Alps Outdoors vs. Hornhunter
- Thread starter va_elk
- Start date
I've used the Hornhunter full curl for three years now.
It's been on numerous hunts, packed out a lot of animals, and I ABSOLUTELY got my moneys worth from it.
It's not the smallest pack, but I still use it as a day pack on elk and whitetail hunts.
Plenty of space, moderately comfortable when packing out heavy loads, and durable.
It's been on numerous hunts, packed out a lot of animals, and I ABSOLUTELY got my moneys worth from it.
It's not the smallest pack, but I still use it as a day pack on elk and whitetail hunts.
Plenty of space, moderately comfortable when packing out heavy loads, and durable.
I'm a Discount Dan for most everything I can get away with. I've got the Alps Outdoorz Commander + game pack. I was very happy with it. I hauled out a few packs of muley meat for a couple hours each and packed out a big old smelly black bear hide, paws and skull on a 6 or 7 hour hike.
The Alps is JUST FINE. Its a bit cumbersome to change the bag in and out, but the rest of its use is user-friendly and simple. I like the simplicity, as I can fix stuff on the fly if something breaks, as opposed to the fancy equipment where you need to send it in if it breaks. Its a lot of basic components and not a lot of fancy stuff, which I am fine with. My favorite part is how the rifle is carried. I really liked how it sits. I talked two of my buddies into buying one each as well, and they are satisfied.
Like you, I am sure I'd be more happy with a Kirafu or something along those lines, but its just not in the budget.
The Alps is JUST FINE. Its a bit cumbersome to change the bag in and out, but the rest of its use is user-friendly and simple. I like the simplicity, as I can fix stuff on the fly if something breaks, as opposed to the fancy equipment where you need to send it in if it breaks. Its a lot of basic components and not a lot of fancy stuff, which I am fine with. My favorite part is how the rifle is carried. I really liked how it sits. I talked two of my buddies into buying one each as well, and they are satisfied.
Like you, I am sure I'd be more happy with a Kirafu or something along those lines, but its just not in the budget.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,375
I have the full curl system as well and have been very happy with it. I believe they have made some adjustments to the pack since I bought it to make it even better. I definitely wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Like Dan, I feel like the frame is a bit on the big side, but from everything I see it's on par size-wise with most other packs. Outside of that, the only thing I would change would be to put better shoulder straps on the detachable pack. If the straps on that were better, I would detach it a lot more and use just that as a day pack, but since they aren't I find myself using the whole thing as a day pack, just like Dan said.
Like Dan, I feel like the frame is a bit on the big side, but from everything I see it's on par size-wise with most other packs. Outside of that, the only thing I would change would be to put better shoulder straps on the detachable pack. If the straps on that were better, I would detach it a lot more and use just that as a day pack, but since they aren't I find myself using the whole thing as a day pack, just like Dan said.
I recently got rid of my Badlands Superday that I used for years. It just wasnt giving me any shoulder relief and hauling any amount of meat was virtually impossible
I visited some online forums and ended up buying a used Kuiu Icon Pro 1850. I got the frame/suspension from one guy and the 1850 bag from another guy.
Total cost was $275
I just love that thing. My shoulders are already happy. Plenty of room for day + of gear
Hopefully tomorrow I will be packing a Nebraska WT doe with it
I visited some online forums and ended up buying a used Kuiu Icon Pro 1850. I got the frame/suspension from one guy and the 1850 bag from another guy.
Total cost was $275
I just love that thing. My shoulders are already happy. Plenty of room for day + of gear
Hopefully tomorrow I will be packing a Nebraska WT doe with it
Look for a deal on a Kuiu icon pro. Got it new last year when they were actually on sale for Black Friday for $300 and change. Then my buddy got one for $350 the next sale they ran 25% off, I think it was New Years. This years BF sale wasn?t any good and I suspect the next one won?t have the packs either but check classifieds. Should be able to snag one for less than or around $400...and it?s well worth it at that price point IMO
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
backcountry_hunter
New member
- Aug 8, 2016
- 213
If your limit is $400 I wouldn't stop at these two packs. $400 isn't mere chump change, that will get you a very nice respectable pack.
The alps commander x is a obvious theft of blacks creek's pack which is an all usa made product. I probably wouldn't buy one based on principal alone but with that said a buddy uses their products as a meat haulers and seems to like his.
The HH Full curl is in my opinion the best value on the market. I now have packs from Mystery Ranch, Kifaru, Kuiu, HH, Kelty, etc.. and I still keep and use my full curl. The thing about the full curl is alot of parts and bags are interchangeable with kifaru believe it or not. I swapped the waist belt on mine for a duplex belt which fits almost like it was made for the HH Fullcurl. It was arguably the only lacking component on the HHFC and it made a night and day difference. Last I looked you could get the full set up for $300 on amazon, again it's an all USA made systme at a price you can't beat.
For $400 you're flirting with used kifaru, MR and EXO territory. You could likely also get into a kuiu pack during a sale if youre patient. If you watch classifieds here or on rokslide I have no doubt you can get any of these brands with an acceptable sized bag in good condition for $400.
1) It took me a long time to "buy into" how great kifaru were. I bought one, they do live up to the hype.
2) My mystery ranch packs are fine but in this price range I think theres better. They've since added a new frame system, the old frame (that I have) the load lifters are really not functional.
3) EXO - I don't own one but everyone seems to love them.
4) My kuiu pack is alot of pack for the money. I would never discourage someone from buying a kuiu pack. I purchased mine on one of their sales which brought it under what your budget is. They're lighter than any of my other packs.
5) if you like traditional freighter style frames this year I hauled with an outdoorsman pack. It was nice enough to make me want one. I'm the opposite of a gear junkie, infact I hate having stuff unnecessarily and typically am pretty happy with what I own and put discretionary dollars toward hunts, not gear. I have the packs I do through enough trial/error and everything I own I still use in one way or another. They're definitely nice set ups in your price range.
Bottom line is: if it's between the two packs you outlined I can't say enough good things about the full curl. Swapping out the belt makes it as good as some of my much higher priced packs. Its bullet proof and the modularity keeps me using it on some extended hunts, despite having more expensive options in my arsenal. It's extremely nice to ditch the big bag and only carry the frame or frame/small bag vs hiking around all week with a 6000cu/in+ empty pack on your body.
The alps commander x is a obvious theft of blacks creek's pack which is an all usa made product. I probably wouldn't buy one based on principal alone but with that said a buddy uses their products as a meat haulers and seems to like his.
The HH Full curl is in my opinion the best value on the market. I now have packs from Mystery Ranch, Kifaru, Kuiu, HH, Kelty, etc.. and I still keep and use my full curl. The thing about the full curl is alot of parts and bags are interchangeable with kifaru believe it or not. I swapped the waist belt on mine for a duplex belt which fits almost like it was made for the HH Fullcurl. It was arguably the only lacking component on the HHFC and it made a night and day difference. Last I looked you could get the full set up for $300 on amazon, again it's an all USA made systme at a price you can't beat.
For $400 you're flirting with used kifaru, MR and EXO territory. You could likely also get into a kuiu pack during a sale if youre patient. If you watch classifieds here or on rokslide I have no doubt you can get any of these brands with an acceptable sized bag in good condition for $400.
1) It took me a long time to "buy into" how great kifaru were. I bought one, they do live up to the hype.
2) My mystery ranch packs are fine but in this price range I think theres better. They've since added a new frame system, the old frame (that I have) the load lifters are really not functional.
3) EXO - I don't own one but everyone seems to love them.
4) My kuiu pack is alot of pack for the money. I would never discourage someone from buying a kuiu pack. I purchased mine on one of their sales which brought it under what your budget is. They're lighter than any of my other packs.
5) if you like traditional freighter style frames this year I hauled with an outdoorsman pack. It was nice enough to make me want one. I'm the opposite of a gear junkie, infact I hate having stuff unnecessarily and typically am pretty happy with what I own and put discretionary dollars toward hunts, not gear. I have the packs I do through enough trial/error and everything I own I still use in one way or another. They're definitely nice set ups in your price range.
Bottom line is: if it's between the two packs you outlined I can't say enough good things about the full curl. Swapping out the belt makes it as good as some of my much higher priced packs. Its bullet proof and the modularity keeps me using it on some extended hunts, despite having more expensive options in my arsenal. It's extremely nice to ditch the big bag and only carry the frame or frame/small bag vs hiking around all week with a 6000cu/in+ empty pack on your body.
Compared to $120 with free shipping on Amazon for the Alps Outdoorz pack, I'd rather save the money or spend the difference on something else.
Does that Hornhunter Full Curl pack's big bag come off? I'd look into that. That's one reason I like the Alps Outdoors; it comes completely off after about 5 minutes of pulling pins.
Does that Hornhunter Full Curl pack's big bag come off? I'd look into that. That's one reason I like the Alps Outdoors; it comes completely off after about 5 minutes of pulling pins.
backcountry_hunter
New member
- Aug 8, 2016
- 213
WIhunter said:
If I'm reading it correct, yourself and the OP are talking about two completely different packs. You're talking about the commander (freighter style) that is really competetively priced around $100 and is probably a very good pack for the small amount of $$. He's inquiring about the commander x which are usually in the mid $300's or close to $400.
Yes all the bags come off the HHFC. You can run it as a frame, w/ big bag, w/ small bag, w/ meat bag or w/ big and small bags combined. They also have a larger bag (solo x) out now you can buy separately although I haven't had the need. Many of kifaru's bags can be retrofitted to work also if they don't have wide-side pockets. You can also run a 65L dry bag in lieu of the larger bag it comes with. With a little ingenuity I have no doubt one could do 2 weeks off this pack
backcountry_hunter
New member
- Aug 8, 2016
- 213
DTP said:
By doing that it made my HHFC every bit as good as my other packs. I'm probably a little biased however... I grew up and spent many years packing with a conventional aluminum frame like a kelty or cabelas alaskan. So I tend to gravitate a little more toward the HHFC simply because of it's design and familiarity. It's not a true freighter style, almost the best of both worlds (for me) so to speak. The duplex belt brought it up to a premium feeling pack. I still use my kuiu for when I'm really cutting ounces and kifaru's pack is everything it's been bragged up to be but it's still a 5700cu/in pack when I drop my camp and start hunting. The modularity of the HHFC is really convenient. I did cut and strip a bunch of straps and pockets I didn't need to bring the baseline weight of it down also, otherwise it's on the heavy side when it's empty compared to others.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,375
Forgive my ignorance as I'm no pack expert, and I apologize for derailing the thread a bit, but hopefully this is helpful to the OP as well: what makes the duplex belt so much better than the standard belt on the full curl? Just looking at pictures it definitely looks wider, but how does that help?
backcountry_hunter
New member
- Aug 8, 2016
- 213
I'll preface this by saying it is all (likely) preference from one person to the next. That said the belt on the full curl is the one part of that pack I was never really happy with. If you've seen the new version (2015 and newer) they switched the belts over to a really stiff foam material, almost styrofoam'ish so to speak. I'm a tall lanky individual (have a 32" or even better 31" waist if I can find it) and when I tightened the factory belt it would fold over and pinch at certain points, and the pressure was very uneven. I loved belts from my other packs, specifically kuiu and mystery ranch because they would distribute the pressure in a full 360 degree radius without specific pressure "points". This past fall was my 1st with a kifaru and it did the same, I really liked the belt and found a few old threads on rokslide of people retrofitting the duplex belt on the full curl. I first took mine off my kifaru pack and sure enough, it fits so well it's almost like it was designed for the pack. There's 2 "pockets" on the duplex belt the aluminum frame from the HHFC fits into. I've since loaded it down and hiked a bit, but truth be told I haven't had any animals in it yet. I can tell already the difference is monumental. The HHFC belt felt like I was trying to fit a rectangle around my waist, the duplex belt is much more form fitting. I also did not like the sewn in pockets on the HHFC belt, on both sides. The duplex rids my pack of those.
Again this is all a preference issue and will vary from one person to the next. I know other people iwht the HHFC and they absolutely love the factory belt.
Again this is all a preference issue and will vary from one person to the next. I know other people iwht the HHFC and they absolutely love the factory belt.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,375
Thanks for the great info backcountry_hunter, it's appreciated! I don't have the same 'slim' problems as you (I'm a 36-38 waist) so I've never had the belt bunch up on me like that. I do want to check it out and see if it distributes the weight evenly though.
Thanks again for the info!
Thanks again for the info!
In reading through this, I couldn't help but be a bit confused in the descriptions of the Alpz pack. Amazon lists an Outdoorz Commander + as the ~$120 pack yet I thought it stated the Commander was a higher end model.
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-Commander-Pack-Bag/dp/B004R7L7YU/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_200_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PZ6G3RD5X75509BQSZW2
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-Commander-Pack-Bag/dp/B004R7L7YU/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_200_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PZ6G3RD5X75509BQSZW2
MOmanJ here is the link to the upgraded versions of that pack. First one for the bag second one for the frame.
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-Extreme-Commander-Frame/dp/B01CL3J2G6/ref=sr_1_6?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1516194943&sr=1-6&keywords=alps+outdoorz+extreme
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-Extreme-Commander-Pack-Coyote/dp/B011YC292O/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1516194943&sr=1-4&keywords=alps+outdoorz+extreme
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-Extreme-Commander-Frame/dp/B01CL3J2G6/ref=sr_1_6?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1516194943&sr=1-6&keywords=alps+outdoorz+extreme
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-Extreme-Commander-Pack-Coyote/dp/B011YC292O/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1516194943&sr=1-4&keywords=alps+outdoorz+extreme
