Light weight, flexibility ,Works

I got it for my hunts since I don't like to bring a lot with me when I go out. It's fairly adjustable, I'm 6 foot 220lbs and wearing a thick sweatshirt and vest I still have plenty of strap left to go bigger if needed. I keep a small bino and range finder in the wrap around pockets. The 2 larger pouches are plenty big enough for my snacks and other goodies

Good day pack for the price, I like going light bow hunting.
I have both the big bear and little bear, buy the big bear if you haul a lot of gear.
It is a fifty-dollar pack worth the money, People who complain about it should spend a little more money like a hundred dollars more and buy a monster pack.

8-27-2013:
The packs are really well made and feel comfortable. I own another set that I bought a few weeks ago from a store. I liked it so much I decided to get another one as gift for someone. Unfortunately it seems that ALPS uses different kind of buckles on each batch. The one I got at the store is fully compatible with all other ALPS accessories but this one which I ordered with Binocular packs had a different type and size buckles and Bino pack would not attach. While the new Bino pack had the same buckles as my other pack and would attach to the store bought Fanny Pack. So If you order the fanny pack and other accessories you may get incompatible buckles. Other wise this is a good pack. However since it is sold and advertised as a system component but manufactured with different buckles in each batch.this pack gets a generous average 3 star. As a unite by itself this would get a 5 star as a part of a system component it would get a 1 star because it is not a system if it is not compatible.

Update 9-25-2013: from 3 star to 4 star
Today I got a note from APLS, acknowledging the buckle issue and offering to help by sending new buckles, So if you consider this pack, it seems that they are aware of the problem and I am sure they will proactively fix the packs and if not, at least you know you can get replacement buckles (see comments), most likely for the ones on the accessory packs, since some of the buckles on the Fanny pack itself are permanently stitched and can not be replaced.
If these packs were not such a great value I would say why bother, but they are good packs and worth the trouble.

Hope this help.

Received it today and, overall, like what I see. It's a bit smaller than I'm used to, but I think it should be more than enough once I trim down my kit a bit (let's face it, I'm over-prepared tbh). I'm anticipating it will work out so well, in fact, that I ordered a second one for my son. Hopefully, this coming season, we won't regret it.

Pros:
- Waist belt can cinch tight enough to support the weight of the pack on my skinny waist (30").
- Has a water bottle holder.
- Big enough... I think
- Lightweight and relatively compact
- Modular (I bought the bino addon. I think it will work out nicely for my compact binos).

Cons - there are a few things (cons) keeping me giving it 5 stars:
- The little pocket on the side - the one with the loop closure. Yeah, one side of the loop broke off the first time I opened it - literally. I crammed the end back up in the stitching where it pulled out, grabbed a needle and some thread, and went to town on it. Seems to be holding now, but time will tell.
- That little pocket (the one I just wrote about)... yeah, not sure what I'm going to put in it. Frankly, it's just a little too small to be practical and I don't trust the closure system to be putting anything valuable in it. Wish they had made it a little bigger and either put a zipper closure on it or an actual clasp. I would have been happy with another water bottle holder too, instead of what it is now.
- I wish they had sewed a loop on the back of the harness. Would make a good anchor point to clip miscellaneous things to (like a seat pad, or something).
- the double lashing on the top of the bag... it's nice and I'm glad it's there. Just wish it could extend a foot or so longer. I think I may have to get creative if I want to lash down a heavy coat without having the ends drag through the bushes. I think it will work well enough to fold up a lightweight jacket - but anything with bulk won't be able to be compactly folded up in it and will need to be draped over it and secured that way.

---Update Nov 2023---
After 2 seasons of use, I'm happy to say overall this pack is a keeper and does what I want it to. In fact, I will probably buy another one for my daughter at some point...
- Pack is well made and holding up well. The only exception to that is that little side pocket - that broke on my son's pack too, same as mine. It's a worthless pocket (too small) with a terrible closure system.
- I stitched a loop onto the back of the harness where it connects in the middle of the back (see picture) - that allows me to clip my foam seat pad in there and carries it nicely. They should have done this from the factory, tbh.
- It holds enough - barely. Honestly, probably the perfect size - not to big, not too small... just right.
- Don't notice it when it's packed and strapped onto me - with the waist belt cinched my shoulders don't get sore, my back doesn't get sweaty, and I can duck under branches without snagging it on anything. Overall, way better than a backpack in those regards.

If Alps could make that lame pocket into something useful and sew a strap onto the harness, they would have a 5 star product. For now, leaving it at 4.