Review: Turkish Alice Pack Medium

"Oldie but Goldie", that describes an ALICE Pack quite well. Introduced in the mid-70s and actually no longer issued, you often see these backpacks being used by various units. We want to take a closer look at a variant of this classic.

The ALICE Pack we are showing you is of Turkish manufacture and can often be found on eBay and in army surplus stores. It is similar to the original but different in detail. The straps and closures are the same.

The most noticeable difference are the two elongated side pockets with drawstrings. They measure approximately 29 x 7 x 7 cm and fit a thermos bottle well. In the US model, you would find webbing for ALICE clips here, which are the predecessors to MOLLE. Also, the woodland camouflage pattern has noticeably different colors. A more reddish brown and the beige is more sandy.

There is a thick padding sewn into the upper back area. This is supposed to increase comfort. At the same time, it is not sewn at the bottom. External stiffening frames can be inserted here.

Here we have inserted an original US ALICE Frame into the Turkish model. It fits like a glove. Pro tip: always use a frame with an ALICE pack if you value your spinal discs.

The interior compartment is unspectacular. A large compartment with a secured division towards the back. The main compartment has about 35 to 40 liters in total.

The label inside the backpack is in Turkish. In the end, it just says how to wash it and that it was produced in 1999, so still in the last millennium. The condition and especially the smell are always a gamble with used army backpacks, especially when buying online. Our specimen was in good condition material-wise, but the musty storage smell was not pleasant.

First, we soaked the backpack in a vinegar mixture and rinsed it well. Then treated it with textile freshener. It helped for two days, then the smell came back. So it was time for drastic measures. Into the washing machine, with plenty of hygiene detergent, and washed the backpack at 60°C. Quite a risky move. It worked well. Nothing broke, the color is still good, and the smell is gone.

In the image, you can see the difference between original M81 US Woodland and Turkish Woodland. We have a lot planned with this Turkish ALICE Pack. For years we have wanted to do a "HELLCAT Mod," and now is the time, so we are taking you on this journey.

CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the Medium ALICE Pack is a well-made backpack and the narrow side pockets make it even more practical than the original. The nylon material used, not Cordura, withstands stress well.

A medium ALICE Pack is still a solid backpack at its core. With a few modifications, its full potential can be realized. The main issues are the buckles and the carrying system, but these can be relatively easily fixed - more coming soon.

The Turkish ALICE Pack Medium is available at various army shops and on Ebay for between 25 and 40 euros.