Posted: 2/29/2012 12:47:55 PM EDT
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Stopped by my local surplus store to rummage around and saw that he still had a NIB USMC Gen II ILBE pack, complete, but minus Assault pack. Even had the single-sheet instructions. Well, I guess he found no takers at the original asking price of $195, so after a bit of haggling, I (and the ILBE) were out the door with me a hundred bucks lighter. Found a good condition ILBE assault pack for $50 later on. The Gen II had the original Gen I black nylon replaced with coyote brown nylon I think I did OK. No pix, but this link should suffice: http://www.ilbepack.com . Review to follow, but preliminary impressions are that it is well-made, and pretty capacious. Not sure if I'm a fan of not having a separate sleeping bag compartment, as in the GI MOLLE packs and the CFP-90, but perhaps I am just being narrow-minded. I will add that the original elastic strap-keepers were stretched-out from the webbing being stored underneath them, so I had to use up a buttload of Web-dominators–– more than ten, anyways. Not sure how much can be stored in the top cover/pouch without screwing-up prone shooting position, but probably not much. |
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I bought an Arc'Teryx Bora 80 two years ago, which I believe the ILBE is based off of. I have nothing but praise for it. Sometimes it can be a bit big for an overnighter, but that's why it has compression straps. Some complain about the weight of the Arc'Teryx packs, I don't. They're solid durable packs. I've taken it on a few 3-4 day trips in ID, UT, and OR and have no complaints.
As for the price: Buy once, Cry once. I looked into an ILBE when I was pack shopping a few years back. The most common thing on the e-bay models was the straps being cut and the top lid of the pack was missing. The Marines don't like to let these go in one piece. |
| You got a sweet deal. I picked up two for $50 each...MINUS the hip belt and MINUS the top pouch. 1 gen one and a gen II. Searching now for best deal on the hip belts. Weight? whatever! Yeah its not a super duper light unit.... but if you drug me and the pack down two miles of gravel road..... I would be gone and pack would just need a wash. THAT is most important to me long term durability. |
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EBAY ILBE
I just bought from this person. All of the searching I have done and this was the best deal for new. I'm waiting for delivery next week. I'll post back up and tell ya if it's worth it. |
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Quoted: looks like sportmans guide has surplus used one's again for $69.97 non member price, just search their site for U.S. Military Field Pack Good price if they are in VG cond, as stated. Generally speaking, SG is reasonably accurate in their descriptions. With just a little luck, all they might need is a hosing-down, and some thread-melting and so forth. ETA: As noted by another poster below, the SG offering lacks both top rain/snow cover AND the load-bearing waistbelt. I cannot recommend buying this pack, as offered. See my post below on this aspect of the situation. No mention of the detachable radio pouch, which attaches within the main pack. Hopefully it is included, as the radio pouch allows the stowage of small items at the top of the pack, as opposed to their drifting down into the bottom of the pack. you can get them at http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/-strse-870/GENUINE-U.S.-MILITARY-ISSUE/Detail.bok. |
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Quoted: Even better!RAF, radio pouches are going for about 4 bucks at unclesamsretail Here's a link: http://www.unclesamsretailoutlet.com/USMC-MARPAT-Radio-Pouch-Gen-II.html FWIW, the Army, MOLLE radio pouch is very different than the ILBE USMC rradio pouch, so the two are NOT interchangeable. The USMC ILBE pouch, unlike the MOLLE version, has open sides at the bottom, so users wanting to use the radio pouch as a conveniant catch-all for small stuff will want to either sew-up the openings at the sides/bottom, or install some snaps. Past experience has shown me that small-item stowage in an easy-to-reach spot is well worth some minor hassle. YMMV. |
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I want to try out one of the little assault packs. I think they would make a neat little pack out to the gun range, or for a short hike out here along the coast.. The assault pack is a GREAT standalone small pack. The ILBE, especially for a hundred bucks, is an awesome deal. I've wanted a Multicam Arcteryx Charlie pack forever. |
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I had a couple of "Medium Sustainment Pouches" lying around, from http://www.supplycaptain.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=301&ParentCat=66, and they fit well on the sides of the ILBE and do not extend out sideways so far as to be objectionable and/or wider than the user's shoulders. Only available in Army woodland, but that's a reasonably decent match for MARPAT. Also useable as stand-alones, since they will accept a shoulder-strap. disclaimer: no financial interest. |
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looks like sportmans guide has surplus used one's again for $69.97 non member price, just search their site for U.S. Military Field Pack Good price if they are in VG cond, as stated. Generally speaking, SG is reasonably accurate in their descriptions. With just a little luck, all they might need is a hosing-down, and some thread-melting and so forth. No mention of the detachable radio pouch, which attaches within the main pack. Hopefully it is included, as the radio pouch allows the stowage of small items at the top of the pack, as opposed to their drifting down into the bottom of the pack. you can get them at http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/-strse-870/GENUINE-U.S.-MILITARY-ISSUE/Detail.bok. Is it just me or do the Sportsman's Guide packs appear to not have the top pouch/pack? |
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looks like sportmans guide has surplus used one's again for $69.97 non member price, just search their site for U.S. Military Field Pack Good price if they are in VG cond, as stated. Generally speaking, SG is reasonably accurate in their descriptions. With just a little luck, all they might need is a hosing-down, and some thread-melting and so forth. No mention of the detachable radio pouch, which attaches within the main pack. Hopefully it is included, as the radio pouch allows the stowage of small items at the top of the pack, as opposed to their drifting down into the bottom of the pack. you can get them at http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/-strse-870/GENUINE-U.S.-MILITARY-ISSUE/Detail.bok. Is it just me or do the Sportsman's Guide packs appear to not have the top pouch/pack? they don't come with lids or waist belts |
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I want to try out one of the little assault packs. I think they would make a neat little pack out to the gun range, or for a short hike out here along the coast.. The assault pack is a GREAT standalone small pack. The ILBE, especially for a hundred bucks, is an awesome deal. I've wanted a Multicam Arcteryx Charlie pack forever. Yeah, me too! When I saw the review that Military Moron did on the Charlie pack, I was all, "Why didn't I buy one of these back then?!?!" Doh. 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: looks like sportmans guide has surplus used one's again for $69.97 non member price, just search their site for U.S. Military Field Pack Good price if they are in VG cond, as stated. Generally speaking, SG is reasonably accurate in their descriptions. With just a little luck, all they might need is a hosing-down, and some thread-melting and so forth. No mention of the detachable radio pouch, which attaches within the main pack. Hopefully it is included, as the radio pouch allows the stowage of small items at the top of the pack, as opposed to their drifting down into the bottom of the pack. you can get them at http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/-strse-870/GENUINE-U.S.-MILITARY-ISSUE/Detail.bok. Is it just me or do the Sportsman's Guide packs appear to not have the top pouch/pack? they don't come with lids or waist belts Apparently you are correct; I hadn't noticed the omission of the top and the waistbelt. Without the top, the rain/snow collar is open to the elements, and will leak. It would be possible to fabricate some sort of simple flap, and use the existing fastex clips to secure it. More important is the lack of a waistbelt, as the pack is designed to have the waistbelt carry a good deal of the weight. Sans waistbelt, which would be relatively tough to replicate, the load-carrying capacity of the pack is greatly compromised. In view of the omission of the two items, and without a source for same, I cannot recommend buying the pack as offered. It occurs to me that arc'teryx (the designer of the ILBE, and mfr of similar packs) might possibly offer components that might fit without too much hassle, but I think the purchaser would be paying a pretty good price for the stuff, thus negating, at least to some degree, the "bargain' price of this SG offering. ETA: looks like Gunny's Surplus has both the lids ($25), and the detachable Assault Pack ($50). Pack is not worth buying without the belt, though. If you find a link for a belt, let us all know. ETAII: Allegheney Surplus had SMALL ILBE waistbelts for auction on Ebay. I am 6'3" amd large-boned, and the Medium waistbelt fits me OK. The trick with load-bearing waistbelts is that the padding must extend far enough around the user for the padding to completely cover the points of the hip-bone, more-or-less at ten o'clock and two o'clock on the user's body. If the belt is not long enough for the padded part to cover your entire hips (a gap at the front is OK), then the belt is too small for the user. |
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That's a good looking pack. From the outside it resembles the Kelty Falcon 4000. Except IMO they are much much better made. I wasn't super impressed with either the Eagle7500 or MAP3500 Kelty packs I've seen/owned. A buddy of mine has a complete ILBE setup with a pair of coyote Kifaru claymore pockets docked and locked on the sides, looks kick ass. Here it is with two Kifaru MMR's. 
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