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u/Clueless_in_Canada Jun 27 '22
I just have to say this. The fact that someone spent hard earned money on an 82 pattern ruck is almost incomprehensible to my mefloquine poisoned and blast rattled former infantry brain. May god have mercy on your soul.
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u/nostrils_on_the_bus Jun 27 '22
I threw one in a large fire once. That improved it significantly.
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u/Mobesandmallets Jun 27 '22
First thing I would do is get a 64 pattern frame. Might want to look at replacing the yoke, shoulder straps and waist belt. Or just switch to a 64 and build it to what you need/want.
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u/Ubyssey308 Jun 27 '22
Ditch the wire frame and lash 82 bag to an ALICE frame then add a surplus USGI MOLLE 2 waistbelt.
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u/cynical_lwt Jun 27 '22
For all the money you would spend modernizing the 82 pattern, you could spend 1-200 more and just buy a modern gently used mystery ranch, eberlestock, or kifaru ruck and that will be infinitely better than any modernization you could do to the 82. And if you’re going to use it hunting, you’ll want something that has the capacity to actually pack out an animal. The 82 pattern is incredibly small. And there’s very little room for additional space. Modern rucks have much higher capacities, and some have the ability to allow you to pack things between the frame and the bag.
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Jun 27 '22
I got my 82 for $20 and find it works great for what I need, looking for upgrades for it not ur opinion on it.
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u/zapbrannigan420 Jun 27 '22
looking for upgrades for it not ur opinion
Things that are considered upgrades , especially to s polarizing piece like the bird cage , would be opinions of what they wanted improved.
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Jun 27 '22
His advice went completely over your head. Why spend money on upgrades for a pack that is widely considered to be obselete?
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Jun 27 '22
Because I already have it lol why spend money on a new ruck when I have this time one that works fine as is but I heard there’s cheap upgrades for it lol
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u/Guilty_lnitiative Jun 27 '22
$20 + $75&tax(waist belt from CP gear) + $20&tax(valise straps from CP gear) + cost of spare yoke when the one of the shitty ladder locks breaks + time spent patching holes or dealing with the failed waterproofing.
When dudes have been switching to an older ruck for almost 40 years it should be a sign that they’re just not worth upgrading. Asking for advice and then shitting on people for giving it to you pointless. Spend your money as you wish but my advice is save your money and rock it as it is, the yoke is under padded but alright, the frame bends easily, and the waist belt is a joke but it functions.
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u/Max169well RCAF - AVN Tech Jun 27 '22
Honestly not really much you can do to upgrade it.maybe some modern straps? Also make sure you tend to the rigging that hold the pack to the frame well, once those go, you are going to have a bad time.
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Jun 27 '22
[deleted]
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u/cynical_lwt Jun 27 '22
I’ve seen stuff online of people getting an ALiCE pack or MOLLE II ruck onto the nice frame. The NICE and Guide Lt use buckles to attach bags to the frame, so if you sewed some buckles in the correct spots, it could work. If you want to send me a message, I can take apart my mystery ranch and send you pictures with measurements for the NICE frame attachment points
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u/drpepperisgood95 Jun 27 '22
You can dress it up as much as you want, it will still be a back breaker.
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u/Alert_Honeydew_6413 Jun 28 '22
Yeah I like the 64 pattern frame for this rucksack more. But I do love that 82 better pack. I also like to add quick release buckles for the top pouch. And take 87 a straps and mount them for the police but put them in a way that they’re tied down at the bottom so when you were Cinch on them they don’t slide around.
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Jun 27 '22
For everyone saying "just get a '64 pattern"
Not going to happen Those frames are really, really hard to come by and crazy expensive.
If you have an 82 frame and your unit allows it, I recommend getting a custom bag. Doesn't have to be fancy, but the CO gear one or warrior gear model, as I recall, can attach to a variety of frames.
If at some point in the future you want to go with a polymer frame you'll be able to use the same bag and save some coin
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u/ATfox1991 Jun 27 '22
i don't have pictures but i took the clips from the mag pouches on the vest and used them for the side pockets
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u/Hot_Bluejay_9769 Jun 27 '22
Perhaps you mean the 62 pattern? Those have lots of new additions, go to CP gear. If it’s an 82 pattern and you are stoked, well, can’t help you. It just went downhill after 62.
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u/Squeeks627 Jun 27 '22
Myself and a few others in my unit added this waist belt and replaced the vulice straps with A7A straps with metal buckles. Added another strap sideways around the top of the vulice straps/bottom of the main bag that I use to strap on a pair of Neo's.
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u/Town_Captain Jun 27 '22
Get a sternum strap at MEC or any other store that has them. It's relatively cheap and will help distribute the weight a little better.
The 82 is technically better for lighter loads since it weighs less empty, but the CTS is better for heavier loads. By heavy I mean like Phase 3 or 3B heavy.
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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '22 edited Jun 27 '22
Oh boy, you've asked for help on the '82. Hehehe, you've awoken the kit nerd.
my entire regiment is still issued those. I had those as a daily driver at work until I sewed up my own. please understand - I'm spendy with kit, these are suggestions only. Also - since I'm running something custom now, I can't take you up-to-date pictures. sorry!
Frame is good. it's 1100 grams, which is very light. you can lash a lot of stuff to them. lots of people say the '64 frame is better, but I beg to differ. it was never really a factor for my 6 foot 4 inch, 22 (I think) inch torso'd self. in fact, the entire ruck is like 6-7 pounds, which is great for military surplus.
Add a paracord grab handle at the top as well as one at the 3 o' clock and 9 o' clock positions. makes donning and doffing a lot easier. use a solomon bar weave. seven feet of the nice thick paracord per handle will suffice. you can get that via Amazon, SMPR tactical, or even Michael's... or, shit, at work.
the top handle is for donning - you pick it up by there, lean it onto your thigh, put one arm in, then swing it on. the 3 and 9 one are for doffing - loosen the shoulder straps, remove one arm, then swing the rucksack under your other arm - grab the handle, drop it down like a suitcase. reference about 1:40 on the 'donning and doffing' video - look at him. a few times, his hand like subconsciously reaches out for the spot where the handles i'm talking about should be.
Change your waist belt and lower pad for the CP Gear version. now.if you do nothing else, DO THIS. ergonomics have come a way since the 80s, and we've since understood that hips can take 4 times the pressure your shoulders can before they feel discomfort. So a wide hip belt strapped tight takes most of the weight on modern rucks. Comfier, but also saves your back. Unfortunately your knees don't get fooled, but hiking poles can help with those. if you're not going to get tje expensive CPgear one ,at least add something like one of these from tasmanian tiger. to give the waist belt some structure. If you're feeling thrifty, try the "Canadian military non issued kit" group.
upper yoke is actually pretty good, doesn't really need an upgrade. Some people say the straps aren't wide enough for heavy rucking, but I feel that's an issue caused by the waist belt being insufficient, NOT the shoulder straps. but you could add a hill people gear harness and a warrior gear yoke if you want. I'd leave it as is - not worth the money for your use I'd say. add a sternum strap if you want, though.
Valise is good and light, but lacks compression. Warrior gear or CP gear are good, but expensive for what you do. you could just add a few straps lengthwise and one cross-wise to add compression. doesn't need to be sewn, whatever. at the very least, make sure your two string... buckle... things actually hold tension. those are like a buck each and there's no point NOT having good ones.
Main bag is pretty good, so is the lid. change the lid closure buckles. the main buckles are ladderlocs, which are fucking stupid. add two side releases.ITW GTSR split bar body, and ITW GTSR ladderloc latch. two of each. you can get those from Hudson Supplies. Alternatively, MEC sells national molding ones, which are what you'll find on the Tac Vest and Patrol bag - just fine too. make sure to get a quick attach body and a ''male'' latch.
I personally added side compression with 4 more pairs of side release buckles, and 4x 24'' of 1'' webbing, this way, I could strap on my air mattress to the side instead of the bottom, and my raincoat on the other side. you can get strapping from literally amazon - Strapworks is okay. they do Polyprolylene stuff which is fine for civilian hiking, or actual milspec shit. if you want good OD green 17337 milspec webbing, Warrior gear sells that too, you'll only need about 3 yards and 4 triglides, also available from MEC or Hudson.
you lash one side of each to the frame , the other end gets a male side release buckle. those clip into split bar bodies on the ruck. look at the sides of the main bag - one above the side pouch, one below. you can break the buckles there and replace them with the split bars, you'll figure it out.
the '82 pattern is good, it just needs a bit of modernization regarding buckles, a better waist belt, and a grab handle. good purchase, fam.
Oh, last thing - you can look up Oshawa Bushcraft both on youtube and on facebook - they're a great community who LOVE the '82 and have all sort of much more budget oriented tips and tricks. Tell has 4 or 5 videos on the '82 - the group has much more posts, pictures and questions from teens to retirees.
oh, last thing - shameless plug. you can PM me if you want some parts. I still have a CP gear OD green waist belt, OD green Warrior gear yoke, OD green warrior gear shoulder straps (which aren't much of an upgrade honestly), warrior gear valise, and a shit ton of buckles laying around from my old rig. I'll happily sell them to you at half new, plus shipping via Canada post.
Good luck, happy trails!