Alice Pack vs. Hiking Pack: What are the main differences? If you are looking for the difference between the two, this article is for you. So let’s read to explore right now!
Top Rated Best Budget Alice Pack for the money
Top Rated Best Budget Hiking Pack for the money
Alice Pack vs. Hiking Pack: Comparison Table
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Alice Pack vs. Hiking Pack: Overview
Hiking Pack
A hiking pack is the critical piece of gear for day hiking. It holds 11 to 20 liters of gear and is about proper for simple, short hikes, while some bigger ones are good for treks where more water, food, clothing, and gear are required.
Alice Pack
ALICE (All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) packs were made as part of the Lightweight Individual Clothing And Equipment (LINCLOE) program. The program was implemented beginning in 1965 to lighten soldiers’ carrying loads.
These Vietnam-War-era backpacks were replaced by the military with Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) backpacks and subsequently Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) packs.
Alice Pack vs. Hiking Pack: Head-To-Head Comparison
Color
One of the differences between hiking and Alice packs is their coloration.
Alice backpacks are typically found in several low-observable colors, such as olive drab green, dark gray, black, tan, and many innumerable camo patterns, from the overall purpose to the environment specific.
So Alice packs tend to be ideal for strategic operations, where soldiers don’t want to be discovered by hostile forces.
Hiking packs are the opposite of Alice packs in this category. They are available in any color you can think of. Popular options are high-visibility colors, making the carrier easier to detect from a distance.
Preferred colors for hiking packs are acid greens, yellows, and oranges. If you don’t favor these garish charcoal tones, you can choose blue, gray, or more subdued patterns and colors.
One of the most significant risks when hiking in the woods is getting lost. That is when more visible packs come in handy. It allows your mates or rescuers to find you easily.
It is possible to add a rainfly or detachable cover to any pack that can camouflage brightly-colored packs or makes camouflage packs far more visible, depending on your needs and preferences.
Expansion Capability
Regarding expansion capability, Alice’s backpacks are far more dominant. They allow you to extend for a variety of purposes easily.
It can be a great perk for people who prefer to add some purpose-specific pouches for some special items or for easy access.
But these packs are usually already sizable. So adding pouches may lead to unbalancing the load carried by these packs.
On the flip side, the hiking-specific pack rarely has more than a single field. These packs sometimes have specialty tie-downs and admin pouches for carrying tent poles, camera tripods, and other bulky stuff that cannot fit in their main compartment.
Besides, very few hiking packs utilize proprietary expansion systems that aren’t compatible with other backpacks.
Generally, if you opt for hiking backpacks, their layout is almost fixed, and it’s almost impossible to modify them too much from their stock configuration.
Durability
One of the biggest differences between an Alice pack and a hiking pack is its durability. The factor that leads to this difference is the use of more rugged and durable materials.
Alice packs are typically made from heavy-duty materials that can withstand abrasion, friction, and heat before failing.
Although heavy-duty materials bring to Alice packs a ruggedness that is hard to match, they will increase the weight of empty packs, increasing the overall load.
Compared to Alice backpacks, most hiking models are made from advanced yet paper-thin materials that have excellent strength for their thickness.
If made properly, it is unnecessary to worry about those thin materials blowing out.
However, you shouldn’t expect hiking packs to fulfill the harsh usage requirements in the military theater or battlefield.
In other words, tactical packs can withstand more outright abuse than equivalent hiking packs, but they do so at the cost of increased weight.
Alice Pack vs. Hiking Pack: Final Verdict
There are several differences between hiking and Alice backpacks.
Alice backpacks emphasize extreme ruggedness, a low profile, and the capability to expand through attachable pouches for various purposes.
The hiking backpack emphasizes high capacity, is low weight, and is available in various eye-catching colors, many of which are made for maximum observability at longer ranges.
Depending on your personal needs, one of the two can work best for you. You might also consider a hybrid backpack that is the perfect combination of the two, meaning they include the best elements of both Alice and hiking packs.
FAQs
Are Alice Packs Better Than Molle?
ALICE packs have the storage capacity you demand. Also, they are designed for handling all conditions, including severe conditions. However, they tend to be heavier than their MOLLE counterparts.
For campers, hikers, and truckers, the MOLLE packs will not weigh you down as much, so your trips can take you further!
Why is Alice Pack the Best?
ALICE backpacks have been made to facilitate the easy carrying of essential tools during combat. They are useful for hunting, accommodation, camping, and other outdoor activities that require the equipment.
So Alice packs are not only used by the military for tactical purposes, but citizens also favor these packs and use them for many outdoor activities.
Are Alice Packs Still Used?
Although Alice packs are no longer a standard in the military as MOLLE has superseded them, they are still in limited usage in the U.S. Army in National Guard, Navy, or Air Force ground units.
In addition, hikers and trekkers still love the Alice pack, which is very useful for outdoor activities.
They even possess pricey features that hiking packs don’t, such as great scalability and unparalleled durability.
Is an Alice Pack Good for Backpacking?
The short answer is yes and no. Alice packs have great features like scalability and durability.
However, they also have things to consider. For example, ALICE backpacks are usually heavier than most hiking packs, which are made with comfort and long-distance hiking in mind.
Also, ALICE backpacks are more cumbersome and bulkier to carry, and usually uncomfortable for extended wear.
What Are the Three Types of Pack in Hiking?
There are three kinds of hiking packs, including the internal frame, external frame, and frameless backpack.
How Big of a Backpack Do You Need for a 3-Day Hike?
A pack ranging from 35 to 50 liters is typically an ideal size for a three-day hike trip. The Volume will give you more than enough room to take along the essentials on the trail while not burdening you with extra bulk and weight.
Is a Hiking Backpack Worth It?
For all weekend trips, backpacking trips, or long day hikes, you will need a hiking pack since it will enable you to carry all essential gear and can distribute the backpack weight evenly.
How Heavy Should a Hiking Backpack Be?
A loaded day hiking backpack should not weigh more than approximately 10% of your total body weight. For example, if you weigh 100kg, your hiking backpack should not exceed 10kg for hiking.
On the other hand, one loaded backpacking pack shouldn’t weigh more than 20% of your total body weight.
For instance, if you weigh 80kg, your hiking backpack should not exceed 16kg.
Can I Use Any Bag for Hiking?
Any regular backpack can work well for day hikes. But if you go hiking often or want to carry many items, choose a hiking pack.
What Are Alice Packs Used For?
Previously, Alice was considered the standard for the US military. Nowadays, anyone can use it, including hikers and trekkers.
