Alice pack recommendations.

U

uluapark

Joined
Aug 10, 2013
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482
Hey guys/gals,

Any military folk have any thoughts about getting a Alice pack(large with frame, and modding it with hellcat upgrades?
i want to use it to carry my Mil pup tent( 2 shelter half tent) , 8x10 tarp, a 16" 35 oz balance kukri, 1 qt canteen, 2 qt canteen, emberlit folding stove, 2 qt pot, 10 ich cast iron skillet, and 1 full set of ECWCS clothing system. I was told for the money, the large ALICE pack is hard to beat for rugged durability. any comments welcome. How much weight can the frame hold? a 120 lb deer???
 
I bought a used Alice pack surplus on a webpage known for extremely CHEAP knives, you probably know the one. It is a standard Alice pack issued to the Army in the 1970s with the external metal frame and a kidney belt. It will easily carry 185 lbs of gear (with hubby carrying it as I can't lift that much) As you were told. For the money a surplus can not be beat. Solid, rugged, pretty well designed for carry. I do have to say that I do not have any knowledge of the hellcat upgrades. Mine is just as issued in the 'good ol days'
 
Shavru said:
I bought a used Alice pack surplus on a webpage known for extremely CHEAP knives, you probably know the one. It is a standard Alice pack issued to the Army in the 1970s with the external metal frame and a kidney belt. It will easily carry 185 lbs of gear (with hubby carrying it as I can't lift that much) As you were told. For the money a surplus can not be beat. Solid, rugged, pretty well designed for carry. I do have to say that I do not have any knowledge of the hellcat upgrades. Mine is just as issued in the 'good ol days'
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wonder how it felt to carry that weight? while not pleasant, i wonder if it was unduely unpleasant.
 
Lol, I could barely help him get it shouldered. Once he got the belt on and had it high on the belt and off his shoulders he said it wasn't bad. But he used to backpack a lot. Regularly went for week long pack trips on the cascade crest trail usually about 50 miles in a week carrying everything they needed themselves. So if you are comfortable backpacking 120lbs shouldn't be too bad at all. I know a couple of guys who used to use hunt together, they used just the frame without the pack itself and lash the deer quarters to it to pack out, one guy carrying that and the other carrying the rest of their gear in a regular pack.
 
Shavru said:
Lol, I could barely help him get it shouldered. Once he got the belt on and had it high on the belt and off his shoulders he said it wasn't bad. But he used to backpack a lot. Regularly went for week long pack trips on the cascade crest trail usually about 50 miles in a week carrying everything they needed themselves. So if you are comfortable backpacking 120lbs shouldn't be too bad at all. I know a couple of guys who used to use hunt together, they used just the frame without the pack itself and lash the deer quarters to it to pack out, one guy carrying that and the other carrying the rest of their gear in a regular pack.
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ah kk, thanks.
 
Everyone is using M.O.L.L.E now and I much prefer this new system. No more metal slide clips that rust and get sealed closed, just loops, plastic strips, and snaps with MOLLE. That's why the ALICE stuff is so cheap now.
 
You might check out "specopsbrand" Recon Ruck. Its an ALICE pattern, but some "upgrades". It costs a little more, but isn't as bad as some of the tactical cool packs on the market.

-Ron
 
Yeah GB, I have seen a lot of MOLLE stuff, a few friends of mine have it and you are right it is nice. However for the difference if price I couldn't justify it, at about 3 times the price. Ron_m80 it looks like that recon ruck can use the Alice frame if you want or use it frameless? But again $85 with no frame when I can buy the entire Alice for under $50. It really just comes down to what you are used to. Never had an Alice clip rust or freeze up. But then I have a tendancy to clean my gear religiously and dry it after every outing. Like I say, go with the best you can afford, but don't spend more than you can afford if you can meet the need as well cheaper.
 
Shavru said:
Yeah GB, I have seen a lot of MOLLE stuff, a few friends of mine have it and you are right it is nice. However for the difference if price I couldn't justify it, at about 3 times the price. Ron_m80 it looks like that recon ruck can use the Alice frame if you want or use it frameless? But again $85 with no frame when I can buy the entire Alice for under $50. It really just comes down to what you are used to. Never had an Alice clip rust or freeze up. But then I have a tendancy to clean my gear religiously and dry it after every outing. Like I say, go with the best you can afford, but don't spend more than you can afford if you can meet the need as well cheaper.
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I have also found great deals on surplus eastern European type gear. Bulgarian AK chest rigs are nice and solid by I find they are sized a bit small. There are budget type MOLLE rigs available through Condor and I find them very tough. Some MOLLE gear is way overpriced... I would have to agree with you on that one.

Oh, you should feel blessed by never having a ALICE clip issue. They get clogged with sand in desert theaters and wont "slide" down. The clips also get uber hot in the desert, I mean burn your skin hot! They have been known to "freeze up" moist jungle theaters, and the retention pressure leaf spring have been known to lose there "spring" for some reason. They are all but useless an artic theater, the minute moisture gets into the clips you can render the modular nature of the design out the window.

Like I said earlier, either you are blessed or you are very serious about keeping all your gear clean :D:thumbup:. You can eat out of the receivers of my guns and use the barrels for straws... that's how clean I keep my guns, but I have been known to let my pack and other gear take a beating.
 
LOVE the idea of a straw LOL that is a great giggle, but very descriptive of your cleaning habits as well, so serious kudos for that. Spent lots of time in Honduras with the old Alice gear so familiar with the hot and wet issues. Just never had any problems of the type you describe. Like I said, Always buy the best you can afford and updated gear fits that in my mind. But, based on my budget and experience, I couldn't justify the costs. Others have different uses for the gear and should take the facts you outline above into account if it fits their survival plans. Since I don't plan on wandering to the arctic or the Gobi desert regardless of what survival situation I am confronted with, my gear doesn't need to account for those. ;) Also, I am probably both blessed AND fanatic about cleaning both since I haven't had issues with the clips, I also have a lot of extra clips and should one start showing damage or weakening function it would be replaced before it becomes more. I review my gear regularly and will definately check out the Condor stuff you mention. I am not Anti-MOLLE by any means, should it work out that some gear if close enough in price that I can justify the difference, I definately would upgrade. Unfortunately, that hasn't been my experience in the case of most of the gear I have looked at. It isn't just the pack that has to be considered, but ALL of the gear that would need to be replaced because it used Alice clips to connect to the pack. That is where the major cost comes in.
 
Shavru said:
LOVE the idea of a straw LOL that is a great giggle, but very descriptive of your cleaning habits as well, so serious kudos for that. Spent lots of time in Honduras with the old Alice gear so familiar with the hot and wet issues. Just never had any problems of the type you describe. Like I said, Always buy the best you can afford and updated gear fits that in my mind. But, based on my budget and experience, I couldn't justify the costs. Others have different uses for the gear and should take the facts you outline above into account if it fits their survival plans. Since I don't plan on wandering to the arctic or the Gobi desert regardless of what survival situation I am confronted with, my gear doesn't need to account for those. ;) Also, I am probably both blessed AND fanatic about cleaning both since I haven't had issues with the clips, I also have a lot of extra clips and should one start showing damage or weakening function it would be replaced before it becomes more. I review my gear regularly and will definately check out the Condor stuff you mention. I am not Anti-MOLLE by any means, should it work out that some gear if close enough in price that I can justify the difference, I definately would upgrade. Unfortunately, that hasn't been my experience in the case of most of the gear I have looked at. It isn't just the pack that has to be considered, but ALL of the gear that would need to be replaced because it used Alice clips to connect to the pack. That is where the major cost comes in.
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I totally understand not wanting to spend anymore money, especially when it its working out so good for you. If you already have the gear there is really no point in upgrading to MOLLE, but and here is the big but... ALICE is compatible with MOLLE woot woot lol. Those damn little clips work perfect with MOLLE. Not sure if it was designed that way or not. I have a 5.11 MOLLE tactical vest with six 30rnd AR mag pouches in the front and I was able to use my old ALICE system on my sides for two of those old Vietnam style 3/30rnd mag pouches. They don't like as flat or close to the body like MOLLE but they still work good. I now have the ability to carry 12/ 30rnd AR mags, an inverted ESEE RC3 combat knife, a camel h2o system on my back, mag dump pouch, compass, light, and bungee single point weapons mount all on my MOLLE vest hands free. The best part is the vest has pockets front and back for LVL 3 body armor. It was a little pricey but its worth having all that gear hands free and accessible. Definitely stick with your ALICE set up but when it does come time to upgrade don't hesitate to give MOLLE a try!
3
 
Ah, that is definately GREAT news. Yep, that removes one of my biggest stumbling blocks. When it is time to update the pack I will definately go MOLLE now that I know that. I thought I would have to trade out all of it at once. The fact I don't makes it MUCH nicer choice when it comes time to replace the pack then. Thank you for the great heads up on that.
 
I don't know what the upgrades are either, but I carried 120# pretty regularly in a standard alice (on top of IBA, ammo and personal gear) and never had any problems other than taping down the quick releases on heavily worn straps (unexpectedly dumping your ruck on an EIB roadmarch leads to some running lol-to say nothing of dumping it on a near vertical slope in Kosovo at 0400...)
 
crates and deer quarters and such but NO Dear quarters :D

Sorry my sick mind is still just at the point where the super-ego is still asleep and my Id is blaming my husband for keeping me awake with his snoring all night ;)
 
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here is whats listed for the "hellcat" mods.
1. ALICE frame and medium ruck
2. one set MOLLE shoulder straps
3. one MOLLE moulded kidney pad
4. one MOLLE sleep system carrier.

im not allowed to link website, but it is liberty tree blog, type in hellcat, and it comes up, can anyone objectify what he is saying, or is he full of it.
thanks for the input.
 
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