Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 vs Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900
Quick take: The Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 costs $25 less; the Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 carries more (129 vs 113 liters); the Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 is lighter (5.29 vs 5.5 lbs).
Which one to buy
The Sky Guide 7900 adds 16 L to the Sky Talus 6900 for $25 more, and most hunters don't need the extra room. Both ride a Krux or Xcurve frame rated past 150 lb with a 2,500+ ci load shelf, both include the Sky Lid, and the Sky Guide 7900 weighs 0.21 lbs more on the Krux. The Guide's 129 L is sized for guides and 10-day hunts, with room for a camp kit plus a client's overflow.
The Sky Talus 6900 is the better pack for nearly everyone else. It compresses to 4,750 ci for day hunts and expands to 113 L, and one owner's long-term test found it comfortable from 20 lb day loads to 80+ lb hauls with the weight kept on the hips. Its four external side pockets are the best organization in Stone Glacier's line, though one owner found them too short for a full-size spotter. Reviewers also warn about a real learning curve with the straps, a hip belt that's hard to snug under load until you add power pulls, and lower side pockets too shallow to hold a Nalgene securely. Expect a full build near $850.
The Guide cinches to a 4,500 ci bivy mode, so it isn't helpless on lighter days, and its lid unclips as a fanny pack. Both offer a Krux Short frame for shorter torsos, and neither bag has a hydration sleeve.
Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900
For hunters who want one pack covering day hunts through long Alaska trips, with the best organization Stone Glacier offers.
Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900
Worth the extra $25 for guides and hunters on 10-day trips who need 129 L of room before the load shelf even comes into play.
| Spec | Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 | Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $750 | $775 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 113 L | 129 L |
| Weight | 5 lb 4.6 oz (Krux) / 5 lb 8.6 oz (Xcurve), complete with medium belt | 5.5 lbs |
| 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 | 26 in Krux or Xcurve frame, or 23 in Krux Short; belts S 28-30 / M 31-36 / L 37+ in |
| Material | 500D Cordura + X-Pac laminate, YKK #10 zippers, 1" Duraflex military-spec hardware, made in USA | Cordura 500 and X-Pac with YKK #10 zippers, made in USA |
| Back Panel | Foam-padded carbon-stay frame panel (Krux or Xcurve frame) with nitrogen-infused foam harness | Foam-padded frame panel over four carbon-composite stays (Krux) or curved X-stays (Xcurve) |
| 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 | No |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Stone Glacier lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship |
Pros & cons
Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900
- ✓A frequent owner pick — 'every year I try something new (mostly Kifaru) but always come back to the 6900' is how one owner put it, 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 — one owner 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.
- ✓One owner'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 one reviewer's dedicated water-resistance test, and that 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 — one owner 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 a long-term field reviewer.
- ✗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 commonly 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 a long-term field reviewer found annoying under the arm.
Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900
- ✓129 L is more volume than any other Sky-series bag, enough for a guide's camp kit plus a client's overflow.
- ✓The 150+ lb load rating and a 2,500+ ci shelf between bag and frame mean meat rides tight to the stays.
- ✓Cinches down to a 4,500 ci bivy mode, so the same bag can work a spike camp on lighter days.
- ✓The Sky Lid comes in the box and unclips to serve as a fanny pack.
- ✓Frame choice costs nothing extra, and the Xcurve adds vertical yoke travel for shorter torsos.
- ✓Cordura 500 and X-Pac with a #10 YKK zipper on a bag sewn in the USA.
- ✗$775 complete is the top of the Sky line, $450 more than buying the bag alone for a frame you already own.
- ✗5.5 lb on the lightest frame is heavy carry for anything short of a full expedition.
- ✗No hydration sleeve in the bag; the Hydro Sleeve is a separate purchase.
- ✗No raincover, and the Stone Glacier cover adds $55.
Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 vs Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900: common questions
Is the Sky Guide 7900 too big for a typical elk hunt?▾
Usually, yes. It's sized for guides and 10-day hunts, while the Sky Talus 6900 already reaches 113 L and compresses to 4,750 ci for day use. The Guide does cinch to 4,500 ci, so it isn't unusable on short days.
Does the Sky Guide 7900 fix the Talus 6900's pocket complaints?▾
Don't buy it for that. The Guide's appeal is volume, not organization. The Talus's four external pockets are its strength, but one owner found them too short for a full-size spotter, and the lower ones won't hold a Nalgene securely.