Does anyone have experience with the Camelbak Motherload pack and wearing it over a plate carrier with hard plates?

I'm thinking about 'upgrading' my ILBE to the Motherlode pack but would love to get some feedback on how it rides and feels with plates.


Thanks!

I had the Camelbak BFM. it's comparable.

Wearing any pack with plates sucks rocks, but if you're going to do it, either of those would probably be an ok choice. It's going to weigh you down like crazy in the back, and will tire your abs out carrying it.

I have been carrying a motherlode almost everyday for two years now and it's one tough pack. I have carried it over my pc a few times, and like any pack over armor, it feels cumbersome but it's not too bad. It can hold quite a bit and it's tough enough for heavy loads. Pricey compared to other packs, but built better imo. It has lots of extra strapping to help get it positioned comfortably so that's more up to the wearer to decide how you want it to ride on your back. Straps are really wide and are thickly padded so it feels good even with a heavy load.

Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. I'm sure it will be slightly more comfortable than the pressure the ILBE puts on the bottom edge of the rear plate. Plus anymore I don't have the need for that large of a pack. My flatpack is a tad to small for a full 3 day load though so I'm thinking the Motherlode will fit the purpose. I placed the order for what looks like the older version. $124 on sale from Midwayusa right now.

I bought a first generation Motherlode within a week of release, back in 2000, while I was deployed to Kosovo. I wore it over an IBA for the next two years; for the remainder of that deployment, for training exercises, and, while in Afghanistan; all with an LBV between the two. It wasn't the most comfortable way to wear an assault pack (with no armor or LBV), but it wasn't any more difficult or uncomfortable than wearing any other pack over an IBA and LBV.

I have the old 1000D Motherlode and BFM, and of the two, the Motherlode is far more comfortable over armor because you can't load it down like you can the BFM.

Both are extremely tough packs that hold a lot more than their size would indicate at first glance. I like the fact that they both have plenty of dividers and pockets to organize your gear without having to add more pouches (and more weight) to the rig.