The ALICE (All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) backpack was adopted by the United States Army in January 1973, replacing the older Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment (MLCE) pack.
The ALICE backpack system represented an advancement over older packs in that it was made with nylon fabric with aluminum fittings, instead of the cotton and brass or steel previously used. It was four pounds lighter than the MLCE. The nylon fabric was also more resistant to tearing and was waterproof, which meant soldiers no longer had to strain under the burden of waterlogged packs.
The military had been experimenting with nylon and aluminum backpacks since 1965, which led to the development of the MLCE in 1967. However, cotton backpacks remained standard in the Army until 1973, with the MLCE issued only for use in tropical environments. Some early experimental backpacks used plastic snaps and fixtures in an attempt to save even more weight, but these proved unreliable in field conditions and the concept was abandoned.
The ALICE system was issued with two loads of equipment, one for fighting and one for existence. The fighting load included an equipment belt and suspenders, an entrenching tool carrier, cases for first aid equipment and small arms ammunition, and a water canteen cover.
The existence load consisted of two field packs (a medium and large ALICE pack) with a field pack cover and aluminum frame, an aluminum cargo support shelf for bulky loads, a cargo strap, and straps to support the pack (one for each shoulder, one for the waist, and one for the lower back).
ALICE packs have remained the standard in the Army over the years, despite attempts to improve on them. In 1988, the ALICE pack was supposed to be phased out in favor of the Integrated Individual Fighting System (IIFS) equipment vest, but that has yet to occur.
Another possible contender to replace ALICE is the Military MOLLE Backpack (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) pack, introduced in 1997, but the MOLLE has not yet proven its reliability and has not been widely accepted in the Army. ALICE packs are also a favorite of civilian hikers and campers, and can easily be found at any military surplus outlet.