2,000 Cubic inch MOLLE/ALICE pack for DEI 1606AC/MC (FILBE) Frames

[CamoDeafie]

Made a pack bag out of 500D Flame Retardant coated Cordura; in Coyote Brown. It should be an useful size, and useful bag overall for many things.

Specs;
19x12x8.75ish (was going to be 9" deep but seams precluded that, whoops lol)
7 rows of MOLLE 1" webbing on main body
2 rows of ALICE 2" webbing on main body
3 rows of MOLLE on lid and bottom
USGI hardware used throughout.
Coyote Brown side release buckles from National Molding,
ITW Nexus for the D-rings and ladderloc friction buckles
US manufactured black oxide tri-bar tabs
Dritz Fashion Grommets in flat black; .5" hole diameter
USGI gutted OD Paracord for drawcord
National Molding barrel lock for drawcord retention

The bag attaches to the FILBE frame, from the bottom to top, via the ladder loc buckles at the bottom; same as ALICE, to the 2 black tabs on the frame upper corners, same as MOLLE II series, and 1.5" D rings interfaced with the FILBE yoke's load stabilizer buckles (same as the LBV Patrol Bag attachment with the D-rings on the bottom of LBV)
There are two side compression straps that attaches to the FILBE frame's side horns via the black tabs, and to the pack via the USMC chest rig Duraflex surface mount buckles, which are removable and can be placed on other things.
The pack can be used without a FILBE frame/suspension, by using the 4 D-rings and ALICE type shoulder straps that can be found in Coyote Brown from either Tactical Tailor (Super Straps), or Fireforce USA. Not sure who else makes similar shoulder straps in CB. Can use OD ALICE straps if one is old school cool
Shown with USMC IFAK pouches and canteen covers, and compared to the FILBE bag and USGI Large ALICE pack

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[3MTA3]

Sweet!

 

[USMC-03]

Nice. That would be a great choice for a long rifle setup; attachment points for spotting scope, rifle rest, etc.

 

[CamoDeafie]

It seems I did not pack the two larger packbags as much as I should have; and did not take pictures of the packbags slick as I should have.
To make up for it; here are the photos showing the definite size differences between the three, without frames. The FILBE is 5,000 Cubic inches, making it more than twice the volume of the smaller bag. The Large ALICE; is clearly bigger than the online specs of "20x13x8.5" claims. Not sure where they got that measurement from; because if it was indeed that size, then it would be very similar in size to the smaller bag I made.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Picked up a FSBE II (Full Spectrum Battle Equipment 2) 6 mag bandoleer with MOLLE on its back, and added a long carry handle that fits onto the frame (may shorten it)
Loaded it all up and remounted the waist belt to better fit my torso; took it on a short walk to confirm fit and comfort level.. its far more comfortable than the old ALICE suspension and kidney pad..

Mounted the 6 mag bandoleer on lid, and mounted a Paraclete zippered pocket on centerish lower panel with old school Jungle FAK insert with updated FAK items inside.
Loadout from top to bottom, outside first
6x AR mags loaded with 62gr
10x10 nylon tarp in one USMC IFAK pocket
Stakes and cord and some food in other IFAK pocket
2x canteens, one has cup, folding stove, solid fuel tabs on one side, other is just canteen, matches in small waterproof container and backup fire kit in altoids tin with lighter
Paraclete FAK pocket
USGI Self Inflating mat, made by Vinyl Industries, 03 contract date, folded in half lengthwise and tightly rolled, held by 2 lash straps


In main compartment I have the following items;
3x pairs warm socks
2x BDU style pants
2x boxer briefs
1 long sleeve base layer shirt
1 wool blend long john base layer
1 t shirt
1 fleece pullover
1 80s? Extreme Cold Weather Parka with liner
1 Hirsch Weiss goose down sleeping bag with 2 lbs fill (thing weighs bit more than 3 lbs )

If it were not for the compressibility of a warm down bag, I probably would have needed to elimimate a lot of the above items
I might make a modular, MOLLE attachable rifle buttstock pocket that can hang down below the pack and allow me to hump the AR15 and maybe make a lid underside pocket to fit the ALICE m16 cleaning kit (unless I score an Otis tactical cleaning kit in CB with MOLLE attachment)

 

[CamoDeafie]

Using the 3 Coyote Brown Sustainment Pouches, I did two set ups, one with two pouches up high on the sides, like the MOLLE rucksacks, and one where all 3 are on the lower part, much like the ALICE setups.

 

[CamoDeafie]

I was not happy with the lid that I had on it, so out came the shears, and then I sewn up a big compartmented lid to go in its place, as well as redoing the 4 frame connections to be better.
12" wide, 9" tall, 9" deep, with 12x9x6 compartment with a 12" zipper, adding 648 cubic inches roughly to the 2,000ci main bag.
500D Cordura
Salvaged zipper from a destroyed FILBE from another project
New frame and pad set from DownEast Inc.
Bag on new frame with new lid sewn on

Frame side showing the zippered lid compartment

Upper frame connection

Lower frame connection


Bag side of frame without bag. Only the vertical lower 2 ladderlock buckles are sewn on, and to the kidney pad. All the others are retained by triglides

Back side; 1/2"-1" closed cell foam plus 2mm spacer mesh on all the padding, with the upper back pad being the thickest of the bunch. With the upper back pad, I do not think an ALICE or FILBE type of bag will fit. To fit these, I suspect one must remove the upper back pad, and then relocate the shoulder straps to the top of the frame.

Shoulder strap attachment to the frame, with a nifty 1.5" to 1" reducer. Shown with load stabilizer undone.

Triglide retaining the back pad's strap. Its a little bit odd but it seems to work. Its on the same crossbar as the horns are on the frame.

The kidney pad. Its unusual in that its basically sucked into the frame, as opposed to the MOLLE II and FILBE belts that are basically trampolines with the frame standing off away from the back. The kidney pad uses the same pull-forward system as the FILBE belts and very old ALICE kidney belts did.

 

[3MTA3]

What awesome work! You should go in business.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Revised the lid buckles' placement, a 5 minute job... and then attached all 3 Sustainment pouches to the pack, and loaded it up with soft goods for photos... it looks like the offspring of a threesome with an ALICE( the 3 pocket method), a British Bergen( the giant lid pocket and tallness), and a FILBE( the MOLLE, the color and the frame system) .