Stone Glacier Sky 5900 vs Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400
Quick take: The Stone Glacier Sky 5900 costs $25 less; the Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 carries more (105 vs 96 liters); the Stone Glacier Sky 5900 is lighter (5.09 vs 5.18 lbs).
Which one to buy
Do you carry a bow or a rifle? The Sky Archer 6400's layout answers the rifle case: the bow rides on the front of the pack, so rifle hunters get nothing from its signature feature and are better served by the Sky 5900. For bowhunters, the Archer's 26 in side zipper gives full access to the bag while the bow stays strapped on, and owners who switched from other Stone Glacier bags say it ends the unpack-your-bow routine. They also note that when the bag is stuffed full, the side-zip access and internal spotter pocket get tight.
Under the bag, the two are close relatives. Both ride Stone Glacier's carbon-stay frames with a 150+ lb rating and a 2,500+ ci load shelf between bag and frame, both compress for day hunting, and both carry a removable Sky Lid. The Archer costs $25 more and holds 105 L against 96 L. A tester packed 110+ lb elk loads in the Sky 5900 and several owners back up its rating. Owners also cite its bivy mode, which cinches it to about 4,300 ci with no wiggle, so it doubles as a day pack. The Archer's bivy mode compresses it to a legitimate 4,000 ci day pack.
Two practical differences may settle it. The Archer's fabric has a PFAS treatment, so Stone Glacier can't ship it to California or New York. And both come on either the Krux or the curved Xcurve frame. Stone Glacier says the Xcurve's straps add vertical adjustment for shorter torsos, flat-backed hunters often prefer the straight-stay Krux, and a 23 in Krux Short is available. Both packs leave the hydration sleeve and hipbelt pockets as extras, and a full build runs well past the sticker: around $800 for the 5900, $850 or more for the Archer.
Stone Glacier Sky 5900
For rifle hunters who want Stone Glacier's do-it-all western pack that day-hunts small and hauls quarters.
Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400
Made for backcountry bowhunters on long hunts who want to reach gear without unstrapping the bow every time.
| Spec | Stone Glacier Sky 5900 | Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $725 | $750 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 96 L | 105 L |
| Weight | 5 lb 1.4 oz (Krux) / 5 lb 4.5 oz (Xcurve), complete with medium belt | 5 lb 2.8 oz (Krux) / 5 lb 6.8 oz (Xcurve), complete with medium belt |
| Max Load | 150+ lbs | 150+ lbs |
| Torso Fit | Hook-and-loop micro-adjustable yoke on a 26 in frame (23 in Krux Short available); Xcurve straps add vertical adjustment for shorter torsos; belts S 28-30, M 31-36, L 37+ in | Hook-and-loop harness with continuous height and angle adjustment; S/M/L belts (28"-37"+); Krux Short frame option for shorter torsos |
| Material | CORDURA 500 and X-Pac laminate, YKK #10 zippers, Duraflex hardware; made in USA | 500D Cordura + X-Pac laminate, YKK #10 Aquaguard zippers, 1" Duraflex military-spec hardware, made in USA |
| Back Panel | Xcurve carbon-stay frame with curved profile, adjustable lumbar pad, and integrated fold-out load shelf | Foam-padded carbon-stay frame panel (Krux or Xcurve frame) with nitrogen-infused foam harness |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship |
Pros & cons
Stone Glacier Sky 5900
- ✓The 150+ lb load rating is real-world verified — GearJunkie packed 110+ lb elk loads and said it 'carries like a dream with heavy weight', a claim several owners back up.
- ✓Bivy-mode compression is the party trick owners cite most often: the bag cinches from 5,900 ci with the lid to 4,300 ci with 'zero wiggle', so it genuinely replaces a day pack.
- ✓The fold-out load shelf adds 2,500+ ci between bag and frame (8,000 ci total), keeping bloody quarters off your camp gear entirely.
- ✓Full front-panel horseshoe zipper gives duffel-style access to the main bag — a major livability win over roll-top-only rivals like the Kifaru 357 Mag.
- ✓The 22-inch vertical front pocket swallows a full-size spotting scope, and glassing-heavy hunters call it the best stock optics solution in the category.
- ✓At 5 lb 1.4 oz complete on the Krux (2 lb 4.2 oz bag), it undercuts most 150 lb-class haulers — one common owner summary is 'lighter than the competition but extremely tough'.
- ✓Stone Glacier's fast shipping and lifetime defect warranty draw consistent praise from owners.
- ✓Hook-and-loop harness micro-adjustment lets you fine-tune torso length continuously instead of in fixed half-inch steps.
- ✗Hipbelt pockets cost extra, and owners say Stone Glacier's accessory hip pockets run small and 'fight back' when zipping them mildly full.
- ✗Organization is deliberately minimalist — one big cavity plus a few externals — so hunters coming from pocket-rich Mystery Ranch designs face a packing-cube learning curve.
- ✗The Sky Lid is the most common gripe in reviews: floppy when open and fiddly to reattach, with GearJunkie calling it the only thing they 'don't really love'.
- ✗$725 before add-ons (lid pockets, hip pockets, rifle sling) — real-world builds push $800, roughly $200 over a complete Metcalf 75.
- ✗The 5,400 ci main bag is 'just barely big enough' for cold-weather multi-day hunts; several owners steer week-plus trips to the Sky Guide 7900.
- ✗The Xcurve's pronounced curve suits some backs better than others, and flat-backed hunters often prefer the straight-stay Krux, so remote fit selection is a gamble.
- ✗Stone Glacier's rifle-carry solution trails Kifaru's Gun Bearer in reviewer preference, so many owners bolt on third-party weapon carry.
- ✗Dropping the bag to deploy the load shelf means unbuckling and re-tensioning straps — slower meat-mode transitions than Exo's flap-style shelf.
Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400
- ✓The 26-inch side zipper is the killer feature no competitor matches at this weight: full-height internal access with the bow still strapped to the pack face — owners who switched from the Talus 6900 say it eliminates the unpack-your-bow dance entirely.
- ✓Purpose-built bow carry using the top compression system and integrated storm flap holds the bow tight against the bag, keeping weight centered rather than swinging off one side like universal bow slings on Kifaru or Exo packs.
- ✓At 5 lb 2.8 oz complete on the Krux it is 1.8 oz lighter than the Sky Talus 6900 while carrying nearly identical volume, a spec that got long-time 6900 owners to switch.
- ✓The 2024 refresh directly answered the old 6250's minimalism complaints: external-access spotting scope pocket, 8-inch zippered stow pocket, and 14-inch stretch side pocket for a tripod or Nalgene.
- ✓500 ci Sky Lid is included in the price, unlike the Solo and Col where lids are extra or unsupported — and Bivy Mode compresses the bag to a legitimate 4,000 ci day pack.
- ✓Full 150+ lb load rating with the 2,500+ ci expandable load shelf means one pack covers scouting trips, week-long elk hunts, and the heavy pack-out.
- ✓YKK Aquaguard water-resistant zippers plus X-Pac construction give it the best weather resistance in the Sky line without a rain cover.
- ✓Made in Bozeman with Stone Glacier's lifetime defect warranty, and the bag swaps onto any existing SG frame if you already own a Krux or Xcurve.
- ✗Only 6 reviews at 4.3/5 on stoneglacier.com — the lowest-rated and least-reviewed bag in the current SG lineup, so the redesign has a thin track record compared to the 220-review Sky Talus 6900.
- ✗A multi-year owner concluded 'I'd rather have a few more pockets and just unbuckle my bow' and preferred the Talus 6900's organization — the side-zip advantage matters less than it seems for some hunters.
- ✗Contains PFAS-treated fabric and cannot be shipped to California or New York, an unusual restriction competitors like Exo and Kifaru don't carry.
- ✗Availability has been spotty since the original 6400 launch, with Krux-frame and Xcurve size/color combos often back-ordered.
- ✗Still fundamentally a minimalist single-compartment bag — the Talus 6900 offers four external side pockets at the same $750 for hunters who prioritize organization over bow access.
- ✗Hydration sleeve, Swing-Out Pockets, Camp Pockets, and hipbelt pockets are all sold separately, so a fully rigged bag costs $850+.
- ✗The bow occupies the front of the pack, so rifle hunters get no benefit from the signature feature and are better served by the Sky 5900 or Talus 6900.
- ✗When the bag is stuffed to its full 6,400 ci, owners note the internal spotter pocket and side-zip access get tight — the design shines most at partial loads.
Stone Glacier Sky 5900 vs Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400: common questions
Should a rifle hunter pay $25 more for the Sky Archer 6400?▾
No. The bow occupies the front of the pack, so rifle hunters get no benefit from the side zip that defines it. The Sky 5900 gives a rifle hunter the same frame, load shelf and rating for less.
Can I order the Sky Archer 6400 to California or New York?▾
No. The Archer's fabric has a PFAS treatment those states restrict, so Stone Glacier can't ship it there. Confirm shipping on the Sky 5900 with Stone Glacier as well before ordering from those states.
Which pack works better as a day pack between pack-outs?▾
Both compress well. Sky 5900 owners say it cinches to about 4,300 ci with no wiggle, and the Archer's bivy mode makes a legitimate 4,000 ci day pack. Pick on bow versus rifle rather than on day-hunt size.