Below is a post I made in 2022 regarding the Alps pack frame. After 2 additional years of use I still feel the same about it. The thread it was posted to was titled "Anything compare to a Barney's"
From 2022:
A little over a year ago I purchased an Alps Outdoorz Commander Lite to be used as a loaner pack and to keep in my vehicle during our 4 month long archery deer season. So far I have used it while shed hunting, hauling 50# sacks of feed, and for tree stand set up and maintenance. In addition it has packed 3 antelope, 2 deer, and 1 bear from the field. The shortest pack out was 3/4 of a mile and the longest 2.5 miles. I keep my loads to 75 lbs. or less with the average somewhere around 50-60 lbs.
I'm not in any way suggesting the Alps pack to be on par or even close in quality to the Barney's pack. It is however a less expensive alternative that works in the right scenarios. If I were still of the age where I was loading the pack up with 100 lb. loads the Alps probably wouldn't hold up. Because I'm of an age where I purposely limit the size of my loads the Alps pack works just fine for me.
The Alps won't replace my SO Fortress, but it does have its place.
Hope this adds perspective to your search.