Loading Your ALICE Pack Properly

The ALICE pack is one of those vintage military items that just won’t disappear, and remains popular with legions of outdoorsmen and preppers for its general utility and versatility. 

But did you know that there is a “right” way to load an ALICE pack, especially if you’re going to be on the trail or in camp for a few days, that might differ from how you pack it for daily use, or just for storing in the trunk? 

Follow this guide and see if it helps you. 

The Sequence 

The long and short of the idea here is you want to load your ALICE pack in the opposite order of importance, and with the heaviest items first, so that they will be at the bottom of the pack, as like most other large backpacks, ALICE packs have one large, main central compartment. 

So, the first things you should load into your ALICE pack are heavy items and non-essentials like sleeping gear, that you won’t even need to get out in a hurry. This includes sleeping bags and pads, as well as spare clothes and, if you carry them, spare shoes. Packing spare shoes or boots at the bottom of your pack will also help keep any mud on them off your other gear. Make sure to separate your boots and sleeping gear if you do so. 

A special note for your sleeping pad or bag is that if you like, you may want to lash it (or them) to the bottom of the pack rather than in the pack so that they take up less room and can be moved as needed to balance the load. The same goes for your tent; if you are carrying one, lash it to the bottom (or top) of your pack in its sleeve. 

Other large, heavy, or bulky items should also be loaded into your ALICE pack first so they sit at the bottom of the pack. This includes but is not limited to any cooking equipment you are carrying, firestarting essentials or a mess kit, and other such items. 

The reason these go at the bottom of your pack is that your retrieval of them should be regimented if not scheduled. There’s not really any occasion in which you would need to get out your cooking gear or sleeping gear in a hurry. 

Once you’ve filled the base of the ALICE pack, you can move onto the middle section, where you’ll pack the majority of your gear.

This section is where you’ll want to pack other fairly heavy and bulky items that you (generally) won’t need to access at a moment’s notice. This includes but is not limited to dry foods (such as what you’d eat on the trail), spare water, and other camp gear. Any tools you’re carrying (besides your belt knife) should go in the middle of the pack. 

The top of the ALICE pack is where you’ll load your lightest items, as well as the ones you might access to at a moment’s notice. Some of the items you might want to carry at the top of your pack include:

• Rain gear (that you might need access to in a second)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen, lip balm, bug spray, bear spray 
• A lighter water bottle 
• Your orienteering equipment (map, compass, etc.) 
• First aid essentials 
• Any toiletries you’re carrying 
• A flashlight
• Your ID and other essentials 

Alternatively, if you don’t want to pack these at the top of the pack, you can use any accessory pockets on the ALICE pack which will keep these even more accessible. 

The bottom line is that these essentials are lightweight, as a general rule take up minimal room, and might be needed at a moment’s notice, so they must be within easy reach whether you pack them at the top or in the accessory pockets. 

Is a MOLLE Backpack Better for You? 

While ALICE packs have been a staple for decades and will work for many, they lack the versatility and expandability of MOLLE backpacks equipped with MOLLE accessories that can be added or removed at will.

If you need a modular pack solution that enables you to easily add or remove dump pouches, holsters, or other MOLLE-compatible gear, then a MOLLE backpack might be a better option for you. 

Regardless, all other notes for how to properly load the pack remain the same for a MOLLE backpack, vintage duffle bag, or any other pack as they do for an ALICE pack.

Shop MOLLE Backpacks, ALICE Packs, and Vintage Duffle Bags Here

Whether you’re gearing up for a day hike or will be on the trail or in camp for an extended period, we have the gear you need to get through. Explore our catalog of outdoor essentials for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and more and get in touch with us if you have any questions about what we sell.