Anyone using an ILBE Pack

[Laelkhunter]

I recently acquired an ILBE Camo pack. From what I understand, it is used by our Military (God Bless them!). It is a fairly large pack that has several attachments including day packs and a hydration bladder. The shoulder straps and belt system seem to be able to support a lot of weight. Has anyone used one for hunting (I got it for Elk hunting)? Can it be utilized for packing an Elk quarter out of the boonies ? It seems very complex, and takes a while to figure out all the different straps, compartments, and harnesses.

 

[WoodBow]

I have used one for elk. A friend of mine still does. They are a great pack if you aren't too tall. The stays are too short for me to get adequate load lift at 6 feet tall. The hip belt honestly sucks. Pick up a used kifaru or HPG belt. It will fit right on and be a huge upgrade.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Thanks WoodBow.

 

[SHTF]

Helped my buddy pack out his Elk last year in one. Works great.. Id recommend a HPG or Kifaru Belt though. It increases the comfort a lot. I also cut mine down to make it lighter and less crap all over it. See this Post https://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=102898

 

[PantherCity]

I've got one I leave loaded with weight for training. I like it, I also cut a bunch of shit off it like SHTF did.

 

[elkstabber]

Like others I cut all the extras off of mine several years ago. Mine weighs 6 lbs, 5 oz. Yup. Cut a LOT off of it.

GREAT pack for the money. Honestly, it has to be the best pack capable of hauling heavy loads for the money.

I'm 6' and don't get much use out of the load lifters. However, I like the waist belt that's on it. It "cups" the top of my pelvis better than any pack that I've used. But I've never used a Kifaru as mentioned above.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Thanks. I will try to carry some weight in it with the existing harness, and see how it works out. I can always add the Kifaru or HPG belt if necessary.

SHTF** Thanks for the link to the other post. That has all the info I needed !!

 

[LBFowler]

you can source 25ish" stays from harperworks, or use carbon arrows like a Kifaru, either can give a little more usable frame.
There is also a bartack holding the load lifter buckles down from the top of the frame, cut the thread and you can get an extra 0.5" of usable frame.

Under 7lbs is a good target to shoot for, 6lbs is ambitious but doesn't really hurt the load carrying. You have to make some sacrifices that I don't recommend to get down to 5lbs.
scissors are your friends.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Same as above I have a stripped down one I packed with last year (less complex with lots cut off). I recently picked up a HPG belt for it that feels good (and a bit of frame boost) but haven't done any load hauling with that setup yet since I got distracted with the MR frame I picked up. Works decent for my torso length even though I am 6' it's more so in my legs.

 

[SHTF]

Thanks. I will try to carry some weight in it with the existing harness, and see how it works out. I can always add the Kifaru or HPG belt if necessary.

SHTF** Thanks for the link to the other post. That has all the info I needed !!

Anytime my advice before you start hacking is to think about everything your cutting off before you do it so you don't take off anything you have afterthoughts about. I have a post I did myself on it that shows everything I cut off. Let me try to find it for you.

 

[SHTF]

Found it. http://jungletraining.com/forums/showthread.php?43692-ILBE-Frankenpack&highlight=ILBE from another site Im on but there is a picture of a pile of what I cutoff to lower the weight. Enjoy.

 

[crmiller84]

How wide is the ILBE? Anyone ever tried removing the harness also to use as a camp bag? Seems like if you lightened it enough it would work great between the wings of my Nomad, like a DIY EMR2.

 

[jaredgreen]

Something I tried recently with mine. I moved the shoulder straps down as far as I could- making the distance from that attachment to the top of the frame as long as possible. This caused the straps to slide around my shoulders quite a bit (I'm 6', the chest strap now runs across my collar bone)

This makes the shoulder harness not fit well, but it does give a much better angle for the load lifters, and gets the weight off my shoulders. Something to try.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WoodBow]

In case you are as crazy as me, you can really go wild with one if you want.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?31873-DIY-poor-mans-kifarwho&highlight=Kifarwho

 

[PantherCity]

There is also a bartack holding the load lifter buckles down from the top of the frame, cut the thread and you can get an extra 0.5" of usable frame.

I cut the bartack on the load lifter strap as well, but I remember it being more like 1.5" more frame. I could notice a difference.

I'm 5' 10"

 

[I Beam]

First post, first question. (been lurking for the great information) Which version of the Kifaru belt fits or is ideal for the ILBE? I need a larger belt for a 44" FGF (fat guy friendly) waste.

 

[jljmonky]

I used the bag and rigged it to an old REI frame fro two years. It seemed to work well but I know there is better out there.... I think there is a video about it on my YT channel and there was an article about lightening the original pack in Self Reliance Illustrated that I wrote a few years ago if you can find it.

 

[LBFowler]

First post, first question. (been lurking for the great information) Which version of the Kifaru belt fits or is ideal for the ILBE? I need a larger belt for a 44" FGF (fat guy friendly) waste.

most any of the dublex belts should work, and the HPG belt works even better possibly.

 

[agwrestler]

Just posted one of these to the Classifieds. Some of the mods mentioned above have been done.

 

[desertcj]

I've been using one for several years now. You simply cannot beat an ILBE for the money! I cut down/shortened a bunch of straps when I first got it, but I'm still cutting as I convince myself that I will never use something. I've put a lot of miles on it and I just adjusted the shoulder straps lower on the frame to improve the angle of the load lifters. It does put the sternum strap about at your collar bone, so it still needs some testing. I see guys cutting off tons of stuff, but honestly...I use a lot of it. I also use the hydration bladder and the assault pack piggy backed on the main ruck.