The CFP-90 Patrol Pack

The CFP-90 Patrol Backpack is smaller pack of Combat Field Pack M-1990 (CFP-90) system. It designed, to carry ‘patrol’ load, for equipment. Mainly ammunition and at water. Basically just equipment for day long mission. While rugged, it pretty low load carrying capacity. Of extended missions, the CFP-90 patrol pack can attached to main pack, add their overall carry capacity, and providing easily detachable pack for critical equipment.

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The Old Reliable ALICE Backpack

One of the first modern, modern day military backpacks was developed in 1973. It was called the ALICE backpack, standing for All-purpose lightweight carrying equipment.  ALICE was developed for United States troops in Vietnam. The backpack was used from the 1970’s to the 1990’s until it was replaced by a newer model. The replacement bag called the MOLLE was then used more often than the ALICE military backpack, although some soldiers still preferred the older, reliable ALICE bag.

The ALICE backpack’s main purpose was to help our soldiers to carry less weight. Older backpacks that were used in WWI and WW2 were very heavy and the older materials retained water. They were terribly hard to carry when they got wet. Furthermore, they were made of steel which at times made them unbearable to carry. The ALICE backpack only weighed a light 3 pounds, and the material was also lightweight cotton. As an added bonus, the ALICE military backpacks were water resistant.

The ALICE bags were designed to be more convenient as well for the soldiers. At the hard times of war, it was very important to keep our soldiers as comfortable as possible. There was a wide mid section strap, and the shoulder straps were also wider than the older bags. This allowed the Vietnam soldiers to be able to patrol and march much more easily. For the convenience of the soldier, the bags came in 3 different sizes to fit everyone’s different needs. This allowed the soldiers to carry their ammunition, firearms, first aid kit, and a clothing change. This was the new perfect product to make the lives of our soldiers better.

The ALICE bag was enjoyed by all types of people. Soon it became the new trend for people who liked to hike, camp, or climb. If you were an adventurous person, the ALICE backpack was perfect for you. Even today, you can find these bags at many army surplus outlets. They are reasonably priced and still enjoyed today. Although there are many different bags you can purchase today comparable to the ALICE , some still prefer the old reliable ALICE Military backpack.

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Canvas Duffle Bags Are Great for Civilian Use Too

Canvas Duffle Bags are an Excellent Form of Canvas Luggage, for Contemporary Civilians too.

Of the many Bags & Backpacks available, the Canvas Duffle Bag is one of the most versatile types of canvas luggage around. They are made to last a long time, and have a high capacity. Canvas duffle bags have been standard military issue since World War II, and most members of the armed forces are permitted to take them home upon discharge.

Before that Barracks Bags were used by soldiers to carry their belongings around. These bags were made of a cotton canvas fabric, and had a drawstring to close the top. Most people today would look at a barracks bag, and think it was a just a laundry sack, this is what they are mainly used for, since the introduction of duffel bags.

Canvas duffle bags were a great refinement when introduced in 1943. They took on a more manageable tube shape, and the drawstring was replaced with a more reliable system. A series of flaps with metal grommets is pulled over a metal loop, and secured with a metal snap link, attached to a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is the most obvious improvement, and makes packing heavy loads much easier. A carrying handle is also a common addition, making it possible to carry the bag like a suitcase. And some duffel bags have a double harness making it a rather large back pack. And a more rugged cotton canvas fabric is also used.

The versatility, and high capacity of canvas duffle bags, has lead many manufactures to produce commercial copies. They have dressed up the standard olive-drab of the military, with brass hardware and leather trim, making them more appealing to contemporary civilians. And there are chemical treatments, such as the waxed canvas duffel, that make them lighter, more resistance to moisture, stains, and discoloration from sun light. In some cases the cotton canvas is being replaced with more advanced fabrics available with modern technology, like nylon. But, canvas duffel bags are still less expensive, and can be found in larger sizes. And still offer the same variety of colors and options.

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The Evolution of the Modern Military Backpack

Most people won’t ever think about it, but U.S. military backpacks represent years and years of development, testing and heavy use in the field.  From World War 1 and 2 to more modern conflicts, the military has been working to equip their soldiers with the best possible equipment available.  From the roots of WW1 & 2, the modern military backpack has evolved.   This eveolution has been a steady progression, where newer, more modern materials have moved things forward in ways that were unavailable at any time before.

M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment

The M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE) was the first major redesign of load-carrying equipment for soldiers of the U. S. Armed Forces since the M-1928 field pack, which differed in only minor details from the M-1910 field pack. Although the M-1956 LCE differed considerably from its predecessor, it was made from the same materials as previous designs and retained the use of belt, suspenders and carrying pack.

The LCE consisted of equipment belt, suspenders for carrying load, field pack, entrenching tool carrier, ammunition cases, canteen cover, pouch containing first aid, and sleeping bag carrier. The LCE was made of cotton canvas webbing like earlier equipment, yet introduced sliding clip fasteners that replaced the wire hooks dating back to the M-1910 design. The LCE was considered lightweight for its time due to the small size of the field pack; however, soldiers found the field pack insufficient for more than a day’s needs and often augmented their kit with a second or larger pack. This lead to the development of a slightly larger pack with a rounded shape, the M-1961 Rucksack.

Between the LCE and the Army’s next major revision in 1967, a series of interim experiments were conducted using lighter materials. In 1962, tests on a nylon-constructed set of LCE revealed a substantial reduction in weight—nearly two pounds. In addition, the 1962 Lightweight Rucksack, also made of nylon, weighed less than cotton duck versions. These two pieces of equipment—the LCE and the 1962 Lightweight Rucksack—formed the nucleus of the Army’s next redesign effort.

M-1967 Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment

The Lightweight Individual Clothing & Equipment (LINCLOE) program of 1965 marked the official start of a nine-year program by the U. S. Army to develop a standard load-carrying equipment system for soldiers. The LINCLOE program applied a ‘systems analysis’ approach to redesigning load-carrying gear. The results of the 1962 experiments with nylon materials were incorporated into the LINCLOE program.

In response to the need for load-carrying gear that was more suitable to the tropical climate of Vietnam, LINCLOE developed the M-1967 Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment (MLCE). The M-1967 MLCE was basically an M-1956 LCE made with different materials that were more appropriate for use in tropical environments. During the early part of the Vietnam War, environmental conditions in Southeast Asia exposed the shortcomings in the webbing, cotton duck and canvas of the LCE. Cotton absorbed water thereby increasing weight; in addition, cotton duck, canvas and webbing were adversely affected by mildew and dry rot.

The MLCE uses the same basic components as the LCE, but replaces cotton with nylon, and steel and brass with aluminum and plastic. Nylon was lightweight, fast-drying, abrasion-resistant and not affected by mildew.
Velcro fasteners, also called “hook and pile” fasteners, replaced the LTD fasteners and zippers of the LCE. MLCE and LCE components were interchangeable and mixed configurations were common in soldier’s kits.

Although the MLCE was intended only for tropical use, the characteristics of nylon impressed LINCLOE designers who considered adopting the MLCE as standard issue. Instead, an even more extensive revision of load-carrying equipment was deemed necessary and led to the next phase of the LINCLOE program.

Development of the ALICE military backpack

In addition to the MLCE, the LINCLOE program developed another set of load-carrying equipment, the LINCLOE LCE, which was introduced in 1969. During 1970-72, combined configurations of the LINCLOE LCE and the MLCE were tested. However, in March 1972 the U. S. Army suspended testing due to a number of problems with the sets of equipment provided by Natick Laboratories. After these problems were corrected, testing was resumed and completed by August 1972. In November 1972, the LINCLOE project submitted its final report recommending no further testing or development for the load-carrying equipment system.

After the U. S. Army and Natick Laboratories agreed on a unified LCE system, the M-1972 Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (LLCE) was adopted as standard issue in January 1973. In 1974, the M-1972 LLCE was re-designated the All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE).

One of the primary design goals of the ALICE was to reduce weight on the individual soldier. The ALICE system was relatively successful at doing this.

The concept of existence and fighting loads is fundamental to the ALICE system. The fighting load, such as weapons and ammunition, is distributed on the belt and suspenders while the existence load, such as food supplies, is intended to be carried in the field pack.

The ALICE system is no longer used by active units in the U. S. Armed Forces; however, ALICE packs may still be used for training.

Individual Integrated Fighting System (IIFS)

The Army began testing a new system to replace the ALICE in the 1980s. This effort produced the Individual Integrated Fighting System (IIFS), introduced in 1988. The IIFS has three components: the tactical load-carrying vest, a modified version of the M-1967 MLCE field pack that was later designated the Combat Field Pack M-1990 (CFP-90), and a smaller Combat Patrol Pack.

In the IIFS, the fighting loads are carried on the vest and in the Combat Patrol Pack; existence loads are carried in the Combat Field Pack.

The IIFS vest borrowed from previous designs by Natick Labs that were used by Vietnam-era Navy SEALS. Reflecting the military’s continued interest in finding a practical balance between armor and load-bearing equipment, prototypes of the tactical vest used Kevlar, but this was rejected for being too heavy. Field usage of the vest revealed that it was poorly ventilated, so it was redesigned in the 1990s. It has since been re-named the Enhanced Tactical Load-Bearing Vest (ETLBV).

The CFP-90 is a top-loading pack constructed of water-repellent back-coated nylon fabric and an internal frame of two removable aluminum staves. The pack has two compartments: a main compartment with a false bottom and an internal compartment for communications equipment or a hydration unit. There are also holes for the hydration tube or radio antenna, three outer pockets and webbing on the pack that allows for additional equipment to be attached.

The smaller Combat Patrol Pack carries part of the fighting load and is attached to the top of the larger CFP-90 field pack.

Although IIFS was issued to U. S. Armed Forces during the early and mid-1990s, it was never officially declared the replacement for the ALICE. Instead, the U. S. Army began another design program that eventually produced the MOLLE. The IIFS seems to have never been entirely removed from service. For example, both the ETLBV and the CFP-90 were used by troops in the field in Afghanistan.

Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE)

Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, known as MOLLE, is the current standard-issue military backpack for the U. S. Army. It is produced by three companies: Eagle Industries. Specialty Defense and Armor Holdings.

MOLLE quick-release backpacks officially replaced the ALICE pack as the military standard for Individual Load-Carrying Equipment (ILCE). The MOLLE was introduced in 1997 and initially adopted by both the U. S. Army and the U. S. Marine Corps; however, the Marine Corps found the MOLLE unsatisfactory and initiated their own development program that produced the Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) system.

The design roots of the MOLLE included a survey of U. S. soldiers in 1996 that was used to identify the design goals for a new military backpack that would replace the aging ALICE and the IIFS.

The MOLLE differs considerably from antecedent systems by its use of a modular attachment system patented by the U. S. Army Natick Soldier Center called the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS). PALS consists of a series of evenly spaced horizontal rows made of heavy-duty nylon webbing sewn onto the load-bearing equipment. The PALS system has since become the preferred method of attachment for state-of-the-art military tactical gear.

Smaller attachments, such as knife sheaths, holsters or other containers equipped with PALS webbing can easily be attached to the MOLLE. This allows soldiers to customize their field pack to a considerable extent to meet a variety of mission-specific needs. Different configurations for the MOLLE include grenadier, rifleman, Squad Assault Weapon gunner and medic.

There are three components to the MOLLE system: The Fighting Load Carrier (FLC), the Modular Pouches, and the Hydration Bladder.

The Fighting Load Carrier, also called the Load-Bearing Vest (LBV), is able to accommodate more ammunition than the load-bearing equipment and suspenders of the ALICE system. The FLC uses no metal clips and utilizes an H-harness on the back for better ventilation. Fatigue is mitigated by a connecting device between the load-bearing vest and the main rucksack that transfers the carrying load on the shoulders to the hips.

Unlike the tubular frame of the ALICE pack, the MOLLE uses a durable anatomically-contoured pack frame made with plastic developed for automobile bumpers. Another improvement over the ALICE system is that the waist belt can be adjusted to accommodate torsos of different sizes. Stored underneath the rucksack is the Army’s new modular sleeping bag that uses a system of layers that can be deployed as needed for cold weather. Detachable pouches on either side of the main pack hold a Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) and a tube from the hydration unit delivers water.

The MOLLE pack has seen extensive service in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. However, soldiers in the field voiced criticisms of certain aspects of the MOLLE design. For example, the external plastic frame of the main pack was prone to breakdown under field conditions and a number of lower back injuries were attributed to the ball-and-socket mechanism between the frame and waist-belt. In addition, the straps were too short to accommodate body armor.

These shortcomings have since been remedied in revised versions of the MOLLE, designated as MOLLE II. Among the changes in MOLLE II are: the elimination of the ball-and-socket mechanism, which is replaced with a quick-release mechanism using a waist-belt permanently affixed to the pack frame; the Load-Bearing Vest (LBV) was redesigned without the molded waist-belt or the quick-release frame of the original LBV; the butt pack of the MOLLE was redesigned as a waist pack for MOLLE II; and the MOLLE II packs feature a Canteen Carrier/Utility not found on previous versions.

Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE)

Developed specifically to meet the needs of the U. S. Marine Corps, the Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) military backpack was developed after feedback from Marines in the field during the Second Gulf War. The Marine Corps specifically requested a backpack with reduced volume, greater load-carrying capability, less complexity than the MOLLE, and the ability to carry 60mm and 81mm mortar rounds on the outside of the pack. The ILBE was approved by the U. S. Marine Corps in 2004 and is the current standard-issue backpack for Marines.

The ILBE was designed by Arc’teryx, a company that originated in Canada, as part of the Law Enforcement and Armed Forces (LEAF) program. The ILBE contains three components: the ILBE Main Pack, the ILBE Assault Pack, and the ILBE Hydration System.

The Main Pack carries the main load of the ILBE three-part system. Made of Cordura 725, the pack is also fitted with PALS grids for MOLLE-type pocket attachments, allowing soldiers to customize their pack. Unique to the ILBE packs is the ability to carry 60mm and 81mm mortar rounds on the outside of the pack.

The Assault Pack carries the main fighting load of ammunition for the ILBE. Equipped with PALS webbing, it is designed to carry up to 40 pounds and consists of two storage compartments in addition to an inner pocket to hold the hydration unit.

The ILBE Hydration System is a bladder-type hydration unit that holds 100 ounces of water.

The ILBE was designed for three specific load configurations to respond to the contingencies faced by Marines in the field: the Existence Load, the Approach March Load and the Assault Configuration.

In the Existence Load configuration, all three components are utilized. This is the heaviest configuration as the soldier carries necessities for extended missions in which re-supply is not possible. A fully loaded ILBE can weigh as much as 120 pounds.

The Approach March Load uses only the ILBE Main Pack and hydration unit and is intended for extended missions away from supply lines.

The Assault Configuration is the lightest of the three configurations and utilizes only the ILBE Assault Pack and hydration unit. This configuration allows for maximum combat effectiveness and mobility.

The ILBE has MARPAT camouflage printed on it. MARPAT (MARine PATtern) is a pixilated camouflage pattern formed by numerous rectangle-shaped colored pixels; it is patented by the U. S. Marine Corps.

In late 2009, the Marine Corps announced that they were looking into a replacement for the ILBE. A 2009 survey of Marines revealed, among other shortcomings, that the ILBE does not integrate well with the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) body armor that was developed to protect against roadside bombs.

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The MOLLE Military Backpack

MOLLE, pronounced ‘molly’ and short for MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, is the current load-bearing and rucksack system used by the US Army and Marine Corps. It was introduced in 1997, but got more widespread use after the September 11th, 2001, attacks.

The Development of the MOLLE Carry System

In 1994, the United States Army began to search for a replacement for the ALICE (all-purpose lightweight carry equipment) backpack that had been in service since 1973.

The Center for Military Biomechanics did a study comparing the ALICE with commercially available, off the shelf, packs. It was found that the commercial packs volume configuration and the location of the center mass of the load was superior to ALICE. In tests with a 75lb load the commercial packs proved superior in energy used and deviation from the optimum posture.

All these concepts were incorporated into the new pack prototype developed at the Armies Soldier Systems center.  Technological advancements also allowed them to replace the ALICE packs aluminum tube frame with an anatomically contoured plastic frame. The plastic frame increases durability and extends the temperature ranges in which the backpack system can be used (-40F to 120F).  A weight-bearing belt was added to the system and the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) backpack was born.

With the exception of a six month test with the 25th Infantry Division MOLLE packs did not see widespread use until 2001 and early 2002. Approximately 200,000 of them were issued during that time to United States Marines.

In 2003, the army began issuing them to soldiers deploying to Afghanistan.

MOLLE System Components

The MOLLE system was designed to be versatile.  It can be quickly adapted for different missions or an individual soldiers needs.  There are also different equipment configurations for each man of the squad including a rifleman, pistol, squad automatic weapon, grenadier, and corpsman configurations.

The three basic components of the MOLLE system are:

  • The Load Bearing Vest
  • The Main Rucksack and Frame
  • A Smaller Assault Pack

The MOLLE Vest

The MOLLE backpack is worn as much as carried. And a lot of that functionality revolves around the MOLLE load bearing vest.  The vest is made of a nylon mesh to keep it light and prevent overheating.  The vest is covered in PALs webbing, so soldiers can attach pouches for magazines, grenades or whatever other equipment they need to carry.

Quick Release System

The vest is connected to the rucksack with an quick release system that allows the soldier to drop the heavy pack under combat conditions.  The idea is that the soldiers supplies and non-combat gear can by dropped, while all the fighting gear is still attached to the vest.  This way the soldier can become much more maneuverable in combat conditions.

The MOLLE Rucksack

The main rucksack contains a hydration bladder, a large outside pocket suitable for a Claymore mine, two detachable side pouches (sustainment pouches) and a removable internal radio pocket. There is also a sleep system carrier which can be attached to the frame below the rucksack. The main compartment has ample room for equipment and gear.

It has a weight-bearing belt that distributes the weight of the main rucksack from the back and shoulders to the hips.

MOLLE Assault / Patrol Pack

A smaller assault pack / patrol pack is also available, and can be used by itself or attached to the main rucksack when added load carrying capacity is needed.

PALS Webbing

The vest and packs are covered with PALS (Pocket Attachment Ladder System) webbing.  PALS incorporates rows of heavy-duty nylon webbing which allow for the secure attachment of different pouches and accessories. As a result different configurations of the vest can be made for different duty positions, and the vest can also be quickly modified in the field to meet the requirements of a specific mission.

The MOLLE backpack and vest the first to use this type of adaptable system.  Since the introduction of the MOLLE backpack, this type of system has been come widely used with both the military and civilians.  Now days you find it on tactical vests and hunting gear.  Because of this, sometimes the PALS webbing is called molle webbing, and the compatible accessories, molle equipment.

Field Use and the Resulting Upgrades

Since the original MOLLE pack was introduced there has been the need for several design upgrades. This led to the MOLLE II.  A quick release clip was added and the butt pack was replaced with a waist pack. Combat conditions in Afghanistan also showed that the zippers on the pack were to weak, and would burst when full.  Additionally, the shoulder straps were to short to be worn over body armor.  So the designers went back and revised the pack.  They added stronger, locking zippers and longer shoulder straps so the MOLLE backpack can be worn comfortable with body armor.  These upgrades have ensured that the MOLLE will remain a integral part of the soldier’s equipment for years to come.

So when you are looking to buy a MOLLE backpack, you should keep in mind that there are different generations of the pack out there.  The later generations are going to be the improved versions of the backpack.

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The USMC ILBE Military Backpack

The ILBE (Improved Load Bearing Equipment) system is the design of choice for current members of the US Marine Corps. The ILBE was created by Arc’teryxs Law Enforcement and Armed Forces program and is currently being produced by Propper Inc. The ILBE system was created in response to soldiers needs while in Iraq.

The system was designed to replace previous packs such as the ALICE and MOLLE backpack systems in order to improve the load bearing ability while also decreasing the volume of the pack. It is also the first pack to have the ability to carry mortar rounds on the external area of the pouch, a growing need for combat situations. It is comprised of three main parts. The main pack is able to carry up to 4,500 cubic inches and is used as the primary storage area of the pack itself. The system also includes a detachable assault pack, designed for rapid detachment and ease of mobility, with a 1,500 cubic inch storage area. The final piece is a detachable CamelBak hydration system which can hold up to 3 liters of water for use in extended combat or survival situations. The ILBE backpack system is also compatible with the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) giving it the added flexibility to be used with more compact modular additions.

The ILBE pack has three possible configurations to suit the Marine’s needs at the time.

  • The Assault Configuration allows a soldier to focus his storage ability on ammunition and other essential combat equipment. This configuration is designed primarily for heavy combat scenarios with little need for any substantial rations storage. It also allows the most maneuverability, a key requirement during combat.
  • The Approach March Load configuration is designed for extended combat situations and combines the ability to carry the essential combat gear while also maintaining storage capacity for food and water supplies.
  • The Existence Load, is designed primarily for extended survival situations and bears the least amount of usefulness in potential combat scenarios.

Currently providing the most effective combination of mobility, storage capacity, and workable volume, the ILBE system is the pack of choice for Marines and will continue to be so until combat and survival needs require a modification.

U.S.M.C. I.L.B.E. Pictures

Click on any of the ILBE pack pictures below to get a closer view.

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History of Military Duffle Bags

Military duffle bags have a unique and lasting history. The name duffel, comes from the town of Duffel, Antwerp Belgium. In the fifteenth century the town of Duffel began the manufacture of a heavy cloth that was tightly woven. In 1611, they began to export the cloth by ship to Spain and Portugal. Portuguese and Spanish sailors first used the cloth to repair sails. then because of the tight weave, they began to make sea bags, for protecting their belongings from sea spray.

The Duffle Bag in World War 1 & 2

It was during World War I, that the term, duffel bag was first mentioned. The poet E.E. Cummings, was serving as an ambulance driver in France. He wrote a letter detailing his experiences with the military in 1917, and mentions the term, duffel bag. The actual date that the American Military started using the duffel bag, is unclear. It was during the beginning of World War I. The ‘Doughboy Duffel Bag’, was a tan color, with brass eyelets, and a rope cinch. They were shorter than the duffel bags of WWII, about 18 inches long. Hard to carry when loaded, they were often left behind by soldiers in the trenches.

After WWI and before the onset of WWII, the military issued ‘Barracks Bags’, for soldiers equipment and personal belonging’s. These were cloth bags, with rope closures. They were not very practical for traveling or combat.

The Updated Duffle Bag

In 1943 the military again made a change, the ‘Duffle Bag’ as we know it began to be issued. Made from olive drab (od) no.3 canvas. This canvas duffle bag was supplied with 2″ web straps, which made carrying heavy loads easier. It measured 37″ x 12″ x 12″. Closure was made easy by the placement of metal eyelets and a central grommet. It could either be locked with a padlock, or simply secured with end of the shoulder strap.

To make identification easier, army duffle bags are stenciled with the name and serial number of the soldier carrying it. For the Marines they were often stenciled with the Unit information also.

No matter the distance from military duty, the mention of the words duffle bag, will always bring on memories.

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The Army Combat Uniform (ACU)

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) currently worn by American soldiers is an upgrade from the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) and Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) which were worn in the 80’s and 90’s through early 2005. The now obsolete BDU’s underwent several color and textural modifications throughout its tenure, from the very first uniforms issued in the early 1940’s to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (EDRL) pattern used during Vietnam. This “Woodland Pattern” consisted of four interlocking colors, namely black, brown, green, and light green.

The old uniformworked well, but received many complaints for its tendency for heat retention, especially debhilitating in desert environments. Carrying large amounts of gear was extremely difficult. The open weave fabric also proved ineffective at staving off punctures from insects, which lead to the speading of diseases.

The ACU advanced the Woodland pattern with the Universal Camouflage Pattern, a pixelated pattern which uses tan as a base color to gray and sage green. This scheme is most effective in desert environments and was designed primarily for the current combats in Iraq and Afghanistan. The pixelated, “digital” pattern more seamlessly blends with natural patterns and is thus harder to detect; also, the new uniform is devoid of black, a color not commonly found in nature, and especially not in the desert.

The nylon cotton fabric of the ACU allows for a cooler uniform than the BCU or the Desert Camouglage Uniform (DCU) which was made solely of cotton. Like the versions before it, the ACU’s pattern is designed for jackets, field jackets, trousers, and head gear. Importantly, the Jackets are outfitted with Infrared IFF squares to identify friendly soldiers when night vision is employed.

Regarding care, it is against regulation for the uniform to be starched, as that hinders the color scheme, and is supposed to be washed with a mild detergent that does not contain “optical brighteners”.

The cost to each soldier for the ACU uniform is $76, marked up from the $58 for the BDU’s, although allowances in pay have compensated for the rising cost. ACU’s are available to the general public without Infrared.

Regulation Army Combat Uniform Wear and Appearance

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Rolling Duffle Bags

Rolling duffle bags are very good for travelers looking for lightweight baggage with mobility. They come in many shapes and sizes. Most come equipped with a handle for pulling. Some come with shoulder straps for carrying. There are also rolling duffle bags that have straps designed for use as a backpack. This is very good for travelers walking long distances with their baggage. They come in many shapes, styles, and sizes. They are built with multiple compartments and pockets for storage. They also come with zippers for storing smaller items.

Hikers often use rolling duffle bags for long trips because they are durable and well equipped for storage. They can access their gear easily with built in pockets. Their items will remain dry in bad weather. They are very lightweight and hikers can fit a very large amount of gear and supplies inside. They are available in modern styles and can be taken on backpacking trips in the city or places with rugged terrain. They can also be checked as baggage at the airport.

The name originates from the town of Duffel, a town located in Belgium. This is where the strong cloth used to make the bags was originally created. They have been in use since the 1700’s with an original model built by Dooney and Bourke. There have been many models created since then. Many travelers have been using them for a long time to stay mobile while keeping their gear and accessories safe. Some models are fitted with locks to prevent theft of valuables stored inside.

They can be transported through busy environments such as airports and train stations quickly and easily. Travelers of all kinds will find them handy for commuting to school and from the workplace. Rolling duffle bags create a more comfortable traveling experience. They give the traveler added accessibility to their belongings. Those who travel frequently will benefit from the ease with which they can be moved too and from their destinations.

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