French Army Alpine Backpack

My French Army Alpine Backpack arrived used, but still with a lot of useful life left in it. Like everyone else's, there is no zip-on lid, but it's not really an issue. My backpack had a few dings here and there but nothing that will affect performance.
The woodland camoflauge doesn't really match my AO so I spray painted more tans and browns into the pattern until it matches my terrain.
I took the pack on a 7 mile adventure hike that involved carrying heavy ammunition and weapons and the support system of the backpack made carrying that load almost effortless. Actually it is the most comfortable backpack I've ever used, and I've used many, many different military packs in the past.
It took me a minute to figure out how/where the two aluminum support flats inserted to give the pack stiffness, but once I found the slots for them everything was good.
Overall this pack is a tremendous value for the money. The quality is top-notch military. It carries a large load comfortably and I recommend it highly.

I really like mine its a very tough pack and a good value

The bag did come without shock cords to cinch the bag closed and also without the top portion of the bag that zips over mesh: None of this was of any real consequence as I easily replaced the shock cords and the missing part is not necessary. The bag easily holds 70 liters or more and has deep pockets on the inside and a compartment separator at the bottom. The most important component of a backpack is the hip belt: This bag has a very sturdy and comfortable belt that is very easy to tighten and adjust. The material on the inside of the bag has a rubber coating to keep your gear dry. Yes, the bag is used and does have some wear and dirty bits but I don’t mind at all. For the price, this is an unbeatable value and I know I will get a lot of use out of this backpack. Superb!

This is a really well made and is at an amazing price. It's really comfortable to boot!

What I can say then, "WOW"!
This pack its huge! Thanks God I don't bought this back when I was active on SAR ( the bigger pack you have the more you care with you). I used for SAR and on my daily hike a Lowe Alpine TFX Horizon 65 and this French pack took all the load from the other pack and still was left empty almost half from his all full extend capability. I got the pack in excellent condition thanks to the great customer service ( Toomas Goutt and another great miss that unfortunately I don't caught her name. Sorry! )
The pack its water proof on the bottom all the way to the zippers for sure if you don't have any hole/s on the pack. I filed the pack with water and the water was staying in with no problem all the way to the first zipper from the bottom ( the zipper was leaking just at the ends ) . By doing this, was possible to see how true water proof its the bottom of pack and to find any holes ... that are not visible just by a look ( I found just a small hole and will be a quick fix with J.. weld )
Another neat thing that I found at this pack its that you can attach on the pack our old style pouches that had a "wire hanger" on the back. My water canteen from 80's found a nice place to stay on the belt and I saw two attachment points on the side of the pack too.
This pack haves potential and are few things that are left for be discover on the way how was this pack when was brand new and with all the accessories, top lid and some pocket/s inside that most likely are missing ( "zippers male" inside that don't have a "female zipper" ... and other straps ) History its cool and mysterious ! :)
If your looking for a BOB on a low budget and not made in ....., then take a look at this French pack and most likely you will not fell sorry! Don't have all that molle straps like the new ones, but I am sure we all can live with out them and we can bugout. hunting or hike safe and happy with the system that the French came up! Plus, in the end our imagination can bigger then any designers of packs and bags and all this tactical gear...
Stays safe and get your gear ready!

Bought two of these packs, one for me and one for the wife. We'll use them to keep in our cars as portable bugout bags. These are well thought-out bags, and very sturdy. As other reviewers have noted, they are used but have plenty of life left in them. I spent an hour going through one one night, just looking at the pockets, flaps, closures, and such, getting to know the bag and becoming more impressed as I went along. I found a couple of very minor repairs, but nothing at all that worried me. I must say, the French Army doesn't play around - everything about the bags is economical and clever. I haven't loaded one and put it on either of our backs to test balance or load yet but I did put one an empty one on my back and it felt ... well, RIGHT. Money well spent here, and I do recommend you grab two for you and your spouse before they disappear. Military surplus, it's just the smart way to go.

Once I reviewed the attributes of this pack I simply had to pull the trigger and purchase it. The waterproof bottom along with the adjustable frame were the selling points that won me over. After receiving the pack I was quite pleased that these aspects were indeed as advertised. Despite a minor rip the pack was a delight to behold. After making the necessary repair the pack was fully loaded and put to the test. A measured forty pounds felt like twenty. An additional strap made up for the lack of a quick release. The hip belt worked to perfection and was easy to adjust. This is the third French surplus item I have bought from Keepshooting and all have been exceptional. Like I said "The French Don't Play."

Glad this pack was back in. Just a little dirt. Everything was there as advertised. Pack is very burley. Vey generous padding and very adjustable also. Condition was very good. Please Keep Shooting, locate the zip off top lid please!

So I got this pack today...Yeah it was used, a bit dirty and little beat up but after a few minutes of inspecting it and checking it out I am very pleased. So many unique parts about this pack. Extremely spacious and well built. I wanted something durable/tough for the woods and I got it with this pack. This is definitely a budget friendly steal of a pack. Thanks KeepShooting.

this pack is very good , for the price . mind is dirty , one of the shoulder straps had ripped off but its been gluded and stiched . other reveiwer noted that the missing top zipp on piece, is for small items . the problems are very small ,and can be cleaned up in a few minutes . hopefully keepshooting will get the top lids in . over-all this pack is a winner .

The first pack I ordered arrived in *Outstanding* condition... So much so that I ordered 3 more for Give(GAW) aways on a YouTube review featuring this pack. Unfortunately they were not so good. One had a main shoulder strap broken with a couple holes in the bottom rubber, but otherwise in good shape. The other two were quite awful, worn, used, abused, dirty, and with more than a few holes in the bottom. Don't let that discourage you since customer service is also *Outstanding* and they aim to please. And, you are likely to get a gem of a pack at... wait for it.... an *Outstanding* price.

I ordered what I thought was a well worn but usable pack. What I floored when I opened the package and realized that it is for all I know never used. Maybe I was lucky. There's not even a scuff or any signs of wear and tear anywhere. The pack is well designed and looked slightly different (better) than the pictures. You can go on YouTube and look at a review done by The Outdoor Gear Review. Look for his video "French Alpine Backpack - Military Surplus". It's the model I received. Will purchase more as they become available.

The second pack delivered was a earlier vintage, and made in Korea, (Coree), as opposed to China, (PRC). The build was excellent, very high quality. Subtle differences in the shoulder strap system were evident, but still very similar to the other pack, and by extension the USGI CFP-90.. This one did have an adjustable divider to separate the upper and lower sections of the main compartment, unlike the later version. Nice removable, internal aluminum frame rails as well (in both packs). Condition was minimally used, just a faint shadow of the owners name and rank on the lid, otherwise not too far from new, so again, no complaints on a very good deal.

Waited a while for these, saw they were back in stock in the AM, they were gone in the PM by the time the email back in stock notification arrived, so keep on your toes if you want one. A very nice non- military type pack, made in PRC, (China), but superb quality non the less. Very similar in many ways to USGI CFP-90, just no ALICE/ MOLLE capability, Great shoulder strap padding and adjustment options and lots of external attachment options, both vertical along sides, and horizontal near bottom, rubberized bottom, large main compartment with bottom access, (but no internal divider) for sleeping bag removal. A real nice pack worth every penny, Received mine in very good minimally used condition. The zipper on the top of the lid is for a small accessory day pack, it would be nice if KS could snag some of them on the next buying trip.

I wanted something less Military looking (I was using the ILBE) and this pack is perfect. I really love the easy access bottom zipper and the interior has a separation layer that can be adjusted. I put my MSS bag on top, with clothes inside that for easy access from the top. Add a shovel and axe to each side and you have the perfect BoB. Everything can be accessed quick and easy. There is even an interior zippered compartment useful for storing maps and additional documents that you want to keep dry.

The pack is very well designed and very rugged. It's exactly the style of pack I've been wanting for quite some time now, regardless of the price. Its a simple design with a huge main compartment and a couple pockets and lashing options. Its looks run in the middle between a trail pack and a more bushcrafty feel. The frame is basic, but it gives good support. The padding is beyond ample, and it seems like this pack can handle some pretty ridiculous weight. The stitching is good, and all the buckles feel strong. The strap system isn't the most comfortable I've ever felt, but it's got a lot of adjustment options and range, so it shouldn't be hard to get it adjusted to where it can be carried quite comfortably for long distances.

Mine did come with a 3" rip in the lid which goes through both the lid and the pocket on the underside of the lid (a pocket I like to use in my packs). I'll have to repair it myself, so the condition wasn't great on mine, but it's a quick stitch-up.

Even with the tears this is the best purchase I've made in years for my hiking gear. I seriously think you cannot beat this pack for what it is without adding *at least* $150.00 to the price. Forty bucks for this pack is an outrageous deal. I intend on carrying this pack for quite a few years to come.

For the price, you can't go wrong with this pack. The suspension system is very similar to Lowe's Alpine packs of the early 90's and have read on the web that this particular pack is most likely made by Millet. It's very simple; two small side pockets, a huge main pocket, and a lid. The fabric is durable and tough and equivalent in construction to packs made in the US, such as seen with London Bridge Trading or Eagle Industries.

I ordered one of these rucksacks from Keepshooting. For the price I was half expecting to receive some worn out and trashed rucksack. The rucksack I received is well used, but definitely far from worn out, with no holes or tears anywhere. All of the buckles are intact and work fine as well. I just have one ten minute repair to the suspension system, more me fidgeting with things than anything else. The suspension system is fully adjustable and a very good design. This bag has a rubberized bottom, very nice feature for keeping your the contents, at the bottom of your pack dry; usually my sleeping bag is at the bottom. Another nice feature is that the bottom unzips about halfway up the bag, so you can get to the bottom contents without having to go through the top and unpack everything. There are two large straps that come up from the bottom and fasten to remove the strain on the zipper and to support the bottom contents. There is a lid, that at one time apparently had something else zippered to the top of it, not a big deal the pack is large enough as is. The inside of the lid does have an inside pocket for maps, ponchos, etc.... Overall it is a well thought out pack and a great deal for the price.

This pack is extremely well designed, on par with commercial packs, but also possesses a ruggedness and overbuilt quality as expected of a military item. Mine came in a well worn condition with stitch and electrical tape repairs obvious. But they don't detract much from the use.

The padding is very generous, much more so than US Army rucksacks and at a far cheaper price. It's a very comfortable pack to wear. Also, I'm a small guy and this pack fits just right.

This is by far the best backpack/bag I've purchased from KS. It has some wear but is still great shape.. An incredible amount of space in this thing and great padding. Can't wait to put this to use.