Medium Field Pack aka The ALICE pack review
To start this review off, I will give a short history of this pack. The ALICE pack(All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) was developed in 1974 as a replacement for the M1956 LCE and the M1967 MLCE. The ALICE pack still remains in service today, though it is being replaced by the MOLLE system.
Durability: The ALICE pack is pretty fair as far as durability goes. It is constructed mostly of a water repellent nylon, and metal hardware. Though the nylon is water repellent, if you are going into a wet environment, it is a good idea to get the water-proof liner. A trash bag can also be used for this, however, it's a good idea to put the trash bag into a laundry bag to add strength. I have given my pack lots of abuse, and it has held up very well. Still no holes, rips, etc. I have thrown it down in cactus, dirt, rocks, and I must say it performs very well. You must remember that this system was developed for a fighting soldier, and battle tested for many, many years. This fact alone, puts this bags durability rating very high.
9/10
Size and Pockets: The size of this bag is pretty good for a medium bag. It has a huge main compartment, with a built in radio pouch. It has a drawstring closure top, and 3 decent size pockets on the front. The front pockets are double button closure. In my Bug-Out-Bag(BoB) I carry a blanket, a tent, a ICW sleeping bag, a towel, shoes, extra clothes, a Load Bearing Vest, A first aid kit, A survival kit, a hygiene kit, radios, flashlights, water, hats, a jacket, and some food. It takes up all the space, but it all fits. It also has lots of attachment points for other pouches, tools, etc. These points are designed to be used with the ALICE clips, but you can use safety ties, rope, etc just as easily. The bag also has a small waterproof pouch on the top flap for maps, gloves, hats, etc. Because of the small weight capacity of the medium pack (50 lbs, with frame) it gets a decent score in this category.
8/10
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Accessibility: The bag doesn't do great in this category. You must undo the straps to open the top flap to get into the main compartment, which can be slow sometimes. I suggest buying quick release buckles and installing them onto the straps that hold the top flap down. Trust me, it's worth the extra 5 bucks! Other than that, no complaints. However, it doesn't have a lot of pockets, so there really isn't a lot to discuss in this topic. The three main outer pockets are pretty easy to open, as long as you don't get an older bag with rusted buttons.
6/10
External Frame(optional): Though the frame is optional on the medium pack, I highly suggest it for loads over 15 lbs, you'll thank me later. A great bonus is that the frame is only about 1 lb (at most). It comes with a kidney pad that helps a lot in taking the weight off your shoulders and transferring it to your core. If you do get a frame, try to get an issue frame. Some of the newer ones are cheaply made and may pop a rivet under heavy use. Because it is so light, cheap, and easy to install/uninstall, the frame gets a pretty high score.
9/10
Straps: The straps for this pack can be used with, or without the frame and changed to accommodate either very easily. They are made of a heavy nylon and feature a hand quick release buckle for easy drop. I suggest getting the heavy padded, wide straps. They also tighten and loosen VERY easily. As simple as pulling a cord. The only downside to these straps is that they really don't have any point to attach things to them(compass, knife, etc).
7/10
So to wrap this review up, this is a great bag for everyday carry, BoB, or other bag that you aren't going to use for long periods. Because it's not very comfortable, and sticks out a little far, I wouldn't suggest using it for long hikes or climbs. For the price, though, it can't be beat.
Overall score:
8/10
9/10
Size and Pockets: The size of this bag is pretty good for a medium bag. It has a huge main compartment, with a built in radio pouch. It has a drawstring closure top, and 3 decent size pockets on the front. The front pockets are double button closure. In my Bug-Out-Bag(BoB) I carry a blanket, a tent, a ICW sleeping bag, a towel, shoes, extra clothes, a Load Bearing Vest, A first aid kit, A survival kit, a hygiene kit, radios, flashlights, water, hats, a jacket, and some food. It takes up all the space, but it all fits. It also has lots of attachment points for other pouches, tools, etc. These points are designed to be used with the ALICE clips, but you can use safety ties, rope, etc just as easily. The bag also has a small waterproof pouch on the top flap for maps, gloves, hats, etc. Because of the small weight capacity of the medium pack (50 lbs, with frame) it gets a decent score in this category.
8/10
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Accessibility: The bag doesn't do great in this category. You must undo the straps to open the top flap to get into the main compartment, which can be slow sometimes. I suggest buying quick release buckles and installing them onto the straps that hold the top flap down. Trust me, it's worth the extra 5 bucks! Other than that, no complaints. However, it doesn't have a lot of pockets, so there really isn't a lot to discuss in this topic. The three main outer pockets are pretty easy to open, as long as you don't get an older bag with rusted buttons.
6/10
External Frame(optional): Though the frame is optional on the medium pack, I highly suggest it for loads over 15 lbs, you'll thank me later. A great bonus is that the frame is only about 1 lb (at most). It comes with a kidney pad that helps a lot in taking the weight off your shoulders and transferring it to your core. If you do get a frame, try to get an issue frame. Some of the newer ones are cheaply made and may pop a rivet under heavy use. Because it is so light, cheap, and easy to install/uninstall, the frame gets a pretty high score.
9/10
Straps: The straps for this pack can be used with, or without the frame and changed to accommodate either very easily. They are made of a heavy nylon and feature a hand quick release buckle for easy drop. I suggest getting the heavy padded, wide straps. They also tighten and loosen VERY easily. As simple as pulling a cord. The only downside to these straps is that they really don't have any point to attach things to them(compass, knife, etc).
7/10
So to wrap this review up, this is a great bag for everyday carry, BoB, or other bag that you aren't going to use for long periods. Because it's not very comfortable, and sticks out a little far, I wouldn't suggest using it for long hikes or climbs. For the price, though, it can't be beat.
Overall score:
8/10
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