The use of the backpack has simply exploded in recent years. Widespread use first became popular among college and high school students in the United States and has grown to immense proportions. Even convenience stores sell backpacks by the front door now and the number of different styles and types is staggering. One of the best multipurpose backpacks on the market today is the Ilbe backpack.
Ilbe is an acronym which means Improved Load Bearing Equipment. If you are a veteran from a number of years ago you will remember the “Alice” packs. The Ilbe is an updated version of the old Alice packs and the Molle packs which did not see much service use.
The Ilbe pack was designed to allow soldiers and marines to carry a heavier load without causing injury or overworking muscles. If a soldier has to carry 70 lbs on their back all day it must be distributed correctly to cause the least amount of strain. These means that the design of these backpacks can save the soldiers lives by allowing them to carry the gear they need extreme distances with little strain.
There are three ways to set up an Ilbe backpack. The existence load, which carries the minimum load, the Approach March Load, which is the medium sized capacity and the Assault Configuration which is the full sized Ilbe backpack. This allows you to mix and match and find the perfect set up for your particular needs. The bad thing about this back pack is that it is not padded in any way. If you are carrying electronics it might not be as well protected as you would like.
The best place to find an ilbe backpack is on the internet. You can go to a local army surplus store but you will probably pay a high price for a decent pack. The internet allows you to avoid the extra costs usually charged by stores.