commander has compression wings and a lower shelf for meat, a drop-down pocket that holds a rifle or bow hands-free, hipbelt pockets, and a raincover in its own bottom pocket. Gila owners say plainly that it isn't a natural meat hauler, with no shelf and a modest bag opening. If your season ends with packing quarters out, the Commander is set up for it on day one, though ALPS publishes no load rating or fabric denier.
The Gila wins on weight and fit range. Its frame adjusts to 24, 26 or 28 in in the field and its hipbelts cover 27-48 in waists, while the Commander's torso stops at 21 in. Owners say its side pockets each hold a Nalgene plus a tripod or spotting scope, and its laminate fabric sheds weather well without a cover. The frame also takes larger Seek Outside bags, such as the Unaweep 6300, if you later want a hauling setup. Expect an evening of harness adjustment first.
A taller hunter, or anyone covering big miles to reach game, should start with the Gila.
Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0
For long-distance backcountry hunters, taller torsos, and anyone who counts ounces and is willing to rig meat inside the bag or add a bigger bag later.
ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack
Best if you hunt shorter distances from camp or truck and want a meat shelf, hands-free weapon carry, hipbelt pockets and a raincover without buying add-ons.
| Spec | Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 | ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $540 | $549.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 57 L | 66 L |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs | 9.2 lbs |
| Max Load | 200+ lbs | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | Field-adjustable frame height 24 / 26 / 28 in; hipbelts S-XXL (27-48 in) | Adjustable, 17-21 in; waist 31-54 in |
| Material | Ultra 200X or UltraGrid laminate, roll-top closure | Heavy-duty fabric (denier not published) with hypalon-reinforced stress points |
| Back Panel | Revolution external frame with interchangeable bag mounting | 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 | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Seek Outside lifetime warranty on workmanship; 30-day return policy | ALPS limited lifetime warranty (defects in materials and workmanship) |
Pros & cons
Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0
- ✓Strip the cross stay and gatekeepers and Seek Outside lists it at 2 lbs 11 oz — remarkably light for a pack that carries triple-digit loads.
- ✓It carries far past its size class; owners have watched friends with bad knees hike out over 100 lbs on one.
- ✓The hipbelt is bolted to the frame rather than floating, which is the structural reason it handles weight the similarly-priced Flight cannot.
- ✓Owners who also own Stone Glacier and Exo packs call its comfort every bit their equal.
- ✓The side pockets are large and reachable while wearing the pack — owners stow a Nalgene plus a tripod or spotting scope on each side.
- ✓The frame is field-adjustable between 24, 26, and 28 inches, with hipbelts from S to XXL — a wider fit range than most hunting packs offer.
- ✓It stays comfortable at light loads too, which owners attribute to the frame's articulation rather than sheer stiffness.
- ✗The 2 lb 11 oz figure is a stripped minimum; shipped weight is 3 lb 3 oz, close to the 51.5 oz one reviewer's scale read.
- ✗Seek Outside's ventilation claims do not hold up for everyone; one owner reported just as much sweating as any internal-frame pack.
- ✗The redesigned hipbelt adds two long straps that tangle with each other during adjustment unless you add tri-glides.
- ✗The roll-top closure is slow to open and close compared to a lid-and-drawstring pack.
- ✗The dual hipbelt buckles divide owners — some prefer them to a single belt, others consider the arrangement a downgrade.
- ✗Dialing in the harness fit takes real effort, and plenty of owners report troubleshooting Seek Outside's fit system.
- ✗It is not a natural meat hauler — with no breakaway shelf and a modest bag opening, owners say it is rarely anyone's first pick for packing quarters.
- ✗It costs and weighs more than the Flight 3, which makes it a hard sell for anyone whose loads stay under about 35 lbs.
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.
Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 vs ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X + Pack: common questions
Is the Commander X worth its 9.2 lbs for packing out meat over the Gila 3500?▾
If quarters are a regular part of your hunt, it can be. The Commander has a lower shelf and compression wings, while Gila owners say the Seek Outside pack is rarely anyone's first pick for quarters. The cost is carrying 9.2 lbs of empty pack on every mile.
Which pack fits a long torso better, the Gila 3500 or the Commander X?▾
The Gila 3500. Its frame adjusts to 24, 26 or 28 in, while the Commander X's torso range is 17 to 21 in. On waist size the Commander reaches 54 in, beyond the Gila's 48 in largest belt.
Is a rain cover included with the Gila or the Commander X?▾
The Commander X includes one in a bottom pocket. The Gila doesn't, but its laminate fabric and roll-top shed rain well, and most owners use a liner for the sewn seams in sustained downpours.