Presenting: The New USMC Pack

I think the SF Pack was a CF or CPF 90 or something, that came out years ago. They are still a chunk of change to get one in excellent condition. This one might take a little longer than a couple years to make the surplus market if it turns out to be all it is cracked up to be, and if so, it's going to be a high dollar surplus item to be sure.
 
as a standard issue item, I'm confident there will be seconds due to dye lot, etc... hitting the market, just like every other piece of mil equip out there.
But you're probably right about the sticker shock. look at the ecws sleep systems -- 5 years ago they were $350, now the surplus ones go for $200.
 
The CFP-90 is a term I never heard of. I left 10th SFG (A) in 1997. Up until my departure we were issued OD Green LOWE LCS-84s, along with Woodland Camo vest (IFS). While the packs were O.K., we despised the LBE/IFS vest. LCS-84s, of which there were some variations, are still pricey on the used market, with the OD commanding a premium. I still have mine and do not use it, as it is a monster!
 
jw2n said:
The CFP-90 is a term I never heard of. I left 10th SFG (A) in 1997. Up until my departure we were issued OD Green LOWE LCS-84s, along with Woodland Camo vest (IFS). While the packs were O.K., we despised the LBE/IFS vest. LCS-84s, of which there were some variations, are still pricey on the used market, with the OD commanding a premium. I still have mine and do not use it, as it is a monster!
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I was in 7th SFG at that time. The Lowe packs were well built (and yes, big!) and well designed. The typcial standard is that a quality company will win the design and sell it to the service branch and then they'll contract to the lowest bidding company to produce. The CFP-90 was a good example. I still have a CFP-90 burried somewehere and it's a crappy pack. There really is no comparision between the Lowe packs and the CFP-90. I think the MOLLE packs for the Army happened the same way. The Army always jacks everything up when they do good research yet try to produce the design by some sub-par company. The Marines do things well the first time...I suspect this pack will be produced with good QA/QC...I've wished over the years that the Army would take some lessons in proper gear selection and acquisition that the Marines have done much better at executing.

ROCK6
 
If the Corps is anything like the Army, their packing list still won't fit and will be full of stuff they'll never use but have to lug around anyway.
 
ROCK6 said:
I was in 7th SFG at that time. The Lowe packs were well built (and yes, big!) and well designed. The typcial standard is that a quality company will win the design and sell it to the service branch and then they'll contract to the lowest bidding company to produce. The CFP-90 was a good example. I still have a CFP-90 burried somewehere and it's a crappy pack. There really is no comparision between the Lowe packs and the CFP-90.
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We got CFP-90s in the 82nd. The pack had a single point release, and the attachment/s...I don't know, there was some kind of issue. From what I heard, on the first jump with them by another BN, one burned in with one of the also new(to us) SINCGARS, and it got destroyed.
We had them, but didn't use them. I think the shoulder strap attachments slid on the stays to adjust for torso length, and wouldn't stay in place with heavy loads, rendering them useless-something like that. My memory's not real clear on the specifics of the pack, but "POS" is what pops into my mind whenever I see them mentioned.
 
Amazing, isn't it? Something can be a total piece of trash and people will still get top dollar for it because it was issued, even though it might have been despised, by special forces personnel. :D
 
A Marine definately has different needs than I... I hope it serves them well. As for my personal opinion... with regards to a hiking/woods pack, this is WAAAAAAAAY to much. More pockets with more capacity means you'll probably end up trying to fill it all......... I don't care how great the suspension system is added weight is added weight, period.

Rick
 
OwenM said:
My memory's not real clear on the specifics of the pack, but "POS" is what pops into my mind whenever I see them mentioned.
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Yeah, it was actually the "sliding" suspension for the should harness/waistbelt. It was very flimsly and would often break or not stay where tightened. About the only thing I ever used from it was the top-lid "assualt" pack. I should probably dig it out and put it on Ebay for several hundred $$..."genuine issue special operations, jump failing, high-speed-low-drag combat pack":rolleyes::D

Rick Marchand said:
A Marine definately has different needs than I... I hope it serves them well. As for my personal opinion... with regards to a hiking/woods pack, this is WAAAAAAAAY to much. More pockets with more capacity means you'll probably end up trying to fill it all......... I don't care how great the suspension system is added weight is added weight, period.
Rick
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Capacity is a two-edged sword. Mission gear can really add a lot of bulk and weight. Even when I deploy, I travel with two packs...a smaller 72-hour/mission pack that really gets used the most (Kifaru Zulu) and I have a massively modified old-school Large Alice pack; modified by HSGI and more capacity than a small car:D Outside of food, I have lived out of that pack for 3-6 months. It will haul well over 100 pounds, but my distance for humping it is from a helo/plane to a truck or drop off point...max distance of about 100 yards or so:D

As you mentioned Rick...the larger the pack, the more crap you (or your leadership) can and often do stuff in the pack. I much prefer force myself to carrying less for recreational trips, but I still like to pack a few comfort items. The only problem with most issued type of packs is the weight. It's a necessary evil to both handle the extended weight and withstand the rigors of "pack abuse" when in the field or deployed.

ROCK6
 
Rock... I don't know how you soldiers do it. I suppose the second you drop that pack in the field, you'll be able to jump tall buildings in a single bound! It's like Conan pushing that giant wheel for decades, then being unleashed for some pit fighting.... CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROM!... lol.
 
Rick Marchand said:
Rock... I don't know how you soldiers do it. I suppose the second you drop that pack in the field, you'll be able to jump tall buildings in a single bound! It's like Conan pushing that giant wheel for decades, then being unleashed for some pit fighting.... CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROM!... lol.
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Yeah, it's pretty amazing...I'm a little longer in the tooth, but the younger troopers do such an amazing job and I don't know how they do it either:D These days I often look for a ride first and if I have to hump anything over 50 pounds for more than a few miles...I'm in dire need of Bengay and a bottle of Jack Daniels immediately following:D

ROCK6
 
Look back at what some of the guys in the SOG Teams carried. Terrible heat and humidity, the terrain was worse than the oppressive heat. They'd get dropped into Laos and run recon for days. Sometimes they could get resupplied, sometimes not. Spare batteries for the radio, all the ammunition, grenades and Claymore Mines you could stuff into a Large ALICE along with explosives and the rest of it. Their survival kits were two of these. (There were a few different versions of these and the SOGs were slightly different and even this kit is incomplete. A complete one in as good as shape as this one was would be a pretty penny.)

The mind boggles. Incredible loads under just the most harsh conditions human beings could endure. As if THE RACK that a Large ALICE Pack is was not torture enough.
 
Whoh...that thing is a beast.

I don't get all the desire for mil-surp gear on this forum ... All most nothing that I was ever issued in the military has been the best product for usage in the great outdoors as a hunter, hiker, backpacker, canoer, cyclist etc... About the only thing that I use is the GI canteen & nesting cup ... but a nalgeen bottle with cup would be just as good!

Exhibit one: the M9 pistol - MANY better options exist, even though it is not a bad pistol. (any duty-sized GLOCK, SIG, SMITH M&P etc...) This seems to be the theme with mil-surp. Though often rugged, mil surp gear is often the lowest bidder contractor, that can produce a decently acceptable product. I work in military procurement as a civilian and I can assure you that the only argument that stands up to congress critters wanting procurement items produced in thier district is that it it is the lowest cost possible for a US made good. If congress finds out that any other criteria were used (performance, schedule ..etc) they will demand that thier own district can produce it cheaper. Exhibit 2: KC-135 strato-tanker replacement (which has taken 10+ years to even get a decision).

We were always trying to personally procure our own knives, holsters etc. when I was in the military. I sent my brother-in-law a Ka-bar & kydex sheath to Iraq when he was on deployment, because the army thinks a decent knife is "pointless." (yes, many here would look down on a Ka-bar on this august forum:rolleyes:.)

I'll stick to commercial ultra-medium light modern technology internal frame packs that are affordable & comfortable while hiking.

I'm not saying that military gear is all bad - just that it is built for the military mission and careless soldiers/sailors/marines who use and abuse gear - not the average CONUS outdoorsman
 
The USGI surplus that I find very valuable is the rugged stuff that I have used for years. Lensatic Compasses - I have one from 1959 and it's still going strong, "bombproof" really does come to mind. The good, old poncho and liner, that liner is one of the finest field blankets anyone can carry. A Medium ALICE is a great pack, if you don't overload it. It's a big, blundering bag that will want you to take Advil through an IV if you get carried away...but...it is also..."bombproof."

I understand what you are saying though and I agree. I even made fun of it earlier. Even if something is literally hated by troops, some people will want it because of who it was issued to, even if the people that it was issued to wanted to burn all of them. :D
 
I think if you take any pack and run excercises all day, humpin' 50lbs... you will learn to hate it.

I absolutely love the Med ALICE pack and frame. For me, you can't find a better more versitile woods ruck.

Rick
 
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