GI or Malice pack or others?

[DoughBoy11C]

So I have been trucking my ass around Afghanistan, Ive been trying to keep it light obviously because regular army has not caught on to plate carrier's. Anyways I was thinking about grabbing up a Malice Pack I've heard their amazing and I have seen a few. Anyone got any takes? Also my buddy who was here a few years ago brought some German pack that has a holster for an weapon on it, seems like a tight pack. I'm not much of a geardo but the GI packs just suck! Yeah I know assault packs are logical but not every mission can support it ya know? Plus most 7 day packs just seem to be saggy and not enough support.

[Flesh Thorn]

Kifaru makes some very comfortable and functional military packs, BUT if you order one it will be a six week wait unless you can find one for sale by a private party.

[deathtaco]

Doughboy11C

I was talking to my friend about packs and he gave me this advice (he's USMC Scout Sniper):

In relation to MALICE:
"Malice sucs. Heavy cordura, unnecessary floppy pockets excessive pockets ALWAYS lead to the operator realizing "ooh I have extra room" and stuffing unnecesary shit in them. They are expensive as shit and the shoulder straps suck"

"I don't know shit about dick, but if I were to get a ruck...large surplus alice with frame. Throw TacticalTailor (TT) super waist pad on it with eagle industries shoulder straps. The current generation TT super straps are slippery and will not hold any real amount of wieght unless you want to tighten them up every 30 feet. Next get fastex buckles and reinforced stitching in the stress points. Claymore pouch on top of the main flap, radio pouch, rain flap, and a pocket over the three frontal mini snap pouches. Finally, cut a piece of isomat and slide it between the frame and fold It over yourself. You will have a 3foot by 1 foot slice of iso always which is all you need to sleep on. Butt back and shoulders."

Someone else recommended:
"Don't buy an alice pack at all... get an eagle becker patrol pack"

Hope that helps some, good luck.

[Baseplate]

Doughboy11C

I was talking to my friend about packs and he gave me this advice (he's USMC Scout Sniper):

In relation to MALICE:
"Malice sucs. Heavy cordura, unnecessary floppy pockets excessive pockets ALWAYS lead to the operator realizing "ooh I have extra room" and stuffing unnecesary shit in them. They are expensive as shit and the shoulder straps suck"

"I don't know shit about dick, but if I were to get a ruck...large surplus alice with frame. Throw TacticalTailor (TT) super waist pad on it with eagle industries shoulder straps. The current generation TT super straps are slippery and will not hold any real amount of wieght unless you want to tighten them up every 30 feet. Next get fastex buckles and reinforced stitching in the stress points. Claymore pouch on top of the main flap, radio pouch, rain flap, and a pocket over the three frontal mini snap pouches. Finally, cut a piece of isomat and slide it between the frame and fold It over yourself. You will have a 3foot by 1 foot slice of iso always which is all you need to sleep on. Butt back and shoulders."

Someone else recommended:
"Don't buy an alice pack at all... get an eagle becker patrol pack"



Hope that helps some, good luck.

A) This post is from Feb. I am sure by now he has a new ruck
B) No one here gives a shit what a cadet thinks unless he is posting pics of some slut that is running around on his campus

[Jim]

No one here gives a shit what a cadet thinks unless he is posting pics of some slut that is running around on his campus

Concure.

[IEDmagnet]

x3

[RSOVRanger]

4th on the poontang running around campus.

Information percolated through non-military channels from a supposed military source, purported to be advice to someone who IS military, is suspect at best and bullshit at worst.

I trust second hand information like... say, Baseplate had a guy on his mortar team who got a ruck that absolutely kicked ass, the one he had before sucked balls. Baseplate tried the ruck out on a couple roadmarches just to check it out as well, and found the owners claims of super-sexy-ness to be true.

That's good poop.

Not some cadidiot who has a "USMC Scout Sniper buddy"

Combine that with who actually carries heavy shit... I'll take a mortarmen's word, weapon squad members word, that a ruck kicks ass. Everyone else has the choice to lighten the load here or there. Those guys DON'T. It is what it is and to do the mission, you get to hump the shit.

Even as an RTO I had the option (unexercised) to be able to crossload as feasible within the headquarters element. I humped my shit and didn't slow down because of it. Then again, I'd ruck out to Fryar with all my shit, for fun when we were doing DZSO duties as a platoon. That, and while I was tromping out there I was actually shamming because I wasn't having to deal with the other various "where the fuck is the dz kit go load the zodiacs ok now draw mre's because we just missed lunch and won't be back for dinner"

I just had my slice of the pie, IE 2 117D's, 4x spare batteries, and other assorted PI equipment the PSG wanted me to carry... and 4 subway sandwiches... Get to the DZ, rucksack flop off the trail at the PI, munch a sammich, crack a chem if it was getting late and I might PMCS my eyelids for a bit so I didn't get run the fuck over, and stuff the handmike on my ear on platoon net and max volume. Bout a 70 lb ruck after all was said and done.

If the whole ruck solution hasn't been solved...The eagle shoulder straps and TT belt are probably the best bet. I didn't like going hog-wild with personally purchased equipment simply because although the issued stuff might not be the best in the world..... if it breaks, you can DX and get a new one. If you break shit you bought, you're fucked.

[IEDmagnet]

Alright, I'm going to get a dufflebag, put a frame on it, add some TT pouches (i'm going to cover it in pouches), put a radar array and anti-aircraft crew on top, two 105mm cannons in the back, complete with a gun crew and five small dwarves. To top it off, I am going to fill it with crab cake MRE's, a sound system, and thirty seven of the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz movie (oh yeah, one Flying monkey). Throw in a Pole and fourteen of the finest Afghan strippers (Burka included) and its off to the mountains of Tatouine for a cordon and search of the Emerald City.

My Storm Trooper buddy told me it works better than anything else.

[RSOVRanger]

You forgot to have AT-AT's as Close Ground Support.

[IEDmagnet]

Damn it, always the little things...

[panthersix]

The one time I tried to "game" a ruck march was when I made my own jungle boot foot bed inserts....how'd that work out? Not too good!

I took some 1/2 inch felt padding I found somewhere in the aide station and cut out the inserts and put them into my boots. About a mile into the ruck they "rolled" and I had a wicked blister the width of my foot for the remaining 11.5 miles around perimeter road. And as you know, medics never ever get a foot check :(

Sometimes its just best to use the issue shit and not think about it too much....

[IEDmagnet]

Sometimes its just best to use the issue shit and not think about it too much....

As an 11C, I am going to have to agree. Humping is going to suck, period. So why add more shit to it. I just use the suck method...ruck up, shut the ____ up, and do it. I humped that god forsaken base plate and spare rounds all over Afghanistan. Luckily for me, I was just a 60mm squad leader....so I was getting over regardless. The issued large ALICE did just fine. The only non-issue ruck I ever used was the Camelback assault pack, and I only used it to reduce the number of things I had to wear by one.

Sidenote, I just found out my Stormtrooper buddy was lying, he was only Flunky #3 on the Death Star. Never even attended super secret Ninja school. What a turd. Geez

[panthersix]

He's probably an asshole:

Dark Helmet: Careful you idiot! I said across her nose, not up it!
Laser Gunner: Sorry sir! I'm doing my best!
Dark Helmet: Who made that man a gunner?
Major Asshole: I did sir. He's my cousin.
Dark Helmet: Who is he?
Colonel Sandurz: He's an asshole sir.
Dark Helmet: I know that! What's his name?
Colonel Sandurz: That is his name sir. Asshole, Major Asshole!
Dark Helmet: And his cousin?
Colonel Sandurz: He's an asshole too sir. Gunner's mate First Class Philip Asshole!
Dark Helmet: How many asholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
[Entire bridge crew stands up and raises a hand]
Entire Bridge Crew: Yo!
Dark Helmet: I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes!
[Dark Helmet pulls his face shield down]
Dark Helmet: Keep firing, assholes!

[IEDmagnet]

Classic movie.... Baaarrffff.