Question about BlackHawk® Enhanced Large A.L.I.C.E. Ruck Sack

[jagger242]

Hello Everybody!First of all I would like to apologise if this is a repost-I'm very new user in here,and excuse me for my english :oops:, I have a question about this BlackHawk® Enhanced Large A.L.I.C.E. Ruck Sack
http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/agcatalog/level4c.tam?xax=32029&pagenumber%2Eptx=1&M5COPY%2Ectx=26398&M5%2Ectx=3585&M2%5FDESC%2Ectx=Field%20Packs&level3%2Ectx=level3c%2Etam&BC3%2Ectx=Field%20Gear&BC4%2Ectx=Field%20Packs&backto=%2Fagcatalog%2Flevel3c%2Etam)
Is the Anybody saw,or use this bagpacks in the different colours than shown abowe/below?Maybe somebody saw those bags in the digital woodland colours(if possible-post pictures and address where i can find it pls)Thanks for All of You for any information.(sorry for my english again).Jag

[JKinnaird]

I would say that the Tactical Tailor MALICE pack is better.

[MikeSierra151]

I have carried it and seen it used in OD. It is very heavy.......even empty!

[wilkj05]

my friend has one he agrees it is heavy but fits very nicely and works well

[jagger242]

Sorry Lads,I was away-had problems with e-net,I wish to thank All of You for
this important information to me,Your answers prooved my opinion about this bag.Now question for JKinnaird:what about Hillwalking (MountainWalking) with Tactical Tailor MALICE pack?How it working?is it usefull?,or to many unnecessary pockets,which won't be used on Mountain trips(as You guess-i'm not an military man,just enthusiast).
Now question for Everybody:any experience about this:

[SPAS79]

Hi, I've used the pack during my last deployment in A-stan and in some training up the mountains around my base. It is heavy in effect, but if used with the BHI shoulder straps, alice frame and lumbar pad it works quite well in distributing the load on your back. The only problems I found were that I would have not placed so many pouches but instead used a bigger main compartment. Havin such a "small" main prevents the user from carrying large items like an extreme cold weather sleeping bag or similar stuff. Also, the lack of top/bottom straps to hook extra equipment (sleeping mat, poncho etc...) it's a minus as the lack of a lower access zipper to quickly reach the stuff you've placed on the bottom (again, sleeping gear or chow). Anyway, an all'round good pack if you need to be on the run for a few days and live out of your backpack AND are fit for an heavy backpack stuffed with heavy items...
As a last line, I've never heard about that TT MALICE pack, but what I'm looking forward to get my hands on is a Kifaru backpack as they seem to be quite expensive but still engineered with much more brain than the BHI SOF ruck.

Hope this helps, and anyway it's just my personal opinion. Not a bad pack at all though.

[MikeSierra151]

If your dead set with a ALICE style pack I would choose the TT. In my experience they are better quality and you used to be able to custimize your ruck with what you wanted/needed.

[jagger242]

Thanks for SPAS79-good answer,to MikeSierra151:eah,i prefer an old and the goodone ALICE pack,it's working wery well,just recently found that there is some upgrades of it.but thanks to You too. :)
So, Lads any comments about CFP-90?
Maybe somebody have an experience of it?

[jagger242]

[QUOTE=SPAS79;3099581] It is heavy in effect, but if used with the BHI shoulder straps, alice frame and lumbar pad it works quite well in distributing the load on your back...
What You mean:"...but if used with the BHI shoulder straps,..."-are they diferrent than standart issue? if yes-comment please

[SPAS79]

Ok jagger242, got answers to both of your questions, I've been using the CFP-90 for a while before I had the BHI SOF Ruck or enhanced ALICE (whatever you prefer to name it) and currently that good old CFP is going to die in my next deployment in middle-east carrying some technical equipment that seems to be built exactly inside it.
Coming to end-user feelings and feedback, the CFP-90 with its patrol pack has an impressive capability in terms of litres or cubic inches (I do remember I could stuff in it 5-days of full self sustainement in it, including towels, flip-flops, 5 full sets of underwear and other misc stuff not very "survival-esque" along with my helmet and handy items in the patrol pack (guess that was intended to be used as a "fire and escape" bag... However, what I particularyli liked about the pack, apart from its capability, was the lower compartment (fully accessible and if wanted separated from the upper part of the main compartment), and the cargo pockets on the sides of it, along with the three ALICE-compatible strips running on the front side on which pouches and the sort could be attached. On the other side of, it tended to get VERY large in relation to wearer's shoulders, so, unless you're a VERY large guy the problem could have been the one of being stuck while passing through narrow passages. Patrol pack performed OK as a "fire & escape", less as a patrol pack as it is quite small and lacks stiffness and support (no lumbar / sternum straps). Overall, the CFP-90 is good if you're a big guy, working in a not-very-hot environment (Iraq is hell carrying a stuffed CFP as it tends to stick to your back preventing it from drying) and in need to carry a helluva load (as it is not very heavy in itself) while retaining some ability to escape bringing along with you your essentials (PSP + Pringles + clean socks?) in the "patrol" pack.

Now to the second question...

Yes, the BHI extended ALICE shoulder straps, lumbar pad and strap and frame are a bit different, not that much the frame as the shoulder straps, ergonomic and more cushioned than the standard issue and the lumbar pad. In effect some of the guys that have been using the SOF ruck with less-than-below commercial quality (bought in stock by some big brass admin and issued to the unit) ALICE frame+straps had problems due to their inadequacy.

Hope this helps bro, shall you need some more details, pvt msg me!