Any ideas how i can Improve an ALICE pack?

[RAPPLEBY2000]

Hi I have a Medium and Large pack (with frame) and wondered if anyone has idea how i can Improve them? (without spending too much).

i know you can spend alot of cash, send them off to get extra pockets and fastex buckles sewn on, but i don't want that,
just the simple DIY or homemade stuff like adding cord, tape, etc

[dean4442]

Hi there, you don't need to send your pack off to fit fastex buckles if you go here http://www.acesupplies.com/ and look in the military section they have a 25mm side release buckle for field repairs that you can fit without any sewing.

[johnboy]

Hi,

Alice packs are love or hate affairs...

I'd take a look first at the Tactical Tailor Website as they have a heap of mods for the
'Alice ruck'

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/ruckmods.aspx

When I had mine I looked there for inspiration.

I did the following to my Large Alice Pack to make it a bit better. I've no experience with the Medium sized one.

1. Fastex clips on the 3 outer pockets and the lid straps.
2. I made a snow lock for the rucksack lid.
3. I added a waist belt with a Fastex buckle.
4. I added a Fastex buckle to the 'radio pocket' inside the bergen
5. Bent the frame well away from my back
6. chopped off the metal loops on the top of the frame that act as strap keepers this allowed the shoulder straps to sit better on my shoulders with weight in the Bergen.

A really good set of waterproof liners is a really good idea as the pack has the water repellant properties of tissue paper it does however float really nicely..

Here it is after a bit of work

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/johnsnz/81965531_full.jpg

I did read somewhere that you can ditch the metal frame on the large Alice and replace with a plastic frame that Coleman make or made..

I do know that the NZ army have an improved set of straps and waistbelt for the Alice
But only in DPM.. I've also seen them tailored with a set of Zips down the side to accept a PLCE bergan sidepouch..Which ups the carrying capacity to something horrendous for a pack with no proper waist belt...

They are generally horrendous to carry with any weight in IMHO and after 24 or so months of using it I was totally ready to move onto a different Bergen. It reminded me of lugging the old issue SAS / Para Bergen around..:( not a pleasant experience either...

Hope this helps

[Oblio13]

This is my opinion after 20 years of using them in the Marines: ALICE packs are instruments of torture. There is no way to make them anything else. Save your money, work overtime, haunt sales and thrift shops, do whatever it takes to buy something better.

[John Fenna]

I think that the major improvement can be made by the old "soak in petrol and aply match" method
Though I have to say that they never did apeal to me:D

[kram245]

The weakness of the ALICE pack is its not overly comfortable and has a weak frame, rivetted spreader bars that break pretty easily. The design has merit, though, although the design is looked on as old fashioned now. Good for a hot enviroment, with air being able to circulate betwen the back. I have used the old British canvas A-frame bergen in the jungle and as the top slopes down, its easier threading through foliage and wait-a-whiles. I use and old Berghaus Roc now, but also have a WW2 U.S mountain pack, which is the fore-runner of the Alice. Much stronger and more comfortable, sometimes appear on ebay.

[Mastino]

Here an intersteting thread from the other side of the pond: http://www.bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=919

Nice forum btw

[RAPPLEBY2000]

(Opps bad URL Mastino)

well seeing as I've spent money on it, and actually like using the ALICE system I'm not likely to throw it away...:rolleyes:

I bought it because it has good back air flow and use it spring/summer but also it's fairly tough, simple design, and it's easy to add pouches/kit to.

I use a PLCE bergen in autumn/winter as it has better waterproofing, larger capacity and warmer on the back.

Believe me I don't overload a rucksack to the point that it's painful to carry!

[johnboy]

well seeing as I've spent money on it, and actually like using the ALICE system I'm not likely to throw it away...:rolleyes:

I bought it because it has good back air flow and use it spring/summer but also it's fairly tough, simple design, and it's easy to add pouches/kit to.

I use a PLCE bergen in autumn/winter as it has better waterproofing, larger capacity and warmer on the back.

Believe me I don't overload a rucksack to the point that it's painful to carry!

I seem to remember discussing the merits of Alice Packs back in this thread

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41688

I'd say even with an average Bushcraft / Backpacking load (that's all I was carrying) it's a pretty uncomfortable bit of kit if you're moving with it over a reasonable distance, I'd say it's toughness and relative simplicity are good points. If you're using it over a couple of Km say a walk in from the car to a bit of Woodland to Bushcraft then It would be fine. Fastex clips on the pockets and straps would be my number 1 reccomendation for a good mod to the Alice Large Pack.

Having used it carry a normal load over bush / mountain terrain I definately would not reccomend it at all. I didn't try it with add on pouches on the outside I cannot see that would help too much and might stuff up the centre of gravity of the load.

Each to his own and your mileage may vary...

[RAPPLEBY2000]

I'd never carry heavy stuff in the outside pockets, only spare hat gloves etc.

Well I bought a a meter of 1" closed cell foam pipe insulation only about 50p i cut it to fit on the top bar of the frame low and behold the bag fit's perfectly! an easy fix!

I've also added a horizontal compression strap(home made) to the frame that will go through the back of the pockets popper strap etc . so it should compress all the pockets. but is always attached so will work on the large and other stuff like a box (if i ever carry one like that)

[wizard]

This is my opinion after 20 years of using them in the Marines: ALICE packs are instruments of torture. There is no way to make them anything else. Save your money, work overtime, haunt sales and thrift shops, do whatever it takes to buy something better.

I have to strongly agree with Oblio on this. I carried an ALICE as much as the Army made me and hated every second of carrying it! I think they were designed for someone about 5 foot 8 inches maybe and if you are taller or shorter they dig in to about every area of your back and/or hips.

I will say that I had added a mesh backband from a Kelty (old) frame pack and that kept the frame off my scapula a little. I could not really add a hip belt because it rode too high to use a waist belt anyway.

Best advice is get something designed to be actually carried, like a Karrimor or Lowe Alpine, Gregory, Osprey, Kelty or any number of others. Spend the money, it is a onetime expense. Cheers

[Gabe]

Can the smaller of the alice packs be used without a frame? I only want a 30-35litre pack for bimbling about the local areas.
My 27 year old Berghaus Munro has given up the ghost. It wouldn't be holding any real weight; jacket, tarp, water, stove & binoculars.

[Humpback]

Yes, with or without the frame. With the frame you can fix items beneath it using the slot in shelf.
Alan

[RAPPLEBY2000]

It is specifically designed to be used with or without the frame!

it's around 30-35 l

and it has internal laces so you can further reduce the overall size to around 20 l!

[Humpback]

I don't know if you've seen this:
http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page84.shtml

Alan

[RAPPLEBY2000]

cheers for that:)