Which is more comfortable, er, less uncomfortable? I know humping 60 or 70+ pounds is just that, but is the newer Molle ruck system easier to deal with over long distances? i.e. less digging in the shoulders, better balanced (in height)? Still hunch you over like the old Alice used to?
I think I’d have a hard time picking between the two. I think the MOLLE has the better straps for better weight distro on the shoulders, but each have their pros and cons, and their own tips and tricks for getting the least uncomfortableness. The ALICE for me feels more maneuverable (smaller footprint).
What’s your mission?
I would love if Tactical Tailor would do their Malice rucks in lighter materials.
Personally, I’d rather have a modified Alice with a good waist belt/shoulder straps.
Bug out bag but also for some ruck PT.
Any idea of who makes some good ones that would interchange with either the Alice or Molle? Back in the day (see sigline) we just had Alice rucks and the thing that bothered me the most was the shoulder straps digging in after a while. That and being bent half over to offset the weight!
Do you have any surplus stores near you? A long time ago, I remember that they came out with wider and better padded ALICE straps and instead of the standard OD, you could identify them by the woodland camo pattern they had. I actually have a set of these straps on my climbing treestand.
I also think a good chest strap is worth its weight in gold.
Never had an issue with a good old fashioned large ruck. Even though the newer equipment is more comfortable, more modular and holds more gear, the old school ruck will still serve you well.
I can’t decide. Just about everyone I know says the ALICE packs are more comfortable but I really don’t see it. The MOLLE can hold more and is better organized, but if they’re not put together correctly, they’ll fall apart in the middle of the ruck. I’ve seen a few guys with the top half of their rucks hanging completely off the frame (picture a large V of open space in between the frame and top of the sagging ruck). The ALICE is much more simple which is a good thing for many. I don’t know why the MOLLE packs were designed to be so modular that you have to put the whole thing together. But the center bar of the frame always dig into my spine for one, and I can never get the kidney pad aligned properly so the crude metal fittings that secure it to the frame scrape the hell out of me. I actually still have a mark from a few weeks ago.
Anytime Mollie or Alice came over, I always ended up putting my junk in Alice more often.
We always had the Alice rucks. However a buddy of mine recently got a Marine surplus ruck offline. I’m not sure if that a Molle one or not but it is an awesome ruck. I’ll see if I can find it online.
Edit:
Found it. Called the ILBE.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CFPERL6
Alice was always too long for my short torso, the kidney pad would ride on the top my buttocks, so I was very pleased with the fully adjustable Mollie rucksack. I’m Infantry so I’ve worn both my fair share.
The Marine Corps is much smarter about spending its money.
When I think ‘ALICE’ I want to piss blood from that damn ruck banging my kidneys. That said…I would much rather have an ALICE than a MOLLE pack.
The ILBE blows both out of the water as far as packs go. It isn’t even close.
Used both. MOLLE is what I prefer, but neither is optimal.
Agreed.
ILBE was good too, but the new pack the Corps is issuing is pretty damn good. I don’t know what it’s called, but you can all thank JSantoro for it I’m sure. 
I was infantry in a previous life time, and have much quality time under an ‘alice’ ruck. The ruck itself wasn’t so bad, but the load bearing kit under it sucked balls (‘meat hooks’, clips falling off, 1 qt canteens, etc). As a system, the new stuff is better. Way better. I don’t have much time under any new rucks, because someone issued me a vehicle at some point and I didn’t have to walk any more. My ruck was more like a carry-on.
I wish.
The eBay ad is for one of the new packs that is replacing the ILBE.
The ILBE replaced MOLLE.
MOLLE replaced ALICE.
Lots of cash spent on terrible gear:
MOLLE
The MOLLE frame would break constantly and consistently. It was covered in loose straps; now, I understand strap management, but most were just ridiculous.
The shoulder strap connection points were also weak. The supposed modularity was not really there either.
ILBE
Decent pack, until you put a plate carrier on. At that point, with correctly adjusted plates, you would put pressure on your lower back, and unable to use the hip pads to distribute weight. The assault pack isn’t the best, but it’s passable.
USMC Pack (great name, BTW :rolleyes:)
Not a lot to say, uh, at least it’s brown…and doesn’t cripple you when you wear it with plates…
I didn’t realize Marines had the MOLLE pack too. Still, from my perspective it seems that way. IAR, I’ve understood the PC’s to be better, BFG Vickers’ slings, MARPAT… Plus I think your patrol cap looks way better than ours (if that’s what its even called).
That’s what we heard about the ILBE. But since we don’t have plates ant use our packs for hiking/camping/PT they work really well. Plus the price is really good.