Alice packs

[keen-edge]

If you aren't after an original one but want a comfortable pad:

http://www.nightgear.co.uk/p/1141/Bl...Olive-Drab.htm

Got one myself. Much better than the original.

HTH.

They look great buddy but at £36.00 it seems alot just looking for a standard one for now thanks for the link though buddy

[nolightweight]

No dramas mate

[johnboy]

Hi i am looking for a alice pack kidney belt if any one as one kicking about

Squires do some aftermarket ones...... postage to the UK might be expensive however

http://www.squires.co.nz/pages/baker...k-straps43.php

[keen-edge]

Squires do some aftermarket ones...... postage to the UK might be expensive however

http://www.squires.co.nz/pages/baker...k-straps43.php

Thanks for the link Johnboy there must be some in the uk some were

[santaman2000]

...It's also interesting to note the the USMC now issues the ILBE pack which is based on a modern Arcteryx Design ( The Tango IIRC) to replace the ALICE.

I'm not a fan as you can tell.

Actually ALICE was replaced by MOLLE. The ILBE gear (including the pack system) was designed to replace that.

It's difficult for me to understand how people can call ALICE "old school" or "retro." I guess I'm showing my age when I think of ALICE as the "modern" replacement for old school packs.

[mousey]

I've had a little look on modular carrying stuff/ packframes, the Molle gen iv frame looks pretty good but I've only found them in america so while you can get one pretty cheap when adding shipping [possibly duty charges] and VAT on top it bumps the price up

I did cobble a set of webbing together but for me there wasn't enough stability to it [which got me thinking of a frame]

Just on apperances the Alice frame looks pretty uncomfortable but I've never tried one and looks can be decieving - I have heard lots of good and bad things about them I guess it's one of those things which you'll never know unless you try it.

[santaman2000]

I've had a little look on modular carrying stuff/ packframes, the Molle gen iv frame looks pretty good but I've only found them in america so while you can get one pretty cheap when adding shipping [possibly duty charges] and VAT on top it bumps the price up

I did cobble a set of webbing together but for me there wasn't enough stability to it [which got me thinking of a frame]

Just on apperances the Alice frame looks pretty uncomfortable but I've never tried one and looks can be decieving - I have heard lots of good and bad things about them I guess it's one of those things which you'll never know unless you try it.

The ALICE has been comfortable for me; the one issue I have is that the wait belt rides a bit high (I'm 6' 2" and with a long torso and short legs so the effect means an even taller back)

Are you sure you mean gen IV regarding the MOLLE? The last one to use an external frame was gen II.

[Mike8472]

I think he was referring to the frame itself as the latest version is the 4th generation.
http://downeastinc.com/Products.php/?Link=1603

http://www.eagleindustries.com/produ...?productid=140


Im thinking about buying a medium alice pack and getting this to go with it rather than the original frame.http://downeastinc.com/Products.php/?Link=1606AC

last time i looked it was £38 for the frame and £35 for shipping!

[dean4442]

The one you need for the ALICE is I think the 1606 the other one needs a hacksaw taking to it to fit, if anyone was planning on ordering one then I'd be interested in splitting the postage with them as it's about as much as the frame itself!
Colin

[Mike8472]

http://downeastinc.com/Products.php/?Link=1606AC yep its the 1606.

[santaman2000]

I think he was referring to the frame itself as the latest version is the 4th generation.
http://downeastinc.com/Products.php/?Link=1603

http://www.eagleindustries.com/produ...?productid=140

I guess I need to do some research? Both those links look like the MOLLE 2 frame to me. As far as I know the current generation of MOLLE (gen 4 as you say) doesn't use it or any external frame. I'm not all that up to date on MOLLE though.

[Mike8472]

It is the molle 2 system but the 4th generation of the frame design, it has just been strengthened and made lighter. The pouches and accessories are all the same. its just the frame which has been improved.

they have also got a new patrol pack design which supersedes the old molle large assault pack. it has external frame with bigger capacity.
http://downeastinc.com/cgi-bin/online/storepro.php

the USMC ILBE made by Arc'Teryx / Propper is an internal frame design
http://www.ilbepack.com
only on issue the the USMC though not the other services as far as I'm aware; they have the Molle 2 syetem in ACU and now MULTICAM

[mousey]

you can get a forth gen frame from ebay [from U.S.] for as little as 4-6 dollars but they want 40-50 dollars postage !! so that with duty [may not have to pay - depends on how much the ITEM is] and vat @ 20% [charged on total cost = ITEM , DUTY & POSTAGE] could be quite expensive, so on principal I've not bought one because it seems pretty silly to spend a couple of quid on an item then pay over 10 times the amount to get it here!

Altough on the US amazon you can get a box of 20 for 40 dollars [I think] then 50 dollars postage [I think] so could bring the unit price down - but there is still the duty and vat to pay. Then getting it to different people over here.

As far as I can see the duty can be anything from 0 -85 % of the ITEM cost depending on where its coming from and what category the custom folks put it into [anything below £9 duty is waived]. then vat on top of all this all these charges has kinda put me off

[mousey]

apparently [the one I'm thinking of] is a molle II or Li [?] generation IV frame.

There was a good thread on some US site detailing the differences between each generation [can't find it at the moment]

[garethw]

This was a post of my version from last year:

Hi there
I've been messing around with the ALICE/MOLLE hybrid pack since I first saw it on this and other forums. After using a large pack without a MSS carrier, I've finally gone for the medium with the carrier. Mostly beacause it is less voluminous and doesn't bulge out from your back as the large pack does.

Front view of the finished pack.



A side view with frame and sleep system carrier in place.



The DEI 1606AC frame makes a big difference, lighter, flexible and fits the MOLLE stuff better.



I hook up the shoulder straps just like on the Aluminium frame, using only the lower set around the frame, and tucking the upper straps in behind. With the loads lifters, and central webbing, they are very solidly attached.



I added a webbing loop to make a handle on the top... an essential addition for me.



Here you see the MSS carrier cinched up to the pack. There is absolutely no bounce when fitted like this.



I copied the way the MOLLE ll pack has its fastex buckles fitted. I can thread these through the first set of loops on the front of the MSS carrier to cinch it to the main pack.




The MSS carrier is fitted with 4 toggles to attach to the MOLLE frame. As the DEI frame is shorter I used just the top set to attach it to the 1606 frame. Like this is is held firmly to the frame, and doesn't come undone when you loosen the straps. The webbing straps ( you can se one on the right of the image), go around and under to compress the carrier when its full.



So there you go. After several attempts with different configurations I've got the pack modified how I want it. It carries well, has enough space for all my gear, and has a retro look that I like. I was never a big fan of the way the original Alice carried, but this is a totally different beast.

[Mike8472]

Gareth thats wat i am eventually aiming for if i can source the 1606 frame without paying a ridiculous amount for shipping from america!

[dean4442]

That's the only thing which stopped me from ordering one!
Colin

[dean4442]

That's the only thing which stopped me from ordering one! You can always take a hacksw to the standard frame and it does work but isn't that elegant, I am away for a week from saturday but can post some photo's when I gat back.
Colin

[santaman2000]

This was a post of my version from last year:

Hi there
I've been messing around with the ALICE/MOLLE hybrid pack since I first saw it on this and other forums. After using a large pack without a MSS carrier, I've finally gone for the medium with the carrier. Mostly beacause it is less voluminous and doesn't bulge out from your back as the large pack does.

Front view of the finished pack.



A side view with frame and sleep system carrier in place.



The DEI 1606AC frame makes a big difference, lighter, flexible and fits the MOLLE stuff better.



I hook up the shoulder straps just like on the Aluminium frame, using only the lower set around the frame, and tucking the upper straps in behind. With the loads lifters, and central webbing, they are very solidly attached.



I added a webbing loop to make a handle on the top... an essential addition for me.



Here you see the MSS carrier cinched up to the pack. There is absolutely no bounce when fitted like this.



I copied the way the MOLLE ll pack has its fastex buckles fitted. I can thread these through the first set of loops on the front of the MSS carrier to cinch it to the main pack.




The MSS carrier is fitted with 4 toggles to attach to the MOLLE frame. As the DEI frame is shorter I used just the top set to attach it to the 1606 frame. Like this is is held firmly to the frame, and doesn't come undone when you loosen the straps. The webbing straps ( you can se one on the right of the image), go around and under to compress the carrier when its full.



So there you go. After several attempts with different configurations I've got the pack modified how I want it. It carries well, has enough space for all my gear, and has a retro look that I like. I was never a big fan of the way the original Alice carried, but this is a totally different beast.

Nice pack; I like the way it turned out. Did you do the fastex mods?