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Originally Posted By cap6888: I use a small screw driver and heat the head with a mini torch. Push that through the fabric. Small, heat sealed hole. One of these days I’ll make a jig for doing it. Not sure how many you need, but I have a bunch of you want a couple. PM me if so. Yup. Heating a screw driver head (that you sized right) like that would work. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I use a small screw driver and heat the head with a mini torch. Push that through the fabric. Small, heat sealed hole. One of these days I’ll make a jig for doing it. Not sure how many you need, but I have a bunch of you want a couple. PM me if so. I appreciate the offer, but I already ordered some from MSM. I'm glad to know there is a plan B with webbing if I queer plan A. |
I love a good double entendre.
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Originally Posted By trails-end: I appreciate the offer, but I already ordered some from MSM. I'm glad to know there is a plan B with webbing if I queer plan A. Be careful you don’t mess up the orientation of the holes you cut for the female buckle. That being said, Marnsdorff’s suggestion of attaching the buckle to a piece of webbing and sewing the webbing on may, or may not, be a good way to cover up misoriented holes. Or so I would guess. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: Be careful you don’t mess up the orientation of the holes you cut for the female buckle. That being said, Marnsdorff’s suggestion of attaching the buckle to a piece of webbing and sewing the webbing on may, or may not, be a good way to cover up misoriented holes. Or so I would guess. It also makes them replaceable if one of them breaks. If they are attached directly to the fabric, there's a good chance it will mess up the fabric and not be replaceable later on. It's far easier to pop the seams and sew on a new piece of webbing. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I use a small screw driver and heat the head with a mini torch. Push that through the fabric. Small, heat sealed hole. One of these days I’ll make a jig for doing it. Not sure how many you need, but I have a bunch of you want a couple. PM me if so. I use a couple of HF soldering irons, one with a tip ground to a gentle point (think small spud wrench) for making round holes and one with a generic x-acto handle turned down to mount where the soldering tip goes so that I can put any blade in. I also own a "real" purpose designed hot knife, but its more of a pain to unpack and turn on, so 99% of what I do gets the Hazard Fraught soldering irons.. 
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You got gun law problems, I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems but a ban ain't one. -Sylvan
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Had it out a few times, the pack is absolutely solid. For me its finding that use case that is going to work best for this pack size. I recently switched out the dust aspirations to tactical tailor.   The real mvp is the decade and a half old hundred mile an hour tape. 
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Originally Posted By AbleArcher: Had it out a few times, the pack is absolutely solid. For me its finding that use case that is going to work best for this pack size. Originally Posted By AbleArcher: Had it out a few times, the pack is absolutely solid. For me its finding that use case that is going to work best for this pack size. Patrol pack. Also, adding a sleep system carrier under it will make the pack more versatile. Originally Posted By AbleArcher: I recently switched out the dust aspirations to tactical tailor. Which are you liking better? I've got a set of Platatac straps and belt (that are an exact copy of older TT straps) on my TT frame. I'm thinking about getting a set of the TT adjustable straps and that belt you have there to try out with my frontier resolve frame. Playing around to see what I really want to use. Also, Dust Aspirations has an add-on mod to their straps to add load lifters to them coming out soon(ish). They will be cheap. Edit: what's the pouch set into the TT frame? |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: what's the pouch set into the TT frame? If it's the same as mine: Raptor Tactical Ranger KALICE. Mine is a Mk1, before they added rain cover. ETA: Actually I'm fairly certain it is a KALICE now since I believe that's a Raptor 2qt canteen pouch on the MALICE. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Patrol pack. Also, adding a sleep system carrier under it will make the pack more versatile. Which are you liking better? I've got a set of Platatac straps and belt (that are an exact copy of older TT straps) on my TT frame. I'm thinking about getting a set of the TT adjustable straps and that belt you have there to try out with my frontier resolve frame. Playing around to see what I really want to use. Also, Dust Aspirations has an add-on mod to their straps to add load lifters to them coming out soon(ish). They will be cheap. Edit: what's the pouch set into the TT frame? For my uses its a little large for a patrol pack and a little light to run multi-day patrol base operations. I dont have a sleep system carrier that will interface with it so I just mounted a waist pack with poncho and poncho liner in it. The dust aspirations are great. There is a lot of rucking in my near future so we will find out the durability. But as it sits right now they are the most comfortable system I have used. The pouch was identified above. |
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Originally Posted By AbleArcher: For my uses its a little large for a patrol pack and a little light to run multi-day patrol base operations. I dont have a sleep system carrier that will interface with it so I just mounted a waist pack with poncho and poncho liner in it. The dust aspirations are great. There is a lot of rucking in my near future so we will find out the durability. But as it sits right now they are the most comfortable system I have used. The pouch was identified above. Probably my next project after I get caught up is to do that sleep carrier system that's designed to interface with these packs. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: Be careful you don’t mess up the orientation of the holes you cut for the female buckle. That being said, Marnsdorff’s suggestion of attaching the buckle to a piece of webbing and sewing the webbing on may, or may not, be a good way to cover up misoriented holes. Or so I would guess. Originally Posted By cap6888: Originally Posted By trails-end: I appreciate the offer, but I already ordered some from MSM. I'm glad to know there is a plan B with webbing if I queer plan A. Be careful you don’t mess up the orientation of the holes you cut for the female buckle. That being said, Marnsdorff’s suggestion of attaching the buckle to a piece of webbing and sewing the webbing on may, or may not, be a good way to cover up misoriented holes. Or so I would guess. I can't get the tensioning correct on my old Singer and I have not sewing skills anyway. I'll send it to one of you professionals for the webbing trick if I screw up the direct attachment. |
I love a good double entendre.
Looks like a follow up from the Frontier Resolve frame video on page 24…… Tactical Tailor Malice Pack Repaired. The Frontier Resolve Fortitude Frame Disaster is Over. Biggest takeaway is that Tactical Tailor customer service seems to be exactly as they advertise, outstanding. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: Looks like a follow up from the Frontier Resolve frame video on page 24……  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ReYscpTQsBiggest takeaway is that Tactical Tailor customer service seems to be exactly as they advertise, outstanding. Oh yea, Tactical Tailor is GTG. Not only one of the OG's in the industry, but they are a good company overall. They make great products and treat people right. They treated me really well when I was a dealer with them a couple decades ago, even though I was a tiny operation. One of their head guys posts on here occasionally too. You won't go wrong with them. There's a reason their stuff is popular. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: I was surprised to see that we went with no attachment options on the bottom. I figured some loops or something... I thought about doing MOLLE down there, but webbing adds up with weight. And NONE of the attachments systems I've ever used have worked well holding stuff under a pack without it moving around a bunch. (the closest thing was a set of cinch down straps) And since these go on a frame, and all the frames I've seen have places to attach webbing to on the bottom - the best solution for adding something to the bottom is a compression panel or even a set of straps, attached to the frame. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: I thought about doing MOLLE down there, but webbing adds up with weight. And NONE of the attachments systems I've ever used have worked well holding stuff under a pack without it moving around a bunch. (the closest thing was a set of cinch down straps) And since these go on a frame, and all the frames I've seen have places to attach webbing to on the bottom - the best solution for adding something to the bottom is a compression panel or even a set of straps, attached to the frame. I get it. I would say for future iterations you should at least think about having a couple loops under there for 1" webbing for slinging stuff under there. |
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Got in and added the Raptor Tactical pouch to my TT frame. Frame is a work in progress for a large ALICE setup. Right now I have the Fireforce Large Alice pack on there. Eventually going to put one I make for myself on there. Thanks for making me spend more money on pack stuff guys. 
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Got in and added the Raptor Tactical pouch to my TT frame. Frame is a work in progress for a large ALICE setup. Right now I have the Fireforce Large Alice pack on there. Eventually going to put one I make for myself on there. Thanks for making me spend more money on pack stuff guys. https://i.ibb.co/xqLKX0Zr/signal-2026-03-19-001938-002.jpg I mean... you could have made one. |
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Safe bet that those are Platatac shoulder straps and waist belt? |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: Safe bet that those are Platatac shoulder straps and waist belt? Yup! OG Platatac shoulder straps and belt. I like weird camo patterns, and this older Aussie camo is cool, you rarely see it outside of Australia. And these look like almost exact copies of the Tactical Tailor straps and belt. Plus I got the set on clearance for like $40. Win win win. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: I mean... you could have made one. I could have - I almost did. However, the time it takes me to draw up a pattern and cut and sew a one-off product, it's going to be worth it for me to buy from another company alot of the time. Especially since this is their older pattern pouches and was only $40something. It'd take me more than 2 hours to make one. That'd make it worth me buying from them. I try to only make stuff for myself that is going to cost a bunch of money, or something I'm going to make a bunch of for myself, or something no one else makes, or something I'm going to sell as a regular product. IE, no one really made modernized medium ALICE packs, at least not almost exact copies. And I could buy a MALICE pack, but those are over $500 - with months long wait period - after paying tax and shipping, so it's worth it to me to make one for myself. I make belt kit for myself because it's something specific I want that no one else makes. etc. But for a one-of product, that's well made, and made in the US like this pouch? Naw, I'll throw some money at Raptor Tactical. I don't mind supporting other US made gear companies. It's different making stuff for yourself when you do that for a business. IE, making your own pack like one of the guys on here has been doing is worth it - he isn't sewing for a business. IE, it's strictly a hobby on the side. But my sewing time is worth money, as I am always behind on keeping up with demand. So every hour I sit down to do sewing stuff for myself is like me spending money. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Yup! OG Platatac shoulder straps and belt. I like weird camo patterns, and this older Aussie camo is cool, you rarely see it outside of Australia. And these look like almost exact copies of the Tactical Tailor straps and belt. Plus I got the set on clearance for like $40. Win win win. I wish I traded with some Aussies for some of their desert pattern “jelly bean” camo. Or even just bought some later on down the road. I think both the desert and regular patterns are awesome. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I wish I traded with some Aussies for some of their desert pattern “jelly bean” camo. Or even just bought some later on down the road. I think both the desert and regular patterns are awesome. Yea, their old stuff is cool. It's one of the reasons I jumped all over this set. I like their version of 'multicam' better than ours too. It's a touch more green in tone. But not full on Multicam Tropic. I am a bit of a camo horder. It's one of my hobbies - collecting various camo patterns, even if it's only a swatch of fabric. And since I don't mind mixing and matching camo patterns on gear (as long as they work together ya know), my main set of gear has well over a dozen camo patterns in the mix. (which isn't hard to do, especially with all the variations of multicam out there - for instance, my boonie cap is Slovenian Multicam. And my love for ATACS, which goes well with multicam too) I picked the right industry to be in, with my love of various kinds of camo patterns. |
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Australian company coming out with a decent looking alice frame - that comes in 3 x different heights. https://www.instagram.com/p/DV3O6W1kkw9/ |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Australian company coming out with a decent looking alice frame - that comes in 3 x different heights. https://www.instagram.com/p/DV3O6W1kkw9/ As I mentioned on IG: you source it and I'll buy it, fo sho. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: As I mentioned on IG: you source it and I'll buy it, fo sho. Rumor has it that a certain someone has the US distribution for these now.... There is going to be a very small batch of them coming into the states here soon for me to play with and possibly sell a few. They are also making a few other sizes, including a TALLER than ALICE size ALICE frame. But right now they can't keep up with demand from the military guys in Australia, they are selling faster than they can make them. I might end up manufacturing straps and belts for them too, to sell over here. They can't find an Australian sewing shop that's got capacity and they have some straps and belt designs they are working on. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Rumor has it that a certain someone has the US distribution for these now.... There is going to be a very small batch of them coming into the states here soon for me to play with and possibly sell a few. They are also making a few other sizes, including a TALLER than ALICE size ALICE frame. But right now they can't keep up with demand from the military guys in Australia, they are selling faster than they can make them. I might end up manufacturing straps and belts for them too, to sell over here. They can't find an Australian sewing shop that's got capacity and they have some straps and belt designs they are working on. Alright, maybe I'll just have a MALICE frame cut down. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: What size do you want? I'll make sure an extra one is in the shipment for you. Like I said on IG, I think I'm def down for a M, but the S is intriguing. I don't know what will work best, but the small seems like it'd be overkill for me. Wearing a std ALICE with belt kit seems ALMOST proper, the frame just needs to be a touch shorter. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Like I said on IG, I think I'm def down for a M, but the S is intriguing. I don't know what will work best, but the small seems like it'd be overkill for me. Wearing a std ALICE with belt kit seems ALMOST proper, the frame just needs to be a touch shorter. Yea my thoughts too. |
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I have some more time with mine, and here's the feedback so far: Having the external pouches be upside down would be a great option. If you add additional pouches, the can block access to the ones below them. If you're out for more than 4 days, an external sleep system carrier is almost necessary. In addition to that, a bottom zipper would be handy as well to access sleep systems. The pack carried very well. I had it stuffed to the gills with a battery bank, food, water, hammock, etc all in the main compartment. It held up very well, loaded up to around 60-65 lbs. I would like to get a new frame, pretty sure mine is bent as the metal loops are riding on my hips The pack itself could sit lower. Compared to my usgi medium Alice, it does sit a bit higher on the frame. That can be a bit troublesome when loaded heavy, it'll get tall. |
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A possible cheap pouch for the top row of PALS on your Marns Medium: https://otsurplus.com/products/dutch-dpm-pattern-pouch-with-molle-pals-attachments |
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Originally Posted By _rory_: I have some more time with mine, and here's the feedback so far: Having the external pouches be upside down would be a great option. If you add additional pouches, the can block access to the ones below them. If you're out for more than 4 days, an external sleep system carrier is almost necessary. In addition to that, a bottom zipper would be handy as well to access sleep systems. The pack carried very well. I had it stuffed to the gills with a battery bank, food, water, hammock, etc all in the main compartment. It held up very well, loaded up to around 60-65 lbs. I would like to get a new frame, pretty sure mine is bent as the metal loops are riding on my hips The pack itself could sit lower. Compared to my usgi medium Alice, it does sit a bit higher on the frame. That can be a bit troublesome when loaded heavy, it'll get tall. Yea, I've seen a large ALICE version that had the bottom set of external pockets upside down for that reason. I can see that being a thing, especially if you have sewn on upper pockets. I thought about trying that on one of the next run I do, when I do sewn on pockets. Agreed on the sleep carrier. The medium ALICE is really a 3 day patrol pack, not a full sized ruck. This is why I planned on doing a sleep carrier for it the whole time, to be able to extend the time out with it and make it more versatile. If you're patient, I have some welded metal frames coming from Australia that are similarish to the TT ones that will be cheaper if you want to try one. Does it ACTUALLY ride taller on the frame, or is it because of the rain skirt and the main pack cinch cord being ABOVE the rim of the pack instead of below it? Allowing you to stuff it fuller and taller. The location of the frame sleeve is the same height as the USGI medium ALICE I used as the base model. I didn't measure above there, there might be a little extra height from the zipper, but I don't think so. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: A possible cheap pouch for the top row of PALS on your Marns Medium: https://otsurplus.com/products/dutch-dpm-pattern-pouch-with-molle-pals-attachments Another decent option would be the FILBE Assault Pouch. https://www.ebay.com/itm/286103300708 And there are some super cheap USAF horizontal utility pouches too that would work great. (the USAF pattern dyes really really well, even better than the ACU stuff. It keeps it camo pattern very very well under dye) https://www.ebay.com/itm/366027290188 That One Thief Surplus site you posted, btw...there are some pretty good deals on ACU ponchos and woobies on there. And ACU rain / softshell layers too. (ACU works pretty good for winter camo if you are on a budget. And $24 softshell pants and $22 rain pants, etc. is a pretty good budget price) |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Another decent option would be the FILBE Assault Pouch. https://www.ebay.com/itm/286103300708 And there are some super cheap USAF horizontal utility pouches too that would work great. (the USAF pattern dyes really really well, even better than the ACU stuff. It keeps it camo pattern very very well under dye) https://www.ebay.com/itm/366027290188 That One Thief Surplus site you posted, btw...there are some pretty good deals on ACU ponchos and woobies on there. And ACU rain / softshell layers too. (ACU works pretty good for winter camo if you are on a budget. And $24 softshell pants and $22 rain pants, etc. is a pretty good budget price) Don't you feel the assault pouch is a bit too tall for use there? Yes, after years of hating on UCP, I have started acquiring ECWCS layers in it. I am especially fond of the levels 4 and 5 tops. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Don't you feel the assault pouch is a bit too tall for use there? Yes, after years of hating on UCP, I have started acquiring ECWCS layers in it. I am especially fond of the levels 4 and 5 tops. Ehhhhh. Beggers can't be choosers when you are on a budget (assault pouch) And yea. Can't beat the price on it. And those are good layers (4 and 5) |
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So these ALICE pack frames, the ones that are various heights, referenced above.... https://www.instagram.com/p/DV3O6W1kkw9/ I've got the distributorship for them for the US, and I've got a few of them going to be sent over here soon as a test run. I'm getting a couple for myself for R&D purposes, and will be selling the others. I'm not sure how many, it will only be a few, maybe a half dozen or so. If anyone is interested in one, let me know which size you are wanting and I'll make sure it's in the order. Here is their webpage. Prices are in AUD. US prices should be less than the TT Malice frame. We haven't worked out final costs with shipping and tariffs yet. https://www.westerndynamics.com.au/ |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Eureka Molding will be releasing the PALICE frame in different sizes, and a body armor sponson accessory. Anyone ever used one of the PALICE frames? Legitimately curious, I've never heard a 1st hand review of them. I was actually talking to the guy who makes the Australian frames about the new PALICE frames last night. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Anyone ever used one of the PALICE frames? Legitimately curious, I've never heard a 1st hand review of them. I was actually talking to the guy who makes the Australian frames about the new PALICE frames last night. I have a PALICE. Not enough time playing with it yet to say one way or another, but also doubt I'll do much testing near its threshold, either. My knees and back are likely rated under it 
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It's sorta funny, but, after it's all said and done. I prefer an external frame for legit heavy military loads. But I prefer an internal frame for lighter/civvie shit. I would define a military load at 35+ lbs, into the 50 lb area. I would define a civvie load between 20-35 lbs. Continuing, I prefer a ploymer frame for loads up to about 45 lbs, and a metal frame for 45 lbs+. So optimizing this stuff depends a whole lot on what you're up to. An example from my mis-spent youth. On Okinawa, we would be dropped off in the NTA and play outside for a work week, Mom-Fri. After setting up base camp, we would clover leaf the surrounding terrain. So typically, you would insert/infil in with a Med. ALICE, and belt kit. But daily patrols were done with belt kit for 24-hr load out. The only time you had your ruck was to re-locate to another base camp and repeat the pattern. Here you had the advantage of having cases of c-rats, and water cans thrown out after you, so you didn't have to hump all that shit in. Medivac on-call if someone actually got hurt. We e-vac'd a snake bite once cuz we couldn't find the snake. But anyways, you had enough supplies to last all week. This might be a close example to what a civilian self-defense group might look like. Just swap out the helo for a 4-runner. In this case, you would need a Med-sized ALICE, at least 5 qts of water, jungle sleep system, jungle shirt, extra socks, no underwear, and another poncho for overhead cover. C-rats carried in a spare sock. Nothing too fancy. Belt kit was 6 mags, 2 waters, 1st aid kit, and jungle knife (bolo). All up I'd say 45 lbs or so. These days we have freeze-dried rats. I can get about 6 meals out of a #10-sized can, re-packaged in 1 cup meals. On actual missions, whatever they may be, you of course have lots of extra shit to add. Whether it be reconnaissance or whatever. We would typically split all this shit up; the radio (PRC-77) and batts, cameras, sketch kits, etc. I see a lot of good ideas here and that should make you realize there's all sorts of ways to skin that cat. I did some of my best work in for-shit ALICE gear. What I wouldn't have given for the load out I have now. Only to say it's the Indian, not the arrow. Having said that, you should always try and improve your position. And this includes load-bearing equipment. Buy the best you can afford, whatever that may be. I have had lots of fun optimizing gear the last 40+ years. Good to see others carrying on with the fight. |
| My current project is coming up with a pattern for a set of pack straps and belt. Dabbling with ideas. A couple of you guys who got packs from me wanted custom matching straps and belts and that prodded me into playing around with this. So let's see if I come up with anything interesting. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: My first attempt at a set of pack strap. https://i.ibb.co/6771K7mG/signal-2026-09-01-16-57-46-554-002.jpg Giggity |
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