New 24-Hour Gear-MOLLE Patrol Pack vs. MOLLE FLC

[GTCommando]

Greetings,
I'm planning on buying a set of GI issue MOLLE gear for my new 72 hr pack. I'm currently using this: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/PACK125-1.html as my 24 hr gear, which works very well, but in the event that it doesn't integrate well with my new pack, I'm planning on buying either this: http://www.armygear.net/ag/store/00156.html or something like this: http://www.armygear.net/ag/store/00189.html with a pouch layout TBD.

Both options have their pros and cons, but I'm leaning toward the patrol pack, since I'd still have access to my day gear while wearing my main pack. Any advice from those who've used this equipment? Any comments would be appreciated.

[RC007]

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/PACK125-1.html

This pack is the exact same as mine. I'm 99.9% sure. Scratch that 100%. I have used it as my 24 hr gear and everything u need will fit inside fine, but my walmart camelbak bladder has some trouble fitting in when the pack is full. I since have got an enhanced LBV off ebay for 20 bucks. Now most of my 24hr gear is inside my LBV and butt pack. All I carry inside now is my water bladder and a few extras. It's a quality pack and I would highly recommend it.

Here's the company that made it.
https://www.foxoutdoor.com/ItemDetails.aspx?cid=1&ccid=1&cscid=1

[GTCommando]

RC007,
Thanks for the input, but maybe I wasn't clear. I like the 24-hour pack I have now. Actually, I like it a lot. I'm just considering what I would replace it with if it doesn't integrate well with my new pack. I'm looking for advice from folks who have either used the MOLLE patrol pack or the MOLLE FLC, or a similar-type vest. If I go the vest route, I'm thinking about this one:
http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=19909&tabid=548&catid=754

Any input from those who have BTDT?

[Hawk200]

I have one of the packs as shown in the 0156 url, which is a MOLLE I pack. It does what it needs to.

If you're looking at the vests, I've used the FLC. It's pretty lightweight and comfortable, and you can wear just about any pack with it. MOLLE has the advantage of being able to change, and that's handy. I've got a few of them, use one for the Army, one for CAP.

If you look for the old camo patterns, 3 color desert being a good example, you can find some insanely cheap. The 3 color one I have I got for less than $15.

If you still want a pack, I would highly suggest looking into a MOLLE II pack. Carried one of those to work every day in the sandbox, and it's got room for plenty of things, a helmet fits well inside the main compartment (which tells you how much room there is). Had snacks, reading material, extra MRE, stuff like that everyday. It worked pretty well.

[GTCommando]

^Hawk200,
I'm actually going for the original MOLLE pack system with the sustainment pouches. That way in the winter I can carry my Army patrol bag in the sleep system carrier, but in summer I can ditch the extra weight and strap my bedroll to the outside. Call me a geek, but whenever I buy new gear I figure out the cubic capacity to make sure everything will fit.  It's worked out so far.

The problem is whenever I buy a pack with some extra room, I always end up using it, i.e. adding weight. I've just about kicked the habit, but I'm still tempted.

[Hawk200]

^Hawk200,
I'm actually going for the original MOLLE pack system with the sustainment pouches. That way in the winter I can carry my Army patrol bag in the sleep system carrier, but in summer I can ditch the extra weight and strap my bedroll to the outside. Call me a geek, but whenever I buy new gear I figure out the cubic capacity to make sure everything will fit.  It's worked out so far.

The problem is whenever I buy a pack with some extra room, I always end up using it, i.e. adding weight. I've just about kicked the habit, but I'm still tempted.

The 10th Mountain MOLLE ruck is essentially "MOLLE II" It's a complete ruck, not a separate ruck with a sleep carrier. Internally, you can use it as one big compartment, or you zip together a divider inside to separate the main compartment, and the sleep carrier compartment.

The 10th Mountain model also uses sustainment pouches on the side, so you don't lose that ability. On the Army side, I put all my toiletries, shower articles in it, unbutton it off the side of the ruck and take the whole pouch to the showers. My CAP ruck is arranged the same way. I found the basic ruck (basically just the main compartment) on eBay for about $75 in 3 color desert.

You can use your current sustainment pouches, frame, shoulder straps, and any MOLLE type pouches that you use with your current ruck. Even if your sustainment pouches, straps, etc are in woodland, so what? They don't all have to match to be useable. There's also the factor that the mix of colors will make yours stand out from everyone elses. I spent a lot of time, and probably more money than I should have finding and purchasing 3 color desert sustainment puches to match the ruck. It was a waste now that I think about it, I could have probably saved $30 if I have bought whatever the cheapest sustainment pouch available was.

I understand the "using the extra room" thereby adding weight(had a bad habit of doing that myself). That's where smart packing comes in. If you're carrying a ruck out on an actual sortie, you're doing it wrong. I still shake my head when I see some hardcore (or maybe "Hardkewl" might be more accurate) cadets or seniors carring a complete 72 hour pack out on sorties, and then complain about the weight.

Nowadays, I carry a loaded MOLLE II ruck with my assault pack buckled to the top out to mission base. The main pack gets cached at mission base, and I carry the MOLLE II assault pack with 24 gear. Used to carry a MOLLE I pack, and then one of the sustainment pouches, but don't need to with the larger MOLLE II model. I get out of a van, I have that pack on. 24 hour gear isn't that heavy, it seems that many people leave it in the van more because of the inconvenience. When I'm riding, that pack is in my lap, it doesn't take much to sling it on when I stepout.

I've been thinking about trying to find a place that makes a pack very similar to the MOLLE II assault pack in orange that includes a water bladder. The vest doesn't fit over it very practically, but I figure an orange pack would offset that where it covers my vest.

MOLLE II is a good system. Use it the way you need it, don't worry about how someone might think it's "supposed to be."

[phillybiker]

 The MOLLE system 200 is talking about can be purchaced at this store.
http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/StoreFront.bok
http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/StoreFront.bok
They are outstanding packs and hold up well. The three color desert stuff is high quality and sold cheaper because the color is not as popular. We bought sevral of these packs to loan out for HMRS. They came to us from this store band new in the plastic wrap and were only $45.00 each with sustainment pouches.

[phillybiker]

 Also for what its worth, the one option you have listed is a assult pack for a CFP 90. not a comfortable pack.http://www.armygear.net/ag/store/00156.html
You would be better off with the pack you already have. I have that pack also and LOVE it. I'm a gear junkie and always looking for better systems, but the 24 hour pack that I have from Condor is hard to beat, when you factor in cost. http://www.eflightdeck.com/OPSDeck/PACKS/PROD%20-%20CD%20126%20Med%20Mod%20AP.htm

[Turbine 33]

I have to agree with Phillybiker. The CFP-90 day pack is not comfortable and not very well designed. I have one and I too am a gear junky. It is good for throwing things in for a short day hike away from base however I tried hauling it around on various activities for a while and it flat out didn't get the job done.
Essentially its a square sack with shoulder straps on it. The designers more intended it to snap onto the CFP-90 as a component than they did for it to be carried as an independent bag.

Now the FLC is a great idea. I use one, I have two in fact. The down side to the FLC is that you need all the extra pouches. Any pouch from Specialty Defense, Eagle or Michael Bianco(which is now owned by Eagle) will be your best bets. They are DoD contractors and build quality stuff. There are others out there like Tactical Tailor and Paraclete but they are going to be more expensive.
I run my FLC with two large general purpose pouches up front with a few smaller GP pouches on the chest. Two canteen pouches out back as well as a large Butt Pack and several other GP's on the waist. It works well for me.

I have seen this in another thread and want one bad! Scroll half way down the page.
http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=10134.20

[ka8yiu]

Just FYI, Specialty Defense also makes a Super FLC, which has some improvements over the GI issue FLC. And, unless you buy a used or auctioned one (eBay) it is cheaper than the standard FLC.

Just in case anyone is leaning toward the FLC vest.

https://www.entrygear.com/list.asp?listtype=cat&cat=127&mfg=30