Just curious, I was repacking my new one and picked it up when I was done and was like "damn this thing weighs a ton" it's not that heavy(not that big either, nowhere near as big as say an alice pack) but I'm sure it's every bit of 25-30lbs. Then I was wondering how fast I could run with this thing on, prob not very, so if I had to get in a hurry,in a hurry, sad to say I'd ditch the bag. I've never been a fan of anything that constricts movement anyways,when I was fishing in alaska I wouldn't ever wear a raincoat on deck(just the bibs)unless the weather was just horrendous(like every other wave over the wheelhouse or making the the deck a pool if you had it quartering the stern and you were running with it(not recomended lol) or it was crazy cold and then it was in protest(work faster,harder, you'll be fine), so imagine how I feel with this pack on my back, so I'm trying to come up with something better, gonna keep that heavy bob in the truck box,or maybe take it to a(not the)bol. I was a successful fisherman in alaska(born raised there) for 18yrs and drove a log truck down here for 7 and being able to move freely has saved my life more times than I can count so this really matters to me, I'll go without before I let something like this hamper my movement like this, maybe I just need a better quality pack, who knows. It's not the weight, 20-25lbs is nothing in the big scheme of things, I guess my real b*tch is the little bit it constricts movement. You have to be able to move. Ok, I'm done whining lol.
Lost

My pack for a 4 day backpacking trip weighs 25lbs. I have a number of different BOB's depending upon what the situation is. They vary in weight from 10lbs (escape for couple days) to 50lbs (live for a couple weeks). I intend to BI so I don't have very extensive BOB's. I do carry a 15lber in my truck that contains a wool sleeping sack, compass, map, knives, GPS, .22 pistol, fire starter, 3 MRE's, flashlight,4 pairs of socks and water purifier. The farthest I tend to go is town (not the city) which is about 25 miles as the crow flies so with that stuff I could make it home in about 12 hrs. I do a trip to some high lakes every couple of weeks that's a 10 mile round trip and I do it in about 5hrs (the last 1/4 mile gains 600' in ele, it's nasty).

You just aren't used to wearing a pack. 20-25# is light for a pack (I'm sure my book bag in college was that much.) 60# in the Corps was about normal. Mission dependent, that can easily be doubled. Nobody said it is easy to move with that kind of gear on you, but you can acclimate your body to virtually any pack load.

Trimming ounces is important. Spreadloading your gear across your body (vest, pockets, pistol belt, etc.) and across your teammates is a good idea. The rest is a matter of going out there and getting used to moving with it on your back.

Yea, the weight isn't a big deal(I've read about guys in the military packing morter bases on top of their normal gear and thats got to be over 100lbs total, so I know I'm whining lol) Some of the stuff would come out of it and be worn if I had time (my 1911s,all the mags I have for them, one of the knives,pair of gloves I can stand and a cpl other small things can be worn if theres time to take them out,that stuff is packed on the top and is one pc so it can come out fast and be put on and I have compression straps on it to take up that space after removed to theres nothing moving around making noise. Other than that, I have enough food to keep me going for about 10 days,alot of first aid,several ways to start a fire/purify,carry water,small cook set,a few knives of diff sizes,small camp axe,cpl mini mags w/extra batts and bulbs,tarp,fishing stuff,more ammo for my 1911s,cpl compasses,cpl maps I think are important, clothes,sleeping bag,etc, theres more, that's just off the top of my head, so the weight isnt bad for as much stuff as I have in it. And I think you're right I just need to start packing it so I will,and I think I'm gonna end up with a cpl for various degrees of need which makes sense to me too.
Thanks
Lost

I have multiple BOBs, ones for just bugging out for 72 hours, one for if I plan on a few weeks, and the one I will take if I am never planning to come back and will have to live from then on with what is in the bag (This one is my combat back pack and as a joke I tried to get one of my son's just graduated from college friends to heft it.) It weighs over 100 pounds, but includes, weapons, ammo, water, food, shelter, changes of clothes, etc etc. I keep 3 days supply of gear in my car trunk for just in case, with enough gear to find more food, purify water, etc.

In bugging out, almost always, weapons, ammo, food, and water will make the biggest amount of weight. Not much you can do about that, but in a real SHTF situation, it will grow lighter as you use stuff, stuff you may not be able to replace easily, if at all. Clothes, shelter, and medical gear take up the next section of big weight items.

In a pinch I could do with what I keep on my vest and my weapon, which is about 30 pounds of gear, but I would be cold, miserable and hungry compared to having my back pack with me. If I had to run, the back pack comes off, and I either cache it for later retrieval or destroy it and all the gear and just keep what is on the vest and my weapon.

I know I am not going to run and stay ahead of a group for very long. Gotten too old and too slow. Best thing is to be not noticed, move slowly and carefully and try not to have anyone know your there or leave a trail.

Cool, I'm sure I'm gonna end up with a few of these in varying degrees of complexity. I just don't like the restriction of movement(comes down to it though, if I need to grab it and go it'll happen period). I'll just start wearing them more ie more camping that I just can't drive to,long hikes,etc. I used to pack my 308(12lbs) and a small pack all over kodiak(literally, I've been all over that island) when I was deer hunting there with no issues, or sometimes I'd just take off to take off for a week or so lol but you didnt have to bring as much with all the food,water,and wood that's around....as long as you like fish,wabbit or deer...theres free roaming wild(by now they are wild) cows too lol, but I learned to have friends around when you harvest one and luckily I did lol....long story. Anyways,I'm gonna go look at a bunch of packs today and see if I can find one that fits better, will post if I find and buy one I really like.
Thanks,
Lost

ALICE pack with MOLLE straps and MOLLE kidney belt/pad.

m47dragon wrote:ALICE pack with MOLLE straps and MOLLE kidney belt/pad.

That work pretty good for you? Can you get them that way or do you have to add the diff straps and kidney belt?
Thanks,
Lost

(nm) found them, cool.
Thanks again

I've had my ALICE since 1996. I purchased the MOLLE straps/belt afterward...huge difference in comfort! You can see this kind of set-up on the 'net if you Google a bit. They go on the ALICE frame very easily, but I had to tinker a few minutes as I'd never used MOLLE on active duty. Very easy to figure out.

I have seen complete ALICE packs w/ frame w/ MOLLE furniture at gun shows...all are surplus, but in very nice shape for around $40. I picked up three sets of MOLLE straps on eBay for less than $30 shipped...kidney belts are about 8-10 bucks a piece...straps and pads are new (if you're not picky on camo pattern, you can easily find desert straps/pads in new, unissued condition. Woodland pattern are more often found used but in good condition.)

I was always fond of the ALICE system, and I prefer an external frame pack both for comfort as well as utility reasons. The MOLLE furniture (not including the MOLLE frame...that is plastic and sucks!) is much more comfortable...seems engineered more along sport backpacking models...padding=nice!

Remember, too, a lot depends on how you pack your pack as well as how much and of what.

I was using Alice gear, as it was just coming out when I left service after second term and I knew it. Just this spring I switched over to all ACU digital Molle II gear, including vest, pack, etc.
I know the Alice gear will hold up in field, cause I used it and I was airborne infantry, not only did it have to survive the drops, but also all the humping we did hither and yon with all the gear we carried. I went to Molle II this spring to make sure it will hold up with the weight and way I will use it.
Remember people, don't just get something and think, that is cool and works great because so and so said so, test it, work with it, make sure it works for YOU and the way YOU are going to do things.
If the Molle gear does not make me happy with the performance, then I have the Alice gear to fall back on if I need to. If I decide the Molle gear works as I need it to, I will sell or trade off my Alice gear to help someone else out and let me get more upgraded gear, or "want to have"s.

m47dragon wrote: Remember, too, a lot depends on how you pack your pack as well as how much and of what.

Perfectly correct, when you hump a pack and weight over hard terrain, you learn where you situated your gear and load the weight makes all the differnce. Basic rule of Thumb, heaviest weight goes into bottom of pack, lighter on top.