Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment known to many as MOLLE was NATO's massive effort to move away from ALICE gear and other primitive load bearing equipment for good, which had been worn on soldiers since vietnam. While certainly a great system, ALICE and others fell short as soon as load bearing equipment needed to accommodate newer, lighter body armor systems that were now more commonly issued than ever. Their first try, MOLLE I, was new, modular, and leaps and bounds ahead of ALICE, but not quite good enough. Pack frames were too fragile, zippers would pop open, and were generally uncomfortable. Enter MOLLE II.
This pack is the core of the entire MOLLE system, comprising of an external frame pack directly in competition with ALICE. And Compete it does — while many purists enjoy the ALICE's caveman-tier simplicity and durability, these are nothing to sneeze about.
The frame is a fracture resistant polymer designed to handle heavy loads and distribute them correctly on many different body types. The shoulder harness is height adjustable on the frame to accommodate different torso lengths, and the waist belt can accommodate nearly any abdomen. Both feature ample padding to make carrying heavy loads a much more pleasant experience than a non-framed pack of similar size. The shoulder harness also features quick-release buckles that can quickly doff the pack (once the sternum strap and hip belt are unbuckled) in emergencies. Simply unsnap the fastener on the end of the shoulder strap and pull up.
The main bag is a 65 Liter behemoth, with an internal divider between the upper and lower half for separating a sleep system or otherwise organizing loads. the lower portion can be accessed quickly by a zipper on the bottom. PALS webbing covers nearly its entire exterior, and it even includes ALICE webbing for compatibility with older pouches such as the Canteen pouch. The top flap has a hook and loop closed mesh pocket for storage of a rain cover or other small items.
The pack is also designed to be compatible with hydration packs, which can be found here (UCP) and here (OCP) on our site.
Specs
- Made in the USA by Specialty Defense
- Comes fully assembled
- 3730 Cubic Inch (60 Liter) total capacity — 2900 cubic inch main compartment, 830 cubic inch lower compartment
- Internal "shelf" can be removed to make into one large compartment
- Designed to carry up to 120 lbs
- PALS webbing on front and sides, ALICE legacy webbing on sides for attaching ALICE canteen pouches (clips not included)
- Lightweight fracture-resistant polymer frame with fully adjustable padded shoulder & hip belt straps
- Zippered sleep system access to lower partition
- Vertical compression straps
- Cinch-shut top opening with water-resistant collar, also with cinch-shut.
- Buckle-closed lid with hook and loop mesh pocket
- Works in conjunction with body armor, plate carriers, and the MOLLE II Camelbak Hydramax hydration carrier (UCP) (OCP)
Condition Guide
Excellent:
Packs are free from blems, stains, rips, tears, or holes. OCP pattern remains vibrant, and all hardware is intact and entirely functional.
Good:
Packs may have minor blems or stains but remain free from rips, tears, or holes. OCP pattern may be worn. May potentially be missing connection buckle from top of frame to top of shoulder straps, but the pack is comfortable and ready for use regardless.
