I need to buy five packs

pict

pict

Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
2,373
I need to buy five packs for my course in Brazil. I want to pick up some form of milsurp pack/ruck. My plan is to buy five of them that I can use for my course and leave packed all the time to cut down on my prep time.

They have to fit...

Shelter: Tropical bag, tarp, ropes, hammock, poncho, sometimes a bivy
Clothing: Night time change of clothes
Food Can: Starvation rations in a 1 liter aluminum pot
Water filter

Personal Gear (carried on person)

Machete & Mora
US Army Canteen and Cup
Compass & Whistle
Fire kit
Mini-mag light
Work gloves
Insect repellent

Keep in mind that I need to buy five of these so the latest release from Maxpedition won't work for me. Any suggestions? Mac
 
It has been a while since I played with surplus,but look at a US Alice pack. They are quite big and roomy.Make sure you get a hip belt for them. I am sure some of the ex military can get more specific
 
What about the mid sized ALICE packs? Or surplus Swedish army packs, I've seen those come up pretty cheap and they are nice quality.
 
+1 on the surplus ALICE pack. I still have my issued one. There are better packs, but you're unlikely to find a better one for the money.
 
I spent way too much time in the jungle while in the Army and afterwards, so I'll chime in. There are a lot of choices out there for you. The Alice is fine, but also look at some of the British and German mil surplus packs. Avoid the ones with leather trim as it'll rot quick in the jungle. Go with nylon and avoid canvas, which is heavy and very slow to dry. If you go with the Alice then you might be able to get away with the Medium Alice instead of the Large, but those weren't issued as much, so may actually be more expensive than the Large.

Also consider spraying the pack with some silicone or other water repellent to prevent the nylon from rotting from constant moisture. Also consider using a garbage bag as a bag liner or getting a sil-nylon dedicated one from Sea to Summit or one of the other ultralight companies (avoid the issued US Army ones, they're heavy and seem to spring holes in them every time you look away).

Also consider spraying your clothing, sleep net and head net in premethrin. That stuff is scary but amazing. Doesn't repel bugs, it kills them, for up to 2 weeks. Don't spray it directly on yourself. Someone made that mistake in Panama (thought it was bug juice) and ended up being med-evac'd out.

Edit: I just noticed that you were the one who posted this Pict. You don't need any beta from me, as you've spent considerably more time in the jungle than I have, so I'll refrain from giving anymore "advice" on what to do in the jungle.

I just ordered from this company and they've been great to deal with. I haven't received my goods yet, but they've kept me constantly updated via email, so they seem like a legit company. They're selling complete Medium Alice packs for $24 and Large is on sale for $30 (Mods: not deal spotting, this is the only surplus company I can give advice on, as I've never ordered from any others, and I don't know how this compares to other surplus companies prices).

http://wardenssupplyco.com/cart/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=pack&inc_subcat=0&sort=20a&page=5
 
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Kage's advice is good. However your going to find it expensive to purchase 5 medium alice packs, or for that matter any halfway decent packs. Here is a tip Most military rucks are sized for a 3 day load i.e. medium alice, german mountain ets generaly around 3,200 c.i.. If your going to the jungle definitely stick with nylon including straps stick with polycarbonate harware as well as even brass tarnishes and goes to pot in the jungle.
 
I posted this same question on another board and have gotten a few suggestions for the (used) medium ALICE w/o frame there as well. I do need to stay away from leather and canvass as these will be used during rainy season.

They don't need to carry alot of gear tot al load with water is about 20 lbs and alot of that is carried on their bodies. It is only the base camp stuff that needs to be packed in. Once we pack in and set up the base camp all the rest is done as day hikes from that location.

Whenever anyone hears Brazil they think jungle, true for the most part. My area is quite different than the Amazon.

Kage,

I'm all ears, good advice is good for me too. I use permethrin in the winter when we are over run with ticks and chiggers, it works great. In rainy season we don't have any at all.

Some photos...
img2732dk3.jpg


img1566uf1.jpg


tortura070.jpg


vayy062.jpg


Mac
 
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Kage- I was in the U.S.M.C. just before and during the time that the Alice pack was being replaced by the Molle, the medium Alice was the only one I saw issued. The large ( or mountain ruck) Alice pack was only had by those willing to spend their own money on it. So, right now the medium Alice is probably the easiest to get hold of.

David

I don't know if it's against the rules here or not but here's a link to an ebay search for alice packs
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=Alice+Pack&_sacat=See-All-Categories

several under 20 bucks and one ad for 25 of them for less than 200 bucks. If the link gets deleted just go to ebay and put alice pack in the search line.
 
Slow down there big guy, the one on the right is my daughter. She has that machete for a reason and you don't want to be it.

Mac
 
Pict,

Good to see you here. PM me your addie, I've got an Alice pack that I don't need...
 
mneedham said:
Pict,

Good to see you here. PM me your addie, I've got an Alice pack that I don't need...
Click to expand...

Thanks! I will take you up on that. I just noticed I don't have PM's anymore. I'll have to upgrade. Send me an e-mail and I'll shoot you my address. I don't want to post it on line.

dmcintyre@abwe.cc

Mac
 
Mac...I have a few packs I don't use. I just got done moving, so I am beat...I will post you some pics later to see if you are interested. Also, what's your deadline?
 
+ 1 for alice packs, but if your traveling any distance id use a frame, 1 frame woul suffice because they are easy to change out
 
Echo4v said:
Kage- I was in the U.S.M.C. just before and during the time that the Alice pack was being replaced by the Molle, the medium Alice was the only one I saw issued. The large ( or mountain ruck) Alice pack was only had by those willing to spend their own money on it.
Click to expand...

I was issued a large when we went to Korea for Team Spirit, it was needed to hold all the cold weather gear that came along with it. Once we got back to Okinawa we turned them in and went back to the mediums. That was the only time I ever saw the large period.
 
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