You Won't Believe How Much This Costs Now - US Marines ILBE Assault Pack - Updated Review

For the original $25 you paid, sure I'd buy it. For $200+? No way, Jose.

I picked up the main ruck and the assault pack years ago for $100 when they first hit the surplus market. I think at that price point, it's good enough for most people and the cons can be overlooked. I look at the pricing of the newer stuff and I figure I can make do with the ilbe for a while longer.

Thank you Luke😺👍

How about 75 in very good condition? Worth it or better off with the filbe assault pack?

I purchased my USMC ILBE gen2 ruck and assault pack for 90 bucks back in 2014. The assault pack is definitely not great but ok for an assault or day pack.
I can squeeze in enough gear for and emergency overnight, here's my assault pack gear list...
3L water bladder
Sawyer Micro Squeeze water filter
Laplander folding saw
Watch cap, USMC
Socks, wool
Gloves, gortex
Neck gator, USMC
Pillow, inflatable
Poncho, USMC
Liner, poncho, zippered, USMC
Plastic sheet 4'x8'
Tarp, ripstop, 3x3 meters w/ 40' quick deploy ridge line & 6 titanium stakes
550 cord, 4@9' 1@20'
3 magazines, 30 rd m4
Cleaning rod
Batteries 4-AA, 6-AAA, 1-2036, 1-DL1/3N

When packed the back becomes rounded and doesn't play well with body armor as it rolls from side to side. It may not do that if you use the wast strap but I don't use it.
All in all it will work its just not the best thing out there.

I see them for $188 - yikes

I got this pack for $40 i like it a lot i put a what i call a to go bag on the back of all my pack's i uses a sustainment pouch on the molly you can get 2 MRE's in it and a poncho in it

Your review is spot on except for one thing; soldiers never used these? Marines did. Soldiers always have better gear. I still use mine as a range bag because I can jam it full of magazines and gear and I know it will hold it.

I’m confused what’s the difference between the FILBE and the ILBE? I’m thinking of trading up from my pack from the 90’s.

Any good tips on where I can find a ILBE pack that isn’t 200 bucks?

I won the lottery and I got the ILBE+ Assault pack+ radio pouch for $100 I believe. Since then it’s been a great pack system. For cold months or longer events it’s great when you need a lot of gear. It’s functionally comfortable and I’ve carried it a bunch. That said I haven’t had a modern Gucci pack but I don’t have any plans to switch. It works!

No way would I pay 200, I payed 60 for mine several years ago and use it for a get home bag. As the stock of these dry up the price goes up, like most things. With that said I've had zero problems with mine, tough as nails pack. If the price was right I would buy again. Is there better packs ? sure and there are worse.With a canteen and a food pouch on the outside of the pack it can easily be set up to be a 72 hour pack in my opinion . The real reason it was taken out of service was because the main pack did not work with the new plate carrier system used by the USMC is my understanding.

No I wouldn't pay that not much to it

It baffles me that people have an aversion to camo. I'm from the rural South though. MARPAT is king in the woods and it's hard to find good equipment in that pattern. I just bought one of these used for $100. I'm getting the full ILBE system later on.

I got the main ruck and assault bag with the 3L camel back all in new condition from a guy who buys stuff from cops, the cops was able to get it new and never used it as his kit and sold it to the new friend I made, and he sold it to me for 175 altogether no bad, honestly of a bag for both since it's highly customizable, you can fit the waist hugger on to it from the main bag and a big MOLLE bag on the back of the small one, and it's bad by itself yeah, but it was intended to be used with a plate carrier which makes it make more sense on why it's flat

As far as the wearing camo in town goes, it really depends on how big the town is. If its in rural america, nobody will even bat an eye. I used a vietnam alice pack as a school backpack for a couple years when I was like 8 years old lmao. Still have it and was my designated bug out bag till recently I just upgraded.

I lust got lucky and picked a mint condition assault pack on eBay for $80. It was worth it to me. It was the last component I needed to complete my Ilbe. I run my ILBE bow hunting. The assault pack will help me with my bow spider after base camp is up. It’s a great pack for my needs. Excellent review as always Luke. Been a fan for years 👍🏻

FYI...
In states like Louisiana (my home) Camouflage is Country Couture!

If you AIN'T wearing camo, specially round hunting season, you'll get STARED AT

Just picked up two FILBE assault packs for $60.00 a piece. Far better pack.

Marines! not soldiers.

Hay dumbass! STOP Referring to Marines as soldiers, a Marine IS NOT a soldier...

Well send it to me then. I need one to complete my pack.

Dude Robert stop calling the men and women who wore this pack and the main ILBE pack Soldiers the Army had their own system. The people who wore this are Marines big difference, but I am going to stay out of the weeds on that one for now. This assault pack was a smaller piece of a bigger kit that the Marine Corps used for about 10 years. In all of my 8 years in the Marine Corps I never once heard this pack referred to as the "go to hell pack" depending on who you asked it was called a day pack, an assault pack, or a back pack. Furthermore this assault pack was rarely if ever carried in conjunction with the main pack unless you were doing a road march, so ditching the main pack to carry this was not going to happen. If it did the Marine trying to separate the two would probably have been gunned down as the process was tedious at best. I know this because I have the same assault pack that I was initially issued in 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan twice with. Please do more research next time. Also please do not take this comment as trash talk only as a critique that is meant to be constructive.

A lot of kids got into bugging out and camping because of covid and the surplus markets got hit hard for how cheap they were. Now people sell backpacks for $200 because they'll still sell.

$25!? You can get that for free if you go to your local military recruiter. You can get a lot of free military stuff actually! All you gotta do is sign a paper. Too easy!

I have a brand new one here in London UK

Do a review on the ILBE corpsman’s recon assault pack

I got this 5 years ago on eBay for about$40 with shipping. I’ve used it as an edc but my focus was to have a battle bag. All the cons u have go out the window for me because it will be used over my plate carrier. At least for me. It’s extremely durable and will keep my stuff safe. I like the size as well so that I cannot overload it and I stay small and agile when I need it.
All surplus has basically doubled in price after the sickness woke ppl up.

Also if you have a load and don’t use waist belt, you’re asking for pain. Js

I own a bunch of osprey packs. I took the frame sheet out. Rugged as all get out. $35 I paid for mine used.

I have this bag for 6 years a and it costs me 45 dollars (it was in very good condition) and i bought it in my home country which is Czech Republic 😁. I like to use it for 1day hike but for longer ones i bought FILBE assault pack which is way more comfortable. ILBE assault pack is beautiful because of his simple 2 pocket design but like you said, there are a lot better packs nowadays.

I want one but the prices have kept me from buying.

I don’t mind camouflage patterns in the general public. I merely explain when asked that if it’s good enough for the boys defending my freedom it’s great for me. Plus the government paid premium for it and basically gave it away at surplus. No I won’t pay $200 for a pack

I found a excellent condition one at a flea market.....$10

I bought mine for $20 many years ago from a second hand shop. Still have it. It was dirty when I bought it but I've washed it and it looks good now.

I was wondering when the gray man would appear...lol. I would much rather have the FILBE.

As I'm sure it's been said most of these issues are completely negligible when wearing body armor in my opinion. I used one of these several times in the service and it was a pretty banger pack when set up well with a flak on

seems a little scammy. advertising a $30 bag you cant get anywhere for less than $100. Maybe adjust the description text to reflect the scum-baggery vendors are trying to pull.

I got one of these for 50€ but in black, no cammo.
I usually use it for small trips from days at a themepark to 1 nighters.
Its not bad, but definitely not a pack you should SEEK to buy for hiking purposes.

I love the feeling of coolness when I remove my/a sweaty backpack. Don't mind it a bit. // Nope, not for $200. 30-40 $'s--sure.

Currently serving and 4.5 years in the USMC

The ILBE series was and still is hot trash. The FILBE pack is stronger, holds more, and is immensely more comfortable to hike long distances in(especially when mounted on an ALICE frame). Going to Bridgeport mountain warfare training center and hiking over 100km, the FILBE will beat the ILBE every day. The ILBE assault pack isn't a bad airport carry-on, or school backpack if you're a motivated boot.
Both packs are very tough but again the ILBE will start seeing tears and holes much faster than the FILBE.

If you want the best pack get a bruzer gear pack👍 lifetime warranty

First off, love the video.

I bought one of these in MARPAT, and I used it for a graduate certificate class in finance. Sure, got some weird looks. It was cheap - around the 25$ range at the time. Not a bad deal. I also once had a flight attendant stop me and tell me "You Are Awesome". Not sure, but figured it was because of the camoflage backpack.

A week or so ago I purchased an Arcteryx Charlie in Woodland M81 camo. Yep, I am a collector. Added a sustainment pouch and two zipper pouches in matching M81 to the pack.

These are well built. Both by Propper and Arcteryx. I could carry rocks in this pack for our stream restoration project, no problem. At a certain point, the thing is uncomfortable and overloaded, but it will KEEP CARRYING ROCKS for months. Anything else might just fail.

Here's what I see as the trick - the people carrying these packs aren't wearing Tshirts. I bet these packs would shred a T shirt or undershirt over time. The people carrying these packs are wearing a T shirt with a BDU shirt or "work shirt" over it. So, of course they are less comfortable to wear than a Topo designs pack or a Mystery Ranch if closer to the flesh, right? It is akin to an argument over whether Scarpa Fuegos are better than Minnetonka Moccasins or not. The difference maker here in the analogy is the socks.

So buy one for cheap, fill it full of granite, and start making Zuni bowls in your local, average creek. I do not think load lifters would have added anything, because you're usually not carrying 40+ pounds of rock. That, and keep the straps away from your flesh if you're sensitive.

If users are complaining that the thing has not enough pockets, then WTF, use the molle or sell it for 500$ to someone else, I suppose. Me, I'd just use 10$ pouches from Academy to organize stuff inside instead.

Strong agree that the ILBE is overpriced. $500 is definitely too much for an Arcteryx Charlie right now. I certainly didn't pay that much. At that point, why not just cry and buy a GoRuck instead, for cheaper!

You should do a review on the Direct Action MkII Dragon Egg Assault Pack. It's a killer assault pack, lots of cool camo color options.

I bought two of the Gen2 ones for $85 each New/Unissued from a military surplus website around a year ago. If you do a Google Image Search for them, you should be able to find them after some digging. I Have two of the Gen2 ILBE Main Packs new as well. Would love the Recon Versions of each but way too expensive right now. Load lifters and a contoured back, maybe a better waist strap would male it a way better pack.

25 or 30 yes 200 no.

$200? No I would not buy it. Especially when there are packs like the LA Police Gear Atlas line. They are not perfect, but a darn sight better that this.

I got one for free for helping during Hurricane Harvey in Houston. They gave us the ruck and the backpack with a Source hydration bladder.

IMHO just get an Osprey pack and stop suffering. Once you go for a hiking pack that transfers most weight to the hips, you won't go back.

Soldiers never carried that pack