Originally Posted By joeviterbo:
That's the harness for the Dflcs Defensor Fortis Load carrying system of Air Force security forces (the guys guarding installations). More like a hybrid low worn chest rig than a true belt, but Nice. Early ones were green, there is a variant with a self regulating spandex covered elastic instead of the side straps.
Made by Eagle Industries, London Bridge Trading or Garrett Container Systems. As of today they are issuing an updated v2 version which is more Alice friendly as it has 5 molle rows stacked without empty space.  It also got away with the horizontal mounting for a small pistol magazine or OC pouch, which I think it was cool.

Originally Posted By sharkman6:
Not ALICE, but I picked up this harness for $25 off of Ebay.

Its a discontinued Air Force Item.  Air Force Rifleman harness or something.

More comfortable than a traditional ALICE harness, and MOLLE.  The pouches I already had lying around.


https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/114265/WIN_20200627_10_08_57_Pro_jpg-1479289.JPG

Originally Posted By lew:
What's the go-to for tips and tricks dealing with ALICE packs?

Just got a very lightly-used medium pack, and already picked up an airborne polymer frame and FILBE waist belt- both for cheap. The seams and threads have already been seared, and the stitching is all A-OK.

Originally Posted By lew:
Cool. There are a bunch of MOLLE II options on fleabay. Mostly ACU, but DCU and OCP aren't much more.

Originally Posted By lew:
I'm aware. UCP, even dyed, is still a bit dark for these environs, and with the most appropriate option- OCP- only ~$10 more, that's the sensible way to go. Of course, the pack is OD, so really, it just comes down to me despising the aesthetics of digital patterns.

Originally Posted By lew:
I have camo netting for the pack, so no worries.

Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation:
Does anyone remember a custom outfit, 15 to 20yrs ago, that used to sling a bunch of different ALICE style LBVs and pouches?

@raf?

Originally Posted By spartacus2002:

Tactical Tailor?

Originally Posted By raf:
I recall the mfr, but they are out of the gear-making business, last I heard.  Will have to research the exact name of the outfit, and will report back.

 ETA: FMCO/Antipersonnel searches bring back null results.  Looks like the site is dead.  

I bought some gear from them, and it was definitely GTG.

Unique items offered.  Based on combat vet input, and generally based on original ALICE Gear platforms, with subsequent updates/options for MOLLE /PALS platforms. Their intellectual property was available to purchase for a while.

Sad to say, but yet another very good, very high-quality gear-maker who has gone extinct.

Originally Posted By recon:
I have one of there vests. Great set up. To bad there out of business. How to bring up there pictures of there gear?

https://www.pdffiller.com/jsfiller-desk14/?projectId=527984264#5458388aa0100b1e890d88a7454d9212

Originally Posted By recon:
Thanks for those pictures. Is that all of them? I need to find mine and see which one I have.

Originally Posted By mike_nds:
That is super cool. Somebody could easily remake those.

Originally Posted By recon:
I always wonder when a company goes out of business what happens to all that gear? Oh well.

Originally Posted By sic_ness:
Those are amazing. I want the 24 mag vest because it's so ridiculous

Originally Posted By Enforcer:
I own 4 radio carriers; 2 US Army and 2 USMC. Those are the pouches that have been "cut out" of the carriers. IMO they were not "purpose built" from the contractor; just simple field modifications. The "tell" ?........... the top opening is irregular and a portion of the duffle closure remains from the "donor" medium ALICE carrier. Yours was modified to retain the shoulder straps and ALICE lid. I'll pull mine from the moth balls and post a few pics. The US army version has a smaller radio pouch than the USMC version. The USMC pouch takes up 1/3 to 1/2 of the carriers internal volume, probably 1/3, I've never measured it. The USMC version also has a full padded back.  One of my USMC carriers has been my EDC bag for nearly 12 years.

pics are front and back of the USMC radio carrier; I'll post pics of the pouches inside for comparison tomorrow.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NVW16I-RtPQf0OGHMtwkot9d_0hNW_NxRn64Zp_bhs1cZM_xWPN-pZIGjVSctOdKC_eiJHBaw6D-OvVTT10xYSVw5FRujdpKjvpiB0TYWA6s1x70PY6WKxPE6u99Y4mGftjv_btvCw=w2400

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OZ5vjVJrnoKB3zLYbIlLjZ-sBJwnAmvJVZ6yKfdv-K5mZC7Ve6F87qywVONezQuZerQ-fli9-N68XZsuq_YF14mk7tghs4222D40Y7WS5_JBSjZHrB5v_ZdKOWSrPqeaEE7CCaXUjw=w2400



Regards

Rod

Originally Posted By raf:
IMO, and having been a collector of many eras of USGI Milsurp gear over the decades, it's time to put old Milsurp Alice gear out to pasture.  The reason for my saying this is that most of it has been used hard, and time/use has taken its' toll.

The Cotton (M1956) gear is completely unacceptable as it is subject to rot and mildew, unlike the nylon gear (mostly).  Aside from that, the Mil found the nylon (M1967 gear FAR lighter overall, and especially when wet, and easier to clean if subjected to NBC contaminants.  Consider selling nice M1956 gear on ebay--see below.  

An unalterable thing about nylon ALICE gear is that the waterproofing coating is subject to de-lamination given enough heat and time--mostly time. So, the coating begins to stink as it degrades, and will continue to do so until it is completely gone.  It's possible to accelerate this process by turning the gear inside-out, and exposing the coating to direct sunlight; the process will still take a while, though-- and that's the problem: the waterproof coating falls-off at its' own rate, and will still stink during while it's decomposing.

Any coated nylon fabric will eventually do the same sort of delamination/stink, even modern gear.  Take heed.

Another approach is to use a stiff brush to remove as much of the waterproof coating as possible, and then use some "Tent Floor Seal" to encapsulate the remainder, hopefully a small remainder.  Only consider this if only intermittent flecks or small patches of the original coating are still present.  This requires painting-on a thin coating, and I have found small foam brushes best.  Buy quite a few, as they wear out fairly quickly-- you will see what I mean if you try this.  In my experience, this is a very laborious process.  One side-benefit to this process is that the user can sear the edges of exposed fabric and threads far more easily before treating the fabric, since they will be better exposed.

If you can stand the smell of your elderly ALICE gear's waterproof coating degrading--and it will lessen over time as long as you brush it and wash it-- then consider spraying the outside of the gear with spray-on DWR.  Doing so will greatly retard the water-absorption of the nylon fabric.  It's not "waterproof", and does degrade over time, but it does not stink in the meantime, and is easier to renew.

Those having minty-new ALICE gear should consider selling it on Ebay.  Condition is Everything, and if it looks like new, you are far better off selling it to a collector than usiing it.  Might bring surprising $.  Very rare equiment still relies on the "Condition Rule", but I have seen some lightly damaged, but quite rare items go for surprising $. Having sold-off a LOT of milsurp gear, I have some experience with this.

Still, the aforementioned notwithstanding, ALICE gear is nowadays not considered first-rate  Sure, it works, but so does a Ford Model T. Fine for emergency hand-outs, but if you're in that situation, Heaven help you, not least for the type of your hand-out gear.

FWIW, ALICE gear was fine in its' day, and some parts of the ensemble still have their uses.  For example, the Med and Large ALICE packs (perhaps modified by Tactical Tailor), mounted on suitable MOLLE frames (Hellcat), the pistol belt, and even the updated Buttpack, with OEM Fastex buckles.  The compass/first aid pouches are OK for M1 Garand clips, but use TT lightweight MALICE clips in lieu of the ALICE clips, PLEASE.

I still have LOADS of ALICE gear, a good deal of it modified, sitting in storage.  I will consider posting it on the EE.