Over the years I have seen more and more companies jumping into the market of hunting packs. They are all over the place and designs are really pushing the envelope for the different companies to compete. However, one brand stands out in design, fit, functionality and price. ALPS Outdoorz has moved into the lead of the pack industry. With their extreme line of packs launched last year, these packs have taken the hunting world by storm.
But what makes ALPS so outstanding is the versatility of packs they offer. From small fanny packs to full size expedition packs. Day packs, and modular packs. All for every occasion are the top of the line in the industry.
Their commander external frame is ideal for big game hunting. With its ability to be removed from the frame, the frame can then haul all of your meat out of the back country.
Backpacks are vital gear for all backcountry hunting. Whether you are setting up spike camps or long day hunts, a quality backpack is one piece of gear that can make your hunt as comfortable as possible. ALPS Outrdoorz has been creating packs for a variety of purposes. Their Extreme line is one of the toughest and best designed pack on the market. If you are in need of a bigger framed pack then the Commander X is a great long trip pack.
ALPS Outdoorz makes one of the most comfortable packs I have used to date. The Extreme Commander X pack is a full size pack to cover almost any need while hunting. With up to 4000 cubic inches, you have plenty of room for your gear and also room for your meat and cape after a successful walk-about. You can detach the main compartment from the frame for an exclusive frame pack or expand it out to haul your cape or meat between the main pack and the frame. The top-loading, main section of the pack is separate from the bottom and really helps the load carry steady while hiking. This feature helps to keep your heavy gear from swinging to the bottom of the pack and increasing the weight on your shoulders. It also has horizontal compression straps to keep the load from swaying. The spotter pocket accepts my 80 mm spotting scope easily and is fleece lined to help nestle and protect my valuable equipment. The Extreme Commander X pack easily adjusts to your torso. It rides very well for a large pack and has a gun pocket to hold your firearm while hiking. It also has a rain cover in a small pocket to keep your gear dry in downpours. I really like this pack for comfort, size, storage and versatility.
Big-game hunters, if you’re in the market for a new backpack, you might want to consider this colossus from ALPS. First, a few notable features: brutally strong nylon; a fleece-lined pocket for a spotting scope; a dropdown pocket for either a rifle or bow; a hydration pocket; an internal divider for your sleeping bag; and plenty of other impressive stuff. What’s most innovative about this pack, though, is how the pack attaches to the frame. You can remove the pack entirely in order to fasten and pack out an elk. Or, if you’re capable of packing out a truly monster load, you loosen the pack from the frame to create enough space to fit an elk quarter between the pack and the frame. This is a big-time pack for big-gamers. —C.K.
When introduced to ALPS Outdoorz packs three years ago, I was a bit skeptical. A pack is a pack, I thought to myself. It holds stuff that I have to carry. I could not have been more wrong. After a week of carrying packs all over Grand Mesa Colorado in search of an archery elk, I learned the real value of a comfortable, well-designed pack. ALPS packs have constantly impressed me with their design, materials, comfort and the thought that goes into making a pack for a specific occasion. Their Traverse has a pocket designed specifically for a spotting scope and tripod. The Traverse also has a compartment specifically designed to haul meat and allow air flow on the meat while keeping secure.
Over the years I have seen more and more companies jumping into the market of hunting packs. They are all over the place and designs are really pushing the envelope for the different companies to compete. However, one brand stands out in design, fit, functionality and price. ALPS Outdoorz has moved into the lead of the pack industry. With their extreme line of packs launched last year, these packs have taken the hunting world by storm. And for good reason, their Traverse extreme is considered by many to be the finest back country pack available today and was chosen as the Editors Choice by Peterson’s Hunting.
But what makes ALPS so outstanding is the versatility of packs they offer. From small fanny packs to full size expedition packs. Day packs, and modular packs. All for every occasion are the top of the line in the industry.
Don’t let the name fool you: While this little pack can be adjusted to fit smaller frames, we guarantee you’ll want to use it when “light loads” are the name of the game. Until then, let your kid feel like she’s carrying her weight.
ALPS Outdoorz designs some of the preeminent backpacks on the market and are constantly taking feedback from their customers to deliver the best pack on the mountain. The Crossfire X Pack is a very dynamic and versatile day pack. With 2325 cubic inches to securely carry your gear, its features offer more than enough room for a day filled with adventure. The tubular, lightweight frame design won’t wear you down with extra burden and still gives you a solid core to carry the load you strap on or in the pack. Adjustable side straps and mesh webbing pouches on each side of the pack let you carry a tripod or fishing rod case without interfering with access to your main compartments.
One of the most versatile features I really like about the pack is the drop-down rifle or bow pocket. It stores effortlessly inside the pack and you can move the accessory pocket to the front shoulder straps of the pack to store gear for quick access. The accessory pack goes even further and comes with a cross body strap that you can take by itself if needed. I really like this innovation if you have to drop the heavy part of the pack to gain ground in a hurry, but still carry some necessary gear. The interior of the pack has a mesh barrier to store a hydration bladder and ports out over the shoulder strap for easy access. The tubular frame is arched in the back of the frame to allow air flow and avoid uncomfortable swamp back.
The Crossfire X comes fully equipped with a rain cover in blaze orange. This option is great for enjoying the success of a harvested animal strapped to your back and warns other hunters from mistaking you for their prize. Having a blaze orange rain cover also can provide stranded hikers with a lifesaving symbol for rescue crews to locate you. The rain cover is also a great addition to keep the moisture off your pack to keep your needed equipment dry. The belt can accommodate a belt clip style holster so you can bring a handgun with you on your trip. The Crossfire X weighs in at just over 3 ½ lbs. I’ve used this pack on numerous trips and it rides very comfortably. The padded shoulder straps can adjust very effortlessly for a tighter or softer shoulder ride. The waist belt can simply adjust by pulling on the nylon straps, so users can take some weight and strain off of their shoulders at any time. You can be sure the Crossfire X Pack will be in my arsenal this fall for chasing and filming critters.
If you’re looking for an external frame pack for your next elk hunt, the new ALPS OutdoorZ Trophy X frame pack from the company’s Extreme Packs line will certainly “meat” your needs.
Touted as a meat hauling external frame “freighter” pack, the Trophy X features a strong, powder-coated steel frame with a simple, yet well-designed shelf and roll-out lashing system made of heavy duty Nylon. Its shoulder straps and waist belt are adjustable in just about every way
The waist belt also features a few pockets, ideal for game bags, skinning gloves, knives
The newest member of the ALPS Extreme pack line is the Hybrid X, and it’s a winner. It’s a multipurpose pack that will work as well for the adventurous whitetail hunter as it will for those who chase bugling bulls in the Rockies.
This is a quality meat-hauler and a spacious pack all in one. For the whitetail hunter, the space between the pack and the hauler system can easily facilitate a stand. Total weight with the pack attached to the frame is 6 pounds, 3 ounces.
A top-loading pack with a bow drop-down pocket, the Hybrid X has an included rain cover, hydration pocket with port and Lycra shoulder straps. Other features that jumped out at me were the spacious front pocket, which provides immediate access to the pack’s main compartment, and the dual-pocket waist belt.
The Pathfinder is one of those pieces of gear where the more you use it, the more you find yourself appreciating it. While loading the pack out for this trip, I was pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail and how well thought out the pack is in terms of places to store gear. The outside of the pack is just as capable, with a number of straps and attachment points that will allow you to carry large or heavy things. The removable harness is well thought out and the straps adjust to fit well—at least to my anatomy.
During my trip, the pack traveled over 160 miles of dirt roads, collecting enough silt to turn the pack a solid color tan, but my binos and all of my camera lenses stayed spotlessly dust free on the inside. I can’t say the same of other packs that I’ve taken on dirt road excursions in the past. I was able to pack everything I wanted with me for a day in the field, as 44L is more than enough space for an overnight adventure.
Now that I’ve gotten a bit of use out of the pack, I’m eager to see what I can really do with it. The folks over at ALPS OutdoorZ clearly put some time into the design of the Pathfinder, and it shows in the multi-role functionality of the pack. I’m looking forward to seeing how it does carrying a proper load of meat, and likewise, how well it works on some preseason scouting missions. I’ll probably even take it bird hunting just to mix it up. This pack can fill a variety of roles with ease, and I’m expecting nothing other than continued enjoyment from here on out. The Pathfinder is a great ‘quiver of one’ pack, and based on my experience with it this far, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
If you think that one of the things that doesn’t work perfectly for you is your turkey vest, or if your vest is “okay” but getting old, right now is a great time to upgrade to the new ALPS Outdoorz Grand Slam turkey vest. The vest is a new design by a company with a long track record of making superior products for hunters – and for supporting conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation.
The people who work at ALPS are turkey hunters and realized they could use their practical experience in the field and experience with cutting-edge hunting pack design to make a vest that works better than any other on the market. After years of research, development and testing, they brought the best design together with the best technology in the Grand Slam vest.
The vest features a “sit anywhere” removable kickstand frame. It makes for a fast set-up and is comfortable enough for a long sit. Experienced turkey hunters know how tough it is to hold absolutely still when they are in an uncomfortable position. With the Grand Slam’s kickstand frame, you can set up anywhere without needing to find something to lean against, and anywhere you set up is comfortable. And the more comfortable you are, the easier it is to hold still. And the less you move, the more turkeys you kill.
The legs are adjustable and feature fast locking technology to ensure you can set up quickly when the need arises. A thick padded fold away seat is integrated into the design, and detachable shoulder straps ensure maximum comfort and range of motion for when it’s time to take the shot.
If your style tends toward the run-and-gun end of the spectrum, though, you can detach the kickstand frame for a vest that’s comfortable at the base of any pine tree, thanks to an ergonomically designed padding in the back of the vest that doesn’t just protect the center of your back, but your shoulder blades too.
The comfort of the Grand Slam comes in an extremely lightweight package as well, as you would expect of a run-and-gun vest. Of course, if you decide you want a heavier vest – say, about 22 pounds heavier – the Grand Slam also comes with game pocket large enough for a tom turkey.
The vest boasts numerous call pockets, including a removable protective diaphragm call pocket, two slate call pockets, a striker pocket (which holds up to 3 strikers and 1 large locator call), a locator call pocket, and a protective and silent box call pocket. For anyone who carries a box call in the woods, the box call pocket itself is worth the new vest. Box call pockets on many vests are one of the things that often don’t work perfectly. This one does. You’ll never again find yourself in the turkey woods without the call you need, and until you pull the call out, it will be silent and securely stored.
The Grand Slam turkey vest is H2O compatible, and also includes two side water bottle pockets. Two mesh zippered pockets inside of the vest are perfect for stowing valuables, like truck keys and pocket knives, and the included smartphone sleeve allows you to use your phone while it’s securely in the pocket. Five shell loops give you fast access to extra ammo, and the side compression straps guarantee a perfect fit no matter your body type.
This is a vest designed for turkey hunters by turkey hunters and reflects ALPS OutdoorZ commitment to hunting and excellent design. If you want a new turkey vest this season, you owe it to yourself to put your hands on ALPS Grand Slam and see for yourself.
Perhaps no piece of gear is as important in the spring than a quality turkey vest. Being able to carry everything you need without digging around in a separate bag saves time and reduces the opportunity for unintended noises to spook that wary gobbler. The NWTF Grand Slam Turkey Vest from ALPS Outdoorz has been designed to be the most effective turkey vest on the market. It’s tough to say that they thought of everything, but if they missed something, we don’t know what it is.
You’re planning to gear up for spring turkey season, so fittingly we’re starting this gear guide with the new Grand Slam Turkey Vest from ALPS OutdoorZ. It was designed by turkey hunters and faced rigorous testing before the final prototype was approved. This top-of-the-line vest is bursting with features to please the most hardcore collectors of beards and spurs. The list of features goes on. And it’s especially important to note: The NWTF logo on the vest means a portion of Grand Slam proceeds go directly to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation.
Most of us play the important things pretty close to our chest. The ALPS Outdoorz NWTF Long Spur Vest does just that with a plastic holster on the shoulder for mouth calls, slate and ceramic call pockets as well as a pocket for your box call to be within easy reach. Every pocket on this pack is designed to keep noise to an absolute minimum with a combination of cinches and padding in all of the places where rattles could cost you a longbeard.
One doesn’t often describe a turkey vest or pack as modular, but this 3lb 3oz offering from ALPS wears that title with pride. The lumbar pocket is fully removable from the padded belt for those situations where run and gun is the name of the game. The shoulder harness is also removable making this a straight forward lumbar pack when the occasion calls for it.
I do keep a fully stocked turkey vest in my truck all spring—but I’m constantly rifling through the pockets to grab a few mouth calls and shells (or my rangefinder and release when I’m bowhunting) to stash in a fanny pack. If I can get away with it, I much prefer to travel light in the turkey woods. That’s why this vest made such a good first impression on me. It’s a simple, lightweight setup (the whole thing weighs less than 4 pounds) with fold-out stadium-style seating. But the selling point for me is that the front calls and accessories pockets detach with the snap of a couple buckles and can be thrown over the shoulder as one hip-sized unit with an included carrying strap. You can take the essentials and leave the vest behind—either in your truck or on the edge of the woods when you need to creep across a pasture after a strutter.
I have always steered clear of men’s or unisex hunting apparel and gear because they’ve never seemed to work well for me. I am tiny and petite and would probably fit better in children’s hunting apparel than I would most women’s apparel. However, the Upland Game Vest X by ALPS Outdoorz has changed my opinion on men’s and unisex items. After wearing it this year on my annual pheasant and quail hunt at Heritage 1865, I was impressed and was left wondering why I ever tried any other upland vest in the first place.
This pack would technically be considered a “one size fits all”, but it is adjustable via the straps in the front and around the waist. As I mentioned before I am pretty petite, (5’3”, 110 pounds to be more specific) and I was able to tighten up the straps to where the vest fit me perfectly. It actually fit me better than my Eddie Bauer upland vest that is designed specifically for women. I was comfortable walking the fields all day, no digging from it being too tight, and no bouncing from it being too large. It was just right.
I know a lot of women are probably going to be concerned about the horizontal strap across the front, due to a woman’s anatomy. I admit I was a little concerned about this myself before I tried this vest, but honestly while I was out hunting I was comfortable and didn’t give it another thought. These straps are high enough up on your chest that they shouldn't cause any issues. Someone bigger chested than me could possibly have an issue with comfort here, but it I doubt it. My advice would be to at least try it out, because the size is adjustable here too. I really don’t foresee it being an issue for most women.
The shoulder straps are ultra-thin. I was able to shoulder my shotgun quickly and comfortably without it hanging on the straps. This was another issue that I admit I was afraid I was going to have with this pack, but it exceeded my expectations in this area as well.
Two front shell pockets are large enough to accommodate an entire box of shells each. This was extremely handy in the field and is a feature that none of my other upland vests had. It was a nice change and yet another reason I don’t want to use any other upland vest or pack in the future.
Two flip down gun rests are included, as well as a lightweight vented back and waist belt construction. The flip down gun rests helped quite a bit with gun fatigue throughout the hunt. The vented back worked well to keep me from getting too sweaty or hot while hunting in the afternoons when it was warmer.
The game pocket on the pack is large enough to fit a limit of birds, if not more, and unzips for easy cleaning. I also brought some extra water bottles along and put them in this pocket, along with the limit of birds that were shot and had plenty of room.
This vest exceeded my expectations and has changed my opinion on purchasing hunting items that aren’t made specifically for women. It was comfortable, lightweight, easy to shoulder my gun in and had all the bells and whistles, (plus some), that you would expect out of an upland pack. My favorite feature is probably the shell pockets. I love that the entire box of shells fits in each pocket, making it easier to stay organized and for me to re-load.
Ladies, if you’re like me and like to bring a lot of extra items along on the hunt, I highly recommend this vest. Not only do all of the pockets make it easier to organize everything you bring along, the shoulder and waste straps on this pack make it easier to carry a heavy load than with a normal upland vest.
Although not a blind for multiple hunters, ALPS OutdoorZ has created the perfect blind, specifically designed with the turkey hunter in mind. The uniquely-designed NWTF Deception blind is the only hub-style blind of its kind on the market. Featuring a low-profile of only 46 inches, I was skeptical as to how effective it would be. However, once I actually got the blind set up, I fell in love with the compact design, as I realized how concealed a turkey hunter will be inside. The Deception blind is lightweight and perfectly suited for a low-profile chair that would provide an exceptional vantage point.
The smaller, unique 4-hub design makes for simple, quiet setups that don’t have to be done prior to the hunt. The aluminum hubs are constructed with engineered tips and pins, and the frame uses strong, flexible fiberglass poles. Durable polyester fabric with blacked-out backing helps to keep the hunter concealed. The Deception also features a 270 degree Silent-Trac window system for limitless window positions, and an extra-large door opening for easy access while carrying gear. An oversized number 10 zipper on the door ensures smooth and hassle-free operation. Two interior gear pockets keep things organized and ready for action. It includes stakes and tie downs to secure a position, and a convenient shoulder strap carry bag makes for easy transport and storage. The Deception comes in Mossy Oak Obsession, making it perfect for spring turkey hunting anywhere in the country
I’ve found this handy little chair from ALPS Outdoorz to be the perfect solution for comfortable seating whether you’re hunting turkeys, deer, predators, or sitting around the campfire. It’s one of the few chairs with a low-profile that’ll still allow you to draw your bow from a seated position. It’s super comfy, easy to pack and will quickly become your favorite hunting or camp chair.
Other features include a folding design, arm rests for comfort, powder-coated steel frame, carry bag and padded carry strap.
With this assembly-free layout blind, say goodbye to fumbling around in the dark on cold, early morning. The uniquely designed chair keeps you off the found while maintaining a low profile, and the flared sides provide room to hide away blind bags and other fear. And since there’s no floor, the blind is light and easy to clean up. The Zero-Gravity zippered flag doors are integrated , and the backpack-style straps allow for hands-free carrying.
A successful coyote hunt requires many skills but one of the most important is the ability to hold still. It’s easier to be still with a comfortable seat, and it’s a lot easier to see what’s coming if your seat is capable of moving. Enter the ALPS Outdoorz Horizon Hunting Stool.
The Horizon has a 360-degree swivel seat—a seat that’s thickly padded, a rather important detail since coyote hunting involves quite a bit of sitting and waiting. At 21-inch tall this stool has enough height to boost you and your line of sight above overgrown grass and shrubs while keeping you somewhat low to the ground. The powder-coated steel frame is dark so it will not reflect sunlight and give you away, and it’s sturdy enough to give the stool a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds. If you, like many hunters, use binoculars, a thermal monocular, or other assorted smaller pieces of gear, there’s a place to set them in this stool: the Horizon has a storage bag underneath its circular seat.
The one caveat is the stool’s total weight of 10.5 pounds; although it isn’t incredibly heavy it is rather sizeable. There is good news, though, because the team at ALPS Outdoorz planned for this by designing the stool to be packable. The Horizon quickly folds flat and can then be carried using the attached padded shoulder strap. If you want a solid hunting stool this type of a design is a good option due to its ability to rotate 360 degrees, the four-sided storage area, and its durability.