Quick answer
If you already run an ALICE or MOLLE frame and want a fast, low-cost comfort upgrade, Tactical Tailor Super Straps are the simpler pick. If you are building or rebuilding a full ruck around the MALICE Pack Version 2, the complete kit is the more coherent choice because its strap system is matched to the pack body and frame from the start.
What each strap option actually is
Super Straps are a standalone shoulder strap upgrade: 3/4-inch thick padding, a contoured fit, and double the length of standard issue straps, made to fit ALICE and MOLLE frames. The MALICE Pack Version 2 Complete Kit is a different category of purchase. It bundles the V2 pack body, a welded aluminum frame, and Super Suspension into one 4,556 cubic-inch system. In other words, Super Straps are a component you add to a frame you already own, while the MALICE kit is a complete load-bearing platform whose strap and suspension geometry is already integrated.
Padding and load bearing: where the difference shows
Padding thickness is the most visible spec here, and it is also where the two paths diverge in practice. Super Straps carry 3/4-inch padding across a contoured shape, which spreads pressure on the shoulders and trapezius during long carries. The MALICE kit does not list a strap padding figure in the catalog facts, so if shoulder cushioning is your deciding factor, treat that as an open question and compare the kit's Super Suspension directly rather than assuming it matches the Super Straps spec. For heavy loads, the welded aluminum frame in the MALICE kit is doing structural work that no strap upgrade can replicate on its own, because it transfers weight to the hips instead of hanging it all from your shoulders.
Cost, commitment, and upgrade path
Super Straps are the lower-commitment route. They list at USD 57.26 against a comparison price of USD 86.75, and they drop onto frames you may already have. The MALICE Pack Version 2 Complete Kit lists at USD 510.60 against a comparison price of USD 740.00, which reflects that you are buying a pack body, frame, and suspension together rather than one strap set. Neither is a wrong answer; they solve different problems. Upgrade straps when the frame and pack are sound and only the carry comfort is failing. Buy the kit when you are starting from nothing or when your current frame, pack, and suspension are mismatched enough that replacing one part will not fix the carry.
Belts and straps worth pairing with either setup
Whichever direction you go, the belt is what converts a shoulder-heavy ruck into a hip-carried one. The Super Belt uses 1.5-inch thick padding, dual adjustable buckles, and modular webbing, and it is positioned as a direct replacement for a painful ALICE kidney pad. The Load Platforms & Belts collection in the Belts & Straps category covers the broader organization side, with a Standard configuration for straightforward load management. If you are already upgrading straps, doing the belt at the same time usually produces a bigger comfort change than either part alone, because the two together decide how much weight ever reaches your shoulders.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Super Straps: comfort per dollar: 3/4-inch padding and double-length adjustment at USD 57.26 versus a USD 86.75 comparison price, fitted to ALICE and MOLLE frames you may already own. Best value when your frame and pack are fine and only the shoulder carry is the problem.
- Super Straps: what you give up: They are a component, not a system. They do not add frame structure or hip load transfer, so a heavy or poorly matched ruck will still carry like one. Do not expect a strap swap to fix a frame or belt problem.
- MALICE V2 kit: matched system: Pack body, welded aluminum frame, and Super Suspension together at 4,556 cubic inches, listed at USD 510.60 against a USD 740.00 comparison price. The cleaner choice when you are building the whole ruck rather than patching one part.
- MALICE V2 kit: commitment: Higher upfront cost and no published strap padding figure in the catalog facts, so verify the suspension feel against your load before committing. Confirm fit and load expectations first if shoulder cushioning is your top priority.
Product facts
- Super Straps: Super Straps feature 3/4-inch thick padding, a contoured fit, and double the length of standard issue straps, and they fit ALICE and MOLLE frames. This is the key spec for shoulder comfort and for reach adjustment on taller users, and the ALICE/MOLLE fit means they work with frames many people already own.
- Malice Pack Version 2 Complete Kit: The MALICE Pack Version 2 Complete Kit includes the V2 pack body, a welded aluminum frame, and Super Suspension, with 4,556 cubic inches of total capacity. Buying the kit gets you a matched frame-and-suspension system rather than a strap-only fix, which matters most when the whole carry is being built or rebuilt.
- Super Belt: The Super Belt has 1.5-inch thick padding, dual adjustable buckles, and modular webbing, and is designed to replace an ALICE kidney pad. A padded belt is what moves load off your shoulders, so it changes the feel of either strap setup more than most people expect.
- Load Platforms & Belts - Belts & Straps - Tactical Tailor, Inc: The Load Platforms & Belts collection in the Belts & Straps category is offered in a Standard configuration for load management and gear organization. Useful when you need a straightforward belt-and-strap base rather than a full pack replacement.
Which one fits your situation
Choose this if
- You own an ALICE or MOLLE frame and want better shoulder padding and longer strap adjustment
- You want the lowest-cost comfort upgrade before replacing a whole pack
- You are pairing straps with a padded belt such as the Super Belt to shift load to your hips
Skip this if
- You are starting from no frame and no pack, in which case the MALICE Pack Version 2 Complete Kit is the more coherent starting point
- Your current frame or suspension is the real failure point, since straps alone will not correct it
- You need a documented strap padding spec before buying, because the kit's catalog facts do not list one
