ALICE LBE VS British Belt Kit

​In this article, I am going to be doing an apples-to-apples comparison in the sense that I am going to compare two belt-based combat systems. However, this is going to be somewhat of an apples-to-oranges comparison because one is modifiable (US ALICE LBE) while the other is sewn onto the base pad (British system). Regardless, both belt systems are still liked and used to this day. I am just going to relay my experience with these load bearing systems and give you my opinion on the two.

DEVELOPMENT/DESIGN

​The ALICE Load Bearing Equipment system was the result of years of research and testing based on lessons learned in the Vietnam war. The system was designed to be an improved version of the M1956 ILCE and M1967 MLCE systems. It was finalized and introduced to the US armed forces in the beginning of 1973 and fielded for over 35 years. The ALICE system is a belt system made up of an adjustable nylon webbing belt featuring a snap closure. To this belt, the Y harness suspenders are attached using metal locking hooks to either the ammo pouches, buttpack, or directly to the belt eyelets. On the belt, you can attach any number of items, pouches, and bags from knives, ammo & canteen pouches, folding shovel pouches, and gas mask bags.  The ALICE system was liked for its comfort in the field, but also critiqued for its limited space for carrying extra implements/ammunition. When choosing your belt layout, the wearer has to be careful to distribute the weight properly. In some cases, wearers replaced the locking hooks on the suspenders with 550 cord and added a cut piece of iso-mat foam to the belt to enhance comfort.

​The British belt kit system dates back a few decades, but is not as old as the US ALICE system. Inspired by the ALICE systems heavy use of lightweight nylon, the British military developed a similar system to the ALICE belt system which was designed for a slightly different purpose. The Brits intended to have a system that not only would bear the load well, but would allow the soldiers to comfortably carry enough equipment for up to 48 hours of independent operations. The system is held up by 6-point suspenders that are designed to effectively bear the load all the way around. This Load Carrying System was updated through the years, but stayed faithful to the original purpose and design and is still in use to this day. A main difference in the use is that the British tend to keep the front of their belt bare so they can achieve a very low prone. This helps push most weight to the rear and allows the suspenders to bear the load that much better, in theory. The belt kit systems I have are offshoots of the PLCE system from private companies, which is evidence of how loved the system is. There are several companies making custom webbing with sewn-on pouches attached to cushioned and breathable belts, like mine. They are laid out in the traditional fashion, but slightly different versions are available, though not modular aside from designating pouches for different purposes. As with the ALICE system, the wearer needs to make sure they are distributing the weight, though this system doesn’t seem to be as sensitive to imbalanced weight.

PRICE

​For the ALICE gear, the price depends on the type of condition you get, and even where you get it. As time goes on, the pouches and systems are getting even more expensive. Ammo pouches alone are about $5 each at my local surplus store. Online, you could pay $10-$20 plus shipping for them. It also depends on the pouch you get. A canteen and pouch new will only run you about $8 so far, but a SAW ammo pouch or buttpack can go for $25. If you put it all together, you can easily spend up to $100 depending on the configuration you go with. 

​The PLCE equipment goes for a little less than the ALICE gear if you buy the pouches and the belt/yoke system. If you buy a system like the ones I have, you will easily spend up to or over $100. It depends on the company as well. JAY JAYS of Brecon sell their systems for almost 3x more, but they are constantly testing their gear to make sure it survives rough use and abuse for years. It is up to you to get what you want, but I am pretty happy with my systems thus far.

CARRY CAPACITY

The ALICE system has the ability to be configured in any which way the user needs it, as long as it fits. The system can carry as little as one pouch on the entire system, or be configured to allow the user to carry an enormous amount of gear in things like SAW pouches, ammo pouches, a buttpack, etc. On the other hand, the belt kit system I have is limited in capacity to whatever you can fit into the pouches that are sewn on. However, Alice magazine pouches will not allow the easy carrying of 25rd .308 magazines while the belt kit will. The ALICE and belt kit systems were both designed for 5.56 STANAG magazines, but one seems to be much more flexible than the other, unfortunately.

LOAD BEARING/BALANCE

​Both systems bear their loads differently, but I will say that I feel that the British belt kit system I have seems to take the load on the shoulders in much better stride, even if it is horribly imbalanced in weight. The ALICE suspenders are designed the join at the back of your neck and ride down your spine, splitting at the small of your back into a Y. This single webbing strap riding down your back is supposed to allow free movement of your shoulder blades and allow less restriction in the upper body and arms. However, since there is only 3-points/4-points of contact with your gear, the suspenders tend to do a less effective job at bearing the load and keeping the user comfortable long-term.

USAGE & DURABILITY

​The ALICE system is known for being quite a strong system. It has seen decades of hard use and has a reputation for being tough. I find the ammo pouches to have an intuitive latch system that I wish was more durable and even replaceable since they can snag and break off if not secured. Likewise, the canteen covers have a nice internal lining that insulates them well, but the button snaps on them do have a limited life span and can be difficult/impossible to replace. The buttpack is a component that can be useful, but I find that it is a hassle to get contents out and there is a lot of effort that needs to be put into securing the straps so they don’t just dangle out in the wind. I would much prefer a snap buckle system for this, much like the IIFS system buttpack has. The locking hooks of the suspenders can add a bit of discomfort, which makes it necessary to cut them off and replace them with 550 cord. The belt with all the ALICE clips can rub your waist raw, so it is highly advised that you fashion a padding system to protect yourself and enhance your overall comfort.

​The British Belt webbing system is pretty rugged in its own right, depending on the company and configuration you go with. For my particular DPM set, I had to replace the D-rings for the suspenders with 550 cord due to them being cheap and flimsy. The buttons, Velcro, and pouch buckles have held up incredibly well. As a rule, I tend to not trust snap-buttons because they rely on a small metal ring that will eventually stretch to the point that it no longer holds the male part in. However, I also know that the Velcro is not only loud, but it can lose its effectiveness as well, resulting in me using duct tape to cover up the majority of the Velcro in order to preserve it as long as possible. I find that it is very comfortable carrying a full load, even when it gets as heavy as 35lb. You barely notice that you are carrying that much weight, thanks to the 6-point load bearing suspender system. I am now thinking that this design would get better longevity from the Spanish clip system with coverable Velcro strips on the ammo pouches. 

WRAPUP

​I think that both systems are effective for carrying a load in combat. However, I think that the British style of belt webbing is more versatile in the sense that it allows me to carry my .308 mags a lot easier than the ALICE mag pouches. On the other hand, I think that the nylon pouch and webbing design of the ALICE system makes it more rugged and durable for long term usage. Both systems are good, but if you are going to go with the ALICE, you may be stuck with it only taking 5.56 mags. Whether I need to carry 5.56 or .308, I will use the British belt kit system. I just like it and trust it that much more over the limited ALICE gear. If all I ran was 5.56 mags, I would still go with the British belt kit because of it’s load bearing ability, which is super important, especially when you add body armor and packs. This is just my opinion, so take it for what it is worth.