Hi,Ive just registered so am a newbie here.I am thinking of buying a large Alice pack from the US and having it shipped across the pond.Are they any good?Do you have any other alternatives?I will be using it to carry all my emergency bug out kit that I have collected over the years.Many thanks in advance!!
Britboy

Why alice pack? I used to hump one on my back for a long time until I bought one of the internal frame climbing packs and I never looked back...

Matt

i have no experians with those packs, but i can tell you that you can properbly get a beter pack for the same price. Alice packs are very old indesign and i have heard that many people ditch there's and bought a diffrend pack. Personally i think a large Alice pack is WAY too big. A BOB ( bug out bag ) should be kept small and light, so it will be there wenn you need it and won't wear you down. Remeber a BOB is there to save your life, not for a luxury camping trip. I would suggest to pack all you equipment in a daypack.

If you want sturdy millitary spec packs in daypack format looks at manufature's as Snugpak ( rocketpak or sleeka ), karrimore ( there sabre range ), berghaus ( munro ), etc. I personally own the karrimor sabre 45.

if you still want a bigger pack millitairy spec pack, look at the berghaus vulcan, the bigger karrimor sabre's, PLCE, etc. There are plenty of good european manufacture's that make excellent packpacks and still being cheaper than the Amerikan counterparts ( import taxes and shipping costs, etc ).

Ofcorse civilian packs are good too, what i would suggest before ordering any backpack is to try it first, a well fitting packpack is very importent, you will be sorry if you get the wrong fitting packpack, you will start to feel it quite quickly, especially wenn hauling heavy things with them. So go out and try all many packpacks out first, before buying one.

btw, if you really want a Alice pack i suggest you to go to your local suplus store first. I have seen them in almost every suplus store i have visited.

You can get a lot better pack than an ALICE. The MOD issue new backpack is better than an ALICE and there are several others as well . I wouldn't totally discount buying a civie pack either. Try SASS, Silvermans, BCB. If you have trouble, PM me and I'll track down the webb sites for you.

ALICE packs are tough, and not all that expensive. That said, I would rather carry my gear in a duffle bag that carry an ALICE again. And the large is WAAYYY too big for what you want. If you just gotta have an ALICE stick with the medium...

www.bushcraftuk.net

hey britboy :WELCOME to the forum....on the subject of the alice packs like some of the folks that have already answered i to was a former infantryman and have humped both the med.and large many a mile...the packs are hardwearing and easy to repair and modify...and depending on where you shop they should be cheap at least for the med.size with shoulder straps used excellent cond....they tend to be abit more for a largeruck and frame...remember to carry the large ruck you NEED to use the frame.....if you have your heart set on a alice pack make sure it's gov't issue ie..U.S. made there are alot of far east copys around be aware...having said that yes i stil use a large alice pack and some times a med.size to ....it depends on the weather and what i plan to do... i also own a berghaus vulcan and munro both are outstanding british made packs......what ever you get allways buy quality kit... alot of folks do'nt like military o.d. gear for one reason or another if your not that kind of person go for what you know <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.....vince g. 11b inf...

Now we know how many former grunts there are on the forum !! But seriously, there are a whole bunch of better packs/rucksacks out there than the ALICE. Things have improved and I would not even consider the ALICE at this point for my use.

I would investigate a quality internal frame or even frameless backpack from Gregory, Kelty, or the like. I don't know what brands are populous over the ocean, but I'm sure both of those would be available.

I think that in the case of a major societal breakdown, one may not want to have what appears to be "military" looking gear. I have heard of people's O.D. green canteens and BDUs being confiscated in Africa as well as South America after some moderate harrassment. I would think this kind of event to be a small chance, but...

Also, the others here are right. An ALICE pack is heavy, uncomfortable, and outdated.

I've got a medium alice and a small (Brigade Quartermaster), love 'em both. I'm sure others will answer that they're the worst thing in the world. The old tried and true ALICE is like that... you either love her or hate her.