Posted: 5/13/2011 8:51:42 PM EDT
| I need some advice, for now i have only a limited ammount of money.... for two of us me and my gf, we need a pack... now i would like both of us to have a ruck but for the mean time what i need to know is do i spend the money i have saved on the most comfortable pack that i really want (down side is only one pack for now thoght )or should i take a deal and get two used ALICE or MOLLE II packs for the time being just to have something..... really just want to know what to do..... THANKS EVERYONE for your in put! |
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Take your time, save your money, and do it right the first time. Don't rush into something just because you think you have to have it right now.
If you buy something cheaper (quality/price) than what you really want, then some time down the road you are going to have to upgrade. It will cost you more money, and you would have been better off just buying what you wanted the first time. When it comes to things you have to carry on your back, buy the most comfortable pack FOR YOU. Buy what fits you best and let the girlfriend buy what fits her best. Not a place to cut corners. Everyone here recommends their favorites, but you have to load up and try on several, to see what fits you best. |
| A good question. I used ALICE packs for MANY years and found them to be quite adequate. You can make them more comfortable with added padding, or modification with custom commercial parts. The medium ALICE worked great for me for canoe travel because of the shape when loaded, (fits nicely in a small space) and I have lived 10 days out of an ALICE in the wilderness with no problem. The large ALICE can carry a HUGE load, and I keep two around for moving large loads in a hurry...I have seen ALICE's quite cheap at rummages and surplus stores...$10...having said all this I too have switched to better commercial packs now. but for a beginner...you can't beat them. Oh yea, they are not waterproof but are made very well and are extremely strong, and there are several different genenrations of frame to choose from, from steel to aluminum to plastic. |
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I have spent thousands of dollars on packs. From the cheapest ALICE and MOLLE setups, to custom variations of same, all the way up to Kifaru.
SAVE YOUR MONEY. Take the GF to REI or any Osprey dealer and get her fitted properly, and get her a 30L to 50L pack. $150-$250, buy once, cry once. She won't use it as often as you will use yours. Get yourself a MOLLE II in desert camo (because they are huge and cheap), and roll with that. Decide if you want to invest in a high end pack like Kifaru or Mystery Ranch. How many miles a year will you put under your ruck? How much weight will you need to carry? Do you need it to look all tacticool? Kifaru packs are so crazy overbuilt that you should have very little to no qualms about buying a used one. A used G1 MMR for $300 could get passed around the 75th Ranger Regiment like a Costa Rican call girl and never wear out. The same can NOT be said for a similarly priced civvie backpackers pack. I'm telling you man, if you plan to USE the thing, going cheap means buying packs over and over and over until you get it right. I've not regretted a single penny spent on Kifaru gear. |
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Quoted:
I need some advice, for now i have only a limited ammount of money.... for two of us me and my gf, we need a pack... now i would like both of us to have a ruck but for the mean time what i need to know is do i spend the money i have saved on the most comfortable pack that i really want (down side is only one pack for now thoght )or should i take a deal and get two used ALICE or MOLLE II packs for the time being just to have something..... really just want to know what to do..... THANKS EVERYONE for your in put! Well, since you say you are on a limited budget, that narrows things a bit. What others have said about buying packs that fit you and gf, and about high quality being important is all true. Trick is to get those things on a limited budget. I would suggest that you get two new, or lightly used USGI large ALICE packs and their frames, also GI. Make sure all items are GI, as civvy copies are not as sturdy. Don't be overly concerned about the shoulder straps and waistbelt, because you will upgrade these components with much better, and more modern USGI MOLLE waistbelts and shoulder straps. On Pg 9 of this thread:http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=214382&page=9, you will find an excellent tutorial (w/pix) by Team Member Enforcer on how to upgrade the ALICE frames with the vastly superior MOLLE waistbelts and shoulder straps. Original ALICE waistbands and shoulder straps stink out loud; the MOLLE replacements are light years ahead in terms of comfort and utility. Note also that the ALICE/MOLLE hybrid is fairly adjustable with respect to user's body/torso, and that is very valuable. I think going this route will give you two decent, sturdy packs with good, adjustable, comfortable waistbelts and shoulder straps for a lot less tha you would probably pay to get same quality/comfort brand new on civilian market. You will also have something that is pretty good NOW, as opposed to having the 'perfect" set-up way in the future. The ALICE/MOLLE hybrid is not quite state-of-the-art in some ways (it comes close, though), but it is way less expensive than most all modern civvy stuff––and military stuff, too. You could also just buy two MOLLE packs and frames. Same modern MOLLE waistbelt and shoulder straps as above, different frame and pack. Probably a bit more money, but less fiddling around. Make sure that you buy the newer, much improved version of the frame, as older unit was unsat. As a general rule, if the frame is any color but black, it is the newer version. google "DownEast+frame" to get info about new frame. Whatever you do, google "how to fit a pack", and read up on it. You need to know that info BEFORE you buy. Most big name pack mfrs and vendors have spots on their web sites that give directions on fitting packs, so check them out as well. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I need some advice, for now i have only a limited ammount of money.... for two of us me and my gf, we need a pack... now i would like both of us to have a ruck but for the mean time what i need to know is do i spend the money i have saved on the most comfortable pack that i really want (down side is only one pack for now thoght )or should i take a deal and get two used ALICE or MOLLE II packs for the time being just to have something..... really just want to know what to do..... THANKS EVERYONE for your in put! Well, since you say you are on a limited budget, that narrows things a bit. What others have said about buying packs that fit you and gf, and about high quality being important is all true. Trick is to get those things on a limited budget. I would suggest that you get two new, or lightly used USGI large ALICE packs and their frames, also GI. Make sure all items are GI, as civvy copies are not as sturdy. Don't be overly concerned about the shoulder straps and waistbelt, because you will upgrade these components with much better, and more modern USGI MOLLE waistbelts and shoulder straps. On Pg 9 of this thread:http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=214382&page=9, you will find an excellent tutorial (w/pix) by Team Member Enforcer on how to upgrade the ALICE frames with the vastly superior MOLLE waistbelts and shoulder straps. Original ALICE waistbands and shoulder straps stink out loud; the MOLLE replacements are light years ahead in terms of comfort and utility. Note also that the ALICE/MOLLE hybrid is fairly adjustable with respect to user's body/torso, and that is very valuable. I think going this route will give you two decent, sturdy packs with good, adjustable, comfortable waistbelts and shoulder straps for a lot less tha you would probably pay to get same quality/comfort brand new on civilian market. You will also have something that is pretty good NOW, as opposed to having the 'perfect" set-up way in the future. The ALICE/MOLLE hybrid is not quite state-of-the-art in some ways (it comes close, though), but it is way less expensive than most all modern civvy stuff––and military stuff, too. You could also just buy two MOLLE packs and frames. Same modern MOLLE waistbelt and shoulder straps as above, different frame and pack. Probably a bit more money, but less fiddling around. Make sure that you buy the newer, much improved version of the frame, as older unit was unsat. As a general rule, if the frame is any color but black, it is the newer version. google "DownEast+frame" to get info about new frame. Whatever you do, google "how to fit a pack", and read up on it. You need to know that info BEFORE you buy. Most big name pack mfrs and vendors have spots on their web sites that give directions on fitting packs, so check them out as well. If you go the MOLLE pack route, i highly recommend replacing the frame with the DEI 1606 "Airborne" frame. Really opens up your field of movement, especially if you or your wife are smaller in stature, like me. - Its an inexpensive upgrade for the benefit - $35 dollars IIRC. |
Spending $50 ea. on two Molle II s' or Alices w/improved pads arent gonna break you. saving $600 + for two high dollar packs is great but life happens. I have wanted an Eberlestock G4 Operator Pack. At $400 or so that is a ways off, especially since I want a H&K p7 first  seriously though. What do your finances say? sportsmans guide has decent civilian packs inexpensive or the forementioned mil. packs.
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As with most things, it does depend upon your usage and budget.
For anything that you plan to use for more than a few short days here and there, I would for sure do the pack right. It's not out of the realm of possibilities to be better off with one good pack (carrying twice the load) then two cheap ones. Packs and boots are the two items I highly recommend new hikers to go to the local outdoor shop to get so there can be a best fit. That said, you may be better off buying online if you can find the right deal on a good pack, and you know what size you need. You'll also need the expertise to fit the pack correctly, would should include bending the frame stays into place. It can take some time, but you'll also get a great fit. A good pack company will give you sizing and fitting instructions. Keep in mind, there is no perfect pack as there is a huge trade-off with capacity and empty pack weight. I personally have four levels of packs. Starting big, I have a full sized Dana Design that can handle any trip I dare go on with 5800ci... and have used it for weeks at a time and carried 100+ lbs with (which is nuts). It's great, but heavy at over 6.5 lbs. Next is my perfect weekend pack. It has always handled gear and food for any 2-4 day trip- it's smaller than the Dana at 3000ci but much less weight, configurable from 3-4+ lbs. The third pack is an extended range day pack, and has no frame. It can handle a fair load, about 1800ci. Lastly is my "in town" pack, something to toss over one shoulder for afternoons on the go, maybe 700ci. I use them all, but the weekend pack is my go-to pack, and what I would suggest for a first pack. |
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Thanks for all the words guys(and gals?) i plan on using this pack as a combination between a BOB and an exteded long weekend minimalist trecking pack.... one of the ones i was looking was the kelty falcon 4000.... not sure if thats a good idea or not.... i am familiar with hiking and all that good stuff as i did tons of it in boyscouts.... so what does the hive say about the kelty.... my biggest concern is zippers and top acess.... would prefer less zippers and front acess so i dont have to dig for stuff....
again thanks guys! |
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Quoted: Thanks for all the words guys(and gals?) i plan on using this pack as a combination between a BOB and an exteded long weekend minimalist trecking pack.... one of the ones i was looking was the kelty falcon 4000.... not sure if thats a good idea or not.... i am familiar with hiking and all that good stuff as i did tons of it in boyscouts.... so what does the hive say about the kelty.... my biggest concern is zippers and top acess.... would prefer less zippers and front acess so i dont have to dig for stuff.... again thanks guys! the falcon has both top, and front access. its convertible to a 3K to 4K ruck. with a top lid that doubles as a fanny pack, or chest pack. It is buildt like their civvy packs suspension and comfort wise. The zippers are huge. i did a review of it somewhere here.... http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=640557 there ya go. |
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