James Meadowlark
Sonic Reducer
I got this sucker a little while ago, and thought I’d share a few of the pros and cons, after a five day trip into the woods... again -- I’m not a traveler, mostly a primitive camping enthusiast that stumbled upon this great StP website and am very appreciative for all of the great info I’ve found here (although I always kick down to travelers and always pick up hitchhikers when I can, having done my share of thumbing when I was a young man). Thought I’d share again. I will say for the record that StP is one of the most underrated camping resources on the internet.
I’ve been looking into an endurance pack that, as an ultra-light camping enthusiast, would allow me to carry (at optimum configuration) weeks and weeks of equipment and supplies, and I came across the ALPS Commander Z.
So first of all, it’s important to understand this backpack is designed for hunters, and is composed of two pieces- An external frame with some webbing, and a pack that is attached to the aforementioned external frame by way of a collection of pretty awkward (as received in the mail) pins. That’s why it’s a “freighter” frame- you can carry very heavy loads with it, be it the bag or your game.. I’ve read that the theory behind the bag is that you pack everything you need for a long stretch of wilderness survival and camping in with you in the attached pack, then detach your bag, bedroll, tent, cook set and anything else you’ve clipped on- at your campsite, and take the frame alone with you when you go kill a deer or elk or whatever else proves your manhood, the external frame being the transportation for the very heavy slabs o’ meat you butcher in the field. Not personally into this, but based on my first adventure with this pack I’d say if that’s your intention, it works. If it’s not your intention, it also works- There’s a built in rifle-sling that I didn’t use for carrying a rifle, but put to great use otherwise, so that piece shouldn’t deter you.
Pros:
Cons:
I will say, if the zombie apocalypse ever happens, I’m stuffing this mother full!
Kind regards,
JM
Amazon Link:
I’ve been looking into an endurance pack that, as an ultra-light camping enthusiast, would allow me to carry (at optimum configuration) weeks and weeks of equipment and supplies, and I came across the ALPS Commander Z.
So first of all, it’s important to understand this backpack is designed for hunters, and is composed of two pieces- An external frame with some webbing, and a pack that is attached to the aforementioned external frame by way of a collection of pretty awkward (as received in the mail) pins. That’s why it’s a “freighter” frame- you can carry very heavy loads with it, be it the bag or your game.. I’ve read that the theory behind the bag is that you pack everything you need for a long stretch of wilderness survival and camping in with you in the attached pack, then detach your bag, bedroll, tent, cook set and anything else you’ve clipped on- at your campsite, and take the frame alone with you when you go kill a deer or elk or whatever else proves your manhood, the external frame being the transportation for the very heavy slabs o’ meat you butcher in the field. Not personally into this, but based on my first adventure with this pack I’d say if that’s your intention, it works. If it’s not your intention, it also works- There’s a built in rifle-sling that I didn’t use for carrying a rifle, but put to great use otherwise, so that piece shouldn’t deter you.
Pros:
- The bag that’s attached is HUGE- Holds 88 liters of gear or 5200+ cubic inches not including what you lash to the top, sides or store on the “shelf” that folds down presumably to hold the carcass of whatever beast you managed to kill- In my case held a tent (thanks to Matt D. for the Eureka Solitaire rec) & drop-cloth (I scavenged Tyvex housewrap I got for free- Thank you again STP for the protip!). This is a pretty big effing bag. Sleeping bag was lashed to the top, and I attached other items with zip ties and caribiners on the loops on the sides.
- Actually really light itself/unloaded- Even with the frame (height adjustable) and the really nice waist/belt thing that’s padded very nicely, and you can cinch everything down just right so it feels comfy for walking.. The chest-strap is also great and adjustable. Even loaded, the ergonomics were pretty nice.
- The “guns and ammo” pouches actually worked out really well even though I carried neither. Compass, tinder, airplane booze-bottles, and small things like the hotel soaps I save, and tiny bottles of cooking oil, spices etc. fit like a glove. I shoved a few extra batteries in, and the slim but deep “spotting scope” pouch was great for a lamp I carry sometimes plus a friction-powered radio and a couple of other longer items. Again- This rig was designed for hunters who trek to the hinterlands, so if that’s not you, you’ll have to get a little creative with the packing of your gear.
- There’s a smaller pouch/bag near the base of the backpack where you can keep things you need to have handy close.. The coolest thing about this is that there’s a pass-through when you reach in deep enough that takes you to the bottom of the larger backpack. I’m a big first-aid believer, and probably have an excessive kit, but this is where I keep my medical gear. View attachment 35263 View attachment 35264
Cons:
- Price: Over $100. Maybe $130. It costs a lot, no question, but maybe there might be a good used example on ebay that’s cheaper.
- External frame- From what I’ve learned here, external frames are great for walking with heavy loads over distance and carrying lots of accessories- At the same time, it seems they are very bad news for getting on and off of trains, and can sometimes be cumbersome for hitching. I can’t imagine trying to throw this thing (loaded) up into a grainer, and so if you are always on the go and minimalist, this bag is not for you. It’s just not- It is very large.
- There’s a pocket for a water bladder like a camel-back, etc. I own a platypus two liter rig, but generally don’t use it for serious camping and honestly that pocket in this bag frustrates me- I’ve been using it to hold trail maps I’ve printed from the internet, atlases, or any other paper-thin things I’m carrying like journals etc. It’s a pain in the ass to access... If you use a water bladder with a drinking tube, this could work for you tho.
- The pins that hold the pack to the frame are a huge pain in the ass with these little key chain loops of steel holding them in, but they work when you get them right.. Since I’m not using this pack for the intended purpose (hunting and carrying 300 pounds of freshly killed beast back to camp), I had to reset them just once, and if they hold I should be set, but the factory set up was less than ideal, and I had to fix it, and added a zip-tie here and there for good measure, and it seems solid. I also think if you were to lose a pin or two in the field, you might be in trouble with this bag, and they are pretty small, so don’t attempt to change the configuration of this bag in anything other than total daylight..
I will say, if the zombie apocalypse ever happens, I’m stuffing this mother full!
Kind regards,
JM
Amazon Link:
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