Treesuit wrote:I was curious and looked up most of the posts over at US militaria forum.com and found your inquiries. Have you managed to get any feedback from anybody? Also are planning to get any matching TLBV to go with the rucksack? I was surfing some other threads over there and found a couple of long threads on the load bearing vests. I can truly say that piece of gear is not only mind boggling but more mysterious than the CFP-90 ruck or the patrol pack.
Feedback has been pretty slim. The only reply I received was someone gripping about my usage of CFP-90 instead of FPLIF.
I've had a TLBV like vest before, a Combat Medic Vest System. It was MOLLE and appeared to have been made during the transitional period between the IIFS and MOLLE. The shoulder straps, and most everything else was the same, but the two vest panels were MOLLE. Apparently there was a prototype TLBV that never made it into production, that allowed for the connecting of the CFP-90's patrol pack via quick release buckles instead of shoulder straps. I suppose in theory this would free up your shoulders and make it easier to shoulder a rifle whilst carrying a light load.
As for a set up for the rucksack, I'm using a SADF Pattern 83 Chest rig, which was intended to be used with the SADF's giant Bergen.
The shoulder straps I actually replaced with the ones from the CFP-90 patrol pack. Since they have quick release buckles, it makes putting on and taking off the rig much easier.
As for what to do about the patrol pack's shoulder straps, I'm thinking of grabbing a pair of modified MOLLE II rucksack shoulder straps which have been modified to fit on an ALICE frame, but will do just fine on the patrol pack. Many guys complain about the skimpiness of the stock shoulder straps and often opt for LC-2 straps.
I also found the perfect candidate for replacing the shoulder straps on the rucksack. ILBE shoulder straps come sewn together and have a connecting flap with a piece of flexible plastic that could easily be trimmed, cut, and sandwiched between two pieces of thick leather for an improved ducksfoot.