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9/12/2026 11:19:38 PM EDT
So I'm in a small gear sewing group with some small cottage industry gear sewing guys over in Australia.  It's interesting talking to them about gear and such.  This is a picture of the issued pack frame (it's ALICE compatible):





Look at that monstrosity.  The aussie guys say that the frames *always* break. Basically everyone replaces it with anything else they can get.

I just thought this was interesting.  And we complain about the plastic frames we issue - those DEI frames are the most popular upgrade for the troops in Australia.
9/13/2026 9:13:45 PM EDT
[#1]
It does look fragile.

To be adjustable, it has to have extra material, so.......extra weight and still fragile?

It does not inspire confidence by it's looks.
9/13/2026 9:33:45 PM EDT
[#2]
DEI frames break, and they're built with way more material than those. I'm not surprised in the slightest that those ramen noodle-looking frames are fragile.
Don't forget about the Trail of Beers Happy Hour!
9/13/2026 9:35:52 PM EDT
[#3]
Doesn’t Platatac sale a lightweight ALICE frame?
9/13/2026 11:04:12 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Mountaineer82:
Doesn’t Platatac sale a lightweight ALICE frame?
View Quote



They sell the DEI 1606, the PALICE, and stock US ALICE pack frames.

The frame everyone there wants is the Tactical Tailor MALICE frame - but they are like $600 in australian dollars there.  The stock US ALICE frames are $300 or so in Australian dollars.

There's a new startup down there that is selling welded aluminum tube frames, similarish to the MALICE frames, that is selling alot of frames down there, as fast as he can make them.  (It also helps that he has 6 sizes of frames, taller and shorter than the stock ALICE frame)  

I'm selling the frames here in the US for him, I've got a handful of them he sent me to play around with and sell to people to get some in American hands, they're pretty nice.  The sizing is a little different than American ALICE frames - they are SLIGHTLY wider - they won't fit in US surplus MEDIUM ALICE packs (including the ones I made) - but they do fit Large ALICE packs and all the modern ALICE versions that they've been tried in.  So they're kinda unique in the ALICE frame world.  But those are the best option for Australians now, as they are $200 Australian, which makes them competitive with the DEI and PALICE frames, and significantly cheaper than any of the other metal frames.  Thus why he can't keep them in stock - just look at the issued frame.  They say that literally EVERY frame breaks.  It's so bad that the instructors at all the schools are required to use the issued frames, period, to inspire confidence in the issue gear to the troops.  Even if the regular troops visiting the school are using aftermarket frames.

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