The "Lightweight" ruck was intended to be basically a "glorified" buttpack, and was originally intended to be worn low on the "Lightweight" ruck frame, like a buttpack" but the Grunts in Nam soon found out that it was much better to hump the full rucksack high on the frame, so they began moving them up to the top and it's hard to see any photos of them being worn low, I have one from 1966 and I have seen a video clip from 1970 and spotted a grunt in the 1st Cav somewhere near the Cambodian border (where the Div was working at that time of the war) with his low...as the Tropical rucks became available the grunts would take them, take the metal X-frame out and toss it and then attach it by hook or crook somehow (how ever it worked best for you!) to the same lightweight ruck frame, then proceeded to load it down and at the same time tossed the LBE suspenders and pistol belt, instead opting for a bandolier of loaded M-16 mags tiied around the waist...this then is the usual way a Grunt rolled circa 1969-70-71. Great vids thanks!
Get yourself a copy of that DVD set titled something like "The Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite" ?? (I think is the name) it's the best set out there. They took all the CBS Nightly news footage/reports that were aired on TV in the 60s and early 70s and put alot of them on this 3 disc set, and Cronkite is narrating in between the segments for this when it was done in the 1980s. On the 3rd Disc you'll see a documentary called "The World of Charlie Company" that was done by John Laurence who was a reporter for CBS and was in Nam for a long time covering the war from his negative aspect (trying to put a negative spin on it, which you'll plainly see when you watch his story of Charlie Company, an infantry unit of the 1st Cav on the Cambodian border in April-May 1970) BUT my point is you'll see real well what the average Grunt looked like in April-May 1970 prior to and during the Cambodian Incursion. Lots of Tropical rucks loaded down, no LBE suspenders or pistol belts, just bandoliers tied around the waist. By then the Grunts had worked it out to what worked the best for them over there. Those Tropical rucks are loaded down man, they look brutal to hump especially when you consider that it was basically just hanging from the shoulders and no waist belt from the "kidney" pad. Lots ocanteens, ammo belts Claymores, that stuff gets heavy quick!!
Been trying to figure out which A.L.I.C.E. pack I was using in Germany from 1983 to 1986 and I think you have one here in your video ! Thanks for sharing.
I also have a liner for the main compartment dated 1992 which is interesting. Now you've got me wanting to check the date on the inside and under the flap.
Its not the case that they stopped production, it was matter of whether or not units ordered and issued them. Some units saw them as unnecessary and added cost for maintenance
Any idea wher I might find that green manual? I have the medium and frame, and want to add some exterior equipment packs, but do not know what all might be available. Did pick up 2 one quart canteens with the newer caps and installed them, one on each side.
here's a good link for it, its well worth the money. www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-U-S-ARMY-Military-FIELD-BOOK-FM-21-15-CLOTHING-EQUIPMENT-CARE-1977/143164164661?hash=item21553fca35:g:4YsAAOSwv0tVIHaN
The rucksacks weren't meant to replace the butt pack.butt packs were mounted on your LBE web gear with canteens ammo poutches and such.we carried essentials in it, pretty much what you deemed essential.nice video keep em coming
Im starting to collect. Got a Large lc-1 with frame so far and a few other things. Mine has the camo shoulder straps. Question, how can you tell its unissued? By condition alone? Mine is perfect still.
I keep using this video as reference. I just want to let you know on my large alice pack there are D rings for straps I believe. not sure if they were sewn on after or not though.
@@collectornick4270 I honestly don't know yet. mine just arrived 2 days ago and ive been trying to figure it out using your videos lol I suspect the frame is not genuine though, looks like my rothco one.
Great video. I have a medium Alice pack with upgraded shoulder straps and kidney belt. I was just curious about the grommets on the top webbing. Mine go all the way around. What years had the all the way around?
Just got a large alice pack since my medium pack got to small for gear. I ordered a used large but it doesn't have any markings. It looks like it's been repaired so maybe they just washed off
@@chrismejia5235 however if you looking for one's that have even thicker padding but want to stick with original USGI gear than I'd recommend these rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352564470838 I talk about them in my video showing off different ALICE frame types
You're gonna want a bigger pack to compensate for winter gear. Check out the Russian Edelweiss 3M. It's an amazing backpack for the money. A hell of a lot better than you'd think for around $150 and outclasses many packs that cost 200-400. It's an 80L+ rucksack and its durable as hell, adjustable, and really comfortable if you know how to pack it right. I've had mine for a year and it'll probably last me forever. The Medium Alice pack is a classic though and they're awesome for light camping for a few days or taking fishing.
Hey Nick I just got one 2003, also DJ manufacturing Corp, from a surplus store. I noticed your name is on that one (2003). Can you give me any more details on that one. Im trying to establish if its genuine, first. And you mentioned its funny its says LC-1, please explain? thanks
so the best way to tell if an ALICE pack is genuine or not is by its stamps, if it has an NSN number also by the quality of the stitching, the reason I thought it was funny that it said LC-1 is because by that time they had been going under LC-2 for about 30 ish years
the NSN stamp will be on the side of the bag that is facing your back and looks like this "NSN-8465-01-019-9103" sometimes the stamps at worn away and then you would have to look at the quality of stitching or if their are any stamps on the 1 inch metal buckles
Hi Nick, I am in the foothills of the Smokey's, if you are close we should do lunch. I have a mint medium A.L.I.C.E. the rubber came off of the top cover/map compartment. I am hoping to try to recover it with the FlexSeal modification. I am hoping to restore it to like new condition.
@@arlenewolf5260 I've never appeared to gear with it but when I tried it for repairs around the house it just made the item really sticky. Like it was sprayed with adhesive glue.
I love them but they are not for me. They rub on the shoulderblades with the top part, and pull the weight back instead of down. Sold my medium with black frame and lc2 kidneybelt. Still have a large, but i believe it's a fake.. no stamps, not even the *U.S.* on the lid.
The 72 to 73 version has a small pack listed. Mine is woodland camo and I acquired it from my guard unit in the late nineties, so I believe it’s newer than the seventies.
Collector Nick if you say so. I’m not worried about it. It looks like an Alice pack and was issued by the army. I plan on calling it an Alice pack regardless of what it technically is.
Do you have a ALICE LC2 pack for sale sir with good condition.. i need it for Operation in the field.. its very tested and proven here in the Philippines...
Bought mine unissued from a fleamarket. $3.00 lol. Dated 1976 .
How
@@stonercat1232 Idk...it was just there. Labeled $3.00
The "Lightweight" ruck was intended to be basically a "glorified" buttpack, and was originally intended to be worn low on the "Lightweight" ruck frame, like a buttpack" but the Grunts in Nam soon found out that it was much better to hump the full rucksack high on the frame, so they began moving them up to the top and it's hard to see any photos of them being worn low, I have one from 1966 and I have seen a video clip from 1970 and spotted a grunt in the 1st Cav somewhere near the Cambodian border (where the Div was working at that time of the war) with his low...as the Tropical rucks became available the grunts would take them, take the metal X-frame out and toss it and then attach it by hook or crook somehow (how ever it worked best for you!) to the same lightweight ruck frame, then proceeded to load it down and at the same time tossed the LBE suspenders and pistol belt, instead opting for a bandolier of loaded M-16 mags tiied around the waist...this then is the usual way a Grunt rolled circa 1969-70-71. Great vids thanks!
docback63 your welcome, this is the ALICE pack video, are you looking for my LW video?
No not really, already watched it and it was really great, I'm glad somebody else is interested in this stuff too!
Get yourself a copy of that DVD set titled something like "The Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite" ?? (I think is the name) it's the best set out there. They took all the CBS Nightly news footage/reports that were aired on TV in the 60s and early 70s and put alot of them on this 3 disc set, and Cronkite is narrating in between the segments for this when it was done in the 1980s. On the 3rd Disc you'll see a documentary called "The World of Charlie Company" that was done by John Laurence who was a reporter for CBS and was in Nam for a long time covering the war from his negative aspect (trying to put a negative spin on it, which you'll plainly see when you watch his story of Charlie Company, an infantry unit of the 1st Cav on the Cambodian border in April-May 1970) BUT my point is you'll see real well what the average Grunt looked like in April-May 1970 prior to and during the Cambodian Incursion. Lots of Tropical rucks loaded down, no LBE suspenders or pistol belts, just bandoliers tied around the waist. By then the Grunts had worked it out to what worked the best for them over there. Those Tropical rucks are loaded down man, they look brutal to hump especially when you consider that it was basically just hanging from the shoulders and no waist belt from the "kidney" pad. Lots ocanteens, ammo belts Claymores, that stuff gets heavy quick!!
Been trying to figure out which A.L.I.C.E. pack I was using in Germany from 1983 to 1986 and I think you have one here in your video ! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great information! I enjoyed the video. I picked up my first Alice pack just the other day!
I'm glad you found this useful!
I also have a liner for the main compartment dated 1992 which is interesting. Now you've got me wanting to check the date on the inside and under the flap.
Its not the case that they stopped production, it was matter of whether or not units ordered and issued them. Some units saw them as unnecessary and added cost for maintenance
Any idea wher I might find that green manual? I have the medium and frame, and want to add some exterior equipment packs, but do not know what all might be available. Did pick up 2 one quart canteens with the newer caps and installed them, one on each side.
here's a good link for it, its well worth the money.
www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-U-S-ARMY-Military-FIELD-BOOK-FM-21-15-CLOTHING-EQUIPMENT-CARE-1977/143164164661?hash=item21553fca35:g:4YsAAOSwv0tVIHaN
the 3 small pockets on the large alice carried 20 round mags for the m16.
And probably the 30 rounders later when they came out for the military??
Thanks
Great video collector Nick. Very informal.
Thank you!
The rucksacks weren't meant to replace the butt pack.butt packs were mounted on your LBE web gear with canteens ammo poutches and such.we carried essentials in it, pretty much what you deemed essential.nice video keep em coming
I appreciate the comment but yes in the original vietnam era manuals they were supposed to replace the butt pack through ALICE gear too.
How do you date an Alice pack? I can’t find tags on mine
Great stuff bud..I love the Old school stuff....👍
Thanks!
Im starting to collect. Got a Large lc-1 with frame so far and a few other things. Mine has the camo shoulder straps. Question, how can you tell its unissued? By condition alone? Mine is perfect still.
Pretty much just by condition
I keep using this video as reference. I just want to let you know on my large alice pack there are D rings for straps I believe. not sure if they were sewn on after or not though.
Nice, out of curiosity what year is your large ALICE pack from?
@@collectornick4270 I honestly don't know yet. mine just arrived 2 days ago and ive been trying to figure it out using your videos lol
I suspect the frame is not genuine though, looks like my rothco one.
Great review and comparison!
Thank you!
Great video. I have a medium Alice pack with upgraded shoulder straps and kidney belt. I was just curious about the grommets on the top webbing. Mine go all the way around. What years had the all the way around?
I think they stopped going all around in the late 80s, my woodland one from 1988 doesn't have them all they way around.
@@collectornick4270 Thanks for the reply. If I read the DSA # correctly it should be 77 from Camel Caribe Corp.
good info. you are very knowledgable when it comes to all things ALICE
Thank you
Nice review and cool collection of rucks.
Thanks!
Thanks for the video. How do you rate these on durability and comfort compared with other backpacks?
I really like them I also really like the ARVN ruck sack and light weight rucksack.
The Marine Corps issued the buttpack and it was a part of my 782 gear
Nice
Just got a large alice pack since my medium pack got to small for gear. I ordered a used large but it doesn't have any markings. It looks like it's been repaired so maybe they just washed off
Nice
I added the molle2 shoulder straps and waist belt to my frame with the large. The medium i calapsed for now and use it in my truck.
where did you get the shoulder straps? mine are wearing out and I want to keep the original style straps
I usually buy mine on ebay
@@collectornick4270 can you tell me exactly which ones you buy on Ebay? I want the heavier padded ones like 3:00 and 7:00 in your video?
@@chrismejia5235 here are the one's from those time stamps rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F332748658571
@@chrismejia5235 however if you looking for one's that have even thicker padding but want to stick with original USGI gear than I'd recommend these
rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352564470838
I talk about them in my video showing off different ALICE frame types
where can I find an original LC-1 frame ? straps
Ebay, pawn shops and antique stores
Dude, we gotta meet up and compare our kits. I've been watchi ng your videos and I like the kits
Thanks man! Yeah we should.
Is the medium Alice pack good enough for 1 week winter hike ?
It's not bad if your a light hiker
You're gonna want a bigger pack to compensate for winter gear. Check out the Russian Edelweiss 3M. It's an amazing backpack for the money. A hell of a lot better than you'd think for around $150 and outclasses many packs that cost 200-400. It's an 80L+ rucksack and its durable as hell, adjustable, and really comfortable if you know how to pack it right.
I've had mine for a year and it'll probably last me forever.
The Medium Alice pack is a classic though and they're awesome for light camping for a few days or taking fishing.
Very cool history.
It is, and thanks for commenting.
Hey Nick I just got one 2003, also DJ manufacturing Corp, from a surplus store. I noticed your name is on that one (2003). Can you give me any more details on that one. Im trying to establish if its genuine, first. And you mentioned its funny its says LC-1, please explain? thanks
so the best way to tell if an ALICE pack is genuine or not is by its stamps, if it has an NSN number also by the quality of the stitching, the reason I thought it was funny that it said LC-1 is because by that time they had been going under LC-2 for about 30 ish years
Where can you see the NSN if there is one and how does it look like? (does it actually say NSN?). thanks
the NSN stamp will be on the side of the bag that is facing your back and looks like this "NSN-8465-01-019-9103" sometimes the stamps at worn away and then you would have to look at the quality of stitching or if their are any stamps on the 1 inch metal buckles
Well i got that exact number only not "NSN" in front of it. Stamp pretty clear, don't think any part of it wore out. Red flag, you think? thanks
I don't think so, it sounds like you got yourself a genuine USGI ALICE pack
I like this back pack
Me too
Hi Nick, I am in the foothills of the Smokey's, if you are close we should do lunch. I have a mint medium A.L.I.C.E. the rubber came off of the top cover/map compartment. I am hoping to try to recover it with the FlexSeal modification. I am hoping to restore it to like new condition.
Unfortunately I'm in South Dakota but thanks for watching though.
@@collectornick4270 Any opinion on the Flex Seal Mod/Repair?
@@arlenewolf5260 I've never appeared to gear with it but when I tried it for repairs around the house it just made the item really sticky. Like it was sprayed with adhesive glue.
another south dakotian liked and subbed just for that
Thanks!
I love them but they are not for me.
They rub on the shoulderblades with the top part, and pull the weight back instead of down.
Sold my medium with black frame and lc2 kidneybelt.
Still have a large, but i believe it's a fake.. no stamps, not even the *U.S.* on the lid.
I have a small Alice pack. They were made for carrying radios.
Do happen to have the NSN for that item? None of my reference books have ever shown anything like that before.
It’s labeled “carrying case, radio” numbers are pretty faded. P/M A31-42076
@@ManScoutsofAmerica Is it woodland camo? If so those technically aren't ALICE packs.
The 72 to 73 version has a small pack listed. Mine is woodland camo and I acquired it from my guard unit in the late nineties, so I believe it’s newer than the seventies.
Collector Nick if you say so. I’m not worried about it. It looks like an Alice pack and was issued by the army. I plan on calling it an Alice pack regardless of what it technically is.
I have an lc2 and LC-3 pack
nice
ma'am plz notice me, how to buy this backpack???
Ebay
@@collectornick4270 ma'am, pls, how to buy ???
Hello. do you have this backpack to sell?
I don't, sorry.
Hi sir from Philippines, do have an extra jungle pack, I have to pay for that, us jungle pack is so much quality
No, sorry
What is Eyelet for a M-1910 hook? @06:01 Thanks in advance
The hooks on bayonet scabbards, machete covers and old field gear from before 1960.
Im looking for a Nov 73.. My b-day,.Thx
nice
Do you have a ALICE LC2 pack for sale sir with good condition.. i need it for Operation in the field.. its very tested and proven here in the Philippines...
Sorry, no
Cuánto cuesta la mediana
Me interesa las dos
Nice