I have the MOLLE with the seperate compartment for the sleep system, 1 long side pouch and two shorter pouches on the other side.

It is a piece of crap.

To close the side pouches you route a strap through a loop on the top flap of the pouch. So you have to remove said strap to access the pouch. I'd much rather have something a bit easier to use. I also seem to carry less with that MOLLE than a Large ALICE. Also I can never seem to get the MOLLE to fit well over my IBA.
YMMV, but I'd take most any other ruck over my issued MOLLE.

Ok, I did some searching to refresh my memory. The new frame is more of a Generation III, is made from different materials than the first two that had all the breakage problems, and is shaped differently to better conform to a wearer's back.

The bag, referred to as the 'MOLLE Large', is similar to the large ALICE bag in that it is one big compartment. This gets rid of the sleeping bag pouch hanging off the bottom, which folks here have noted as being really annoying. It looks very similar to a large ALICE bag, but with a zipper opening to access the bottom half of the bag from the outside, no radio pouch attachment points on the inside, what appears to be a snap fastening internal divider (think CPF-90 laced divider, only with overlapping snaps), and a mesh map pocket on the inside of the top flap. The bag is 28" tall, 10" deep and 18" wide, and is 4160ci in volume. Depending on construction quality, this may be a viable, cost-effective alternative to the large ALICE bag.

The CFP-90 I have had to be triple stitched because kept blowing out on us.
It was isuued in the early 90s to us. Thankfully we were isuued the single point releases so jumping it wasnt a problem.
The originals manufactured by Lowe were much better quality

I like that! " Hold more shit than an F-150"...

In the reserve unit I was in here (many years ago...) I was using a black and green REI Morning Star. It was like a footlocker with straps! It held like 5000 ci of gear, internal frame, and padding that would not quit. It was nice as it was a top loading but had access from a front panel also and a zippered section for your bag. Another thing I liked about it, it had a place to slide skis down the sides under the pockets there and mesh pockets on the waist for Nalgene bottles and a detachable waist pack that was waterproof and had a map pocket.

The only thing is, once the Gunney saw that pack, he knew who was going to end up carring all the spare batts and ammo. I think that pack held more shit than deuce and a half!

I was issued a Med ALICE during my active stint and wasn't overly impressed because (1) it killed my back (fixed that with an isomat and riggers tape) (2) it did not hold enough gear for a long CAX. Also, the frames would bend or crack after being thrown out of/into a truck or really rough handling. By the time I turned mine in, it looked like a 100 miles of riggers tape, isomat, and wire....

The ALICE was a good idea at the time but with all the new materials and new thinking in ergonomics, the newer issue rucks are so much better.

Does anyone have any experience with Web Tex packs?

I was fooled at first when I got issued the new SPEARS ruck. I thought it was the best looking piece of gear I had seen in a long time. I packed it with all my gear and went out with the team on a couple rehearsals......... Came back put all my shit back in the ALICE and the spears pack collected dust the rest of the time I was signed for it.

I eventually went with a Tactical Tailor modified ALICE and it was great, cant say enough about it.

On a side note, you ever notice that no matter how much more room your ruck has its always stuffed? Good thing you have a Charlie to come up with the pack list and cross load plan!

I agree 100%. I've used the MOLLE (piece of shit) spears (I liked it, but just too small) Gregory (Great concept, but the fact that it weighed almost 13lbs empty, just impractical) so I have stuck with my Alice modified by Tactical Tailor. I've had it for 6-7 years, and for the most part it's the only one I use.

I just surfed into their site. Their packs look ok, but they don't have enough (any) PALS webbing on them or come in coyote brown.

I've rucked an ALICE for 14 years unless I was a rucksack test-dummy. It has its limitations, but like Max_Tab I use a Tactical Tailor ruck. Mine is the MALICE pack #2.

IMHO, most civilian packs are not properly set up for military use.

They hump better, and are much more comfy, but do not have the external pockets we need for military loads (probably the most popular thing being added to ALICE packs is more pockets). Your average Alpine climber probably does not have to drag out a Claymore, IV set, NVGs, a parachute flare, an MRE, a poncho, a spare battery, etc. quickly and quietly. The civvie pack also does not have to be certified for airborne ops, or being dropped on a lowering line to smash into the ground. The average backpacker probably does not have to hump 125 lbs, of lightweight gear either. Finally, I would surmise that Joe Backpacker does not have to wear his fashion pack over body armor and LCE, or shoot move and communicate (simultaneously) while wearing it. In fact, most civvie packs I have seen are designed to be as light as possible and slick externally, except for hardware tie downs and ice axe lash-ups.

The ALICE pack is a compromise. An ideal military ruck would be sized/sizable, mission configurable, have the extra pockets soldiers are paying to add, better materials and construction, PALS webbing over the exterior, a much better frame, with much better shoulder straps and belt.

Just my .02 and worth what you paid for it.

TR

I swear by the ALICE. Call me old school.
Best thing is the tactical taylor additions.

Two additions to the ALICE that are well worth the money:

1. the extended closing sewn into the top of the main ruck (to keep stuff from falling out).

2. The enlarged top flap....which is where I kept the things I needed quick access to in the dark (ranger handbook, black watch cap, etc)


JM

Classic!

Thank, Longtab. They're supposedly copies of what Brit SF are using, but that didn't seem likely to me. Supposedly the NZ army is getting new packs soon, along with the MOLLE webbing.

Para have you looked at Dana Design?

PB

Dana Design, more specifically Dana Gleason, is the owner of Mystery Ranch as well. None of DD's civilian packs are rated to carry the 125 lbs of lightweight gear noted above by TR.

Mystery Ranch's NICE frame looks promising but $219.00 for just the frame seems a bit steep to me. I am sure once I dont have Cadre to watch out for I will be looking for something to replace/upgrade the ALICE I was issued at CIF.

For now its all I have...level playing ground and all...

Crip

Speaking of mods, anyone here use shoulder straps that they find to be better than the issued ones? Mine are in need of replacement, and besides that, they kill!