Mark Kayser is a western hunting fanatic, and spent three years hauling meat, horns, and gear in remote locations with award-winning ALPS Elite Backpack System. Here’s the real-world review.
by Mark Kayser
Hello, my name is Mark Kayser, and I am a stubborn addict who keeps items around for way too long. This phrase is not to disgrace anyone with a substance abuse condition but a comparison of how I became addicted to objects in my life, never wishing to give them up.
For instance, my vehicle is a 2008, 3500 long-bed Dodge diesel truck. I have no plans to switch anytime soon. My favorite sidearm is a 2004 Glock model 22 in 40 S&W. This last example takes the prize. Occasionally, I pull on a pair of wool pants my grandfather gave me. They date back to his 1943 U.S. Army uniform when he was part of a tank platoon to liberate Italy.
Yes, I have issues with relinquishing my love for specific articles that work and are notable in creating incredible memories. The amount of DIY, public-land elk hauled in my Dodge truck continues to energize me for adventures ahead while allowing me to relive those challenging hunts between seasons.
In the middle of the 2021 hunting season, ALPS OutdoorZ shipped me a backpack and under no circumstances was I to tell anyone as I field-tested it. I was on double-secret probation! Since that inaugural half-season of using what is now marketed as the Elite Pack System, I am going on three years of a test that is still in progress. The system in reference includes the Elite Frame, Elite 1800 Pack Bag Accessory, 3800 Elite Pack Bag Accessory, Elite 5800 Pack Bag Accessory, and the Elite 700 Pack Bag Accessory.
You can purchase the Elite Frame and 1800 or 3800 Pack Bag as a combination item. Other Pack Bag Accessory models are sold separately. In addition, the new Talon sidearm holder teams with the pack system when personal protection requires a quick response. It can be mounted on the pack or attached to your ALPS binocular holder.
The Good
Here are some basics about the Elite Pack System. First, it is only available in stone gray. Sorry, no camouflage for you (fill in the blank with your favorite expensive camouflage pattern) fanatics. The system quickly changes out, whether you want the frame only or to change out the pack size. Lightweight aluminum hooks secure the pack to the frame except for the top two, which are rugged plastic clips that ensure a secure attachment. Compression straps tighten loads on the frame pack and work to secure the accessory packs for a firm fit.
The Elite Frame is 30 percent lighter and 30 percent stronger than other ALPS packs. My testing has utilized the Elite Frame and the 3,800 cubic-inch version for 95 percent of everything. Last elk season, I swapped my 3800 Pack for the 5800 Pack to tote more survival gear and clothing layers and, if successful, pack out an elk. I was and more on that and other dead stuff later.
The frame’s contoured lumbar design, torso adjustment, 3D air mesh suspension, load lifters, and antisway waist belt straps guarantee you can tailor a fit to your body and haul loads effortlessly. Adjust as needed and even accessorize with a small waist belt for those of you with a physique akin to your caveman brethren, not the 70 percent or more in the overweight or obese category. That’s government data if you believe the government. I do in this case.
All significant fabric portions of packs are constructed of 500D Cordura to ensure your equipment will be hauled in a protected and guarded compartment, safe from nature’s extremes. The 500D Cordura is not waterproof but highly water resistant and easily takes most scrapes.
Pack bags are hydration-compatible and include a rainfly when Mother Nature appears too much for the Cordura. Each pack also includes a bow/rifle carrying system. This is a bonus. Many pack companies charge you extra for this. Not ALPS. Most of my days begin and end in the dark, so attaching my bow or rifle rig to the pack leaves my hands free to run a light or grab branches to maintain an upright egress. As I age, balance is everything, but I still have not fallen while walking upstairs (wink, wink).
Inside and out of the four different pack models, you discover a series of zippered mesh pockets, pouches, and straps to secure items. A side outside pack pocket works to hold a spotting scope, and outside lashing straps work to hold that extra fleece layer. Other small details make this pack a Top Five consideration when shopping for a new backpack partner. It handles everything from predators to the biggest of game. You can begin your total Elite System for less than $400 and even lower with some savvy online shopping. I found one Elite Frame and 1800 Pack Bag Accessory for $200
Maybe The Bad?
As noted, I had my Elite Frame and 3800 Pack Accessory system just shy of a year before the official launch. It arrived while I was in the backcountry hunting elk, so I did not get to pack meat with it in the fall of 2021. However, it accompanied me everywhere else, as my border collie could only wish. Since then, it has seen some action. Deer hunts, pronghorn hunts, elk hunts, and uncountable coyote trips were all accommodated by the Elite System. Add summer scouting hikes, untold spring journeys into the mountains for my real addiction, and shed antler hunting, all added to an actual test.
Using the system, I ferried more than 1,000 pounds of deboned elk meat out of the mountains, along with a wild guesstimate of 1,500 pounds of shed antlers. When not toting future meals or head bones, the pack always totes 20 to 30 pounds of survival, hunting gear, clothing layers, food, and water.
How has it held up? Truthfully, nearly every issue with the pack that I am going to describe to you is likely my fault. My pack and frame now sport two major tears. One is located on an exterior pocket, where the fabric is a thinner version of the 500D Cordura found everywhere else. I suspect a limb or, more likely, an antler tine pierced the fabric. Again, it’s probably my fault. Sometimes, I find too many shed antlers during the spring. Who knew?
The other tear dumbfounded me, but if my memory serves me, I once had to lower my pack through a tight rock chasm and then drop down to retrieve it. The pack and I would not fit through the nasty gap together, and on the way down, it hung up on a jagged outcropping that I believe left a tear in the anti-slip lumbar pad. I covered it with gaffer’s tape and proudly claimed it as another battle scar. It tells a story and does not affect performance.
In 2022, I hurriedly strapped the pack to my ATV in the dark and somehow pressured the waistline belt clip into a tight position on the ATV rack. It cracked. Fortunately, ALPS’ customer service department replaced the broken buckle portion in days, and I always second-check to make sure the buckle is always in a manageable position.
Finally, I am seeing fabric pilling, especially in all air mesh locations that experience ample strain. It’s most evident in the shoulder harness region, which one would expect after toting numerous loads near or above the century mark.
Look at some images of the unforgettable yet challenging memories this pack has survived. Next, look at the handful of issues I have had with the pack system, most brought upon by you know who. I live from a pack most of the year and spend more time with a backpack on my back than most. For me, the pack has passed the test. I would purchase it again if starting from scratch for durability and price alike. Enough writing: I’m off to do some more testing!
