Question about LBE and Alice Pack

[PaulTX]

I have LBE web gear for my pouches and holster. Recently I purchased an Alice medium pack for my bug out or emergency gear. I've not received the pack yet. How comfortable is it going to wear the LBE and the pack and it's straps? In other words, how does this all work together?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Kor]

Ask any Grunt who ever went through Army Basic Training, or any Gyrene who ever went through Marine Corps Recruit Training - "comfortable" is not an adjective that is commonly applied to the LBE and ALICE pack. We used this gear because it was issued to us, and we wore it and marched, hiked, camped and crawled in the mud with it because we had to. Just because the military issued or used this gear does not mean that we would necessarily recommend it as a shining paragon of utility, durability or comfort. A more accurate description would probably be "not intolerably uncomfortable, most of the time." If you can't afford to spend a bunch of money on top-echelon gear, surplus LBE/ALICE is a decent value, but MUCH better gear is out there.

First, you put on your LBE - it helps if you get a friend to adjust the straps for you while the gear is on your body for the first time(the adjustment process goes about 3X faster with a friend). The 'US' on the yoke should sit right between your shoulder blades IIRC - you don't want the yoke to ride too high up on your neck, for comfort. Try not to have any kinks or ripples in the suspenders as they hang on your torso. The pistol belt should ride naturally on your hips, and should not be too tight. Once all the straps are adjusted properly for you, use electrical tape or duct tape to tape down the loose ends of the straps.

The ALICE pack goes on top of your LBE; again, you don't want the pack to ride too high on your shoulders, it'll wind up pressing down/forward on your neck, which will suck after marching a few miles. I personally found the aluminum pack-frame with the kidney pad to help a lot with pack comfort, but others said they preferred the pack without the frame. If you have a "butt-pack" on your LBE, it may cause the pack to ride too high for extended comfort.

Key words to remember with all things military surplus: "Supplied By The Lowest Bidder." This stuff is not issued because it is the absolute best, it just happens to be "mostly good enough" for the right price.

 

[PaulTX]

Kor,

Thanks very much for your input! The arrangement didn't look like it would be real comfortable. I'll have to look into other options.

Paul

 

[Jeff White]

The pack and the LBE were not designed to be worn together. I used to cut the metal hooks off the H or Y harness and replace them with 550 cord. Then I'd adjust the length so that the pistol belt was down around my hips. This kept the pack frame from digging into the belt and canteens and forcing everything down. It also kept the metal clips from digging into your back. I also wore my ammo pouches towards the outside instead of directly in front. That way I could get into a prone position without having the magazines pressing into the rib cage and also permitted me to access them from the prone.

There are much better load bearing options available now.

Jeff

 

[PaulTX]

Thanks Jeff

I don't have the funds for an expensive setup. I wanted to have some gear I could get on quickly, have my pistol, pistol mags, and AR-15 mags (6 at least). I also want to be able to put on my Alice BOB if needed. I may just go with the web belt and not the suspenders.

I'm right handed, so my weapon is going to be on the right and the mags on the left for fast reloads. That's how I've trained.

I'm still looking at the possibilities.

Paul

 

[Kor]

6 loaded 30-rd AR mags + pistol + 2 loaded pistol mags is gonna get pretty old riding on your hips with only a pistol belt for support; I'd suggest getting suspenders that are broad, flat, and thin, to help support the weight, like these:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/spbrcosu.html

http://www.michaelsoforegon.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=7805618&catky=&subcatky1=&subcatky2=

Alternatively, you can move your AR and pistol mags to a chest rig, like this:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/blchpo2ma.html

As long as the shoulder straps are flat, broad and thin, they should make wearing that ALICE pack on top more comfortable.

You can also get other ideas from: www.eagleindustries.com and www.blackhawk.com - be careful, your imagination and desire can easily outstrip your wallet when shopping for gear...

Finally, rumor has it the absolute best-designed and -built military rucksacks around are made here: http://www.kifaru.net

 

[roo_ster]

Kor & Jeff White pretty much covered it, especially WRT cutting off the hooks & replacing with 550 cord.

I guess that I would add that I would go for the large pack with aluminum frame.

The larger kidney pad is nice, too. SAW pouches are good alternatives to a butt pack.

 

[PaulTX]

I've looked at gear on many, many websites! I like the idea of a vest with mag pouches and a pistol holster. I don't care for a crossdraw holster and like the mag pouches to be on the left side. I like the idea of grab and go because I have a dream ocassionally where the theme is I'm way behind. A common version is a college class where I'm late, don't have my homework, and haven't read the assignment! In other words, I don't want to be caught flat footed.

To get a setup I'd like would be $300-400 and then it would probably be hot since I live in Texas. Right now funds are tight and I am investing what I can in ammo or reloading components and other preps. The costs are definitely going up, so I buy the good deals when I find them.

For what I need a mag in the AR and 3 in a pouch would probably be adequate with some extra mags/ammo in a pack. I like being prepared!

Thanks for your suggestions.
Paul

 

[roo_ster]

Yeah, the thing about the old tech LBE is that it is not nearly as hot as the newer vest-based solutions.

If you wanna win 3-gun: go for a newer tac vest. If you want to be cooler (in a temperature sort of way) go for the LBE.

 

[Hobie]

Get the frame. It will make the system more comfortable.

Interaction between pack and web gear is partially dependant on the length of your torso.

Those guys in Iraq are wearing all sorts of gear and surviving at 117* I bet you could survive in Texas, too. Drink water and eat food.

 

[Exmasonite]

i'm a huge fan/proponent of Maxpedition products. I have a Jumbo versipack as my extended EDC/emergency BOB. It's an over the shoulder sling bag... if you do a search on this, i've posted a few times about it, as have others.

http://www.maxpedition.com/product/product_vp_jumbo.htm

Maxpedition also makes some nice 1 strap "slingers", supposedly easier for getting over armor.

http://www.maxpedition.com/product/catalog_gearslinger.htm

And some really top notch, heavy duty back packs:

http://www.maxpedition.com/product/catalog_backpack.htm

Can't speak highly enough about them.

also, their waist pouches and sheaths are compatible w/ alice webbing packs/bags.

 

[PaulTX]

Hobie - I'm thinking about getting a frame for the Alice pack. I may upgrade the straps too. For the money, it is a nice pack. I may have to plan a little hiking/camping trip in the area to test it out when its all setup. I've wanted to go camping for some time now.

I "assume" the kidney pad makes those edges coming off the frame comfortable? They look a little wicked.

I'll have to do some testing with the LBE straps. I hadn't thought about replaceing the belt hooks with 550 cord.

Exmasonite - I agree, the Maxpedition gear is good. My constant companion for some months now is the Proteus. I'll have to take all my daily carry out of it and take a picture - it contains everything but the G23. I've been interested in the Pygmy for when a lighter pack than the Alice is appropriate and not so military looking. I could wish the Pygmy was a little cheaper. Maybe as I'm getting older I'm getting cheaper! I got the Proteus on eBay for about $36 when it normally goes for above $50.

I have a complaint about Maxpedition and other gear makers. The don't provide near enough pictures online for decision making. The picture may be the only place you see the gear before you buy it. I had to search all over the Internet to find pictures that showed enough of the Proteus.

Paul