My Alice Pack

[garethw]

Hi there
I've had this old Alice pack for years, and mostly used it for fishing. More recently I've got it out from retirement and started to modify it a bit...(there are loads of Alice mods on the US forums). First mod was to swap the metal buckles for plastic fastex type clips on the top flap and pockets.. Access is now easy and quick.
Second mod was to improve the carry of the pack. The old LC1 straps and kidney pad were very uncomfortable and hard... Made the pack sit on your shoulders and as its big and heavy this was not a viable carry system. So I ordered a set of Molle straps and kidney pad from the US and fitted them. Boy what a difference. Bigger, better padding, sternum strap etc, have now made the pack very comfy to carry even with 15kg of load.
I like some of the army bergens but good ones are over £100. Karrimors Sabres for instance are even more money. So for 10 Euros of clips, and 35$ of straps I have transformed my old Alice into an excellent backpack, that I sure couldcarry for a good distance. It also a pack reputed as virtually indestructable.
Cheers
Gareth

[santaman2000]

Congratulations on your pack. To steal a quote, "ALICE ages well."

[Globetrotter.uk]

Any chance of some photos

[garethw]

Any chance of some photos

Here you go:

New straps and belt


Close up of the new belt


The new straps


the plastic snap buckles.

cheers
Gareth

[santaman2000]

Looking good!

[Davey569]

Awesome.

Ive had and loved my alice pack since I saw Loke using one on lost! done the same mods myself and its a great hunting pack.

[garethw]

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.

cheers
Gareth

[blacktimberwolf]

Great combination, the Alice pack is much more versatile than the MOLLE ll set up..........you've done a great job.

[sandbag47]

Interesting...did you sew on the plastic clips on yourself. I only ask because I have a twenty+ year old Alice pack and it could do with a bit of a repair. Do you have any links to the site where you got your items from.

[johnboy]

Interesting...did you sew on the plastic clips on yourself. I only ask because I have a twenty+ year old Alice pack and it could do with a bit of a repair. Do you have any links to the site where you got your items from.

You can get repair clips from Ebay,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-1-USMC-CO...item4cfb54206b

if you hunt around they also come in ACU green..

you need to 25mm ones as the webbing on an Alice is about 1" wide.

you can cut off the steel buckles on the pouches and the lid closure and replace them with the repair buckles without any sewing needed.

If you google MALICE pack you will find out all you ever needed to know on the Alice MOLLE conversion..

HTH

John

[Martyn]

Just a small point, there is a clear benefit to replacing the main strap buckles with the fastex repair buckles, but you dont really gain anything from replacing the pouch buckles as well. In fact you just add weight. The double poppers are quick release and work fine as is.

[johnboy]

Just a small point, there is a clear benefit to replacing the main strap buckles with the fastex repair buckles, but you dont really gain anything from replacing the pouch buckles as well. In fact you just add weight. The double poppers are quick release and work fine as is.

I disagree...

ALICE's Come with 2 types of Friction buckle and also different nylon webbing has been used for the pouch tensioners over the course of production by different contractors. I guess this is an outcome of the fact that different folk have made them to Mil spec for the US Government.. I dont think there is any rhyme or reason to whats used or fitted as I guess both buckles and the different webbing meets the spec..

If you get one with the 'Ladder' style tensioners and a very open weave type of webbing its nigh on impossible to pull the pouch closed there is just too much fricton... A fastex buckle sorts that out... plus if your fingers are cold the poppers can be a PITA to close especially if they are full of mud.. Not so a 25mm fastex...

Plus it looks Ally...Which is half the battle....

Just my opinion and your mileage may vary....

[Martyn]

This is mine, duuno which type they are, but I havent had any problems with em...

[johnboy]

This is mine, duuno which type they are, but I havent had any problems with em...

look like fastex's to me...

[Martyn]

look like fastex's to me...

Yeah, on the main straps - I put em on.

The pouch buckles I left original - you cant see em in the pic, sorry.

[Martyn]

here you go....

[johnboy]

here you go....

Yep ladder type...

Are you using a modified MOLLE frame or the ALICE specific one from DEI??

[garethw]

Yes I agree, the fastex type buckles IMO are an improvement on the press studs. You do have to cable tie (or sew) the bottom part with the poopers or you may well end up losing it.

cheers
Garteh

[Martyn]

Yep ladder type...

Are you using a modified MOLLE frame or the ALICE specific one from DEI??

Just the Standard ALICE frame John.

[Martyn]

Gareth, do you rate the DEI frame? Is it worth it? It looks slick and probably a better match for the Molle ALICE hybrid than the stock ALICE frame, but I'm not sure it's worth it.

[garethw]

Gareth, do you rate the DEI frame? Is it worth it? It looks slick and probably a better match for the Molle ALICE hybrid than the stock ALICE frame, but I'm not sure it's worth it.

The biggest problem with the original Alice was the frame.. its is heavy, cumbersome, squeaks, the rivets pop out... The DEI 1606 frame is basically a version made for the Molle ll Airbourne Assault system. due to demand from troops they put out a version that was compatible with the Alice, as so many still used them.
Personally I think it is light years ahead of the Alice frame, and definitely worth the money. It needs to be used with the Molle bits though as it won't work with the Alice belt and straps.

cheers
Gareth

[Mastino]

Funny, one of the great feautures of an original ALICE is the metal buckles. They won't break at sub-zero temperatures....Fastex will.

[johnboy]

Funny, one of the great feautures of an original ALICE is the metal buckles. They won't break at sub-zero temperatures....Fastex will.

Also funny is the fact that Acetal (Delrin) is rated for temps as low as -60 degrees c So if you buy buckles made from Acetal say ITW Nexus SR25's then you're probably good to go for most mortal stuff.. Plus there less of a pig to use with gloves on...

[santaman2000]

Also funny is the fact that Acetal (Delrin) is rated for temps as low as -60 degrees c So if you buy buckles made from Acetal say ITW Nexus SR25's then you're probably good to go for most mortal stuff.. Plus there less of a pig to use with gloves on...

Actually the old metal buckles aren't hard to use IF you use them the way they were designed to be used in cold weather; just tie a loop a (few inches of cordage) in the hole at the tip to make an "handle" that's easy to grasp with gloved hands. That said though, the ones on the pouches only need to be set once anyway; after they're set for the load just open/close the flaps using the studs.

[garethw]

That said though, the ones on the pouches only need to be set once anyway; after they're set for the load just open/close the flaps using the studs.

Personally I still prefer the plastic buckles over the metal ones and press studs...

[dean4442]

Garethw where did you source the frame and straps from and what was the cost? If you don't mind me asking, if you do then just ignore me I'm a cheeky git!!!
Colin.

[Mike8472]

Gareth I'm interested aswell.
just looked on downeast's website and shipping $45 frame $35. mental!

[santaman2000]

Personally I still prefer the plastic buckles over the metal ones and press studs...

True enough, they do give it a more modern look. I suspect it would be lighter overall if you could easily remove the metal studs when installing the fastex.

[santaman2000]

Garethw where did you source the frame and straps from and what was the cost? If you don't mind me asking, if you do then just ignore me I'm a cheeky git!!!
Colin.

I may be wrong but I don't think he replaced the straps, just the buckles.

[Martyn]

True enough, they do give it a more modern look. I suspect it would be lighter overall if you could easily remove the metal studs when installing the fastex.

I prefer the retro look of the poppers. I was just making the point that with regard to replacing the pouch buckles, their isn't the same clear functional advantage that there is with doing it on the main straps. That's a no brainer, but the pouches are perfectly functional with the existing metal poppers. I bought the buckles to do the mod to the pouches and was going to replace the press studs with pop rivets, but decided to leave them as they were. It's an option if they irritate me, but at the moment, they dont.

The glove thing is a fair point and if I was somewhere that taking your gloves off was a risk, I would probably swap em, but it doesnt get that cold here.