I'm wondering what people recommend and why. I'm leaning towards MOLLE, but I see many people here recommending ALICE. I don't see any reason for it, and no one really gives a reason. I like MOLLE because of all the pouches that can be connected. I just want to know why a lot of people pick ALICE.
ALICE or MOLLE? Why?
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Some dude in Army Acquisitions wanted to make a name for himself so he came up with a new acronym. MOLLE is really IALICE - Improved All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment.
MOLLE = Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
ALICE = All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment
MOLLE is the new better stuff.
ALICE is the old has bin stuff that you can get cheap.
I have both.
MOLLE = Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
ALICE = All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment
MOLLE is the new better stuff.
ALICE is the old has bin stuff that you can get cheap.
I have both.
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80 Posts
Someone needs to come up with MOLLE webbing on a ALICE pack. Best of both worlds.
I have a MOLLE compatible 3 day tactical pack and I like the modular design of MOLLE. I can easily add more pockets and pouches almost wherever I want it.
I have a MOLLE compatible 3 day tactical pack and I like the modular design of MOLLE. I can easily add more pockets and pouches almost wherever I want it.
This topic has been beaten up many times try a little search. The are to many variable and you get people all worked up on whats best , when the reality is its all up to you. What works for me in Tx , I would not like up north. Bags and pouches can be added to anything. Check you tube also for comparison , I believe KEV the site owner compares them also. My oppinion is I like the less fabric of the alice compared to the molle, and also think it lets the body breath a little better in the hot temps.
Edge to MOLLE. But Alice stuff is really cheap these days.
It gets a little closer if you believe that external frame is the way to go. External frames go good with Alice packs and on a relatively smaller number of MOLLE. And the MOLLE packs are way more expensive.
It gets a little closer if you believe that external frame is the way to go. External frames go good with Alice packs and on a relatively smaller number of MOLLE. And the MOLLE packs are way more expensive.
I did.
You have atleast given a reason.
I did some looking, but I couldn't find much reason for ALICE, only that the people that liked it liked it. But they never really gave a reason.
You have atleast given a reason.
I was trained with and used the medium Alice and have one for each of my family members.
Saturday, I just acquired a large Alice, molly on a plastic frame. It is Army digital.
I absoluty hate Army digital. But the molly puches can be adjusted to go anywhere on the pack, and it carries more than the medium Alice does, and easier. It is more comfortable on my back, and rides higher on my back, giving my lbv room around my waist.
With Alice packs being had for $20.00 give or take, you cannot go wrong if they are in good shape. The Molly I picked up Saturday was $40.00 and it looks new.
Recon3
Saturday, I just acquired a large Alice, molly on a plastic frame. It is Army digital.
I absoluty hate Army digital. But the molly puches can be adjusted to go anywhere on the pack, and it carries more than the medium Alice does, and easier. It is more comfortable on my back, and rides higher on my back, giving my lbv room around my waist.
With Alice packs being had for $20.00 give or take, you cannot go wrong if they are in good shape. The Molly I picked up Saturday was $40.00 and it looks new.
Recon3
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21,877 Posts
I like molle but the Velcro sucks. Makes way to much noise. I think molle adds a lot of weight in extra fabric. And peoPle tend to get carried away and have to much gear. I still like it,it has a cool factor, but I'm fine with a LBE kit too. I've bought a lot of used molle stuff and a lot of it is damaged and worn, the old stuff seems to hold up better. In my op.
There really is no need for it.
1. Standard Molle strap equippped items, malice clips, or tac-ties will secure an item to the alice attach points on an alice pack with a "little" sloppines. How much "slop" depends on the item and the owners tollerance of it.
2. Molle webbing is nothing more than a 1" nylon webbing sewn onto a piece of cloth that anyone who owns a sewing machine can install within minutes. It can be ordered in 100' rolls for around $50 and is sold at Hancock Fabrics for 80 cents per foot.
Just as a hoot I had my mother in law add a single line of blue webbing along the "belt" of a lightweight denim jacket.
Cost is best reason.
There are some folk that say a pack shouldn't have any outside pouches.
They have even said to remove the three pockets/pouches on MED pack to give it faster sleek look.
Some folk are weird too.
You can add pouches/canteens to both ALICE packs.
Some folk add buttpacks to them.
Some guys are putting two buttpacks on ALICE frame for lighter loads.
Up to you what can be put on to suit your needs.
I'm thinking about putting M1945 combat pack and cargo bag on ALICE frame to see how it rides.
There are some folk that say a pack shouldn't have any outside pouches.
They have even said to remove the three pockets/pouches on MED pack to give it faster sleek look.
Some folk are weird too.
You can add pouches/canteens to both ALICE packs.
Some folk add buttpacks to them.
Some guys are putting two buttpacks on ALICE frame for lighter loads.
Up to you what can be put on to suit your needs.
I'm thinking about putting M1945 combat pack and cargo bag on ALICE frame to see how it rides.
I searched and searched for months and got no closer on the internet. I did find a ton of useful links though. Based I the idea that I thought the alice was lighter, and less cost and I could add more pouches , heck I believe you can retrofit molle gear to the alice, I jumped in and got the alice.
I have taken the frame off of mine but installed the hip belt back on and travel as light as possible. I still have more room that I can ask for out of a 20 dollar pack.
ALICE for me. Cheaper. More DURABLE. Better setup for most of us. Only MOLLE gear I have is the big Gregory MOLLE pack and the OTV IIIA vest. Rather have ALICE suspenders over the OTV Reason? Case if I have to ditch the vest, I'm not ditching all my gear Grab 'n go
LOVE my Large ALICE pack LOVE IT BUT it is made to be worn with combat gear, ALICE kind, with an ass pack Shifts weight off the shoulders and onto the hips.
LOVE my Large ALICE pack LOVE IT BUT it is made to be worn with combat gear, ALICE kind, with an ass pack Shifts weight off the shoulders and onto the hips.
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Alice is good if you are short. Alice is meant to ride above a cartridge belt, so it really doesn't ride on your hips. More like on the kidneys on me, i'm 6'4".
The straps are horrible by themselves. They are meant to ride on top of your load bearing gear shoulder straps. If you have load bearing gear they are fine, if not, very thin and very uncomfortable after a few miles.
Only thing Alice does better than Molle is that the frame keeps the pack completely away from your body. Mucho airflow keeps you cooler.
Alice is meant to work with a load bearing harness and cartridge belt, without it, it is a very poor pack.
Molle is much, much better. I really don't understand how some can think that Alice is better. Vietnam era gear is not better than modern gear.
I have used both.
Although i would take a M14 over a M16, but thats another discussion.
Molle shoulder straps are comfortable by themselves. very good padding.
Hip belt is huge,comfortable, and actually rides on your hips.
I think the pack material is more durable than Alice, although the material has never failed on me on either pack.
Don't pay attention to those that say the plastic frame will break on you. A gen 4 frame will not, unless you are throwing them off the roof of a bldg with 120lbs in it. Alice frames break too, if you beat on em enough.
The modularity of the pouches is fantastic. Get a GP sling and a sustainment pouch makes a great little daypack for short hikes away from your main camp.
Havin a separate sleep carrier compartment is great. Don't have to go digging through your bedding to find things.
Only thing that isn't as good as Alice, the pack lies much closer to your body, there is still airflow, but not as much. So you get a little hotter imo.
As far a price goes, if a 20 buck difference is gonna make you or break you, don't eat out for a month and you will have enough for a Molle pack and some pouches.
I see people on here talk about Alice being great, but i went backpacking once with Alice by itself, no lbe, never do that again.
I have been on several backpacking trips with my Molle, it was a night and day difference.
The straps are horrible by themselves. They are meant to ride on top of your load bearing gear shoulder straps. If you have load bearing gear they are fine, if not, very thin and very uncomfortable after a few miles.
Only thing Alice does better than Molle is that the frame keeps the pack completely away from your body. Mucho airflow keeps you cooler.
Alice is meant to work with a load bearing harness and cartridge belt, without it, it is a very poor pack.
Molle is much, much better. I really don't understand how some can think that Alice is better. Vietnam era gear is not better than modern gear.
I have used both.
Although i would take a M14 over a M16, but thats another discussion.
Molle shoulder straps are comfortable by themselves. very good padding.
Hip belt is huge,comfortable, and actually rides on your hips.
I think the pack material is more durable than Alice, although the material has never failed on me on either pack.
Don't pay attention to those that say the plastic frame will break on you. A gen 4 frame will not, unless you are throwing them off the roof of a bldg with 120lbs in it. Alice frames break too, if you beat on em enough.
The modularity of the pouches is fantastic. Get a GP sling and a sustainment pouch makes a great little daypack for short hikes away from your main camp.
Havin a separate sleep carrier compartment is great. Don't have to go digging through your bedding to find things.
Only thing that isn't as good as Alice, the pack lies much closer to your body, there is still airflow, but not as much. So you get a little hotter imo.
As far a price goes, if a 20 buck difference is gonna make you or break you, don't eat out for a month and you will have enough for a Molle pack and some pouches.
I see people on here talk about Alice being great, but i went backpacking once with Alice by itself, no lbe, never do that again.
I have been on several backpacking trips with my Molle, it was a night and day difference.
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i have had a ALICE pack for years and love it it replaced my old back pack from my younger years ! i modified my old frame to work with the ALICE pack and it it has the good straps and a hip belt or what ever they are called , getting old cant remember all the right terms ! i have carried 80+ pounds on it , course that was when i was younger and in excellent shape !
the ALICE has worked for me and i see no reason to to change , a lot of you young greenhorns think that you always need the newest fanciest stuff well what worked for people 10-20-30-40 years ago can still work today !
the new MOLLE stuff was designed for the newer soldier in combat , are you in combat ?
the ALICE has worked for me and i see no reason to to change , a lot of you young greenhorns think that you always need the newest fanciest stuff well what worked for people 10-20-30-40 years ago can still work today !
the new MOLLE stuff was designed for the newer soldier in combat , are you in combat ?
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