The "alice" loops on the top flap are for your E-tool carrier, and the loop at the bottom front is to retain the wood handle that would run between the two exterior pouches.
Re: the frame sheet and straps - It seems that the 2 x vertical and 1 x wide horizontal hip are suspension strap, which exist to cinch the frame into an arch shape. The same concept is found on many hiking backpacks to allow for airflow. In this case, if actually going retro to use with a plate carrier, it might afford space for the back plate.
i wouldnt agree the medium alice was ever "useless". we managed to get what we needed into it. for its time the alice system was a technological leap in military gear. even today gear designers could learn something from it. (one thing that comes to mind is the material weight. modern gear designers have a hard-on for 1000 cordura, which is just too heavy)
there are d rings and cords inside the medium alice that allows you to cinch it up and turn it into what we used to call assault-pack mode. it ends up very close to that size.
If you tighten the triglides (there's another one behind the tegris that works as tension for the hip belt looking strap), it forms a sort of curve to the tegris, which is actually pretty comfortable and stiffens the pack up quite a bit. The strap across the bottom behind the tegris is a bit of a nightmare to tighten, but once it's tightened, it forms a hip pad style standoff.
I would say the medium alice is the perfect radio pack in terms of holding a radio and hold some small sustainable items, but other then that I would agree that the medium alice is almost useless but it dose have its very specific place.
The more I delve into LBV and alice setups the Tropical P68 seems perfect, it's like a buttpack that actually fits everything you want and has enough vertical expansion that you could put a full bedroll and isomat on the frame above it. Also integrates far better with a pistol belt and alice type magazine and canteen pouches. I see the appeal of this on top of an M1956/alice webbing set though, as it would ride right above the buttpack high and tight
"ARVN" (Army Republic of Vietnam)... the originals were cotton canvas and they are the perfect size for one to 3 day trips. My Dad still uses his for deer hunting.. keep em light he says!
for 190 you can build out 3 medium alice packs. Some medium alice packs have draw strings on the inside bag (i believe for the radio?) you can turn it inside out and tie it all up and have a pack the same size as this, have 3 outer pockets and better alice slots to mount than that. just need to buy your own straps. A medium saapi plate also fit on the back where the medium is now folded up into a small alice basically. you can run some ice plates there.
Ooppss.. I dudnt read prior comments first.. enough said.. this is a cool ass pack, back then and now... they are $220 today. But used on ebay are between 2 and 400
Those eyelets in the "alice" loops on the lid are for 1956 pattern gear. That was intended for and etool pouch and the handle dropped down between the pockets and was secured by the adjustable loop at bottom.
those pocket fasteners are a direct copy of the russian ataka style, they're an awesome design! the bag honestly looks a lot like an Ataka-2 without the bottom half to it, which is a good thing tbh
I recently got one, amd i love it. Its my daily pack for work and overnights. I did have to mod front straps with buckles for usability, and i really want to sew in a pickup strap on top. Otherwise it's great. Just got some repro shoulder strap pads yhat will help comfort a lot. I just received a handmade repro CISO pack from Reaper's Papa San Supply. Though very cool, i dont think I'll be using it much.
That would take about the same as my Camelbak HAWG :) like the Small Alice that never was (the prototype had one pocket in the rear) this one has 2) Larger than a butt pack or a musette bag
I just hiked and camped with an original 1968 Tropical Rucksack that's derived from the original version of this pack. I liked it a lot. I would get one of these at the original price to have a similar piece of kit
@@EODFish I got it, brother, just an old design making the circle again. S.O. Tech does have some good stuff. Love your channel and all the great info you get out there keep up the great work my friend!
$190 puts it in the VN era reenactment people price range. Nice tribute to the ARVN ruck but not worth that kind of money. Despite all that they were probably sold out the first day they were released
Okay so this isn't an Alice, the originals were built for the vietnamese who were too small even for a small Alice. The 'small Alice' is actually a radio bag
