Russian SPOSN LBE.  Basically an updated version of the old Soviet RD54 airborne LBE with assault pack.

where did you find this?

Thanks for the replys all...I wish I had 600 bucks for the packs really want, but I don't.  Time to get creative. I will take a lok at the assault pack as well.

ALICE packs are so dirt cheap now that you can't go wrong with them.  Do the Hellcat mod and you've got a really good pack for just a little dough.

This is a good vendor: http://www.soviet-propaganda.com/

You can find some on Ebay as well....just look up SPOSN.

Oh, Happy days for ALICE fans.

The old Antipersonnel.net site has changed names and added stuff.

http://www.zmoorepartners.com/FMCO/005.html

Check out the new list of camo patterns.

They now have-
ACU
Woodland
3 color desert
digital desert
OD
coyote
black
multicam
Atacs AU
Atacs FG

I am so fucking happy right now.

No financial interest other than wanting them to be successful.

This thread is too cool to die. Some medium ALICE porn. HSGI water bottle pouches with water bottles, an ATS medical pack, and a USGI 1qt canteen lashed to the outside. Everything else is bone stock and I love this pack.


















 

Had to rebuild my LBE. Chest rigs just don't feel right for me.

I finally ordered a Down East Inc. ALICE-compatible frame and mounted my medium ALICE on it.  I also upgraded the shoulder straps and waist belt to the MOLLE II versions.  As mentioned, the MOLLE II shoulder straps will not fit if you slide the frame inside the pack pocket.  So I attached the shoulder straps to the frame, and lashed the frame to the outside of the pocket using the small pieces of webbing that attach the lifter straps to the pack.  I happened to have a set of these from another pair of DCU shoulder straps, since they did not come with the ACU straps.  I purchased the pack and MOLLE II components from USRO.  Although I'm not sure if I need it to stabilize the pack and keep it from swaying side to side on the frame, I also lashed the sides of the pack to the arms of the frame using an extra set of straps I had laying around.

This set up feels comfortable for me.  With the waist belt buckled snugly around my hips, I have some lift at the top of the shoulder straps.



Lifter strap, frame, pack:


Side lash point:


Center yoke:

I've noticed that tan ALICE gear (pouches, belts, and shoulder harnesses) has been showing up on the surplus market.  

Was this used for desert deployments (like DCU for MOLLE), or was it something that was only used by one branch of the military?

That explanation fits with what I just found while doing some online shopping.  "New" 1 quart canteen covers, 2 quart canteen carriers, Y harness suspenders, and the pouches for three 30 round mags and two grenades, but the only tan belts I saw were used.  Makes sense that they would have kept issuing the belts, after the switch to MOLLE.

Whats a good price for a pack with frame?  Anyone ever bought from these guys?

I haven't dealt with them, but it sounds like a good price, though that would probably end up being an issue of the condition.

I've seen used frames (just the frame) for $10, and they can vary from very good condition (a few minor dings and some scratches), to "did somebody run over this with a Jeep?'.  

Gunny's Surplus has unissued frames with the straps (but no pack) listed at $35.

A while back, USRO had "new"(unissued) large ALICE packs (just the pack) for around $40 to $45, and had the medium packs (I think they were all used) for something less than that, but they are now out of stock.

Supertrooper lists the medium packs for around $70, the large packs for around $80, with frames and straps being another $80 or so.  I don't know if those are unissued surplus, or new commercial copies.

What size would you recommend large or medium?  Im looking at replacing my non framed molle pack for a framed version and these caught my eye.  Mostly because its used as a BOB and the stuff I currently have in my pack is heavy and uncomfortable without a frame.  Would the large be the way to go?  Is this type of pack suitable for use as a BOB?

I purchased my medium and large ALICE packs, frame, MOLLE II shoulder straps and waist belt from USRO.  Some were listed as used, some new, but as is typical with USRO, they all came brand new, unissued.  I think if the original packaging has been opened, they have to list it as used.  And it's all genuine surplus, US-made gear.  

If this is what you are looking for and can wait, they restock these items periodically, just keep checking back on the site.  But going this route is definitely not the cheapest option, and once you add up the components with shipping, the cost approaches that of modern packs on the market.  Just depends on what you are looking for.

Looking back through the invoices I could find, this is what I paid before shipping:

Med ALICE $24.99
LC-1 frame $19.99
Large ALICE $29.99
MOLLE II DCU Enhanced Shoulder Strap Assembly $5.99
MOLLE II ACU Enhanced Shoulder Strap Assembly $22.99
MOLLE II ACU Molded Waist Belt $9.99

OK, I think I got as far as I needed to ask my next question.  The real purpose for me looking at this rig (the hellcat really intrigues me now) is I have a really nice Eagle MOLLE III pack.  Its a very nice pack.  I am using it as a BoB so Ive got quite a few essential items in it that I deem necessary for a bug out situation.  My biggest complaint so far with this pack are the heavier items shifting and poking me and causing the pack to sag and get heavy on the shoulders.  Will a framed pack cure this?

I believe this is what I have now.


I think you are spot on with your analysis and recommendation, and I greatly appreciate your expertise and help in making these sometimes overwhelming choices  easier for a noob like me.

I love my TacTailor MALICE2 pack. I only use it when camping and rarely do I actually wear it but it's still handy as hell.

I can haz Page 30?

Roger that, raf.  I wasn't disagreeing with you, just recounting my experience. The OG package deal is great, and the way to go.  I wish it were available when I was putting together my components.

Yes, the Hellcat is a tremendous value. I love mine.

Any suggestions on what to use to carry 1 or 2 AKM magazines on the pistol belt? Is there something that'll hold them or amI stuck with 5 or 6 in a SAW pouch or 2 or 3 in the m16 pouch without it closing?

Also how can I tell if the pistol pouches are for the 9mm and not the 1911?

Thanks in advance.

Your best bet is a pouch from fmco. They make Alice compatible pouches in AK pattern. You might consider the HSGI Taco as well, they will work on an Alice pistol belt and can be used on a molle war belt if you later upgrade. I think I have also seen some Romanian AK pouches that would accept an Alice belt and those would be cheap.....Couple of possibilities there for you to consider....

My ALICE goodies-

Bump to keep this from being archived.

I didn't even know that was something that was done.

This is my current set-up, although it's still a work in progress. Just switched from using an ALICE pistol belt with M-16 mag pouches to using a BAR belt I got for a few bucks at the surplus store the other day. It can hold 8 20-round FAL mags and the position of the grommets allow me to have two things on the same place on my belt using wire hangers, which increases my real estate compared to trying to get everything to fit on the pistol belt (pouches interfered with using the wire hangers in the same spot).

Not a good pic, but I'm not going to send my film in to get developed for a bit, so I had to use my cellphone camera.

I intend to use my grandma's industrial sewing machine to add some MOLLE webbing to the empty spaces on the BAR belt so I can put pistol mag pouches there since I have nowhere to put those right now. In the future I'll probably change holsters, add an IFAK (seems like a good one costs more than all of my gear combined), and maybe change to using an older canteen pouch that uses a wire hanger to free up some space on the side of the field pack. I may also see if I can find someone who can install lift-the-dot fasteners and add an extra stud to the BAR mag pouches, which will allow the use of 2 30-round AR mags or 25-round FAL mags. I am considering adding straps to the inside to aallow me to use my pistol belt, as this BAR belt isn't really set up for that.  This set-up is meant to be used primarily with my FAL and Hi-Power.

Serves me fairly well considering how tiny my budget is for such things, one of the nice things about using older milsurp stuff such as ALICE, M1956, M1967, and M1910 gear.

I'm using a pair of M-1967 suspenders attached to the BAR belt on the front and the M1961 field pack on the back (to which I added fastex buckles, which is much nicer than the friction buckles were).  A Camelbak Thermobak is integrated, attached to the clips on the harness on top and to the straps in the middle and on the bottom (they are clipped onto both the D-rings and the field pack's grommets).  I run the hose under my arm and attach it to the right strap in front.  I have a radio in a Tactical Tailor radio pouch on my left shoulder strap.  Using wire hangers, I attached my FAL bayonet and Bianchi UM-82 holster to the BAR belt.  I have a canteen and tri-fold shovel attached to the sides of the field pack and my Goretex jacket rolled up underneath the field pack.  Excepting the jacket, everything combined cost under $100.

One thing I'm wondering is if the tri-fold e-tool will fit in one of the older pouches, as that could give me more placement options.

^ That is a cool rig. What is the country of origin for the belt? I haven't seen one with 4 mag pouches before.

I'm not really sure.  It has no markings.  The surplus store had several; some had an additional pocket that was the size of a double mag pouch for a single-stack pistol, but was not divided.  This one has a metal loop for mounting a holster on the left side (coincidentally, it is compatible with the Bianchi flap holsters) in the more traditional fashion previously common among officers and has integral shoulder straps.  Unlike a U.S. belt I saw, it only has two belt loops on the inside, both at the rear of each set of pockets, very close together, and they are narrow enough to make it difficult to get a pistol belt through, even a WWII type (the fittings get stuck; it takes a couple of minutes to force them through each loop).  The pockets fit FAL mags better than the U.S. BAR belt I saw someone use, so I assume it is made for such mags.  If that's the case, I think it's a fair bet that it is Belgian, but I can't be 100% sure.  Not having the pouches in front makes it easier to go prone, which I like (and was also a nice thing about my previous set up, with ALICE M-16 pouches in front on a pistol belt).

pic thread

SAW pouches set up Brit style? I like it. Why the hell didn't I think of that? Got a bigger pic? Looks like an ATACS style paint job on it. Or are those sustainment pouches?

The pouches are Spec-Ops 6mag/saw pouches. I was going for an ATACS FG color scheme so I'm glad you "saw" that.

In WWII it was a common rigger mod to add some .45 pistol pouches to BAR belts I understand. Good mod. @wsix - I like that rig a lot. I've always liked the British kidney pouches better than our buttpack, but never considered using an updated version. I am thinking about trying this on the LBV as I want to keep it 'vehicle friendly'.

9/22 Only, USRO, I *think* this is an updated Alice Medium for you Hellcat folks:

Ranger Radio Bag Falcon II

Yes, I think I confused this with a different bag.  Still, looks nice for about $40 shipped.

IIRC they have a primitive sort of internal frame. Sort of like the Vietnam jungle rucks and French packs. Similar at least. I might have to buy one...

I've owned US and Australian LBE and the British P58 with the dual kidney pouches. The buttpack on the Aussie and Yank versions are far more versatile, IMO. One single, larger pouches, versus two much smaller pouches.

That is incorrect. At least on the dozen or so I just looked through there is no frame or suspension system to speak of- just two D-rings to attach Alice pack straps.
360* padding, quite small main compartment, side pockets for a battery and folded antenna. I'd pass, especially at more than 100 bones.

I put this together for fun. Everything has its place, I figure. 12 mags is a lot for my requirements and as I use it I may drop it back down to 6.
I'm assembling another one for M14s.
I saw no need to use ALICE canteen pouches when the MOLLE version can be adapted and is far superior.

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