there ok


but if you take the molle kidney pad and shoulder straps they will be very very comfortable

 

They won't be as comforatble as a good "civilian" pack, but they are cheap and extremely durable.

 

after i modded mine it was x10 more comfortable

 

I have a large Alice with the Molle straps and they are way better than my friends pack with the regular straps. I would also advise not overloading your pack. Just because you have extra room does not mean you need to add another 5 lbs of gear.

 

Just straight out as issued, no, they are not comfortable. You can attach new molle kidney pads and shoulder pads, or you can make your own by cutting up a foam sleeping pad or a yoga mat and using 100 mile and hour tape to add padding to the kidney pad and shoulder pads yourself.

 

Standard.. NO!!
With the above Molle staps and belt it is much better....
With a DEI 1606 AC frame its great!!!
check out my pack: http://www.survivalistboards.com/showpost.php?p=3410366&postcount=294
cheers
Gareth

 

Didn't have any big problems with mine. I've noticed it bugged me more as I've gotten older. I've tried the modifications using the molle stuff and it was MUCH better.

 

I like it as issued, although I've heard people complain about the kidney pads. I always replace them when they start to wear out, and in a pinch (just as Atticus said) you can always tape some foam to it. I might try replacing the kidney pad with the MOLLE one, but for now I'm having no issues with it. As for the straps, I once again think the older straps are good enough. The long ones, mind you, not the short ones.

 

I like it as issued, although I've heard people complain about the kidney pads. I always replace them when they start to wear out, and in a pinch (just as Atticus said) you can always tape some foam to it. I might try replacing the kidney pad with the MOLLE one, but for now I'm having no issues with it. As for the straps, I once again think the older straps are good enough. The long ones, mind you, not the short ones.

they may be good enough but they are not comfortable esp when your hiking 20 miles with em but if you dont try to swap em out you will never know what your missing and at a surpluss store your looking at $10-15 for both straps

 

That's a valid point. I believe that my definition of comfortable may be different from yours as I find it perfectly fine, to include over a long haul. I'm sure it is probably *more* comfortable with the MOLLE kidney pad, and one day I'll get around to trying it out.

 

I think you need to wear a loaded pack often if you want to be comfortable. The nicest pack in the world will be uncomfortable for a while until you toughen up. The advised improvements will also help. Don't forget your foot gear needs will be influenced by that extra load on your back. Consider a treking pole or two for the extra stability.

 

Comfortable? Not that I ever noticed, and I've carried one many a mile. There's a reason grunts call them "Big Green Ticks". But to be fair, I know some men who liked them, including an Army Ranger Instructor with whom I kept up with eight teenage boys on a 70 mile trek up and down the mountains of Philmont Scout Ranch back in 2005. IMO, it's the frame design that's the problem. I tried out one modified by a friend of mine with a plastic MOLLE frame and found it to be a BIG improvement. I'd look into that if I were just starting out and needed a pack that wouldn't break either my wallet or my back.

 

ok guys. Thanks. I like the Molle kidney and shoulder straps. Keep the suggestions coming! guys.

 

Yes and no.
It seems to change every time I put it on.
But readjusting the straps, and thus the load, it gets better.

I can't pretend to have mine figured out yet
but it seems that the since the pack likes to fall over on it's pouches it's a matter of setting it up by tightening or loosening the straps to get the right angle on your lower back.

But that angle also seems to change with the gear and clothing I wear.
It's not the same with a light coat as it is with just a shirt.
Kind of weird but I'm happy with the pack.
Adjusting it is just a detail.

 

Some people find them perfectly comfortable, but I found them to be terrible. So it depends.

 

Mine has the padded straps and belt and imo it is comfortable.......Not many things really bother me though...It's a mindset thing sometimes.....

 

I have a large alice pack and I tried mine on and it didn't seem to uncomfortable to me. If I was hiking with a lot of gear it might not be real comfortable though.

 

I never thought ALICE was bad...I upgraded to the MOLLE straps and Kidney pad. I did not know what I did not know!!

 

the modifited alice pack everyone is talking about is a hellcat. i to highly advise you to get a hellcat instead of the regular alice pack.

here is THE cheapest place to get one :thumb:

http://tonystactical.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=3

 

I've never had any problems with the Alice packs being uncomfortable, several of us here have walked hundreds of miles with them.

I agree though changing out the pad and the straps does make it even better.

 

It's an excellent, durable, proven pack. The comfort comes from knowing that you're using a good piece of gear that will not fail you.

I wouldn't call it comfortable though.

 

I never found the alice pack to be comfortable. The hellcat looks interesting tho

 

I use a medium ALICE and I think it's comfortable. I also changed out the straps and pads and it's even better now. I'm use to having an MSA air pack on for a couple hours at a time though so my opinion might not be that relevant. Now that's uncomfortable.

 

Here is the thing with ALICE packs: The frame is one size fits all. You can make modifications to the various straps which can help some people. My ALICE pack is nowhere near as comfortable as my large civilian packs. I had my civilian pack fitted at REI. So it fits my body, my torso length, etc. I can put extra padding on an ALICE pack all day long, the frame will still be too short to effectively use a belt to put the weight on my hips.

 

Here is the thing with ALICE packs: The frame is one size fits all. You can make modifications to the various straps which can help some people. My ALICE pack is nowhere near as comfortable as my large civilian packs. I had my civilian pack fitted at REI. So it fits my body, my torso length, etc. I can put extra padding on an ALICE pack all day long, the frame will still be too short to effectively use a belt to put the weight on my hips.

that is not true you can adjust the hip belt frame section

the alice pack frame was designed for a person who is 70" 5' 10in

if you are shorter you are in luck as you can drill out the rivets holding the hip shelf and move it up to fit your frame

re drill the holes and install small stainless steel bolts and either threadlock or sodre the bolts

 

I have found that the comfort, or discomfort, of the ALICE pack is directly proportional to the number of service stripes worn on the sleeve...

 

i'll use my hellcat until i find a high end pack in good condition at a yard sale for around $20.... this isnt impossable.

sidenote: i little trick i learned today. a friend of mine went yard saleing last week while we was off work . he went it one garage sale where two little old ladies where setting, in the garage was a gun cabinet he asked if they had any guns for sale? one lady said yea! but my grandson took all the good ones and she lead him into the house to a back room where there was several rifles he offered her $900 for all of it. he said her face just lit UP!! sure ! she said!!... he told me that there was a couple of military rifles in the bunch one he had already sold for $400...... lesson learned "IF I EVER see a gun cabinet ASK IF THEY GOT ANY GUNS FOR SALE"!!!!!!! :thumb:

 

I have a large alice and it is just fine, so is that msa if you dont use the waist belt. Its easier to get off in a tight spot too. I have a hellcat pack. It is huge. Like almost big enough to use as a tent huge. I would hate to carry it loaded to its capacity for an extended period. I have it loaded and use it on the back of a quad. It is nice that it has straps so if I had to for some reason I could carry it on my back.