An informative Video on how to assemble your 17lb USMC FILBE Bergen Back Pack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FemRN3y8Wv4

And as the intrepid Marine grunt attempts to assemble his overly complicated pack, the enemy sneaks up and brains him with a rock.

What ever happened to KISS?

The technique of putting on the 17lb empty pack was pretty unusual as well. Molle gone mad!

I thought an empty 6 1/2 pound Lowe Alpine Salient was pushing it for weight with its 1000D Cordura fabric. The FILBE is apparently only 500D Cordura

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkT2Rfggq5k

This just seems ridiculous in so many different ways.

A lot of mil spec gear is quite decent; this is not one of those items.

I am someone who has been issued and used(and cursed at)an ALICE pack.If i can recall it wasn't 17 pounds empty an was a lot easier to use.How is it that whenever the military "improves" some thing it only gets heavier and harder to use.The ALICE was not comfortable to wear but did the job well.I can see that a lot of field grade improvements using the miracle trio(duct tape,zip ties and 550)done to this.That will only add more to it's weight.Some ultra light campers base load is thirty five pounds.This pack is half that with nothing in it.Military intelligence-SHEEEESH!

BOATMAN
John

Actually lightweight campers have a base load at around 17 lbs. The ultralight crowd would be around 12 lbs.

Try under 5 lbs.
http://www.adventurealan.com/2-4_index.htm

I stand corrected.But a pack that weighs seventeen pounds with nothing in it and needs a half hour video to assemble it.COME ON!I never heard of an Alice pack until it was handed to me in pieces.Twenty minutes later and some guess work and it was good to go.The ALICE is no lightweight pack an was designed around the Viet Nam conflict.Why couldn't the DOD go to any number of pack makers to get a lighter,cheaper and more ergonomic pack baffles me.I would rather wrap my stuff up in a shelter half and make a ROYCROFT frame from the shelter poles then add the heft of THAT pack.The average marine wears his body weight in gear in a combat zone.When will the Pentagon get a clue.SORRY,Rant Off....

BOATMAN
John

It's not just packs. I spent a winter in Korea and I really appreciated the dacron underwear sent to me. Iit was much better than anything available through military channels when you were on guard duty at 2 AM in frozen Chosen.

Still, some stuff is pretty good.