ALICE Pack system, pics.

[Al Kidner]

A while back there was a thread on the ALICE pack and being home I'd thought I'd post up some pics as I was cleaning up my shed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/TakeeDown012.jpg

As stated in the other thread IMHO the Alice pack system is the best going. It's been around since the Vietnam war and is hard to beat.

Now I'm sure there are better made civi packs out there on the market, maybe even more comfy too, but this is what works for me and my normal body/back shape. It's hard wearing, ment for heavy weights (getting off the subject but I've carried 18L of water in this pack alone. On top of that there was 5 days rations, radio batts and a HF radio to not to mention other kit.... arrhhh the joys of recon platoon!) .... and can handle rough treatment too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/TakeeDown013-1.jpg

In the above pic you can see the alloy frame that slides into the pack itself. It's ment to, and does, keep airflow around your back when walking the light green.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/TakeeDown011.jpg

I also attached on new pouches on the outside so as to "live on the outside of your pack" in Infantry terms. In a nutshell this means being able to place items in the outside pockets so as to not have to enter the main pack for items.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/TakeeDown010.jpg

And here is a pic on it on. Note the water bottle is low around the hip area where all the weight and heavy items should be, close to the body so as not to cause wobbly movement. The closer the heavy items are to the body the better, the further away and the'll cause you to be unbalacnced. Thats bad Karma in Mountaion country.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/TakeeDown015.jpg


Hope this helps out anyone thinking of parting with cash on a pack system. Like I said there not for everyone and your best bet is to try one on with a load in it before parting with your $$$. That way you can work out if you like it or not. I see way to many people with loaded packs that tower above there heads, again your balance will be off if that happens. The pack will want to roll on you and cause all sorts of troubles. Trust me on this one.

Regrards,

AK.

[STEALTH]

There too good.I use my when going on a hunt >2 days.Cant argue with the price too:)

[Paul R]

Thanks for sharing the info and photos Al, it's a great post mate.

There is no denying that the Alice pack is a good system for military use, it's very strong, a bit on the heavy side but quite comfortable as far as military packs go and it's definately capable of carrying heavy loads. But what you have to remember is that it's a pack that has been designed to take the abuse of military life and stand up under battle conditions. No civilian pack is designed to take that sort of abuse and so they tend to be a lot lighter and way more comfortable to wear. The other thing that you have to take into acount when buying a military pack is that they are designed to wear with webbing. Packs like the Alice are designed to sit on top of a bum bag which is attached to a belt and harness system. The belt and comforter done up tightly around the point of the hips takes a lot of the weight of the pack which is sitting on the bum bag, or at least that's the way it's meant to work. If you are planning on humping a heavy pack for a few days, then that transfer of weight from your shoulders to your hips will save you a lot of grief (talking from experience:)).

My advice would be if your not planning on wearing a belt and harness system with a bum bag to take some of that weight from off of your shoulders, then don't buy a military pack unless it has hip support. All of the large civilian packs, even the cheap ones come with padded hip wings and belt, but the more money you pay the better the harness system you'll get.

[WyldOne]

I use this when I'm out fishing.

http://www.motackle.com.au/media/images/products/indian-small%20250.jpg

[special]

Im with you there wyldeone....How many beers does one need?:P

[Al Kidner]

I must add here Paul that my pack is rather light as the body is made out of a "rip-stop" type material, ment for tropical conditions. Mine holds about 70L I've worked out.

When in the Infantry we all used to wear chest webbing as our unit allowed us to. This allowed all items to be in arms reach on the chest. That being said, our packs all had nothing to rest on like the crap issue webbing and this was never a problem. I've also used this pack on many self backpack hunts with bow in hand and again never had a problem.

We also removed the belt on all our packs as well. This being to take all the weight on the shoulders rather than the hips. After long days with your house on you back it just felt better to have only the shoulder staps on and nothing else.

Like I said above, this pack system is ment for heavy duty, both in weight and use. The frame may look different but it works. Granted it's not as flashy as your guchi North Face kit, but this is what work for us and me. Again lads everyone has there own likes and dislikes when it comes to backpacks. It's a bit like boots, bows and arrows too.

Oh and I only use this pack when I'm heading out for a few nights. I don't carry it evey time I'm hunting.


AK.

[Paul R]

There's no doubt Al for a military application they are a great pack, I used one myself and I'm sure you and your fit recon platoon mates would have carried them with ease.:)

All I'm saying is that the average backpack hunter will do it much easier with a modern civilian pack. I'd hate to see some young bloke go out and spend their money on an ex military backpack for backcountry muti-day hunts, thinking they've bought the best when they would have been far better off IMO with the alternative. I've used both and I've sold both and there's a reason why you don't see those who continually hike, backpack or climb using ex military packs. Using a modern well made civilian pack you'll be able to hike longer with less fatigue.

[steviebby]

Thanks heaps al great post ,My alice pack should arrive shortly,I gave up on the civi pack systems after my last pack ,over priced, had to unpack most items just to get to one thing out and not suited to alpine hunting condtitions,there probably ok for your general track hiker sooner or later (especially carrying water in) civi packs rip, seems tear, they break!.My bro used a heavly modified sniper pack with frame to some sucess but the pockets on the alice have me sold ,cheers

[Viking]

When I was in 3RAR in the early nineties we were the first unit to be issued ALICE packs, as they were better suited to jumping than the issue packs, which were CRAP!

The main beef I have with ALICE packs was the single compartment, so that whatever you needed from the main compartment would invariably be at the bottom. It made for extra stuffing around getting your farter out each night, and putting your gear away before stand-to each morning.

When I was much younger, keener, greener and singler (is that a word?), I had no problems paying $280 (and $280 in those days was like $600 today) for an Auspack in DPCM. I bought it from Wildsports in Sydney, who had a lot of good AJ kit; I don't know if they're still there.

The majority of the lads were happy with the issue kit; it was only me who was alarmingly warry who would spend the best part of a fortnight's wage on a custom set of webbing. The ALICE pack was certainly durable enough, and the outside pockets were great, but everyone tended to put water bottles in them, placing the weight at the furthest point from your back. That meant that a one litre bottle felt like two litres.

It's all horses for courses, but in my opinion you can't beat a pack with dual main compartments. It makes for much less mucking about setting your camp up, particularly if you're trying to do it in a hurry in the rain.

And these days when I'm not having mag pouches around my waist, you can't beat a pack with a good band to put the weight on your hips. That way you can back the shoulder straps right off and give your shoulders a rest, which can be a useful bit of respite, especially if you're anticipating having a shot.

Just my two cents.

Steve