mini alice packs

R

rctk1

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Mar 5, 2005
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hi Guys! lately i have been getting the itch for old style military bags that i can use for 1-3 days out. I am very fond of the rucksack type with the drawstring to close the bag. Many of the bags that i have found are either to bulky, worn out, and to some reviews are uncomfortable. I have used a medium sized alice pack with frame which is o.k. for packing meat when hunting, but now i want something a little smaller that wont snag as easily when going through the dense brush. Does andyone have pics of the smaller alice pack being worn? and how's the comfort? i was going to get a duluth but i think price wise i'll be getting just as much without dishing out so much cash. if there are any other samll-medium rucksack bags that you folks would like to reccommend pls let me know. thanks
 
Snugpak Sleeka...trust me, it will cost around $75 and is WELL worth the money...check evil bay.
 
I really like the Snugpak Sleeka, but the top pocket on mine came unstitched after using lightly and Snugpak was very remiss in actually helping me out let alone any warranty coverage. I was told to take it to a pack shop for repair or send it back to who I bought it from, but it was about a month after buying it from an individual on ebay.
Other than that, the design is great.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Why not use a Medium ALICE without the frame?
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well, for short hikes and stuff the bag would be way to large for my needs, i guess what i am looking for is a bushcraft type of bag, not to large and not to small. The sleeka lookslike a very goodpack that may fill the needs i am looking for, I was also looking at getting a duluth but the $$$ factor is getting out there.
 
Check your local army surplus store. I bought an Austrian 'ruckpack' some years back that is pretty neat. Frameless and perfect for a few days out , it is very heavily constructed of heavy canvas though and thus not on the lighter side of weight. Lots of roomy pockets and well made , IIRC it was about twenty bucks.

Tostig
 
My experience is that Mini ALICE packs are good for a manpurse or something to hold minimal things on an outing. The "pockets" are basically worthless to me.

This coming from a life long ALICE user, I've had an ATS Raid I, Kifaru, Maxpred, etc and I always go back to my very first ALICE pack I got from my grandpa.

Never needed the frame either, I'm just used to using it without the frame. Theres even ways to jerryrig large ALICE packs so you don't use the frame, this might not work for you but I'm used to it like I said.

And really for short day hikes, If a med ALICE is too big, try a Kifaru E&E with three general purpose/medical pouches across the MOLLE so it kinda looks like an ALICE pack in the end. I'll see if I have pics of the last thing, My E&E is docked to the top flap of my ALICE.
 
I found a mini alice pack at a surplus store several years ago, It's an import. They are out there.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Or get a buttpack and add a shoulder sling to use it as a shoulder bag. Did that for years myself.
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One of nick names for butt pack was "3 day butt pack".

How about a M1945 pack?? It's a step back, smaller than med ALICE.

Heck, the LBE with belt, canteens and butt pack should see you good for 3 days. There are some good sized butt packs out there. The M1956 is the smallest.
 
Spec-ops brand makes a great medium sized alice pack. They have a great warranty on their goods, make bulletproof gear, and it's well priced. A retailer that sells their stuff is www.emgear.net, they are a good place to look. I've never used the pack but I've seen some great reviews on it from many other people. Give them a try!
 
The mini alice is a scaled down med. alice. That means the pack is made for a scaled down adult. The padding on the starps don't even come close to being correct for your shoulders. The outside pockets are like ammo pouch size. I say the pack volume was about the same or a little bigger than the WW2 standard infantry pack.

That said, I like the piece. I changed out the straps to some old duffle bag shoulder straps. Now it fits. I think it's as well made as the medium alice. The buckles and straping seem to be on par with the American version. Very durable.
 
I use a medium Alice pack for 1 - 3 days overnight. Anything less, like a day hike or even overnight, I use the military buttpack as mentioned earlier. It can strap to my Alice pack for extra gear, or I can just grab it and go for shorter periods of use.
 
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