As a retired FMF corpsman I remind you not to refer my Marines as "ex". SEMPER FI

9:35 the Marine Corps doesn't have any medical personnel. They are all Navy Corpsman. We consider FMF Corpsman (Corpsman assigned to Marine units) to be Marines. Marines have a lot of respect for Docs for obvious reasons.

Great video, and I feel compelled to point out that there are (2) Variations of the USMC ILBE. Standard Type for almost every Marine, and then the RECON ILBE You have the Recon Assault pack, but there is a RECON Ruck that is 90 Liters with a full size Beaver tail as well as two MARPAT sustainment pouches that are egg-shaped. If that wasn’t enough, there are two generations each of standard and Recon. Experimental and Production. Experimental packs have black padding and trim Additional knowledge gem: The Recon/Corpsman Assault pack can fit 2x 18-packs of beer inside. Ask me how I know....

Thank you! I am so glad someone finally made a video of the different variations on the ILBE!

Hey Ken, this video stood out on my search page. We are rock fisherman from Sydney and have a huge fetish for well built 100L + Backpacks. We currently have had to get some made in China and ship them to Australia. This video was incredible to watch. Many thanks

Have all of them, brand new…love ‘em. Also have the whole set of the new ILBE, also brand new!

Very cool Ken, great tip, I'm looking now. Btw, I'm waiting for some Marine to point out "There are no 'Ex-Marines'"

Outstanding Video, thanks simplify how the packs attach and where the hydration pack goes!

Not many people know that the recon assault pack actually attaches where the lid goes. That is what the extra long beavertail is for - ciehub.info/equipment/loadbearing/ILBE.html. You can see it in the grainy picture showing the ILBE recon main pack with sustainment pouches on the side and Recon Assault pack on top.

I used those back in the early 2000's. With all issued field gear you would be carrying 75 to 120 lbs. The main pack usually stays at camp the 3 day goes pretty much everywhere. I had used both the alice and the new ilbe. The ilbe is great for carrying lots of weight and gear when set up properly. I need to get my self one now. Great gear. You can find all that stuff no problem on the government surplus sight.

I grabbed a 64 liter pack thinking I needed the room and after lugging it around for a bit I decided I needed half the amount of gear that I had in it. Now I'm looking to only carry the 10 c's and their redundancies.

Good information! Thanks for your time and effort to put the vid together.

The main packs differ slightly from each other with the recon main packs being larger and having a detachable whaletale

Never thought I'd see you pop up when I look for ilbe reviews. Watched and read your work on magnetism like 5 years ago 😎

Have you used the Recon/Corpsman much? The shoulder straps have hardly any padding and are very prone to ripping. It is also designed to be mounted on top of a regular ILBE pack instead of the lid.

I wonder.. Would the corpsman bag inserts fit where the radio pouch is on the 65l bag?

I’m currently trying to work out improvements on the old Alice pack, not so much that I need the thing but I guess it is the challenge, perhaps of a job unfinished from when I was in the service. I bought several of the Aarn backpacks from New Zealand. He has some really interesting designs and thoughts on carrying a load that are worth looking into.

Great Video, I have learnt a lot from your Video thanks, I have the Three, Plus the larger Recon Pack.

I love my ilbe pack I got it in 2013 use it for camping and hunting bought it for 100 bucks best investment ever now all I need is the 3 piece sleep system can’t find one

U can also hook up the recon to the ilbe like the 3day. most ppl dont know that

I've had all four of these for years including the even rarer sustainment pouches....

Wow. Thanks, Ken!!

I used to carry these exact same packs, they were alright. Heard the new ones are worse, and the old Alice packs are the best. The major drawbacks is having to get electrical tape to roll up the straps.

Dude I could tell it was you just by your voice and I'm jealous you got so many of these packs I just want one lol they are so kick ass quality I just want them all too

The Seal Line 65 L dry bag is hard to find new. Do you know of a supplier (other than Ebay) or a other manufacturer for large bomb proof dry bags?

Thank you

Pack Rat in the year of the Rat! LOL. Thanks for the info on "get out bags"

1:44 it's 4500 cubic inches which works out at 73 litres. 👍

Good stuff!!

'Our' marines' backpack, Berghaus Vulcan cyclops 2, weighs 3kg and can carry about a 100 L of gear. How big is and heavy are your packs?

I have the middle pack, the Corpsman.......I need the Larger pack now, the big boy!

I wonder if Ken could ever only buy ONE of something or does he have a need to buy multiples of everything

Those pack are badass!!

Afternoon from a shitty little town on the eastern side of the UK. Brilliant video. Was sent this by a good friend from over your neck of the wood's and i too have to admit..... that i have a bit of a "bergen fetish" (need to start a group on crackbook or something hahaha 😂) May i ask if you have a link regarding "the guts" of the medic one please? I have a complete 65ltr, i got it cheap and then the belt + extra pouches for the sides just recently & the 3day jobbie (got reasably priced) both the ''dogs bollocks" and both well worth every penny spent. They are in my books the best for being comfy when load bearing (& ive rammed the 65 until it's nearly burst like a fat bird in leggings lol) Both id recommend to anyone if asked. Major problem with getting your hands on this type of kit over here is it's like chicken teeth and if you do manage to then it's heavy shipping price and a majorly shite (anyway to get your money) custom charge on top! Thank you again for clearing up this for me and i will definitely be marking you up as a notification for further videos.

heavy? this one of the lightest backpacks thats milgrade Iv ever used?

No such thing as an EX Marine.... Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine!

Put some links to them not just how to donate to you

Cool!!!!

I made the mistake of purchasing the pack without the shoulder straps and can't find them anywhere. Will the Molle 2 shoulder straps work, or do you know where I could purchase the "Propper" part? Never occurred to me that someone would sell a pack without shoulder straps. :(

I only use "sporty" looking backpack because of cops. Maybe its just the old camo pattern they discriminate against. I dunno.

How much do they cost for the public !!?

I have the ILBE recon gen 1

Thanks Ken, great vid.Very informative and theraputic. I am now not the only one with a “BAG” fetish. Thank you!

Where do you like to backpacking or hiking at Ken?

"tougher than woodpecker lips". lol

WANTA SELL SOME?

Gad. I thought those were mummies.

Prepper. Cough cough 😀👍

No such thing as an “ex-Marine” once and for always.

That "camelback" looks like a Source, not a Camelback (yeah, I know people are using camelback as a general term for any hydration system/water bladder, but Camelback was the first company producing them in quantity; the Israeli company Source is the most innovative and reliable manufacturer today, and has been for the last decade)

Mmmmmmmm MOLLY

Blackhawk checklist before hitching a ride! ukposts.info/have/v-deo/opmEoId_q5pqs5c.html

Hmmm, my F-Stop Suhka and 400.00 worth of accessories seems like a waste now. Not really. For 8 years now my pack has literally been around the world in sun rain and mud. Still, thanks for sharing Ken. Here's to cost benefit. Piss off brother 🤗😉

Quit bragging.