Living with A.L.I.C.E.

ALICE Pack Modifications You Can Do to Upgrade a Time Proven System

Survivors, scouts, hunters and campers require packs and other equipment that can withstand rugged
conditions. Both soldiers and civilians continue to use the military’s ALICE pack and associated equipment.
Even our current military personnel return to the ALICE pack when the newer systems have failed. Though
ALICE is good it can use some improvement. The old hardware is difficult to get into especially in cold
weather. These can be updated with modern hardware, often without a sewing machine. Compared to buying a
new tactical rucksack the small cost is money well spent. Many of these techniques can be used to repair gear
that would otherwise end up in the trash.

The acronym A.L.I.C.E. Or simply Alice, stands for All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment.
It was adopted by the US military in the mid 70s and is still in use today. It is designed in two parts, 1 the
“fighting load” and 2 the “existence load”. The fighting load consists of the pistol belt, suspenders, ammo and
canteen pouches etc. These items are also referred to simply as “web gear”. The existence load is the pack in
medium and large sizes, the frame if used, and the items needed to live in the field. The pack bag has many
webbing attaching points for additional equipment. The Alice pack is often referred to as a rucksack or
ruck.We will be concentrating on the Pack system but there is some overlap in the placement and carrying of
items.

Alice was designed to use both ALICE attaching clips as well as the older “double U hook” system from
WW2. Most of today’s MOLLE equipment will work with Alice. In addition many civilian items can be added
to Alice with adapters. The Alice medium pack can be used with or without the frame. Without the frame
shoulder straps will attach directly to the medium pack bag. The large pack must be used with the frame. The
frame alone can be used as a pack board for transporting bulky items. Some suppliers carry the “Alice small”,
this is a commercial item, and it was never military issue. The manual, FM21-15, gives full instructions on use,
as issued, for this gear. Readers are strongly recommended to buy this handy little book.

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Alice packs can be easily and
cheaply modified to modern
standards.
Alice clips
Aging packs can be salvaged
and civilian gear added with
these techniques.

The first and likely best, modification to the Alice pack is replacing various metal buckles with the Fastex
quick release style. Alice packs have several metal buckles of the friction type, spring loaded and “lift the dot’
snaps. Though these were simple and rugged for their day the modern Fastex ‘side release” buckle is a vast
improvement. The following instructions can be used to replace damaged Fastex buckles on modern gear as
well as Alice packs. Soldiers should understand that modifying their gear may result in a “statement of
charges” and have to pay for modifying the governments gear. Airborne personnel should also check with
the Jump Master before using these techniques.

Replacing the Alice packs buckles require 6 one inch Fastex side release buckles, 6 sections of parachutes
(550) cord about 12 inches long. Remove the inner strings on the 550 cord so it will lay flat, tie and hold knots
 well. Fastex and 550 cord are available from Campmor, REI, and other outdoor and military suppliers You’ll
also need a pair of side cutting pliers and a lighter. Look carefully at the photos as a guide. Cut the existing
buckle where the webbing feeds through it, then bend and remove. The adjustable webbing on the main bag
and outside pockets has the ends folded over and sewn in place. Remove this stitching with a sharp knife or
‘seam ripper”. The seam ripper is available at sewing supply stores.

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Cut the existing buckle To setup Fastex buckle

where the webbing for replacement slip a and “choke” cord to
feeds through it then loop of 550 cord under buckle.
bend and remove non adjustable end 

Slip one leg of 550 cord With the complete

Using “half hitches”
into the place where the buckle in place and
loop the rest of the first
original buckle was.  webbing fed through
leg of cord out to the
Repeat with the other you’re ready to quickly
end of the
leg. Tie securely with a access your gear. In this
buckle Repeat with the
square knot and fuse example we used the
other leg of the cord.
ends together Alice packs radio pouch

Take a section of the 550 cord and remove the inner strings. Using just the sheath fold it in half forming a loop
on the end. Slide the loop under the end of the non adjustable side of the Fastex buckle as shown. Slip the cut
ends through this loop and ‘choke’ the cord tightly to the buckle. Place this ‘choked” cord in the middle. Using
“half hitches” tie each cord from the center to the outside. Pull these tight and even. Using the lighter, burn
 each end of the 550 cord. Do not breathe the smoke or fumes from the burning cord. Blow out the flame and
quickly twirl the end on a metal surface. The side of your pliers will do well for this and should form a slight
point on the end of the cord, making it easier to thread it through the webbing in the next step. Insert one end
of the cord through the webbing where the old buckle was. Repeat with the other cord and pull moderately
tight. Do this a second time and tie a snug square knot. Lastly trim the cords and burn the ends together. Tuck
all this back into the webbing if possible. Thread the loose end of the webbing you removed through the
adjustable end of the Fastex buckle. Refold and stitch the ends of the webbing to avoid their coming
completely out of the buckles. At this point you have upgraded your pack and saved hundreds of dollars over
buying a new “tactical” combat rucksack. Yet there is more you can do yourself to upgrade the Alice pack. If
you’d like to ‘color code” the outside pockets simply use different colors of 550 cord on the pocket buckles.
Parachute cord is available in OD green, tan, sage and black. You still be tactical on the colors yet instantly
recognizable. Emergency and SAR members may choose bright colors such as orange, red or yellow. If you’re
unsure about cutting off your buckles you can leave them in place. Lacing the 550 cord is a bit more difficult
but it can be done. If the modification work out you can cut off the old buckles at a later time.

The “horizontal strap” will allow you to compress the load. This stabilizes the pack, lowers the energy
expended to carrying it and adds a place you can attach cases to the rucksack. This can be done in many ways
but the easiest is a 1 ½ inch wide nylon straps with a Fastex buckle. Feed this through the nylon web “keepers”
on each outside pocket. These are under the brass snaps on the pockets and are designed as a place for you to
slip your fingers to squeeze the snaps together. There are several ways to route the horizontal strap around the
frame and this will vary with your needs. I typicality wrap this strap around the outside of the frame and then
under the center vertical bar. This keeps the strap from slipping down. Some folks carry items such as a folding
ground pad or hydration system, in the space between the frame and their back. Routing the strap straight
across the frame will hold items into the frame and still allow air space between the pack and your back.
Another quick way to add this is with a GI “general purpose strap”. Route this as above but use a section of
bungee cord in between the straps snap hooks. Once you’ve adjusted the strap the bungee cord will allow a bit
of ‘give’ under load. When you retrieve items from the rucksack you can pull a bit of slack in the strap and
then the tension will return automatically.

Alice attaching clips are used on ammo and canteen pouches etc. These commonly come loose and more than
one solider has lost equipment because of it. The best thing you can do is buy a set of brand new replacement
Alice clips and throw away any that are damaged. Once you have determined exactly where you want the
pouch plastic cable ties will insure it stays there. The replacement “MALICE” clips are excellent.

To remove a pouch quickly, tie a short section of 550 cord to the loops on the top of the Alice attaching clips.
When you need to remove this pouch simply pull up on the cord and both clips will open. You can then lift the
pouch free. Expensive tactical packs often have a sleeping bag compartment sewn into the bottom. You can
add this to your rucksack by using a GI issue NBC bag. This was intended to carry Nuclear Biological
Chemical (NBC) warfare protective clothing on the back of web gear. It consists of a small woodland
camouflage duffle bag that opens on one end. It has ALICE clips, attaching points for carry on the web gear, 2
compression straps and a Velcro closer. Attach the NBC bag to the bottom of your pack with the Alice clips.
There are 2 webbing tabs sewn to the bottom of the pack. Connect the Alice clips to these. You may need to
angle them, but it will attach. Next add 2 sleeping bag straps. Route these through the same webbing as the
clips and then around the frame Sleeping bag straps often work loose, shift around and can be difficult to get
to. To remedy this tie each straps buckle to the packs lower outside buckle. Use a section of 550 cord and run it
through the webbing that one outside buckle was sewn into. Then place a sleeping bag strap buckle on the “in
 board” side and continue running the 550 cord through its webbing. Tie a square knot and fuse the ends
together. I leave the NBC bag attached to the packs at all times. The weight is minimal and I have the
capability to carry extra gear securely and at moments notice. To access the sleeping bag lay the pack down
and open the NBC bag for the end. To stow the bag open the end and stuff it in as you would any civilian stuff
bag.

Carry handles are convenient when moving the pack from trucks or storage. A 550 cord handle also assures
that you have extra cord for emergencies. This can be made simply from a length of 550 cord tied to the top of
the frame. If you’re using the Alice medium without the frame you can tie it to the metal loops where the
shoulder straps connect or the top of the shoulder strap webbing. If you use a contrasting color the handle will
stand out and identify your pack. The handles may be simple or fancy macramé type affairs.

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Horizontal strap
Parachute cord is looped around top
compresses load and is a
of Alice frame providing a
handy place for additional
handle and keeps a supply on hand
equipment like this
for emergencies
‘90MPH’ tape

Civilian or foreign surplus pouches can often be adapted to Alice. You’ll need a short length of webbing that
fits snugly in the belt loop with a slider buckle sewn on. A section cut from a GI Nylon general purpose strap
works well for this. Feed the end of the webbing through the slider buckle. Adjust the length so that about 3/8”
extends from either end of the belt loop. Add Alice clips or other attaching method on both of these ends and
attach to your pack. Ports for hydration systems and antennas can be added with a sewing machine capable of
making large button holes. Make these a little oversized to allow these items to flex. A grommet can be placed
in a pack and used the same way. I suggest plastic or solid brass for rust resistance and paint in subdued colors
of needed. Replace the packs draw cord keeper with a cord lock. This is as easy as untying a knot and slinging
the new lock in place. Tie a knot at the end on the cord and then another 2 inches further up. This forms “tag”
that you’ll use to pull on. In cold weather this makes closing the bag simple.