Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 vs Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900
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Quick take: The Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 carries more (113 vs 105 liters); the Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 is lighter (5.18 vs 5.29 lbs).
| Spec | Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 | Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $750 | $750 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (6) | 4.9★ (220) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 105 L | 113 L |
| Weight | 5 lb 2.8 oz (Krux) / 5 lb 6.8 oz (Xcurve), complete with medium belt | 5 lb 4.6 oz (Krux) / 5 lb 8.6 oz (Xcurve), complete with medium belt |
| Max Load | 150+ lbs | 150+ lbs |
| Torso Fit | Hook-and-loop harness with continuous height and angle adjustment; S/M/L belts (28"-37"+); Krux Short frame option for shorter torsos | Hook-and-loop harness with continuous height and angle adjustment; S/M/L belts (28"-37"+); Krux Short frame option for shorter torsos |
| Material | 500D Cordura + X-Pac laminate, YKK #10 Aquaguard zippers, 1" Duraflex military-spec hardware, made in USA | 500D Cordura + X-Pac laminate, YKK #10 zippers, 1" Duraflex military-spec hardware, made in USA |
| Back Panel | Foam-padded carbon-stay frame panel (Krux or Xcurve frame) with nitrogen-infused foam harness | 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 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 — Rokslide 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.
- ✓Lightest expedition-size pack Stone Glacier makes — 5 lb 2.8 oz complete on the Krux, 4 oz lighter than the Sky Talus 6900 while carrying nearly identical volume, a spec that got long-time 6900 owners on Rokslide 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 on Rokslide 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 is spotty: most Krux-frame and several Xcurve size/color combos were back-ordered or sold out at the time of research, a recurring theme since the original 6400 launch.
- ✗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, Rokslide users note the internal spotter pocket and side-zip access get tight — the design shines most at partial loads.
Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900
- ✓The consensus pick on Rokslide, Stone Glacier's home forum — 'every year I try something new (mostly Kifaru) but always come back to the 6900' is a recurring sentiment, and it carries a 4.9/5 across 220 reviews on stoneglacier.com, by far the most of any SG bag.
- ✓Unmatched range for one pack: 4,750 ci bivy-mode day pack to 113 L expedition rig, with the load shelf pushing total capacity past 8,900 ci — Rokslide's staff reviewer packed a bear out of the Idaho backcountry with it.
- ✓Best organization in the Stone Glacier line: four external side pockets, two with full-length dual-slider #10 zips, all offset from the frame so a strapped tripod or rifle never blocks pocket access.
- ✓Rokslide's long-term test found it comfortable from 20 lb day loads to 80+ lb hauls, with the frame keeping rifle-carrier weight on the hips rather than the shoulders.
- ✓Allen Outside's reviewer cross-shopped Mystery Ranch, Kifaru, Kuiu, and Eberlestock and reported Stone Glacier 'kept coming to the top' among experienced Western hunters before choosing the Talus.
- ✓X-Pac/500D Cordura build passed Rokslide's dedicated water-resistance test, and the same reviewer highlighted hook-and-loop harness adjustment that dials in both height and strap angle for a precision fit.
- ✓Swing-Out Pocket and Camp Pocket attachment points inside the main zip give Kifaru-style modular organization at a fraction of the weight.
- ✓Lifetime defect warranty, US construction, and legendary customer service — Allen Outside rated support 'extremely responsive' through multiple pre- and post-purchase walkthroughs.
- ✗The zippered side pockets run too short for full-size spotting scopes — Rokslide's staff reviewer wanted them longer and ended up stowing his spotter inside the center zip instead.
- ✗The rifle carrier's top quick-release strap sits above/behind the shoulder strap where it's genuinely hard to reach with the pack on, per Rokslide's field test.
- ✗The hip belt is hard to snug under load until you add power pulls, which reviewers argue should be standard at this price rather than an add-on.
- ✗The perforated foam lining on the belt and shoulder straps collects pine needles, burrs, and lichen — a small but universally-cited Stone Glacier annoyance.
- ✗Fussy for newcomers: Allen Outside (4/5 stars) needed Stone Glacier staff to walk through the strap configurations twice, calling it more complicated than his Osprey background prepared him for.
- ✗Real-world cost balloons past the $750 sticker — belt pockets, internal organizers, and a rifle sling took one reviewer's build to roughly $850.
- ✗The main compartment is intentionally thin to accommodate the load shelf, so it packs differently than a traditional backpacking bag and frustrates hunters expecting Osprey-style stowage.
- ✗The lower open-top side pockets are too shallow to hold Nalgene bottles securely, pushing you toward the extra-cost shoulder-strap bottle holster that Rokslide's reviewer found annoying under the arm.