Rucksacks

1. If you're a wannabe you should be humping what you are going to hump in school - Alice. Put a zipper around the bottom and a pouch on the lid. Leave the noisy pussy pads at home and move out.

2. If you only take that fancy ruck and it breaks you are f***ed. You can get new parts for Alice anywhere (including Camp MacKall...they don't have parts for that other shit). Save your money and tear up the Army's gear instead of your own.

3. If you deploy with multiple rucks you are using extra space that would be better used for a couple cases of beverages.

4. *Stepping back into Team Sergeant role: Don't show up to the teamroom with a bunch of REI ninja gear to pile on top of the already huge mountain of commercial shit we don't use. We will give you literally everything you will need to survive and thrive. Bring in your issued shit, PT and hygeine gear only. Leave the rest of it at home!

5. Having a big green tick on your back sucks regardless who made it. 110 lbs is 110 lbs...

[Tacticalinterve]

Blitz, sorry for confusing post. I was talking about new guys period not once individual is proven and passed what ever tests given.

[Stras]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

Brings back memories of my youth. Blue skies, German beer, humping the bergs with the generator stuffed in the 1942 vintage Mountain Ruck.

Utah Bob,

You wouldn't happen to have an extra kidney pad for that 1942 Mountain Ruck laying around??? I found one in a surplus store a couple of years ago, minus the waist pad, but still in good shape, I believe it's dated 1943.

Stras

[Aoresteen]

An update on my modded ALICE rucksack. I took it to IRAQ and left the MOLLE stuff behind except for the MOLLE waist pack.

The KIFARU Extreme Top Lid (XTL) proved to be very useful. I used it all the time to store quick needed items. Well worth the expense. The large ALICE was almost too big. I tended to pack on the light side (with body armor you have a lot a weight already) and not fill it to the max. My bedroll was the ACU bivy sack (good piece of gear) and a poncho liner. I kept these in the stuff sack that Willie added to the bottom of my ALICE ruck. Having a carry handle sewn in the top of the ruck was another useful mod. Highly recommended.

As to colors that were used on gear in Iraq, it was a mix of OD and ACU. Occasionally you would see someone with coyote brown stuff. 10th GRP, 5th GRP & the SEAL teams all had mixed colors (at least the teams I worked with did). Marines were pretty standard with brown but you did see an occasional OD ALICE in the mix. Air Force personnel didn’t seem to have any rucks….

Regular units had a mix of gear as well. Many units were backfilled with reserve soldiers (we had a number of support soldiers from the 104th Div) so mixed gear was/is the norm.

I saw a lot of soldiers using ALICE packs, most by choice. The MOLLE assault pack was used everywhere and the MOLLE main ruck was seen on occasion but not as often as you would expect.

I was in the TAJI/Baghdad area and these comments reflect what I saw. Other areas could have been different. Before buying any gear, check with your TS, XO, or CDR. Not on a team yet? Wait and just use what is issued to you.

What would I take if I were to deploy tomorrow? Without a doubt I’d take my modded ALICE with the KIFARU top lid.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by Stras

Utah Bob,

You wouldn't happen to have an extra kidney pad for that 1942 Mountain Ruck laying around??? I found one in a surplus store a couple of years ago, minus the waist pad, but still in good shape, I believe it's dated 1943.

Stras

I expect they've all just about turned into dust by now.
Except for those damn skis!

[Aoresteen]

I've been at Ft. Bragg for my reserve Annual Training and decided to have Willie add a couple of sliders to my external pocket zippers on my ALICE large rucksack.

We got talking about frames and Willie told me he could add straps to the back of the ALICE large pack so that you can mount it on a MOLLE II frame.

I had Willie do the mod and I put it on a new MOLLE II frame that I got at Clothing Sales. Works perfectly!! Cost was $12.50. You can still use the ALICE frame if you like; the mod does not alter the ALICE mounting system.

So if you don’t like the ALICE frame and like the MOLLE II frame you can use the ALICE large rucksack with a MOLLE II frame.

(Willie works out of General Jackson's on Yadkin Road in Fayetteville NC).

[FIST]

Aoresteen, Do you know if I can mail my ruck to Willie for him to mod my ruck? Im thinking of stealing your XTL/ ALICE idea...

Also, does anyone know of a solution for a noisy (creaky) waist pad and shoulder straps on a MOLLE II frame. It's been driving me nuts this entire tour and I gotta get it fixed as soon as I get home. I was thinking tubular webbing to replace to original attachment straps, because it seems softer but with the similar loadbearing. Do you guys have any ideas or recommendations?

SSG

[dac]

Has anyone tried or had their hands on the Mystery Ranch 3-Day Assault Pack? I need to pick up a good day pack that I can convert from laptop mode to weekend backpacking mode. I was thinking in the 2000 cu-in neighborhood, the T.H.E. Pack looks pretty good as well.

On a side note, Mystery Ranch is looking for photographs of their tactical gear for their new website.

Money is not a problem because work is buying it. I am okay with having a larger EDC pack because I am large too.

Most days I will be carrying two laptops, 17" Macbook Pro and 17" Dell. I also carry a bunch of normal computer nerd stuff like books and cd's. When I travel I want to be able to use the same pack but add in a change of clothes and still be able to fit it in the overhead. (Although most of my travel these days is driving to Tampa or Ft. Bragg, but I digress) I'm not too worried about the laptops having separate padding.

When I get to go day-hiking I just have the usual stuff plus kid stuff and wife stuff. Nothing special there. I was really wondering how the 3-zip feature works, or doesn't work on the Mystery Ranch stuff.

[frostfire]

The consensus from this thread and others seem to point out that the MOLLE sucks for one reason or another. Having said that, for those who have humped 70lbs+ on both ALICE and MOLLE, would rucking skills with MOLLE transfer to one with ALICE?

Background:

Originally Posted by rltipton

1. If you're a wannabe you should be humping what you are going to hump in school - Alice. Put a zipper around the bottom and a pouch on the lid. Leave the noisy pussy pads at home and move out....

Point noted. I won't get any rucks issued and as the civvie Kelty pack is starting to disintegrate, I'm looking for a military-issue ruck. I get a good deal for $40 on a slightly-used MOLLE ruck and frame, whereas I'd spend $70 and up for an ALICE. As much as possible, I'd like to save $$$ for extra boots.

[abc_123]

Originally Posted by frostfire

Having said that, for those who have humped 70lbs+ on both ALICE and MOLLE, would rucking skills with MOLLE transfer to one with ALICE?

Lungs and legs would get the same workout. Putting one foot in front of the other skills would be the same. Lower back stress would be slightly different due to the fact that only the big green tick rides like the big green tick. Is it a deal breaker? ... I don't know. May or ma not be for you. Chafing points (kidney pad) etc. would be different between the two...so is how they feel on your shoulders.

General fitness and I'd say both are equal. Training for something specific where large ALICE w/ LC-1 frame is the standard, then I would (and did) get that. If you can't/won't , does it doom you to automatic failure? Of course not... what you have between your ears and in your gut are the biggest factors in success or failure in many endevors.

I'm sure that didn't help.

[frostfire]

Originally Posted by abc_123

Lungs and legs would get the same workout. Putting one foot in front of the other skills would be the same. Lower back stress would be slightly different due to the fact that only the big green tick rides like the big green tick. Is it a deal breaker? ... I don't know. May or ma not be for you. Chafing points (kidney pad) etc. would be different between the two...so is how they feel on your shoulders.

General fitness and I'd say both are equal. Training for something specific where large ALICE w/ LC-1 frame is the standard, then I would (and did) get that. If you can't/won't , does it doom you to automatic failure? Of course not... what you have between your ears and in your gut are the biggest factors in success or failure in many endevors.

I'm sure that didn't help.

That was extremely helpful to make an informed decision. Thank you.

[zeke]

Originally Posted by frostfire

Background:


Point noted. I won't get any rucks issued and as the civvie Kelty pack is starting to disintegrate, I'm looking for a military-issue ruck. I get a good deal for $40 on a slightly-used MOLLE ruck and frame, whereas I'd spend $70 and up for an ALICE. As much as possible, I'd like to save $$$ for extra boots.

Frostfire,
I found a decent used large ALICE and frame on ebay for $40 shipped. I had to keep looking for a couple of weeks but they are there quite often. Also, I replaced the back pad with some new padding as the padding was well used.

Sidenote: I found Wellco ripple soles for $49.97 at Sportsman's Guide. (I remember Warrior Mentor mentioning ripple soles in Get Selected). type www then sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/mens-wellco-mil-spec-army-ripple-tw-tactical-boots-tan.aspx?a=545711

[fstbk272]

I have used both the MOLLE II and the ALICE packs. Now I dont have alot of use with either, but I have both. I first got the MOLLE ruck. Its very nice, but I've only had about 75lbs in it total. Haven't cracked it, yet. Its very comfortable, but i'm a little bit small for the frame ( it's more for a man around 6ft tall, and not 5-6).

The ALICE when I first used it, I hated because of the horrible straps. But the unit I train with requires us to use them. So I got a new ALICE off ebay, and got the MOLLE straps and kidney belt and fit them to the ruck ( with some modifications; very minor) and I tell you what its super sweet! Best ruck combo as far as feel and size. Its excellent. And you can jump with it too ( why the unit wont allow us to use the plastic frame MOLLE) - Roger

[NoRoadtrippin]

Point noted. I won't get any rucks issued and as the civvie Kelty pack is starting to disintegrate, I'm looking for a military-issue ruck. I get a good deal for $40 on a slightly-used MOLLE ruck and frame, whereas I'd spend $70 and up for an ALICE. As much as possible, I'd like to save $$$ for extra boots.

FF, FWIW, there are a lot of civilian packs/rucks out there that will last years longer than a Kelty but are considerably more comfortable than either an ALICE or a MOLLE. Keep in mind that much of the conversation here is constrained by the idea that there are limits based on the unit/school or the operating environment. For a civvie trip you don't have those limits. I would highly recommend something made by Gregory, Osprey, or Arc'teryx both for comfort and durability over the Kelty or ALICE/MOLLE options. I think you would be much happier.

My .02

[frostfire]

Originally Posted by fstbk272

I have used both the MOLLE II and the ALICE packs. Now I dont have alot of use with either, but I have both. I first got the MOLLE ruck. Its very nice, but I've only had about 75lbs in it total. Haven't cracked it, yet. Its very comfortable, but i'm a little bit small for the frame ( it's more for a man around 6ft tall, and not 5-6).

The ALICE when I first used it, I hated because of the horrible straps. But the unit I train with requires us to use them. So I got a new ALICE off ebay, and got the MOLLE straps and kidney belt and fit them to the ruck ( with some modifications; very minor) and I tell you what its super sweet! Best ruck combo as far as feel and size. Its excellent. And you can jump with it too ( why the unit wont allow us to use the plastic frame MOLLE) - Roger

Thank you for the input, fstbk272. You're the first who seems to prefer MOLLE to ALICE. If you can post a pic of that modification, that'd be great. I finally found used Alice for $29.97 with frame included in a local surplus store. Plenty of them, too. Anyone interested, I'll PM the place. As horrible as the straps are, it's better than the Kelty which already lost its kidney belt so all the weight are on my shoulders all the time and the bottom digs to my lower back.

NoRoadtrippin, it's definitely not for civvie trip. I'm working on getting rucking (with all the constraints) into second nature, so when opportunity presents itself, I will be ready.