Backpacks

Started by KK0G, September 06, 2013, 01:39:52 PM

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Geek

Where did you get the velcro piece with your call sign?

Quietus

#16
One positive attribute of the un-modified Alice rucks, is that they have made a lot more good men than they have destroyed.  A person might say that they are "mind developers."
 
The Hellcat is a pretty good mod of the Alice, and can be done for less than $50.  It makes the green tick better, but may not solve CG issues.
 
I have a non-current generation MOLLE II ruck.  It's got a frame that's made of better materials than older ones which apparently were prone to breakage.  It rides better (for me) than the Hellcat, but its one external pocket is not such a great feature, more would be better (Alice, anyone?)  Adding the huge sustainment pouches makes the rig real wide, another bad feature.  The newer MOLLE II rucks have done away with the separate sleeping system carrier, now there is a half-moon zipper at the bottom of the larger bag.  They have also done away with the one external pocket that the old one had-  a bad thing.
 
Currently I'm running a more old-school Bergen-type:  an Eagle Becker Patrol pack.  It has six external pockets, and good organization for storage inside the main bag.  But it does not have any frame, which is uncommon for a pack of this size.  The challenge with this pack, is to keep the load light.  I wouldn't want to go over forty pounds with it
 
ETA:  I've been looking harder at what is currently being sold for MOLLE II rucks from www.entrygear.com, scroll for Specialty Defense Systems products.
 
That larger ruck bag has much for PALS attachments.  So a person could customize the MOLLE pouches he puts on the bag.  Might be able to get it better for outside pockets, than the so-much-hated large Alice.  $175 plus what you already own for pouches, etc., that would make this pack better for you.  That price is for Woodland.  Double it for Multi-cam. 

Archangel320420

Breaking silence. I love this thread!

RichardSinFWTX

Quote from: Geek on September 07, 2013, 05:04:17 PM
Where did you get the velcro piece with your call sign?

MilitaryNameTapes.com


Geek

Quote from: KF5RHI on September 07, 2013, 10:08:29 PM
Quote from: Geek on September 07, 2013, 05:04:17 PM
Where did you get the velcro piece with your call sign?

MilitaryNameTapes.com

Cool.  Thanks.

RichardSinFWTX

Quote from: Geek on September 08, 2013, 10:35:46 AM
Quote from: KF5RHI on September 07, 2013, 10:08:29 PM
Quote from: Geek on September 07, 2013, 05:04:17 PM
Where did you get the velcro piece with your call sign?

MilitaryNameTapes.com

Cool.  Thanks.

No problem!  I bought two or three of 'em along with some name tapes.  Shipping was pretty quick too.

I found a local place that makes 2" x 3" callsign patches, the size that would Velcro onto tactical caps.  They ship anywhere in the world too.  Once I get my order I'll let ya know if they're any good.


madball13

I have a woodland MOLLE II pack and of course the black frame is cracked. I guess the manufacturer has since updated the design when the army switched to ACU and beefed it up. Lots of room but sure gets heavy when you add a sleeping bag, food and water.

KK0G

Quote from: madball13 on September 09, 2013, 04:29:01 PM
.................sure gets heavy when you add a sleeping bag, food and water.


Odd, mine do the same thing for some reason 8)
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

KK0G

madball13

Quote from: KK0G on September 09, 2013, 04:34:36 PM
Quote from: madball13 on September 09, 2013, 04:29:01 PM
.................sure gets heavy when you add a sleeping bag, food and water.


Odd, mine do the same thing for some reason 8)

And here i thought mine was defective.

Frame manufacturer changed design slightly and now makes a Alice friendly frame.

http://downeastinc.com/cgi-bin/online/storepro.php

Archangel320420

That there dang atomic weight of things and that gravity! Sure makes packs heavy. Just kidding with ya, Madball.

KC9TNH

Quote from: Archangel320420 on September 09, 2013, 04:44:09 PM
That there dang atomic weight of things and that gravity! Sure makes packs heavy. Just kidding with ya, Madball.
LOL.  ;D Well, Uncle Sugar keeps thinking up more "lightweight" stuff for people to take along; trickle down technology. As many have said before me, "travel light, freeze at night." Just depends upon one's priorities.

This is an interesting thread and might help illuminate the pros/cons for many of external/internal frame, go light (or not).

Gil, how much chow was it you had to eat to get that last ruck comfy? At the beginning of that sojourn, didn't that puppy start out at 80# or so?
:)

gil

QuoteGil, how much chow was it you had to eat to get that last ruck comfy? At the beginning of that sojourn, didn't that puppy start out at 80# or so?

Yes, about that, 82 I think.. First mistake was to carry water instead of bringing a filter, 3.5gal. Then bringing heavy foods, like a few potatoes. The hike back without the food and water was just fine! So, next time, I'll bring my water filter. I just need to order a new one because I want to keep a brand new one for emergencies. Then, dehydrated foods, nuts, etc. light stuff. My radio station, I can't get any lighter! Also I now know that I don't need to bring my solar panel for only a week, as my MTR will run all that time on eight AA cells! For my KX3, I plan on getting one 4Ah 4S Lipo pack, and use diodes to reduce voltage to 15V. I am waiting right now for three 3S 1Ah Lipo batteries for the MTR. With my two sets of eight AA cells, I could last a month rag-chewing every day.
Every extra pound saved makes a BIG difference!

Gil.

raybiker73

After years with the Condor Urban Go-Pack, I just recently switched back to an external-frame pack for my Get Home Bag. I don't carry a lot of stuff, but even with a small load, it seems to me that external-frame packs are just more balanced and comfortable. I now use a High Sierra Bobcat 65, and I really like it. Even though it lives in the back of the Jeep, I put it on and go for a little hike now and again. Not much point having it in there if I'm not sure I'm able to handle it.  :)

madball13

#28
I won a USMC ILBE Gen 2 pack off of ebay for about $50. I'll load it up with everything in my MOLLE II and see how the fit is. one advantage i see already is the added compression straps all over the pack, the molle II only has a few.

Edit: Added the radio pouch that fits inside the pack. Total cost was $62.

medic photog

I have a bunch of packs, used to do a lot of hiking and peak bagging.  My favorite pack ever is a Lowe Alpine Alpine Attack 60, no longer made but super light and durable.  It was made for dragging up mountains and mine was many times.  It still looks almost brand new.  I have a pack and harness system from the USAR team that I can't find anywhere but it's good for a 72 hour personal load.  USAR teams are self sufficient for 72 hours and have no impact on any disaster scene area we go to.   We bring our own food fuel, water, shelter, you get the idea, a bunch of specialists that won't impact any resources.  I've loved ALICE packs forever and had a medium now that I just unloaded into a Condor three day assault pack.  I love it.  I also have a loaded out VooDoo Tactical STOMP medical pack that is as close to an ER room as I can get it without an EKG monitor defibrillator or oxygen unit.  i do have oxygen, but it's a stand alone unit with graphite composite bottles.  As my three day assault pack stands, it has everything from the ALICE pack in it and there's room to spare while it feels at least five pounds lighter.