I used my ALICE for years but preferred it without the metal frame. I loaded it up with 60+ lbs and it hung off my back w/o a hipbelt and hiked until my hands swelled up and I got a "muscle headache" from the weight behind me. Since it didn't have alot of volume I ended up strapping all manner of crap to the outside.
Here's the pack in action next to my main load hauler---a North Face external (called Back Magic)---circa 1980---
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