Your ALICE pack may be time-tested and highly functional, but it does lack the modularity of modern MOLLE equipment. Without all those tiny pockets and pouches at the outside of the pack, you need to pack the main compartment wisely, otherwise you won’t be able to access your most important gear, and when you most need it.
That said, we compiled a list of 7 of the most essential pieces of gear that you probably have on you in the woods, and to which you should always have easy access.
- A rain jacket. This might be the most important piece of gear to keep at the top of your ALICE pack, if only for the reason that, when it starts to rain, if you spend 5 minutes getting to the bottom of the pack for a poncho, the poncho won’t be particularly useful anymore.
- A compass. You could get away without having a compass at the top of your ALICE pack, but a compass is a tiny thing and easy to lose among the other things you packed. Just to keep it from getting buried down there, it’s best if you keep it at the top for easy access.A map. The same notes apply to a map as those that applied for a compass, with the added observation that maps, which are often made of paper, can get damaged at the bottom of a pack.
- Snacks and water. You want your food to remain uncrushed and unspoiled, and as for water, that should be something to which you have constant, immediate access whenever you are outside.
- First aid essentials. You should have easy access to first aid essentials for reasons that should be obvious.
- Sunscreen and bug repellent. When the sun comes out or the bugs show up, you don’t want to waste time looking for these must-haves.
- A light. Getting caught in the dark, and not being able to find your flashlight is obviously counterproductive. Either keep your light in your pocket or on your belt, and if not, have it at the top of your ALICE pack.
With all of this being said, what’s important is that you pack these items last; that way they will naturally be at the top of your ALICE pack when you need them. If you do that, you won’t need to dig through clothing and cooking equipment and tents and tarps when you need a light or some water.
That being the case, there are other essential things that shouldn’t be in your pack at all – sunglasses, a knife, your phone – things like that should be in your pockets or on your belt, for easy and immediate access.
Gear Up Your ALICE Pack Today
If this list reminded you of the fact that you’re lacking a little when it comes to being prepared for a trip outside, whether for hunting, camping, fishing, hiking or something else, visit Fatigues Army Navy. They carry the essentials you need for your outdoor adventures, and likely plenty you might not even have known you needed.
