Beanies, Balaclavas & Caps for Dynamic Activities

Special Mentions

Note: This post has been updated following the 2025 kit tests. If you want to jump to the updates, click here for the Half-Balaclava review and here for the 3 Season / Baselayer Beanie review.

[ * below we've bolded the relevant condition for the item(s) reviewed here ]

Over time we've come across a number items that have really impressed us and we'd like to draw attention to, but ...

• either they don't quite fit into our rather strictly defined / narrow categories, or
• they are, or are highly likely to be, our top-rated recommendations, but may require some more testing, or
• due to their high price-point, they cannot compete with our existing recommendations (mainly on the value score), or
• they will become our top choice, but only if and when our existing recommendation becomes unavailable (i.e. this item is the current heir in waiting but is just marginally edged out by our current recommendation).

Normally, these Special Mention (SM) "reviews" don't get a rating score and may receive less in-depth coverage, but this is not the case here. Instead when each item has had sufficient use in relevant conditions, we'll flip this SM review to full review status and each item will have a rating and be featured in our catalogue.

Test subject: Head circumference: 57.5cm (22.5") = Medium
Test items: Size stated in each review (generally one size)
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer, Winter
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction
• Part 1A: Beanie + Half Balaclava Combo for Active Sub Zero Use
• - Beanie: Brynje Super Thermo Helmet Hat
• - Half Balaclava: Artilect Darkhorse Neck Tube (2026 update - new)
• Part 1B: Lightweight (Baselayer) Beanie for Static & Active 3 Season Use - Artilect Darkhorse Skully Beanie (2026 update - new)
• Part 2: Caps
• - All-Round Softshell Cap: Mountain Equipment Squall Cap
• - Hot Weather Cap: [ still searching ]
• Product Images

Introduction

As many of the items in this review work in combination, we've decided to reorganise our headwear reviews into two main categories:

1. Thermal headwear for static use in sub zero conditions
2. Headwear for active use (high output / dynamic activity) in all conditions (but with a primary focus on protection from the cold).

This review covers #2: a light split cap for hot summer conditions and an ensemble for active use in the cold; a far more thorny problem to solve as we outlined in our review of the now discontinued Bergans of Norway Varde Beanie:

However, what we require from [headwear] intended for strenuous activity is a balancing act which is far harder to get right than the one-way street of providing as much warmth as possible.

What we're after is something that will provide just enough warmth to prevent the wearer feeling uncomfortably cold (i.e. something to "take the edge off") whilst at the same time, will not cause the wearer to overheat and sweat profusely as "winter mountain trekking" begins to morph into something that looks suspiciously like mountaineering: carrying heavy loads on steep snowdrift covered slopes, over icy rock in white-out conditions with ice axe, crampons and goggles to the fore. In these conditions, ideally you don't want to get a sweat on.

If such [headwear] can get this right, then it will also [likely] double as outright thermal protection for static use in less frosty climes. [Such headwear] in our experience, is a rare find.

That sums up the problem the first two items in this review are designed to solve; to offer just enough protection to keep you comfortably cool, but not so much that you over-heat. 
 

Part 1: Beanie + Half Balaclava for Active Sub Zero Use

Summary Datasheet: Weights & Prices (RRP)

Building Back Better

After trying numerous balaclavas which were either too warm, ill-fitting, had no flip-top, had poor or non-existent breathe vents and on and on, we decided to re-think the whole thing. What did we really want from a balaclava that we weren't getting from other items?

The answer was all in the bottom half: 

• a neck gaiter
• a face mask which didn't impede air intake and exhalation
• a good fit and a no-fuss application (easy-on, easy-off)

So, if we can get all those things and pair them with a good active beanie, we don't really need a full balaclava. In a sense, as we're often having to do, we broke it down to functional elements and ended up with a kind of modular approach.

A balaclava is basically a beanie stitched to a neck gaiter with a vented face mask. So, first we'll see if we can replace the balaclava's top half with a good thermo-regulating beanie.

1. Beanie: Brynje Super Thermo Helmet Hat

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Overview

We came upon the Brynje Thermo somewhat by accident. We were looking at Brynje's Tactical Beanie (pictured here) as a possible candidate to replace the Varde and thought the Thermo looked interesting but was pretty sure, being made from 100% polypropylene, it would be too warm. However, we'd been impressed with Brynje's mesh baselayer and so felt it worth a punt.  As it turned out, the lightweight Brynje Tactical Beanie (80% merino wool) was too under-powered when conditions (during the spring, wet weather kit test) turned wintery-ish (late October temperatures, with November style weather and extreme winds from the east), and instead it was the Brynje Thermo that came into its own.

The recent kit test was useful as temperatures varied wildly, with cold winds from the north, extreme winds from the east, and warmer much wetter weather blowing in from the south, then the west. However, we still need to test the Brynje Super Thermo Helmet Hat in sub zero, winter conditions before we can make a final assessment. That said, the early impressions are extremely good and our guess is that we've likely, finally, found a replacement for the Varde, and possibly a superior option.  

When worn, the Thermo looks like a regular, close fitting beanie. However, it has a modest (helmet style) dip, ensuring full coverage for the ears. It's 10g lighter than the Varde and equally packable and I had no problem wearing it underneath the Mountain Equipment Squall Cap (reviewed below).

One of the ways the Thermo will outperform many other hats in its class, is that being made entirely from polypropylene (which is warmer than wool) it's profoundly hydrophobic and in wet conditions shifts moisture rapidly.  

The helmet dip provides good coverage for the ears, but still looks like a regular beanie.

Turned inside out, we can see how Brynje's Super Thermo Helmet Hat mirrors their mesh baselayers.

Brynje have given the Super Thermo the baselayer mesh treatment, boosting the hat's thermo-regulating properties.

Here is Brynje's description of their polypropylene "mesh-tech"

Super Thermo mesh effectively regulates body temperature. At times of high activity, the mesh ensures air circulation and transports excess moisture and heat away from the body. At times of low activity or during periods of rest, the mesh cells retain warm air forming an uninterrupted layer of insulation next to the skin. [...] worn and trusted by the Norwegian Armed Forces, polar explorers, outdoor enthusiasts and professionals with high-performance requirements.

What's not so apparent in these images, and something we'll capture at a later date, is that when held up to the sky, the heavier weight outer fabric that sits atop the inner mesh is actually not too dense, with not so tight a weave.  This likely accounts for the heat transfer out of the mesh, preventing over-heating. 

My experience of using the Super Thermo was similar to the Varde, in that unless temperatures were warm enough for a beanie to not really be necessary at all, I largely forgot I was wearing it.
 

Weight, Packability & Sizing

Pictured below (#1) is the thinner and lighter Brynje Tactical Beanie.  In our view this would make a fine beanie for cool summer nights around camp or as a supplemental item, but when the weather approached the wintery it was under-powered and clearly not suitable for sub-zero conditions. In addition, there are plenty of ~30g merino-rich (~80%) beanies on the market, and they can do a job, but often their use-case is marginal. When you need some protection, they often don't provide enough and when conditions are suitable, you're in a zone where the hood of your softshell would be sufficient. That said, if it wasn't for the "Tactical", we'd likely not have found the "Thermo". 

To give some indication of the thickness of the Brynje Thermo, below it's pictured with the 28g Tactical (#2) and the 57g Mountain Equipment Plain Knitted Beanie (#4). 

The Brynje Super Thermo packs down very small and I was able to fit the Thermo, the Tactical and the Brubeck M-Pro Half Balaclava into the small chest pocket of a Mountain Equipment Echo Vest.

The Brynje comes in two sizes:

• S/M (head circumference 54-56 cm) which will fit the majority of women
• L/XL (head circumference 56-59 cm) which will fit the majority of men
   

Any Negatives?

None yet, but we need to do more testing in sub zero conditions. Thus the "special mention" status of this review and the lack of a final rating for this item. We'll update this review when we've completed the upcoming winter kit test.

2. (Half) Balaclava: Artilect Darkhorse Neck Tube

Datasheet

Available on SYSTEM

Overview

As we discussed above, once you've got a good active beanie, all the useful stuff in a balaclava is in the bottom half.  Enter Articlect's Darkhorse Neck Tube (or half balaclava), the result of some clear thinking and clever design and material choices on Artilect's part.
 

Artilect United 1, Brubeck Town 0

This item replaces Brubeck's M-Pro Half Balaclava and we'll start this review by explaining why we abandoned the Brubeck M-Pro. The first reason is simply that the Artilect Darkhorse is superior, but the other reason, which motivated our continued search for a replacement, was the company itself.

We'd tried to reach out to Brubeck to see if we could stock their M-Pro and potentially some of their other products and soon found we'd entered a confusing maze. It was practically impossible to get clear answers on anything and we seemed to have stumbled upon a company that had lost track of its catalogue. Fractured product lines spread over various similarly branded "corporate" websites aimed at overlapping target consumers. This internal chaos seemed to be mirrored in the retail sector; the M-Pro was nearly impossible to track down (at least in the material mix we'd reviewed). So, we sought out an alternative and we're very glad we did, because in our view Artilect's Darkhorse Neck Tube is a superior product and the company (founded in Boulder, Colorado and now part of the Bradshaw Taylor group) is the kind you can not only contact but also get sensible answers from. In addition, their products are readily available in the UK (through their own site and other outdoor retailers).

So, now I've got that off my chest, let's look at what Artilect call a neck tube but, due to its breathable mesh vents, we regard as more of a half-balaclava (semantics).
 

The Darkhorse Neck Tube (DNT)

Artilect's DNT is a light, stretchy, comfortable neckgaiter / facemask made from a mix of super-fine merino wool (Nuyarn, 91%) and nylon (9%). It solves the ill-fitting issue that plagues many balaclavas: it negates the "flip-top" design choice that some implement poorly and others not at all; and perhaps most importantly, it provides two generous breathing vents (pictured below #1 and #2), each accommodating both nose and mouth and neither impeding the intake and exhalation of air to any material degree.

Unlike the M-Pro, the DNT also features a full-length (back) breathable vent panel, so the neck tube can be swivelled round to increase the vent coverage / access.

Artilect provide a generous vent to cover the mouth and nose.

The DNT's tightly woven super-fine merino provides a little more protection than the M-Pro, but still fulfills the "just enough, but not too much" criteria outlined above. There's enough protection to take the edge off a biting wind, but not too much that you overheat.

Having a good mesh vent is essential to counter strong, cold winds without fogging eye wear.

No issues breathing through the air vent mesh panel.

We've tested the DNT with eye-wear in cold conditions but need to do more sub-zero testing before we can provide a final assessment. So far, the DNT looks very promising indeed and we're confident it will be our top pick.

For those that require a balaclava for serious, high altitude mountaineering, our recommendations is Black Yak's Mountain Shemagh Balaclava. 
 

Materials

Artilect are well known for their intensive use of Nuyarn, an extremely fine form of merino-wool  If you consider what Teijin are going with OctaYarn to create a more air-pocketing yet air permeable fibre, Nuyarn are doing something similar with merino wool:

Nuyarn does not twist the fibres. Instead it drafts wool fibres along a high performance filament resulting in two ply yarns with much more volume and aeration.

Nuyarn's claims for their woolly-tech (which they state have been independently tested by Intertek® Vietnam and AgResearch, New Zealand) are quite impressive:

• 35% more volume, aeration and thermal retention than traditionally woven merino
• 5x faster drying than traditional merino wool
• 85% more elasticity (negating the need for elastane, which adds weight and loses elasticity over time)
• 8.8x more durable than traditionally spun merino

We have no way of validating these claims, all we have are some empirical findings. The Darkhorse Neck Tube is silky smooth and more comfortable than many merino wool, next-to-skin items we've tested. The flatlock seems are very well done and have not caused any discomfort.  The claim about elasticity also makes some sense. The DNT contains no elastane and yet stretches and rebounds as though it does. It's too early to say much about durability, but it's clearly a quality item and we can't see why it shouldn't age well. Afterall, it's a neck-gaiter, so it's hardly taking a beating.
 

Fit & Function

The Darkhorse Neck Tube (DNT) works well as a simple neck-gaiter (pictured right, #5) when the face-mask is not required. When you need a face-mask, there's really three settings, each of which functioned well in our kit test.  I tended to wear the DNT as pictured in #2 and #4 with it sitting higher up the back of the head. 

Pictured below the DNT is paired with another Artilect product, the Darkhorse Skully Beanie; a very lightweight 3-seaon number (similar to the Brynje Tactical Beanie meantioned above). However, the combination of the Brynje Super Thermo Helmet Hat and the Darkhorse Neck Tube seem made for one another and we look forward to throwing them into some harsh sub-zero conditions this winter.  

The Darkhorse will fit most users and can be worn in a number of ways to provide more or less protection.

Weight, Packability & Sizing

The Darkhorse Neck Tube weighs in at just 40g and takes up hardly any space in a pocket or belt bag. In winter, it's the kind of item you'd put on in the morning with your baselayer and remove at night.

Unlike the Brubeck M-Pro, the DNT comes in one size which will fit most adults. 
 

Any Negatives?

None yet, but we need to do more testing in sub zero conditions. Thus the "special mention" status of this review and the lack of a final rating for this item. We'll update this review when we've completed the upcoming winter kit test.
 

Part 1B: Lightweight 3 Season (Baselayer) Beanie:
Artilect's Darkhorse Skully Beanie

Datasheet

Available on SYSTEM

Overview

We thought it would be disingenuous to not include a lightweight, low profile baselayer beanie in this review as it's an item we take on all non-winter kit tests.  This type of beanie weighs so little and packs down so small it's hardly a burden. 

Ideal for cold spring and autumnal conditions as active headwear under a cap, beanies like Artilect's Skully are comfortable to sleep in and function well for static use on cool summer nights.  In addition they can also serve a role in sub-zero conditions, to layer under more serious thermal options.

We've tested so many of this kind of beanie it's not funny (from Rab, ME, Extremities, Sub Zero, Brynje - mentioned above, Haglofs and on and on) and Artilect's is the best we've come across.  The Skully is silky smooth, non-itchy, comfortable, breathes well, dries quickly and unlike many of the woolen versions we've tested, doesn't lose its stretch / form.

For Autumn/Winter 2025 and onward, Artilect have made a minor alteration to the blend and have increased the polyamide (nylon) content from 9% to 18%.  This may add a little toughness but, in our estimation, won't make a noticeable difference to how the beanie performs.

As with Artilect's Darkhorse Neck Tube, the Skully uses a similar (or same, depending on the model) blend of Nuyarn merino wool and nylon. So, rather like Octa-yarn in fleece-world, you get more trapped air ("thermal retention"), faster drying time and the kind of stretch and rebound you'd expect from having elastane in the mix. 

The major difference between the skully and the rest of the pack is the material.

The Skully beanie weighs just 26g and takes up hardly any pack space, easily fitting in a chest pocket, hand pocket or belt bag. 

Suited to high octane winter sports such as ski-touring, snow boarding etc ... the Skully is designed to function rather like a winter baselayer for the head: wicking moisture while providing a little thermal regulation along the way.  
 

Any Negatives?

None yet. The Skully is one of those items that's hard to rationalise not packing.  We've been very impressed with Artilects accessories; their headwear in particular.

Part 2: Caps

Summary Datasheet: Weights & Prices (RRP)

What Do We Want From A Cap?

There's not a great deal going on with a cap; here's our modest requirements:

• A good sized, deep peak (brim or visor).
• A sensible and functional adjustment mechanism.
• A fabric and weave with a good balance between breathability and wind resistance.
• A fabric with a good degree of stretch to accommodate other winter headwear such as balaclavas and/or beanies.
• A material that has a DWR treatment and/or accepts custom proofing.
• Something that packs down as small as possible.

Although the above requirements were written in our review of a "cold-weather" cap, it's largely true across the board. Having used a number of softshell caps, we ended up switching between two excellent examples, both made by Mountain Equipment:

• The Tuolumne Cap (now discontinued and archived)
• The Squall Cap

Since ME discontinued the Tuolumne we've all been using the Squall across a wide range of conditions and the only time it fails is when its seriously hot (30℃ and above).  Thus, in this section we have set aside some space for a Hot Weather Cap - a very lightweight, split cap with a deep peak (brim or visor).  Mountain Equipment made such a cap and then screwed it up - so we're still looking.

1. Softshell Cap: Mountain Equipment Squall Cap

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Overview

When Mountain Equipment made the Tuolumne Cap we oscillated between using it and the Squall and could never really decide which we preferred. The Tuolumne had vent holes to prevent overheating but the Squall had a deeper peak. Having used the Squall in all conditions for a good number of years, we can happily say it's a fantastic all-rounder and, now the Tuolumne has been discontinued, the problem of deciding between them is moot. The Squall is the undisputed champion of softshell caps.

The Squall cap is made from Mountain Equipment's Exolite 125, the same durable, stretch, double weave softshell fabric (94% nylon, 6% elastane) used on their excellent Echo Hooded Jacket.

If you've seen Scramble's reviews over the last few years you'll have seen the ubiquitous Squall pictured over and over again, so we're not going to adorn this review with numerous images (although it's already appeared numerous times anyway).

Simply put the Squall fulfills all the requirements laid out above, and has never let any of the Scramble team down, a great performer that like all the best kit, is ever-present and goes largely unnoticed.
 

Any Negatives?

None.  Just get one.
 

Conclusion & Rating

The Mountain Equipment Squall Cap is what you'd get if you made a Ronhill Split Cap for sub zero and all-round mountain conditions. It provides an ideal balance between wind resistance and breathability; it's extremely comfortable, packable, light weight and durable. The Squall is made to Mountain Equipment's usual high standards and is our top pick in the all-round Softshell Trekking Cap category. Which is probably a cue for them to cease its production.
 

Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

2. Hot Weather Cap: Search In Progress

We Still Haven't Found What We're Looking For

We're not sure if Mountain Equipment became aware of a sudden influx of championship jockeys into the climbing arena or someone in their design department was having a really bad day, but whatever the reason, Mountain Equipment "fixed" what was unbroken and as such we're still looking for a simple, lightweight split cap for active use in hot conditions. A super-lightweight Squall Cap would be ideal ... wait, isn't that the Aerofoil?

It was, but it ain't anymore.
 

All Product Images
 

(% gallery name=head-headwear-active-all-conditions-ensemble %)

Last Updated: 27/01/26
Added 3 Season Baselayer Beanie review. 

2025/2026 Kit Tests (Review & Preview) + Updates

In this post we're going to run through items lined up for the upcoming 2026 winter, summer and autumn (wet weather) kit tests, as well as mention some items of note from the 2025 summer and spring tests. But before all that, we have some manufacturing and store updates.

Contents

• Manufacturing Updates: Machine Padded Belts, Waterproof Overshorts & More
• Store Updates: Tent Pegs, Cords & Pole Accessories
• Upcoming Kit Test Items for 2026
• 2025: Spring & Summer Kit Test Items Reviewed
• 2025: Near Misses & Items of Note
• 2025: Summer Kit Test Snaps

Manufacturing Updates

Machine Padded Belt

As planned, we made some minor alterations to the Machine Padded Belt. We switched to a lighter EVA foam which allowed us to use 6mm foam on the padded side and a wrap around 3mm on the non-padded side.  This was to prevent the padded component moving around the inner webbing belt (and it worked).

The Machine Padded Belt with Scramble's Machine Belt Bag.

We've now completed the testing phase and all went well. The Machine Padded Belt is now ready for production and is in the (unfortunately) long queue. 
 

Waterproof Overshorts (Half Shorts & 3/4 Capri Versions)

We've finished testing the half short version of our waterproof overshorts and have decided to do away with the slit pocket access openings. The reason is that they're not needed and it creates a point of failure / fragility (in tests, sliding down wet slopes, this was one area which was prone to ripping).  If you need to access your softshell trouser pocket you can either roll the shorts up or loosen the belt to pull them down.  No need for pocket slits on overshorts. 

The waterproof overshorts (especially the 3/4 length version, above right) will continue to be put through their paces in the upcoming winter kit test.

We're using heatshrink tubing to finish the webbing so it has a hard stop when you loosen the belt and to provide a more robust and secure fit for the hook.

The included webbing belt is sized so that without unhooking it you can loosen it to its maximum circumference which is a fraction larger than the potential stretch of the elasticated waist. Simply put, you can take them off and put them on without un-hooking the belt. This is useful because it saves having to re-hook the belt, which can be fiddly in certain conditions.

The three-quarter length version is designed and sized to be worn over the 1/2 shorts. These are "downpour options" and in winter are designed to work with knee-length gaiters.  If you don't wear gaiters in winter, then these wouldn't be a good option.

The three-quarter length waterproofs are a kind of "rain-skirt" alternative.  Having them open at the hem, yet sitting below the knee, means most of the leg is sheltered but there's sufficient air-flow to reduce condensation. Because of their shorter length, you don't have flapping fabric around the boot and ankle, so they don't present too much of a tripping hazard. The 3/4 version has a dual channel cinching mechanism (they can be cinched from the left and right side of the leg independently), to provide a secure fit when used with gaiters for river / stream crossings or when scrambling.

Prototyping Projects

Investigational projects such as the "Return Home Shoes" (an approx. 120g per pair non-flip-flop shoe to wear for return journeys), are on the backburner until production backlogs are cleared. 
 

Store Updates

Woojin's Tarp Pole Attachment

We now stock Woojin's Tent Pole Shoe, designed to work with webbing attachments connected to the base of tents acting as docking points for straight and preformed pole segments.  However, these "shoes" can work just as well as "hats" when flipped over and placed on the top of tent poles.  Dyneema cord loops (such as those on Scramble's G-38 and G-55 tarps) can then be threaded through the pole shoe's webbing slot and clipped via carabiners to guy lines. Effectively connecting tarp, pole and guy line.  A very handy item for those who use 9mm poles with their tarps (and they're 4g lighter than the DAC Arch Connector which does a similar job).

WOOJIN Tent Pole Shoe makes an excellent attachment point for 2 or 3 section 9mm DAC Featherlite NSL poles.

Cords & Tent Pegs

We've re-stocked all of our existing cord and tent pegs and have added a few new options.

Upcoming Kit Test Items

• [ Midweight (~700g) Insulated Jacket ] Keela Belay Pro Jacket (M = 640g)
  We'll be testing this jacket in the upcoming Winter Kit Test, not so much as a replacement for the Keela Belay Smock, but as a lighter alternative. We've come to the conclusion that for static use (which for us is what these jackets are for, as opposed to actually belaying) a hood isn't necessary (balaclava and beanie is sufficient). However, we feel the major determining factor here is body length. Our current view, is that for taller people the Belay Smock is the way to go, but for those under 6ft who want to save some weight the Belay Jacket may be a good alternative. That's what we'll be testing when it gets cold.
   
• [ Midweight (~400g) Down Hooded Jacket ] Sub Zero Lightweight Down Hoody (L = 390g)
  This isn't a priority but we've been wanting to test Sub Zero's down jackets for a while and so we'll see if we can fit it in somewhere.
   
• [ Hot Weather (Under 300g) Softshell Trousers ] Rafiki Drive Pants (M = 262g)
  We're very happy with the Rab Inclines for 3-Season use and we're testing them as a winter option with some fortification, but we wanted to look at some lighter-weight options for those that trek in genuine hot climes. Rab's Incline Light Pants are an option, but we've been impressed with these climbing trousers from Rafiki and wanted to see how they fare (in the Summer Kit Test). They break most of our rules regarding belts and pockets. So, we'll see.
   
• [ Lightweight (Under 400g) Softshell Jacket ] Karpos Lavaredo Jacket (w/ Polartec Alpha, XL, 314g), Karpos Alagna Plus Evo Vest (w/ Polartec Alpha, XL, 306g)
  We're looking at a number of items from Karpos' Laveredo and Alagna lines. These are the two that look most interesting and both are likely to work as winter softshell inners under something like Dynafit's Transalper which we reviewed recently.  It also provides an opportunity to test some Polartec Alpha gear (note these pieces use Alpha and so are lined, not Alpha Direct which is open / exposed).  Both pieces use very minimal and strategically placed insulation - so overheating is unlikely.
   
• [ Lightweight Sleepwear / Baselayer Backup Tops ] OMM Breeze Hood (M, 125g), Dynafit FT Dryarn Warm Hoody (L/XL, 225g), Dynafit Traverse S-Tech LS Crew (L/XL, 144g), Karpos Croda Light Half Zip Pullover (XL)
  We're always looking at possible contenders in the sleepwear and baselayer categories. The four tops mentioned are all quite different from oneanother. Out of the four, the Karpos looks like the most likely replacement for Montane's Allez Micro Pull-On (which they seem to have discontinued). However, our use of OMM's Core Zipped Vest, takes away some of the need for a thermal element. So we're playing with a range of options.
   
• [ Extremities / Accessories ]
  [ Static Thermal Headwear For Sub Zero Conditions (Under 70g) ] Artilect's Valley 250 Balaclava & Walrus Beanie
  We've been impressed by a number of Artilect accessories and so want to test their heavier duty Nuyarn (merino) options for sub-zero, around camp duties.
  [ Thermal Over-Mitts ] Inov8 Extreme Thermo Mittens, Montane Chonos Fleece Mitts
  Buffalo Mitts have been getting very expensive, so we're looking at a couple of lightweight alternatives.
  [ Gloves & Wrist Gaiters ] Milo Yeru Fleece Gloves (L, 48g), Sub Zero Meraklon Insulated Wrist Warmers (OS, 24g)
  Milo's Yeru gloves are Polartec Power Stretch gloves and look very similar to Rab and Mountain Equipment's offerings. The Sub Zero wrist gaiter is a polypropylene number which we'd prefer had more thumb protection but we'll likely pair it with their Factor 2 Fingerless Gloves (which are excellent).
  [ Cold Weather Waterproof Tent Boots ] OMM Core Tent Socks, Dexshell Running Lite Waterproof Socks
  We're testing a few lightweight alternatives to see if we can radically reduce the weight of our cold weather modular tent boots.
  [ Light Trekking Sock ] Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew vs HJ Hall ProTrek HJ701 Adventure Walking Socks
  When it comes to socks, we've decided to do a brand review instead of recommending an individual sock. People's feet and boot purchases will necessitate a personal / subjective fit which we can't second guess. Instead we'll simply look at Darn Tough and HJ Hall and show which socks we use / like.
  [ Footwear ] Bestard Nova (Winter, Membrane) Boots, Zamberlan Salathe RR Approach (3-Season, Non-Membrane) Shoes
  We don't review individual shoes and boots, but rather point out what to look for. The Nova's are very similar to the Altberg Bergens but with an outdoor, non-military look. The Zamberlan Salathe are a leather (non-membrane) approach shoe similar to Scarpa's Zodiac. We'll see how they drain in our wet weather kit test. We'll also be testing our Kevlar laces and may start offering them if they work well.
   
• [ Modular Approach to a 4-Season Sleeping Mat ]
  * Mountain Spring Ying 99 (UL Closed Cell) Sleeping Mat (182 x 51 x 1.7) - 110g + 10g bag
  * Nordisk Ven 2.5 Self-Inflating Mat (290g+ Nordisk Stuff Sack (20g)
  * LightTour Half Pad R1.5 (182g + Klymit 12g Stuff Sack + Repair Kit, Accessories)
  * Scramble Ultralight Evazote (EV30) Foam Mat (Short, 60g)
  We've pretty much settled on our combinations for a modular sleeping mat system. We just need to test this ensemble in sub-zero conditions.
   
• [ Lightweight (<400g) ~20L Pack (+ Side Pouch) ] Mountain Hardwear UL 20L Backpack, Blue Ice Dragonfly post 2022 (18L, 210D)  (380g without foam)
  Perhaps Blue Ice listened to us when we warned them over cost-cutting the spine out of their Dragonfly packs, they've now beefed up the Dragonfly. We still prefer the old one, but 210D 6.6 ripstop nylon is a major improvement. The old Dragonfly had 100D sides and a hefty 420D ripstop Cordura back (and was lighter). The new ones have 210D (non-Cordura) all around. When we find time, we also want to test Mountain Hardwear's UL 20L pack.

Note: There are a number of other items in circulation being re-tested that we haven't listed above.
 

Modular Sleeping Bag System:  Lighter, Not Warmer (Just An Idea We May Want To Test)

We'll quickly mention an item we haven't yet purchased, but looks interesting as an alternative weight-saver in our modular sleeping bag system.  We recently reviewed Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer and when looking at Cocoon's liners we noticed they also do an "overbag"; a cross between a quilt and a bivvy.  It's quilt-like in that all the insulation (Primaloft Gold) is on the top and sides and it's bivvy-like due to it being oversized and having a hydrostatic head (HH = 1000mm). Theoretically (we believe EN tested), it adds 14°C to ones sleep system.  So, for those that don't need to get down to -25°C and are happy with a -19°C Comfort Limit, at the extremes, one could substitute the Defence 4 for Cocoon's Over Bag (COB) and for extreme sub-zero conditions use the following 3 bag setup: 

• Inner / Liner:  Cocoon Mountain Wanderer (550g w/o stuff sack)
• Main Bag:  Carinthia G-90 (690g w/o stuff sack)
• Outer  Cocoon Over Bag (690g w/ stuff sack)

Where this approach differs from our current (double bag) recommendation is in winter (double-bagged) and down to extreme sub-zero (triple-bagged, as per above).  In winter, you drop from spring/autumn's -5°C to just -8°C (rather than -15°C), before dropping a further 11°C down to -19°C (as per the thin blue line, Cocoon Over Bag / "COB" system, versus the thick green line, our current system with the Defence 4).  The red line is our old system with Alpkit's Cloud Cover instead of Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer.

In winter, although you're losing 7°C of warmth (compared to our current system) you're also shedding nearly ~280g in weight. Furthermore, measured against our lighter (now archived system with Alpkit's Cloud Cover) in the extreme sub-zero range, you're losing only 1°C of warmth while shedding ~180g.  Based on RRP, the Cocoon Over Bag is only £10 more than the Cloud Cover and £45 cheaper than the Defence 4.

Our feeling is that the Cocoon Over Bag (COB) may be worth testing.  If the theory works out in practice, this may be something we'd recommend as a lighter (and cheaper) alternative for those that want a flexible, 4-season system that functions in wet conditions but for whom weight is the primary concern. For some context, Rab's Solar Eco 4 has an EN Comfort Limit of -8°C and weighs 1475g (Regular) - that's 100g heavier than the COB + Carinthia G-90. With this modular system however, there's room to add the Mountain Wanderer to get down to -19°C and still remain under 2kg. That's not too shabby.  Something we hope to explore further.
 

2025: Spring & Summer Kit Test Items Reviewed (Special Mentions)

It's always nice when a good deal of initial research pays off. A number of the items we tested in 2025 garnered reviews (either official or "special mentions"). The reviews are linked below:

• [ Hybrid Wind-Top & UL Waterproof Jacket ] OMM Halo Smock
• [ Lightweight (Under 350g) Softshell Trousers ] Rab Incline Pants
• [ Lightweight (Under 350g) Softshell Jacket (Special Mention) ] Dynafit Transalper Dynastretch Jacket
• [ Baselayer Bottoms (All Season), Half-Shorts, Leggings, Tights ] Saxx, Löffler, Odlo (Multi Product Review)
• [ Utility Insulation Layer (Active & Static) ] OMM Core Zipped Vest
• [ Headwear for Dynamic Activities: (Half) Balaclava ] Artilect Darkhorse Neck Tube
• [ Modular Sleeping Bag 1: Best 1 Season and 4 Season Inner ] Cocoon Mountain Wanderer Sleeping Bag
• [ Headwear for Dynamic Activities: Lightweight 3 Season (Baselayer) Beanie ] Artilect Darkhorse Skully Beanie
   

2025: Near Misses and Items of Note

We don't normally go through all the kit we've tested that didn't make the grade, and we're not going to here either, but we will mention a few items that we felt worth discussing.

Bestard Gobi (Non-Membrane Trekking Shoes)

Over time a number of readers have recommended boots and shoes with predominantly synthetic uppers.  Largely based on our quite extensive (off-path) experience, we've taken quite a hard line in favouring leather uppers which, assuming the leather is of good quality, are tougher than almost all synthetic materials (even Dyneema or Kevlar infused ones). However, we thought we'd revisit the question and  gave the reasonably heavyweight Bestard Gobis a try (EU43 = 946g per pair). 

The Bestard Gobi are the best draining shoes we've come across.

The Gobi has a solid and quite thick Cordura upper with a Vibram Impulse sole. I found it very comfortable over long distances.  Advertised as a trek (rather than approach shoe) it makes no claim that it's designed for our purposes (off-path mountain trekking), rather we get the impression that Bestard may have envisaged this being worn on the Camino trail.

That said, the Gobi performed pretty well.  Out of all the (non-membrane) footwear we've tested, they're the very best at draining water. I almost looked forward to river and stream crossings, knowing that the water would practically squirt out of these things. The Gobis were tested in the spring (wet weather) and summer kit tests and clambered over carnage forests (see images below), stone walls, barbwire fences and the sharp, hard and irregular greywacke rock of the Harlech dome.

Vibram Impulse soles and Cordura uppers. But is the Cordura tough enough for the greywacke?

The Rhinogs are a great place to test footwear, as not only does the rock shred sub-standard footwear (and seemingly point in every direction your foot doesn't want to go), the harsh undergrowth is unforgiving, whether tangled in heather and thistle or trapped in steep descents of tall prehistoric bracken - all of which covers abrasive, highly irregular boulders with deep cracks, inlets and gullies. It's a ligament shredding paradise.

I wore the Gobis with a modified pair of Alpkit's Kantju running gaiters and so they had some additional protection.  Even so, after about 25 days of bushwhacking use the Gobis are showing signs of duress in one particular area (just beyond the toe cap).

Bestard could remedy this issue quite easily, it simply requires an extension to the toe cap rand. Pictured below (right, #2) is what Bestard could / should do to extend the Gobi's potential from "car-park & trail" to genuine off-path, mountain and marsh trekkers. They'd have a great 3-season master drainer that could manage tough mountain terrain. 

It's a simple fix that Bestard could easily implement.

We'll send this to Bestard and see if they want to make a Version II.  If they do, the only other thing we'd change is the depth of the heel cup which is a little too aggressively recessed in our opinion, but this is subjective and everyone's feet are different.  It's one of the reasons we don't do specific footwear reviews.
 

QSP Parrot G10 V2 (Folding Knife)

We're fans of QSP, they make a wide range of excellent quality budget knives.  Unfortunately they seem to have shelved the Piglet which was a fantastic knife that used a good steel and had a 3.7mm thick blade.  It was a little chunky and overweight (100g) for our purposes, but highly recommended.  Like the Piglet, the Parrot is a liner lock and has G10 scales and a smooth action, but its form is more akin to the Ka-Bar's Dozier Folding Hunter (our top pick).

A great value alternative to the Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter.

The Parrot is around £8 cheaper (Reputable Dealer Link *) but 25g heavier than the Dozier. There's not a great deal in it, but we still rate Ka-Bar's Dozier (Reputable Dealer Link *).

* Note:  We don't get any commission or financial benefit linking to third party retailers / suppliers (in case you think we've started whoring ourselves out). Instead, we just point to retailers and suppliers we've found to be trustworthy and reliable (so readers can avoid some of the headaches we've experienced while sourcing such items).

SOG Aegis MT (Sprung Pliers Multitool)

This won't be relevant to everyone but for those that carry gear that may require some leverage to loosen screw fittings, nuts and bolts etc, having a mini pair or pliers is a must. Personally, since I have to take photos when I'm in the great outdoors, I sometimes need to unscrew or adjust something over-tightened on my ultralight tripod and a pair of pliers is called for. 

A simple tool for those who need a compact pliers (you get superb tweezers and a back-up knife thrown in).

Via a mixture of double-counting and wishful thinking SOG state this mini-multitool comes with 5 discrete tools, in reality it has 3, which, when they're all very good, is enough.  On top of a capable pair of sprung pliers you have a back-up knife and an excellent (absolutely superb) pair of tweezers which are so much better than most other tweezers on multitools.  I've done three surgical extractions with these and was very impressed and surprised how easily I'd pulled out the spiky intruder. The SOG Aegis MT, which seems to be aimed at anglers, weighs in at 70g.

As far as we understand it, the situation with SOG is peculiar.  They shifted (a proportion of) their manufacturing to China.  Then they abandoned a number of product lines (not entirely sure about this) and the factory in China said, we want to continue producing these items and so they did.  Unfortunately, under pressure from the UK's authoritarian regimes, the Chinese (i.e. AliExpress) now won't ship (even UK legal) blades to the UK.  If you want one, you may need to do some digging. We got ours from AliExpress for £27 each.  It doesn't look like you can do this anymore.  Feel free to thank your government "representatives" for pruning your liberties a little every day.
 

The Scott Explorair Softshell SL Hooded Jacket

Swiss brand Scott make some quality gear.  Their Explorair softshell (L = 358g, Scott's stated weight is way off) is a well-finished and hard-wearing softshell made from 89% nylon and 11% elastane (so it's got some stretch). The adjustable hood is well done. It has two zipped hand pockets and two generous internal open glove pockets.  Strangely, they didn't provide any lycra binding at the cuffs. On first inspection this bothered me a lot, however in use I found I just rolled the sleeves up a fraction at the wrist and it didn't bother me a great deal. However, this is not optimal; a minor negative. 

The Explorair features two large internal "glove pockets" but no chest pocket.

We need to see what Mountain Equipment (who in our estimation haven't been at their best recently) do with their Echo softshell.  If it wasn't for the Echo (which is close to perfection)  the Explorair would be a contender.  If Mountain Equipment have discontinued the Echo (with no plans to offer a like-for-like replacement), then we'll revisit this question. However, there is stiff competition coming from Dynafit, Karpos and Rab. 

Scott's Explorair is a tough, light-to-midweight traditional softshell - a contender.

That's all the important stuff out of the way. Next some pics from the last two kit tests ...

Photo-Geek Note: I've swapped out my Sony RX0 for an Olympus TG-7 (as my tough backup camera). I got tired of colour-correcting and de-sharpening the out of camera jpegs of the RX0 (there's something funny about Sony colours especially in very green environments - it kept wanting to add reds that weren't there).  With the Panasonic GX1, which is responsible for all the product and most fairweather photos, I shoot in RAW format. but for crap weather, candid snaps I've switched from the RX0 to the Olympus TG-7 which has a lower resolution and smaller sensor but much more natural colour / image rendering and a 25mm to 100mm (FF equivalent) zoom. Hopefully we'll see a difference.
 

2025 Spring & Summer Kit Test Snaps

The Crux AX50 and an Electric Peacock PAX Tower doing the heavy lifting. 

Double rainbow after some heavy rain during the Sping Kit Test.

Great shredder of footwear and strainer of ligaments, the Rhinogs.

There was a storm in west Wales in December 2024 with 90mph winds.  This caused some carnage in many of the forests I short-cut my way through as I traverse south to north Wales. Most of this destruction lingered through 2025, as such quite a bit of crawling, clambering and "break on through to the other side" was required.

Overgrown paths and abandoned forestry tracks were often completely blocked.

Minor cut-throughs were also tricky.

... and established mini-trails with dinky footbridges over streams were merely collateral damage.

This is Dyffryn Castell Hotel (pronounced Difrin Casstek). It used to look like this, but it doesn't anymore. For me it's often a way-point between two reasonably taxing slogs, one through steep forests and the next one up to a ridge that runs atop Nant-y-Moch reservoir.  When I get here, I know I'm closing in on Machynlleth (gateway to north Wales). 

Inside one of the buildings on the right hand side of the hotel above, I thought I saw a man lying on a bed in the deep recesses of this perpetual restoration. But it was just a man made of timber.  

So much for my ride home.

It's not all romantic wilderness, mountain-scapes, sunsets and vistas.  Rusty dodgems too. 

Got back to London and there's a tube strike. DIY indeed. Decided to walk home from Paddington. A near full moon over St Pauls. 

Give me that old time religion, moonlight on ....

The End.

Last Updated: 22/01/26

Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer Sleeping Bag

Preface

The following assumes the use of a tent or hooped bivvy (hammock and or tarp / non-hooped bivvy users will need to decide whether such a system may benefit them). We currently use a hooped bivvy + tarp in cold conditions, a tarp + regular bivvy for everything else.

A great deal of testing in varied conditions has brought us to recommending this "modular system". However, more than perhaps any other item, sleeping bags and their worth appears a very personal matter. Everyone's metabolism is different, some sleep hot, some cold, some on their side, some on their back, some probably sleep upside down ... who knows.

All we can do here is recommend what works for us and in doing so provide some useful information to consider before spending what can be a considerable amount of money and often the largest budget item(s) in any pack.

We also assume some sensible sleepwear and this combination has been tested with the thermal underwear recommended in our "sleepwear section" (we do not assume the wearing of insulated jackets or over-trousers).

The combination of sleeping bags we recommend are intended to work together enabling their user to carry only what is likely to be necessary for each trip. This combination will work from the arid to the tropical and down into frostbite territory. It uses mainly (wet weather resistant) synthetic insulation (and if down is recommended, the down bag is always on the inside, except in conditions where warm dry weather is predictable and persistent).

This system will not be too relevant to those who venture out only when it's a nice day; but will likely be of interest to those who enjoy the challenge of enduring the unpleasant conditions that hostile environments visit upon them.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test item: Size = M (185 cm)
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer, Winter
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction: Reasons To Look Beyond The Cloud
• Scramble's Recommended Sleeping Bag System
• Features & Materials: MW's Synthetic Minimalism
• Temperature Rating: Solo & Paired
• Sizing
• Any Negatives?
• Conclusion, Rating & Product Images
• Postscript

Introduction: Reasons To Look Beyond The Cloud

For a long time we'd recommended Alpkit's Cloud Cover as our choice for an ultralight hot weather sleeping bag and inner bag to pair with the two synthetic "outer" (and solo) bags in our recommended "modular system". However, Alpkit's inability to check the ravages of inflation which has seen, in the space of 10 years, the Cloud Cover go from £65 in 2016 to £160 (at the time or writing, an annual inflation rate compounding at close to 10%) has shifted the Cloud Cover from something you'd give a go to more of an investment that better not let you down. Don't get us wrong, it's a very useful item and although it will no longer be part of our core system recommendation (and has been archived) we're going to continue to recommend it, but only for those for whom weight is the primary concern. We've adjusted our rating for the Cloud Cover accordingly and have for a while been seeking out alternatives.

So What Are We Looking For?

As we mentioned, the purpose of "Sleeping Bag 1" is to work on its own in hot / warm conditions where one is confident that nighttime temperatures are not going to drop below +10°C.  This bag needs to be light and compact and pair well with the other two bags in the system, both of which accommodate inner / liner sleeping bags to extend their ratings into sub zero or extreme sub zero temperatures.  The best way to get this across is simply to start at the punchline and work our way back to explain why Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer fits in so well and in many ways is superior to Alpkit's Cloud Cover.
 

In Context: Scramble's Recommended Sleeping Bag System

Many military modular systems use 2 bags: a lighter "patrol" bag (down to 0°C) and a medium-weight cold weather bag (down to -15°C) which combine for extreme cold (down to -30°C, but a total weight of nearly 3kg). Scramble's recommended modular approach uses 3 bags, is lighter and more flexible (better in hotter, arid conditions, yet still good down to -25°C (via our core recommendation) or around -20°C (using the Cloud Cover), the extreme combination weighing a little over 2kg).

Measured weights (without stuff sacks, see our note below*). CL = Comfort Limit:

Scramble's Current (Core) Recommendation (for extreme cold with better all-round wet weather performance)

• Hot + Dry or Wet Weather (CL= +8.0°C): Cocoon Mountain Wanderer (M) = 558g (stuff sack +14g)
• Warm + Dry or Wet Weather (CL= +5.7°C): Carinthia G-90 (L) = 694g (stuff sack +64g)
• Spring, Autumn (CL= -5.0°C): Mountain Wander (M) + Carinthia G-90 (L) = 1,252g
• Winter (CL= -15.0°C): Carinthia Defence 4 (M) = 1,650g (stuff sack +209g, we use an Osprey UL Pack Liner, Small, 30 - 50L = 78g)
• Extreme Cold (CL= -25.0°C): Defence 4 (M) + Mountain Wander (M) = 2,208g (stuff sack = Osprey UL Pack Liner, Small, 30 - 50L = 78g)
   

Scramble's Archived Version (lighter but less flexible at the hot and very cold extremes)

• Hot + Dry Weather (CL= approx +10.0°C): Alpkit Cloud Cover = 438g (stuff sack +14g)
• Warm + Dry or Wet Weather (CL= +5.7°C): Carinthia G-90 (L) = 694g (stuff sack +64g)
• Spring, Autumn (CL= approx. -2.0°C): Cloud Cover + Carinthia G-90 (L) = 1,132g
• Winter (CL= -15.0°C): Carinthia Defence 4 (M) = 1,650g (stuff sack +209g, we use an Osprey UL Pack Liner, Small, 30 - 50L = 78g)
• Extreme Cold (CL= approx. -20.0°C): Defence 4 (M) + Cloud Cover = 2,088g (stuff sack = Osprey UL Pack Liner, Small, 30 - 50L = 78g)

The beauty of the Carinthia G-90 and Defence 4 is that both have sufficient room to accommodate the Mountain Wanderer without overly compressing it and reducing its thermal efficiency. In addition, warm air is trapped between the two bags providing a double glazing effect.

If I was just starting out and was looking into my first sleeping bag setup, where I might venture out in the winter but was not interested in battling extreme cold, I'd strongly consider a dual bag set-up with Carinthia's Defence 1 (D1) and Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer (MW). For around £200 (shopping around) you'd get a light summer bag (MW), a late spring and early autumn bag (D1) and when paired they'd safely get you down to -6°C (-8°C by the ratings). Discarding Carinthia's heavy stuff sack, you'd be carrying a little over 1.5kg. For an ambitious beginner or for that matter most people in the UK, that wouldn't be a bad option at all. 
 

The Mountain Wanderer Compared to Alpkit's Cloud Cover

As we go through this review we'll occasionally draw comparisons to Alpkit's Cloud Cover.  You'll notice Cocoon's sleeping bag wins on most counts, but it loses on an important one: weight. The weight difference (allowing for plus/minus production tolerances) is somewhere between 110g and 120g.  It's not massive but it's not negligible either and for that reason alone, we aren't going to abandon the (now archived) Cloud Cover completely. Instead, we recommend it only for those that want to reduce pack weight above all else. 
 

Features & Materials: Synthetic Minimalism

Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer is a very stripped-down, minimalist sleeping bag. It's only available with a left-side zip, it has a dual-cinch cord for pulling in the hood and sealing at the neck. Aside from an internal pocket, a dual (inner/outer) zip and some hanging loops, that's really all there is in terms of features.

Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer is not a complicated piece of kit.

Materials

Cocoon have used a 45 g/sm 40D ripstop nylon on the outer with minimal stitching over its top surface (similar to Caranthia's sleeping bags - another Austrian manufacturer) which helps retain warm air trapped in the bag's Ecopet Performance insulation. The inner nylon fabric is silky smooth. No issues to report in terms of comfort.

If there was a standard clipart image symbolising a sleeping bag, it would probably look like the Mountain Wanderer.

Features

The Mountain Wanderer uses a 2-way #5 left-side zipper which has anti-snag webbing stitched along its path. The bag can be unzipped from inside or from the outside.  All quite standard stuff. Cocoon have not tried to re-invent the sleeping bag. 

Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer, like most bags can be opening from the inside and the outside.

A dual-cinch cord adjusts the hood volume and seal at the neck. The stopper is solid and their choice of cord offers a good degree of friction preventing loosening.

The dual-cinch works well, but one wonders if Cocoon could have left out the inner pocket (it's something of a gesture).

There's a simple non-fastening (insecure) pocket (pictured above, right) to store a head-torch or whatever else you may need access to in the middle of the night. A velcro closure would have been nice (but such niceties add weight). Instead, it has a fold-over flap which, pressed against the body, should prevent items falling out. It's okay. Personally I store a head-torch in my chest pocket (if my top or gilet has one), as I never sleep on my front.

At the footbox are two hanging loops for drying out the bag if it gets wet in the field, or for drying it out prior to storing it away.
 

Temperature Rating: Solo & Paired

Solo

One of the major advantages of the Mountain Wanderer (MW) over the Cloud Cover is that Cocoon had their sleeping bag independently tested; it has an EN 13537 (European Standard) temperature rating.  So we don't need to make fuzzy guesses as to its warmth. At least for us, this is a big deal and we generally steer clear of manufacturers who aren't sufficiently confident of their product to have it chamber-tested so it can be rated and measured against its peers.

On top of the EN Comfort Limit (the relevant measure for men) +8°C rating of the Mountain Wanderer as a solo bag, Cocoon also state that their sleeping bag, when used as a liner bag, will add 12°C.

Paired (As A Liner)

Adding 12°C as a liner would mean, when paired with the Carinthia G-90, you'd achieve a Comfort Limit (CL) of -6.3°C. To be on the safe side, we've shaved a little off that and approximate to -5°C. 

We wanted to know if Cocoon also EN tested this metric. We'd heard from their UK distributor that they test their liner bags and so we contacted Cocoon and their reply was speedy and helpful.

To paraphrase, the Mountain Wanderer's 12°C added warmth as a liner is a "rather conservative estimate" based on the EN testing data from their range of liners. As an example, Cocoon's designer noted: "the tested added warmth of [Cocoon's] Thermolite Radiator liner is 9°C". The Mountain Wanderer will certainly be warmer than that. So, by adding 10°C, we've taken their conservative estimate and made it even more conservative. In our view, using a range of 10°C - 12°C added warmth should be fine. However, we'll stay safe and keep it concise and say one can expect to add at least +10°C by using the Mountain Wanderer as a liner bag.

One of the things we like about inserting the Mountain Wanderer into our modular system is that, from warm to extreme cold, each combination's drop in temperature rating is uniform (around 10°C). So there are no obvious gaps that may need to be bridged. If you think a CL of -5°C (with the G-90 + Mountain Wanderer) may be pushing your luck, you can switch to the Defence 4 which will buy you another 10°C of leeway. Likewise at -15°C, by adding the Mountain Wanderer to the Defence 4 you get another 10°C of coverage.

Sizing

Like many sleeping bags, the Mountain Wanderer (MW) comes in two sizes: Medium (185cm) which we'd recommend for anyone under 6ft and Large (200cm) which is suitable for those 6ft and over. Theoretically, someone who's 6ft should fit into the Medium, but it might be tight depending on their physique (for example if someone has broad shoulders they might want to consider sizing up if they're bang on 6ft tall).

For those over 6ft, Rab's Solar Eco 0 (Size L) maybe of interest. It weighs about the same as the MW Medium and has the same +8°C Comfort Limit (ignore Rab's own 5°C nonsense).  However, there are a number of things we didn't like about the Solar: a) it uses a much lighter polyester ripstop outer (so it's not going to be nearly as durable); b) their Stratus insulation is not the best in terms of compression / packability and c) it uses less insulation on its underside, which for a looser outer bag can make sense (as, in theory, the underside insulation gets compressed by the body), but for a potential liner, in practice this makes less sense. Sleepers move all over the place at night, especially side sleepers like me, and mummy / liner bags moves with them. So, less insulation on the underside can easily become less insulation on your exposed back. However, for tall, front and/or back sleepers, the Solar Eco 0 may be an alternative.
 

Any Negatives?

There are three minor negatives in our view. 

One is the internal pocket.  It's a minor niggle and we know everyone expects to have one, but for this kind of minimalist sleeping bag you wonder if they could get away without one. If Cocoon felt they absolutely need one, then at least give it a velcro seal. 

The other two negatives relate to weight and packability.  These are the two factors where Alpkit's Cloud Cover has the edge. However, we need to make something clear regarding the product photos of the Mountain Wanderer which comes with a stuff sack, not a compression sack (likewise the Cloud Cover).  Obviously, this keeps the overall product weight down but it also makes it look like the sleeping bag is more bulky when packed than it need be. We pack most of our sleeping bags into dry bags (large ones into small ultralight pack liners), sitting on them to release the air makes them (vacuum) pack down way smaller than they look in the product images below.  That said, the Cloud Cover, packed in the same way, packs down smaller than the Mountain Wanderer.

The Mountain Wander is between 110g and 120g heavier than the Cloud Cover.  For that weight premium you get:

• a sleeping bag (rather than a quilt),
• that has been independently rated,
• that seals with a zip rather than poppers,
• that has a hood,
• that can be cinched and sealed at the neck, and
• that is at least 2°C warmer (maybe more). 

In addition, there no doubt that Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer, when used as a liner, adds substantially more warmth than Alpkit's Cloud Cover (which due to its lack of a rating remains merely a guesstimate). Furthermore, when used alone, in hot and warm weather, the Wanderer's synthetic insulation means you don't need to worry nearly as much about reduced performance in wet conditions. So, for adding a little weight on your back, you get to take a little weight off your mind.

Conclusion & Rating

Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer (MW) is a stripped-down, straight-forward, near-minimalist synthetic sleeping bag which tapers in an unaggressive mummy fashion to a standard 50cm footbox (55cm size L).  No attempt has been made by Cocoon to re-imagine anything, rather they've concentrated on the basics and stuck to them. They've used a light yet durable ripstop nylon fabric with minimal top stitching to prevent heatloss. The Ecopet Performance insulation is made from recycled polyester and according to EN 13537 it does its job.

The Mountain Wanderer works fine as a solo summer bag (with a Comfort Limit of +8°C) where nighttime temperatures aren't expected to be drop below +10°C.  However, where it really shines is as a liner bag, providing at least +10°C (stated / proxy-rated +12°C) when paired with accommodating bags like those in Carinthia's Defence series and Carinthia's excellent G-90 (size L). 

Would we like it to be lighter?  Of course, we'd be happier if the Mountain Wanderer was in the 450g range (like the Cloud Cover) rather than ~550g.  But when we compare the two offerings, Alpkit's vs. Cocoon's, it's easy to see why, for our modular system, the Mountain Wanderer wins :

It's an EN-rated sleeping bag, not a quilt; it weighs about the same as Alpkit's down Pipedream 200 (which is 0.6°C warmer and costs more than twice as much); unlike the Cloud Cover it has a zip rather than poppers and has a hood and can be cinch-sealed at the neck; it functions better in wet conditions and is at least 2°C warmer. On top of all that, it costs less than 60% of the Cloud Cover's ever-inflating price (based on RRP).
 

Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer improves a modular system that we were already quite pleased with; extending its range down to -25°C (possibly -27°C) and creating a more uniform temperature ratings descent with each sleeping bag / combination.  We feel the 110g - 120g weight premium is well worth it, for those that don't agree, there's nothing wrong with the Cloud Cover (it has its advantages, afterall we recommended it for about eight years). However, as far as our core, three sleeping bag modular system goes, it's Austria with a clean sweep.  Cocoon's Mountain Wanderer is a great value sleeping bag and our top pick for "Sleeping Bag 1" (1 Season and 4 Season Inner).

Product Images

(% gallery name=sleepingbag1-cocoon-mountain-wanderer %)

Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

Postscript

Why not down all the way?

As an inner bag, down is superb. If you can guarantee arid conditions (deserts, Himalayas, arctic etc.) then down is the way to go, but for the UK and northern Europe, not so much and you literally have to factor in a daily thermal performance loss for down in wet conditions (regardless of hydrophobic patches to an insoluble problem).

Andy Kirkpatrick explains:

"There is nothing as great as a bone dry down sleeping bag. Unfortunately there is also nothing as grim as a wet one. Saturated down loses 90% of its insulation as the delicate structure of the clusters stick together and collapse. The down absorbs a lot of water and because it loses most of its thermal performance it must be dried via an outside heat source like the sun, a tumble dryer or a body. In many cases where there is moisture present, a down bag will lose performance each night it is used, as the down becomes slowly saturated. The rate at which this happens is dependent on the skill of the user and the conditions in which it is being used. This water contamination comes both from without and within the bag and learning to slow the speed of this performance drop is one of the skills needed to use a down bag effectively. Down just doesn’t work in high saturated environments and best suits cold and dry conditions, or the protected sanctuary of a dry space like a tent, hut or snow hole."

Our Winter Kit test in 2016 was particularly tricky and saw 4 days of permanent heavy rain, hail and sleet book-ended by 3 days of freezing cold (down to -8°C). Everything got wet (regardless of care and skill) and the Defence 4, being synthetic held up superbly, a down bag would have been a disaster and quite possibly dangerous.

* A note on stuff sacks and weight stats

We don't quote the weights including stuff sacks, mainly because we don't feel the manufacturer's choice of stuff sack design has a great deal to do with their sleeping bags (an example is Mountain Hardwear's Lamina bags which come with something more akin to a Tesco's 10 gram shopping bag, whereas Carinthia's come with military grade compression sacks; apples and oranges and all that. In addition we only use a stuff sack for the sub-zero bag, and for that we use an Osprey Ultralight Pack Liner (S, 30 - 50L) The G-90 can simply go in the base of ones pack (assuming it has a waterproof liner) as it fills the nooks and crannies well and gets compressed by all your other kit. The Cloud Cover comes with a superlight sack and likewise easily gets compressed when you cover it with the rest of your stuff. If it's used as an inner, then it can just go inside the G-90 or the Defence 4.

Last Updated: 14/01/26
Added to the Sizing section

OMM's Core Zipped Vest

Preface

As always, we're looking at the OMM Core Zipped Vest from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test item: 2025 version, size = Large
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer (Winter upcoming)
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction: Another Categorical Shift
• Utility Thermal Booster
• Material: Primaloft ACTIVE
• Features
• Any Negatives?
• Conclusion, Rating & Product Images

Introduction: Another Categorical Shift

In our Scramble News, April 2025 we wrote about our decision to alter two categories in our review catalogue. One such change was the shift from "Lightweight (~250g) Down Gilet" to "Utility Insulation Layer (Active & Static)":

Our use and subsequent Special Mention review of Marmot's Alt HB Pullover got us thinking about how we should handle our "Gilet" option which was becoming an increasingly redundant "legacy" category as it no longer accurately conveyed our approach. Recently, we've been packing less specialist, lightweight thermal layers that not only boost insulation for the static user (around camp or in a sleeping bag) but also work, in extremis, when active.

Materials like Teijin Frontier's Octa-Yarn, Polartec's Alpha Direct and Primaloft's ultralight ACTIVE insulation (an open synthetic plume woven through a knitted mesh) allow heat to escape when combined with an air-permeable softshell (or no shell at all) yet trap heat when worn under a traditional tightly woven fabric like those used in wind-tops or insulated (belay) jackets.

The most promising item we've come across in this category is OMM's ultralight (140g, size L) Core Zipped Vest which is 35% lighter than the down gilet we had previously recommended and nearly 40% lighter than Marmot's Alt HB pullover which prompted the shift in our outlook.

I've used the OMM Core Vest on the last two kit tests and it's quickly become an ideal pack-in-case item.  We regard the Core Vest as an ultralight, highly packable, insulation booster, utility layer that can play a role whether static or active, asleep or wide awake.
 

Utility Thermal Booster

In essence what all these "open insulations" are doing is taking the fleece to its logical extreme.  The classic fleece + windbreaker worked because the fleece alone was a breathable insulator and so allowed heat to escape, but when paired with an impermeable layer the fleece trapped the air and kept the wearer warm. With Primaloft ACTIVE, instead of a fleece you have a much more compressible "plume" of exposed insulation.

The one negative for such "open insulations" is that they're inevitably more delicate than a traditional, more tightly woven fleece. On the flip-side, they're also a hell of a lot lighter (warmth-to-weight-wise). 

OMM's Core Zipped Vest is a straight forward gilet with a high neck and a single chest pocket. There are no hand pockets. Fell runners who use this as an outer layer don't need them and we recommend the Core Vest (for long distance load carriers) as a utility mid-layer, worn under a softshell when active or a traditional insulated jacket (or sleeping bag) when static. So no pockets, in our view is a sensible move on OMM's part.

OMM's Core Zipped Vest, left to right: front, back, inside-out (front view).

Material: Primaloft ACTIVE

Primaloft ACTIVE is made from a synthetic plume of polyester microfibres (similar to traditional insulation) which is then woven onto a knitted mesh creating a high volume (lofted), open structure; an extremely air-permeable, ultra-fine pile.

Whether the insulation is synthetic sheet, plume or natural down, traditional thermal jackets (like houses) sandwich their insulation between two walls - an outer face-fabric and an inner "down-proof" lining. "Open insulations" like Alpha Direct or Primaloft ACTIVE let the wearer decide what to do with all that heat they've generated:  whether to trap it (under a windproof layer) and stay warm or let the heat dissipate.and the wearer cool down. In essence, these open insulations have modularised (if that's a word) traditional insulation. 

Pictured below (pic #1) is the outer face of the OMM Core Vest, the ultrafine pile in all its plumy, air-trapping-potential, glory. On the right (pic #2), is the inner fine mesh onto which the plume is woven (click the image for a closer look).

A close up view of the OMM Core's Primaloft ACTIVE insulation.

OMM designed the Core Zipped Vest as an active outer layer for fell runners (not an accessory to carry-in-case but as something to wear on the move). The highly air-permeable structure dumps heat, keeping the runner cool, but when static, the runner can quickly don an ultralight windtop such as OMM's own Sonic Smock (~60g) or Montane's Featherlite Nano (~55g) and suddenly they're wearing something very close to a traditional lightweight insulated jacket and keeping warm (for a total of around 200g, and only 60g carry-weight).  You can see the appeal for competitive runners.

Running and long distance trekking have some things in common but also many differences. One difference is that these fell-runners aren't carrying 10 days of food supplies and 50L+ packs. Scramble don't recommend using the Core Zipped Vest as an outer layer. Instead, for our purposes, OMM's Core Zipped Vest has three main roles:

1. Active:  Under a softshell in punishingly cold conditions
   Where resorting to some form of synthetic insulation whilst on the move has been helpful. Such occurrences, at least for me, have generally been at the end of long days, in persistent cold, wet and stormy conditions, when I'm tired, feeling sorry for myself and thinking primarily of where I can pitch to end the misery.
2. Static: Under traditional insulated jackets
   When static (after pitching) in cold conditions, worn over sleepwear to provide a boost to standard insulation pieces.
3. Static: Under a sleeping bag
   Worn over sleepwear (baselayer) when the choice of sleeping bag has been overly optimistic and a thermal boost has been necessary.

In the image below, my top half (minus the hat) is modelling the sleepwear I used on the last two kit tests: the OMM Core Gilet over a Montane Allez Micro Pull-On. It was cool, windy and wet and in such circumstances the Core does make a minor difference; put a windtop over it and the thermal effect is notable.

Let the heat go with the OMM's Core Zipped Vest exposed to the elements.

Features

In terms of features the Core Zipped Vest uses a reverse coil YKK zip (pic #2, below right), has a snug fitting collar and a well-sized chest pocket (pic #1, below left).  That's really about it.  Everything works as it should; no complaints in terms of form, fit and function.

Aside from a chest pocket, there are hardly any features to speak of.

There are a few ultralight gilets in the same weight range that would provide more warmth: Haglofs now discontinued (but still available if you shop around) L.I.M Barrier Vest and OMM's Rotor Vest, both of which use Primaloft Gold Crosscore 40g (Aerogel infused, equivalent to ~60g Primaloft Gold) and weigh around 140g (size Large).  However, in our opinion, neither of these are suitable for active use and thus don't have that "utility" element to them.  They're limited in the same was any insulated jacket would be (when active you overheat and sweat, which is not good in sub zero conditions).
 

Any Negatives?

To date there aren't any negatives.  However, the concern (as it is with most of the "open insulations") is durability.  Time will tell, but most of the negative comments we've seen relating to such items is when they've been used as outer layers. As with most ultralight pieces, we always recommend taking good care of them so they can take good care of you.  The OMM Core Zipped Vest is no different in this regard.
 

Conclusion & Rating

The OMM Core Zipped Vest is the kind of item that you'd throw in your pack if you felt you might be pushing your luck on the thermal front. Unsure or what exactly might be overcome by conditions (sleeping bag, insulated jacket, active layers), you just want something that could slot in to your existing layering to take the edge off, whether active in punishing conditions or static and just feeling the chill.

The OMM Core Vest is an all-round, thermal booster, utility piece, that most importantly can be worn when active without causing you to over-heat and sweat profusely.

Unlike a fleece, the Primaloft Active insulation (an unconfined sheet insulation analogue) lofts and compresses like a high-end insulated jacket; so the OMM Core Vest takes up very little pack space. Yet, like a high-end tech fleece, the Core Vest is extremely lightweight and very air permeable, allowing heat to escape when active. 

At Scramble, we're not big on the whole mid-layer / fleece concept.  However, we aren't against having add-on pieces that can provide a thermal boost when conditions turn toward the unexpected and one's overly-aggressive insulation budgeting is exposed. OMM's Core Zipped Vest is just that, an ultralight add-on that can play multiple roles and it's our top pick in the new "Utility Insulation Layer (Active & Static)" category.
 

Product Images

(% gallery name=omm-core-zipped-vest %)

Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

Last Updated: 01/01/26

Thanks for your patience in 2025. It took us a while to thoroughly test some of the recently reviewed kit. We should have a number of reviews and updates coming in early 2026 before our Winter Kit Test in February. Stay tuned and have fun bringing in the new year !

Baselayer Half Shorts & Winter Leggings

Preface

As this is a multi-product review, we're not going to provide individual ratings, rather (as we've done in the past) we'll rate the whole ensemble, as some of the products are intended to work in partnership.

The introduction to this piece is quite long and provides a good amount of context for the items reviewed, however for those that want to jump straight into the reviews, click here.

As always, we're looking at each of the products in this review from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test items: Saxx Quest, Size = M / Löffler Midway , Size = M / Odlo Active F-Dry, Size = L
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer, Winter
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Summary Datasheet: Weights & Prices (RRP)

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction: What do we want and why is it so hard to get?
• - Why Half Shorts?
• - To Be Discontinued: Why Does This Always Happen?
• - Why Are We So "Fixated" On Polypropylene?
• - Why Is It So Hard To Get Polypropylene-Based Half-Shorts?
• 3 Season Half Shorts
• - Overview: Saxx's Quest 2.0 Quick Dry Mesh Boxer (8", Long Leg)
• - Any Negatives?
• 4 Season (Wet / Sub Zero) Half Shorts
• - Overview: Löffler's Midway Transtex Light Boxershorts
• - Any Negatives?
• Sub-Zero Over-Tights / Leggings
• - Overview: Odlo's Active F-Dry Light Baselayer Bottoms
• - Any Negatives?
• Conclusion, Rating & Product Images

Introduction:  What do we want and why is it so hard to get?

Walking long distances, whether over flat or mountainous terrain, is a relatively constant affair in terms of energy expenditure when compared to activities like climbing which can be very stop and start. Since ones legs are doing the bulk of the work, they're generating plenty of heat and thus, even in low sub-zero temperatures, we've not found the need for a thermal component for next-to-skin, baselayer bottoms;  if it is very cold, just add an over-layer (see Sub-Zero Over-Tights / Leggings).

The purpose of a baselayer is to move moisture and excess heat away from the skin and achieve a thermal balance that doesn't fluctuate too much throughout the day as conditions and activity levels vary. The most important factor when choosing baselayer bottoms is comfort, and that means: a) the avoidance of chafing (low profile seams), b) moisture transport and by extension a hydrophobic, quick drying material, c) breathability, and d) being comfortable when wet, since in certain conditions, no matter how skillful you might be, everything gets wet.
 

Why Half Shorts?

In our view, the half-leg length is ideal for first layer (next to skin), baselayer bottoms. Form-fitting boxers (6" inner thigh or less) tend to ride up into the groin and 3/4 length tights tend to ride up above the calf, bunch at the back of the knee and want to pull down at the waist when the knee flexes. Conversely, figure-hugging half-shorts stay in place, secure above the knee-cap and below the quads, they tend not to be pulled downward as the knee flexes.
 

To Be Discontinued:  Why Does This Always Happen?

Now, what we're after has already been made. The problem is, it has also stopped being made and a few years back, just as we were about to write our review, the item in question was discontinued. Thank you Spaio!

Italian brand Spaio, who make some high quality baselayers, seem to have decided that half-shorts are for idiots and everyone needs full-length tights. How and why they came to that conclusion, we have no idea.  But it's a dumb shame as their Relieve Shorts W04 (pictured below in Black-Red, size Medium) were as close to ideal as we've come across, both in terms of performance and material mix: 

• Polypropylene (57%) for its light weight, hydrophobic, thermal, and many other qualities (see below)
• Polyamide (nylon, 37%) to add a little strength and abrasion resistance, and
• Elastane (6%) to provide the necessary stretch for a fitted baselayer.

Here are Spaio's excellent Relieve Shorts W04 and if they were still being made, we'd be recommending them and there would be just two products (Spaio's and Odlo's) in this review, as these function flawlessly in all conditions, in all seasons.

The excellent but discontinued Spaio Relieve Shorts W04.

We're going to be writing to Megmeister to see if they'd like to create something similar as they're ideally positioned to do so.  They make two half-shorts already: a compression pair and a padded (chamois) pair for cycling and they're major proponents of polypropylene (PP) which they often refer to by its branded name  "Dryarn" (a fine-spun microfibre form of PP).

Megmeister's Drynamo SS Mesh Crew looks to have the right ingredients for a breathable pair of stretchy, mesh half-shorts; being 44% polypropylene, 44% nylon 6.6 (a strong form of nylon) and 12% elastane. It's certainly in the ball-park (partial pun intended).  
 

Why Are We So "Fixated" On Polypropylene?

The reason we're always searching for a dominant polypropylene component in all the baselayers we test is simply because, from the standpoint of a lightweight baselayer, it's hard to envisage a more suitable material:

• Lightweight: Because of its low specific gravity, polypropylene yields the greatest volume of fibre for a given weight. Polypropylene is the lightest of all fibres and is lighter than water. It is 34% lighter than polyester and 20% lighter than nylon.
   
• Hydrophobic, thus quick to dry: The water absorption of polypropylene fibre is about 0.3% after 24 hours immersion in water, and thus its regain – the amount of water absorbed in a humid atmosphere – is virtually nil (0.05% at 65% RH, 21 °C.). Polypropylene is hydrophobic and will not absorb water in the fibre. Water “wicks” away from the skin and through the fabric to the face for quick evaporation.
   
• Cold weather performance: Lowest thermal conductivity of any natural or synthetic fibre (6.0 compared to 7.3 for wool, 11.2 for viscose and 17.5 for cotton). Polypropylene fibres retain more heat for a longer period of time providing outstanding insulation and combined with its hydrophobic qualities keeps the wearer dry as well as warm. Polypropylene is warmer than wool, remains flexible at temperatures in the region of -55°C and recovers well from bending.
   
• Microbially inert: Like other synthetic fibres – nylon, acrylic and polyester – polypropylene fibres are not attacked by bacteria or micro-organisms; they are also moth-proof and rot-proof and are inherently resistant to the growth of mildew and mold.
   
• Abrasion: The abrasion resistance of polypropylene approaches that of nylon and remains high even when wet.
   

So, Why Is It So Hard To Get Polypropylene-Based Half-Shorts?

Search Amazon for "Base Layer Half Short Men" and you'll find stacks of products that look like just the thing.  On closer inspection, they're either "compression" training shorts (generally nylon or polyester with a very high elastane content - heavy, sweaty and hard to get dry) or they're around 90% polyester and 10% elastane (this kind of thing). They may do a job in ideal conditions, but when it's wet and/or freezing they're exposed for being, to put it politely, non-optimal.

What it tells us however, is that the issue is not the "half-short design" itself; that's ubiquitous. So, it must be something else.  Possibly the fact that polypropylene is extremely hard to dye in fabric form? *  Or people aren't informed about its properties and so the demand isn't there?  Both are possible.

* Polypropylene has a non-polar, highly crystalline aliphatic structure with no active chemical sites that traditional water-based dyes can bond with. Colour is added during manufacturing through a process called solution dyeing (or mass pigmentation) where pigments are mixed into the raw, hot liquid polymer solution before it is extruded through a spinneret to form fibres.

Our view is that the outdoor industry puts shockingly little effort into marketing (or rather, educating people about the empirically proven properties of) the materials they use. An effort that seems inversely proportional to that applied in their often overly-enthusiastic extolling of virtues, far less provable, regarding the performance of their designs. Compounding this is the obfuscatory desire to use all sorts of techy-trademarked names for common materials (Dryarn® instead of polypropylene or Polarloft® which is 3M® Thinsulate® which is polyester), which only serves to confuse the public when it comes to what exactly, in a material sense, they're actually buying.

We recently talked to UK-based brand Sub Zero and they mentioned they've had to halt their polypropylene-based (Meraklon®) product lines, due to problems sourcing the material. Why? We don't know. But it's not good when your name is Sub Zero and you can't use a material that is tailor-made for sub-zero conditions.  

We'll leave it there, but all this is a long way to say, that currently finding high quality, polypropylene-dominant, half-shorts is not easy (whatever the reason). Which is why we've been so quiet in this category for so long.  

Now, ironically, the first product we're going to look at has no polypropylene in it. We would rather they did, but the Saxx Quest pair performed extremely well and it's only at the extremes that limitations become apparent.  As such we recommend these half-shorts, but only for 3-season (i.e. non-perpetually saturated and/or non-sub-zero) use.

3 Season Half Shorts

Saxx's Quest 2.0 Quick Dry Mesh Boxer (8", Long Leg)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Overview: Saxx's Quest Quick Dry Mesh

The Saxx Quest QD Mesh half shorts (we'll call them the "Quests" from here on) feature the famous "BallPark Pouch" a "3D hammock-shaped" pouch to hold a man's most personal possessions. Having worn many non-pouched, form-fitting pieces like Spaio's Relieve mentioned earlier or F-Lite's Megalight 140s and many others, I was a little skeptical of this "pouch" feature. I'd not, in the past, felt the need to be liberated from my inhibiting half-shorts, indeed when I first tried the Quests on without trousers, I didn't like them.

When it comes to outdoor underpants, there's such a thing as too much freedom and I didn't want my balls bouncing all over the place as I jumped from boulder to boulder. However, the Quests feel completely different "in the field", worn under a pair of softshell trousers.

The Saxx Quests are very comfortable and quick to dry (when active).

In use, over the last two wet weather kit test, the Saxx Quests performed admirably; were very comfortable and largely went unnoticed (which is a very good sign):

• Zero seam issues (no chafing).
• They performed perfectly well when soaking wet.
• They dried quickly in active use, though were slower to dry when they got wet in the evenings. I'd set up camp, get the Quests off and hang them out in a cool breeze without much if any sun left, and that's when they struggled to dry out.
• They have a wide waistband, that doesn't dig into you and has just the right degree of elasticity (pictured above, right).
• They never felt clammy, in large part due to the breathable mesh (pictured above, right) which is only really apparent when you hold the Quests up to the light (as per the image below):

A closer look at the breathable mesh of the Saxx Quests.

Any Negatives? A Brief Summary

We like the Saxx Quest Mesh baselayer bottoms. Shortfalls relate entirely to the material mix Saxx went with.  They have quite a lot of elastane (14%) in the mix which obviously provides for a good degree of stretch but it also makes them a little heavier than they need to be. However, it's the nylon and polyester mix which makes them less appealing for sub zero or cold and saturated conditions. 

In sub-zero conditions, you need to manage moisture quite vigilantly; it's not fun trying to put on a frozen pair of semi-rigid under-pants. If moist, you need to store them somewhere near a radiator, called "your body". So, you want a material that's as hydrophobic as possible, to repel and/or exorcise water as though it were a demon. The ideal material for this, as we outlined above, is polypropylene.  

We only recommend the Quests for temperatures above freezing. When compared to the Löfflers (reviewed below) for regular / 3-season use, the Quests are very much on a par, yet cost about 30% less.

For those that do regularly venture into the freezing cold, we recommend a polypropylene-based pair ... enter Löffler.

4 Season (Saturated / Sub Zero Conditions) Half Shorts

Löffler's Midway Transtex Light Boxershorts

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Overview: Löffler's Midway Transtex

Löffler's Midway Transtex Light Boxershorts (we'll refer to them as the MTLs from now on) are a similar weight (62g) to the ideal Spaio pair (68g) we mentioned earlier and about two thirds of the weight of the Saxx Quests.  They're made from 95% polypropylene and 5% elastane, a similar material mix to the excellent (Dry Revolution / Elite 2.0) baselayers Helly Hansen used to produce.

Similar to the Quests, they're made using a fine mesh (finer than the Quests). As we mentioned earlier, polypropylene (PP) has the lowest thermal conductivity of any natural or synthetic fibre and is warmer than wool, so it's best used sparingly in finer gauge applications. If the fabric weight is too heavy (remember PP itself is relatively lightweight), a baselayer may be too warm and cause the wearer to over-heat. The MTL's super-fine mesh is an ideal foundation for a very quick drying pair of baselayer bottoms.

Löffler's Midway Transtex Light Boxers are made from 95% polypropylene.

In terms of design they're quite similar to the Quests, but without the 3D pouch. Like the Quests, in use they were "very comfortable and largely went unnoticed (which is a very good sign)". Performance-wise, there's very little between them, they both do a very good job. The difference is how they handle moisture in more extreme conditions. That's the premium Löffler is making you pay for. In our view, being the kind of people who do wake up in the freezing cold, it's a premium worth paying. If I could choose only one pair and Spaio don't restart production on their Relieve Half Shorts, then I'd go with Löffler's MTLs.

Here's a quick summary of what they have going for them:

• Excellent flat-lock, low profile seams. Zero seam issues (no chafing).
• They performed very well when wet.
• They dried extremely quickly when active and also managed to dry when static overnight. A little airing would get them from damp-wettish to moist and often they'd be dry enough to stow inside my sleeping bag or worst case in my Tower "pillow-setup". Ultimately, polypropylene makes wet-gear management so much easier. It's not that everything is perfectly dry all the time, but there's a big difference getting into slightly moist baselayers and wet baselayers; nothing drains body heat like wet clothing.
• They have a wide waistband, that doesn't dig into you and has just the right degree of elasticity (pictured above, top right).
• They don't get clammy due to the breathable fine-gauge mesh (pictured above, bottom right) which allows moisture to quickly evaporate.  The mesh is more apparent when you hold the MTLs up to the light (as per the image below):

A closer look at the breathable mesh of the Löffler's MTLs.

Any Negatives? A Brief Summary

There are a couple of minor niggles.

They're a fraction shorter than the Quests in the same waist size (medium). We'd like Löffler to add a centimetre or perhaps two to the leg-length.

They're not as easy to come-by as the Quests for UK customers. We contacted Löffler about stocking their MTL half-shorts and they stated they weren't considering supplying UK-based retailers directly. However, many EU stores will ship to the UK and the most UK-friendly in our view is AlpineTrek (who do stock the Loffler MTLs) and reliably ship to the UK (and offer hassle-free returns). They're VAT registered for the UK, so there's no import duty / VAT issues for UK customers (VAT is paid at the point of sale).

We'd love to see more competition in the half-short baselayer arena.  Companies like Spaio and Megmeister are ideally suited to manufacture trekking baselayer half shorts with a material mix like that used on the Relieve W04s.  An approximate 60 / 32 / 8 mix of polypropylene, nylon 6.6 and elastane with integrated mesh elements would be close to ideal. Nylon 6.6 provides additional toughness and abrasion resistance and elastane yields some stretch and minor compression that makes for a form-hugging half-short.

That, in our view, would be at least the material ingredients for ideal, next to skin, baselayer bottoms  We'll leave the design to the pros. 

Löffler's Midway Transtex Light Boxershort aren't perfect and they aren't Spaio's Relieve W04s, but they are more than capable; much more. In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Currently, the world of true, high-performance trekking baselayer half-shorts is a barren and blind kingdom. One we hope is soon to be populated by those who not only look but also see.

Sub-Zero Over-Tights / Leggings

Odlo's Active F-Dry Light Baselayer Bottoms

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Overview: Odlo's Active F-Dry Light

We're going to update this review after the upcoming Winter Kit Test (2026), as the Odlo F-Dry Lights are not the same as the previous Cubics (pictured as placeholders in this review) which the F-Dry Lights replaced. The mesh on the F-Dry is finer and Odlo have added a little (12%) polypropylene to the mix (the Cubics were 100% polyester). This is definitely an improvement. However, the idea is largely the same; a tight mesh of tiny air pockets that provide a breathable and mildly insulating barrier between your legs and the snow-covered or rain-soaked softshell trousers taking the beating above. In short, a comfortable, modular, trouser lining with baselayer properties. 

A closer look at the mesh of Odlo's Active F-Dry Lights (pictured are the former version, Odlo's Cubics)

The Odlo Active F-Dry tights lie somewhere between a traditional lightweight baselayer legging and the mesh designs of Brynje. The idea behind the mesh layer is that:

1. it's light because much of it is air,
2. that air is trapped by other layers and acts as an insulating "air pocket" next to the skin, and
3. it's highly breathable, aiding evaporation and thus is quick to dry.

Odlo's Actifve F-Dry baselayers are not a heavy thermal option, but in winter they work extremely well as a 2nd layer over a pair of polypropylene-based half-short like the Löfflers (reviewed above), providing just enough additional protection while guaranteeing the wearer will not overheat, sweat profusely, get wet, then cold.

The Active F-Drys, like the Cubics (L = 115g, full-length) before them, are competitively lightweight (L = 100g for 3/4 length). In terms of sizing, a medium would fit me fine, but we're recommending these for winter use only and sizing up (which doesn't make them a baggy fit) allows one to have them a little higher on the waist, so your baselayer top can be comfortably tucked in between the half shorts and Odlo Active F-Drys. The Odlo 3/4 F-Drys are long enough to tuck under our recommended knee-length winter socks, and this keeps everything in its right place.

The Odlo Active F-Dry full and 3/4 length version both do an excellent job as winter over-tights; a second (intermediate) layer, functioning as modular trouser linings providing a quick drying, breathable and comfortable barrier between your hydrophobic, moisture expelling, half-shorts and your protective softshell trousers. 
 

Any Negatives?

No major negatives to report. We just hope Odlo continue to produce these.  If we must be picky, we'd say that Odlo should have added more polypropylene; we'd like to see at least 30%.

We'll update this portion of the review if we have any additional information to add. 

Conclusion & Rating

We're not going to make some grand overarching conclusion here, or reiterate conclusions we've already made about the individual products under review. Below, we've rated the three products as one ensemble.

Instead, we'll end this review by saying we're genuinely confused as to why half shorts like those made by Spaio (the Relieve W04) aren't commonplace and standard in the outdoor world. Why Rab, Mountain Equipment, Odlo, Megmeister, Sub Zero, Mammut and on and on, all don't offer some variant of this item (a polypropylene, polyamide, elastane mix half-short with mesh elements) in their trekking baselayer catalogue. 

The Spaio Relieves worked across all seasons and ticked all the boxes (set out at the very beginnng of this review) for high performance baselayer bottoms.  Yet, finding such a pair, in a domain normally so abundant with options, is like finding a needle in a haystack. How this has become the outdoor world's status quo, we genuinely do not understand. If anyone has any insights, feel free to drop us an email.  In the meantime, we're quite happy with the products in this review, we just feel we could be happier. 

... and on that note, Happy Christmas everyone!

Product Images

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Ensemble Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

Last Updated: 24/12/25

Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch Jacket

Special Mentions

[ * below we've bolded the relevant condition for the item reviewed here ]

Over time we've come across a number items that have really impressed us and we'd like to draw attention to, but ...

• either they don't quite fit into our rather strictly defined / narrow categories, or
• they are, or are highly likely to be, our top-rated recommendations, but may require some more testing, or
• due to their high price-point, they cannot compete with our existing recommendations (mainly on the value score), or
• they will become our top choice, but only if and when our existing recommendation becomes unavailable (i.e. this item is the current heir in waiting but is just marginally edged out by our current recommendation).

So for such items we've created "special mentions" (SM). These "reviews" don't get a rating score and may receive less in-depth coverage and don't feature in our catalogue, instead the SM write-ups fall somewhere between a post and a formal review. They are identified by a blue Scramble mountain logo.

Intros out of the way, we'll proceed with our look at Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch Jacket, and as always, we'll be looking at it from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test item: Size = Extra Large
Kit Tests: Summer, (Winter Upcoming)
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction
• A Quick Note On Sizing
• Overview & Materials
• Features
• Compared to Rab's Borealis
• Latest Version Appears To Negate Our Concerns
• Any Negatives?
• Conclusion & Product Images

Introduction: Dynafit's Border Crossing

Note: Dynafit has released a new version of the Transalper. The points we've raised regarding the mesh back panel, the hood and main zip have all been addressed in the latest release.

If you're unfamilair with Dynafit, they began in Austria in the 1950s making ski boots.  In 2003 they joined the Oberalp Group, a family-owned business based in Bolzano (just across the border in South Tyrol), Italy, which also owns Salewa and Wild Country.  In our view, the border crossing cannot have had any significant impact on standards (unless positive). Today, Dynafit produce some very high quality garments; often on a par with the best of Mountain Equipment and sometimes perhaps superior.  Unless you shop around and get lucky (or are willing to be patient before swooping on special offers which can be significant), you'll likely pay a premium for Dynafit apparel, but clever design, quality materials and excellent finishing all come at a price.

Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch is a classic softshell that utilises a number of technical fabrics.

Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch Jacket (we'll refer to it simply as the Transalper from now on) is a rather traditional softshell. In fact, Rab's latest Borealis offering (the 2025 Borealis Hooded Jacket), at least in terms of its feature-set, is quite the doppleganger; a full-zipped, nylon-based, hooded softshell jacket, with two hand pockets (as pictured below).

Rab's latest Borealis Jacket has the same focused design and feature-set.

What makes the Transalper different and a little more sophisticated is the combination of technical fabrics employed, each with a clearly defined purpose. But before we get into that ...
 

A Quick Note On Sizing

Depending on how you look at it, Dynafit either size small, or perhaps more likely make apparel that is designed to be form-fitting. Their target audience is comprised of mountain runners, fast-moving Alpinists and ski touring mountaineers, whom they collectively refer to as fast moving mountain endurance athletes. I hope they don't mind us crashing their party.  

When you look at the models used to exhibit their gear, they tend to be wiry and slender, muscular but lightly built. I could have squeezed into the Transalper in a size large, in fact we purchased a number of Dynafit items including the Transalper Vest (the hooded gilet version of the item under review here) and the size L fits me (partly due to the stretch) but it's a close, slim fit (fine for a supplemental layer). However, when it comes to an outer softshell jacket, I prefer a regular, looser fit, as I'm often stuffing things like map bags down inside it. I found the fit of the XL Transalper ideal and pretty much the same as Rab's Borealis in a size L.
 

Overview & Materials

Two aspects of the Transalper are immediately apparent as soon it's donned. The first and most obvious (and given away in its "Dynastretch" name) is its stretchiness. It's not over-the-top stretchy, in fact it's quite similar to Rab's Borealis, but its 4-way stretch allows the jacket to be worn as a figure hugging option with sufficient flex to operate unhindered on the rocks. Rab's Matrix Single Weave softshell used throughout the Borealis is an 85% / 15%  mix of (tough) nylon and (stretchy) elastane; the Transalper's hood, shoulders and arms (all the parts likely to get roughed up by rocks, packs, picks and gear) have a similar mix, with 1% more elastane (an 84% / 16% nylon to elastane mix). The torso fabric (dark blue) has an even greater degree of stretch with 21% elastane and has a small amount (14%) of polyester in the mix, but is again largely comprised of nylon. This makes the (sized up, regular fitting) Transalper a versatile jacket for layering.  If you needed to layer an insulated or waterproof jacket underneath it to protect them from the rocks or undergrowth, the Transalper can accommodate such options. 

Keeping it simple: stretchy, nylon-based, 2 pockets and a hood.

The other aspect, apparent on closer inspection, that's purposefully woven into its design is breathability.  Clearly Dynafit want their over-heating, fast movers to vent. There are minuscule perforations in the "Dynastretch Dots" (dark blue) torso fabric, as well as larger laser cut dots at the sides and up under the arms. Most noticeable is the large Warpknit Air Mesh venting panel on the back.
 

A Traditional Softshell

So, what we have here is a lightweight, traditional, hooded, full-zip softshell jacket designed to flex and breathe, whilst also providing meaningful protection from harsh winds and abrasion from rock and thorny thistle alike. It's a tricky balancing act, but one that the Transalper, like the Borealis, pulls off with some aplomb.

In terms of features, we've got:

• two zipped, roomy (and stretchy) hand pockets
• an internal "glove / smartphone" pocket
• a well fitting, non-adjustable lycra-bound hood
• lycra-binding at the cuffs and an elasticated hem

In short, a classic, traditional, lightweight softshell.

Dynafit's Transalper is an excellent example of clear-headed design.

Fabrics

Let's have a look at this back panel, which was our one concern regarding the Transalper.  We were worried on two counts:

1. potential for the panel's edge seams to cause chafing under a heavy pack, and
2. that the mesh wouldn't be tough enough to handle the constant abrasive wear of a heavy pack's back panel when in motion for twelve hours a day.

To date, these concerns have been unwarranted. The seams around the Air Mesh panel are low profile and went completely unnoticed and though it's too early to be definitive, I've seen no evidence of wear on the mesh panel itself.

Pictured below is a close up of the Warpknit Air Mesh 140 fabric (77% polyester / 23% elastane mix). In the close-up, the dark patches are actually semi-transparent and you're seeing through the mesh to the inner front fabric (which is dark blue). If you hold the mesh up to the light you can see through it; if you cover your mouth with it, your breathing is only restricted by about 20 or 30%, so it's very air permeable.

The Transalper Dynastretch features a large and highly air-permeable back venting panel.

Competition is a good thing and we like having alternatives waiting in the wings in case manufacturers (Rab in this case) mess things up (as manufacturers all too often do when they approach perfection ... like some kind of Icarus syndrome). So, we're going to focus on testing the Transalper as much as possible to see if this Air Mesh panel is a refreshing blessing or a fragile curse.

Under a heavy pack, the mesh panel isn't really acting as a vent. However, when taking a quick break with pack removed, you really do notice a nice cooling effect.

When it comes to breathability, the material that's most impressive is the Dynastretch Dots (torso) fabric (pictured below centre, with fabric inner, pictured right). It does a great job of keeping you comfortably cool when pushing hard, especially if there's a decent wind blowing.

A close look the range of materials used in the Transalper Dynastretch Jacket.

Finally, pictured above left, is the toughest of the three fabrics; a 4-way stretch nylon softshell called "Dynanylon Active".  Dyna this, Dyna that, but all the Dynas work very well together. Once could argue that the Transalper is over-engineered, but our feeling is that it's the product of purposeful design. Over the recent kit test, the Transalper performed superbly and we're going to see how it handles the cold early next year (in the 2026 Winter Kit Test) where it will function as an outer over a Karpos Lavaredo Jacket (XL, another brand that size small or ultra-fitted). This Karpos (inner), Dynafit (outer) combination weighs the same as Scramble's recommended pairing (pictured below right, option #2, ~600g).

Scramble's current modular softshell recommended jacket pairings

If the Borealis range disappeared tomorrow, we'd be recommending the Transalper as a winter inner under Mountain Equipment's Echo; a one-for-one replacement for the Borealis. The Echo, though still lightweight, has a much higher nylon (94%) to elastane content which makes it a more suitable winter outer.
 

Features

We'll keep this brief and snappy as we take a closer look at the features of the Transalper.  We'll start with the hood and work our way down.  This shouldn't take too long.

The Hood

The Transalper has a standard (under-helmet), non-adjustable, lycra-bound hood which, when the jacket is fully zipped up, forms a protective cocoon, leaving only the nose and eyes exposed. Because I chose to size up, the hood on the XL Transalper has a little excess or slack at the neck, so if I wanted to (without wearing a cap), I could pull it forward and over my eyes. However, I found I could set the hood how I wanted (pulling down at the lower neck) and the hood didn't creep forward and stayed in place.  Wearing a cap, none of this is an issue.

Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch has a decent hood which has been upgraded on the latest version.

The Transalper's hood is fine, but we prefer the hoods on the Borealis and Mountain Equipment's Echo, which have a superior, closer fit. Perhaps Dynafit, targeting the alpinist, are factoring in the wearing of a warm winter beanie. If so that would explain the slightly more roomy feel of the Transalper hood. All that said, we're talking at the margins here, as you can see in the image above, the fit is not bad at all, and with a cap, a none-issue.

Pockets and Zips

The Transalper uses YKK reverse-coil zips for the main zip (pic #1 below) and the two zipped hand pockets (pic #2 below - note the laser-cut venting dots mentioned earlier which rise toward the arm pit). The zip pulls are very good; solid, ergonomic and lightweight (Dynafit jackets often come with spare sets, as this one did).

The Transalper Dynastretch Jacket has a useful, secure internal glove pocket.

The Transalper has a very useful, internal, zip-less, right-side, "glove" pocket (pic #3 above) which the Transalper packs into without any difficulty. The pocket, is of course stretchy, but has a stitched over-lap at the top (so to put stuff in it you kind of have to go up then down), so even though it has no zip or popper closure, it's pretty secure and would be fine for a smartphone.

Across the way, on the left side, is a helpful, beautifully illustrated, embedded label which informs you how to signal a mountain rescue helicopter during your own personal mountain emergency.  Good stuff.

Cuffs and Hem

The cuffs are lycra-bound and have sufficient stretch to allow the user to roll up their sleeves and keep cool. At the hem is a straight-forward elasticated binding.  Something we'd like to see on OMM's recently reviewed Halo Smock.

The Transalper Dynastretch Jacket has lycra-bound cuffs and elastic banding at the hem.

And that's pretty much it for the features.  We will say just one more thing and it's superficial but worth mentioning.  Dynafit (and Karpos to an extent) often offer their big sellers in a wide and often tasteful array of colour combinations. At the time of writing there are ten colour schemes available for the Transalper.  In the product gallery below, we've featured just four.  So, if you care how you look when no one else does, Dynafit have almost certainly got you covered. I won't lie, given a choice, I do have my preferences. 
 

Compared to Our Current Pick: Rab's Borealis

Rab's Borealis had three things over the Transalper, but since Dynafit''s upgrade we're down to just one: the cost.

1. The Transalper's reverse coil YKK zips are perfectly fine, but we prefer the YKK vislon zips used on the Borealis (and ME's Echo). Solved in the latest version (see image below, left).
2. The hood on the Borealis is pretty much perfection and is a little more fitted.  We don't think this is just a sizing-up issue, as the Transalper Dynatretch Vest also a hood and, in a size large, is also a little capacious when compared to the Borealis. May be solved in the latest version (see image below, right).
3. Price.  The RRP of the Borealis is £85 and for the Transalper, £145.   

If price wasn't a factor, the Dynafit Transalper (and certainly the latest version) would edge it, but not by a country mile - which shows just how good the Borealis is.  We're going to keep testing the Transalper and see if we can't break it. Our only concern is with the durability of the mesh back panel (not an issue in the latest release), but so far it's warranted no such concern.
 

Latest Version Appears To Negate Our Concerns

The latest version appears to have switched out the reverse coil zips for YKK Vislon zips.  So, that's no longer an issue. Furthermore, we don't need to worry about the durability of the Air Mesh panel, since they've removed it and have replaced the panel with an array of laser-cut venting holes / dots (pictured below, centre).  Also, the hood now seems to have a reinforced peak (below right), so the hood issue may well also have been remedied. We only just saw this before publishing our review (Dynafit have both versions live and for sale on their site and we just saw what must be the new release).

The latest version of Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch solves the main zip, hood and potential back mesh vulnerability issue.

With all these remedial touch-ups, the weight has also increased and the newer version is now in line with Mountain Equipment's Echo. So perhaps we're writing about Mountain Equipment's replacement.  Who knows?
 

Any Negatives?

There really aren't any negatives. The elements we'd highlighted in the comparison with Rab's Borealis could be viewed as negatives I suppose, but even if they are, the latest version of the Transalper seems to have remedied each one.

However, in the process the Transalper has put on quite a bit of weight (50g). So now it's heavier. So, that's a negative. See ... we got one in the end!
 

Conclusion

Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch was already a stand-out softshell jacket with its focus on stretch and breathability in a form-fitting (or when sized-up, regular fitting) tough nylon-based package. We had some minor concerns regarding the durability of the mesh back panel, the choice of zip and the hood.  Each of these elements has been addressed in the recent release of the new Transalper. However, in remedying these potential "issues", the Transalper has put on some weight (~50g). 

It's very possible, and we won't know until we've tried the new version, that while we thought we were looking at competition for the Borealis, what we've actually been testing is a replacement for Mountain Equipment's Echo. At present it looks like ME may have discontinued the Echo (we hope not, but they've been making some strange choices lately).

In our view, the future of outdoor apparel is about taking the latest fabric and material innovations and applying them to tried and tested, classic, (semi) minimalist designs like those exemplified by Rab's latest Borealis Hooded Jacket and Mountain Equipment's Echo. There's no need to re-invent the wheel (the design), when the true innovation is coming from the material sciences (just make the tyres better).

The Transalper is a great example of this.  Dynafit have chosen some technical, performance fabrics and applied them in a purposeful way.  In doing so, they created the basis for a classic, lightweight softshell jacket. It looks like they got feedback mirroring our review (so we're not alone) and responded to it. The upgraded peaked hood, the Vislon zips and the increased use of laser-cut venting holes over an Air Mesh back panel, all look like sensible upgrades to us. An excellent softshell jacket may have just got even better. As such, the Dynafit's Transalper Dynastretch is well worth a special mention.

Product Images

(% gallery name=dynafit-transalper-dynastretch-jacket-sm %)

Last Updated: 17/12/25

Rab's Incline Pants

Preface

As always, we're looking at the Rab Incline trousers from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test item: Dark Ink (Blue), Size = 34" (Waist), Short Leg
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction
• Overview
• Performance
• Features
• Any Negatives?
• Conclusion, Rating & Product Images

Introduction: A Cunning (Modular, Money Saving) Plan?

In our review of Mountain Equipment's Ibex softshell trousers (the introduction of which we recommend looking over as it provides some useful context for this review) we noted, in the section "A Flexible, Modular Approach":

A modular approach is both possible and desirable for outer legwear that has to be flexible enough to deal with a broad range of winter conditions: rain, hail, snow, gale-force winds and biting windchill, sodden marsh, icy peaks and snowdrifts. With a few simple accessories available to deploy when required, rather than a patchwork of reinforced panels and patches, what is needed to complete this ensemble is a far simpler, more spartan proposition: a durable, simple and effective softshell trouser ...

Our plan is to see if we can take this modularity a step further and have a single pair of softshell trousers for all seasons. In winter, I'll be wearing (as I always do) a light pair of polypropylene half shorts, this time from Löffler (Midway Transtex Light Boxershorts) and over those a pair of Odlo's Active F-Dry Light 3/4 Tights. Rab make a very lightweight (100g) pair of genuine softshell shorts (Momentum Light Shorts). The idea is, if the Inclines can't quite handle freezing blizzards, then the shorts can be worn over the Odlos and under the Inclines providing dual softshell coverage for the thighs. So rather than needing a pair of winter-specific softshell trousers, we may manage perfectly well with knee length gaiters and some softshell double-glazing (Incline+Momentum) above the knee.  At least that's what we'll be testing.

In summary, we hope to be able to recommend just one pair of softshell trousers for all seasons; with our winter recommendation referring back to the Inclines while running through the modular add-on accessories required to armour-up for sub-zero conditions. That's our cunning plan. 

We may also do a special mention review for a specific hot weather trouser for those in genuine scorching heat (as opposed to what we've been getting in the UK recently, despite the dark red, "burning up", colourised met office weather / heat maps - it's not actually been that hot of late).  We're looking at a pair of trousers from climbing brand Rafiki which break all our rules, but look very promising and we'll be testing these in our 2026 Summer Kit Test.
 

Overview

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's have a look at what we regard as a classic pair of softshell trousers, one that to a degree hearkens back to the good old days of Rab's excellent Vertex Pants.  Rab haven't attempted anything ground-breaking or novel-for-no-reason, instead they've kept it nice and simple: tough enough, stretchy enough, breathable, a good non-billowy cut, three leg lengths (S, R, L), belt loops (no integrated belt nonsense - yes, we're talking to you Mountain Equipment), zipped pockets and drawcord hem adjusters. 

Now that wasn't too difficult was it?  (It is for many).

Rab kept it simple and made a classic pair of softshell trousers.

A Theme Inclined to Variation

Before we take a closer look at the Incline Pants, it's worth noting that Rab clearly view the Incline as a range; there are currently three versions which vary in weight, price and intended climatic conditions. We'll refer to the product under review simply as the "Inclines" (this is the standard, mid-weight version of the "family").

• Incline Light Pants (RRP £90): Single weave and ultralight; approximately 100g lighter than the Inclines and with no adjustment option at the ankle hem (we've written to Rab suggesting they update their misleading copy, which states "Tethered drawcord hem" - this is incorrect.
• Incline Pants (RRP £100): Double weave, standard version (under review here).
• Incline AS Pants (RRP £110): The same double weave fabric as the Inclines but with a brushed lining. The AS (All Season) model weighs about 90g more than the standard Inclines. In our view, you can use leggings / tights to achieve better results than an integrated lining which limits choice. These are a fraction lighter than ME's non-lined Ibex trousers, but also not quite as rugged.
   

Performance

In 2025 we ran what turned out to be two wet weather kit tests, one in late spring and one in late summer. Conditions were generally wet with cold winds in May and wetter yet warmer in September, however there were a few hot days sprinkled throughout.  When the sun did come out and it got reasonably summery (high twenties Celsius) there were no overheating issues when pushing hard in the Inclines (while wearing my nearly omnipresent waterproof shorts which were on throughout).

I would feel comfortable wearing the Inclines up into the low thirty degrees Celsius. The Incline's mesh-backed zipped hand pockets allow a little venting and obviously it's easy to roll up the trouser legs and have them function as 1/2 shorts.  That said, in seriously hot conditions, a lighter softshell trouser would be welcome and that will be the focus of a future review. But for the UK, the fabric weight of the Inclines is just about spot on (somewhere between Mountain Equipment's Comici and Ibex, a heavy weight version of Rab's light Vertex trousers) making the Inclines both light enough for summer, yet heavy enough to function as the backbone of a modular trouser, fortified internally and externally to function in harsh winter conditions.

Rab's Incline Pants have a great cut, roomy enough at the thigh and slightly tapered at the ankle.

What we're looking for in a piece of kit is something we barely notice.  The Inclines have been that kind of item, a quiet and efficient performer that just gets the job done. Let's have a closer look over the Inclines and hopefully by the time we're done we should have a decent definition of what we mean by a "classic softshell trouser".
 

Features

As we often do, we'll start from the top and work our way down.

Belt Loops and Poppers

Rab have sensibly rejected the idiotic fad of integrated, non-removable belts and instead provide large belt loops that will accommodate belts up to ~38mm. Standard 25mm webbing belts, like Scramble's TR25 (pictured below), work equally well. So, well done to Rab for not over-thinking and over-engineering things and instead keeping to the tried and tested.

As a brief aside, if I were designing softshell trousers, at the back of the waist line, I would have a single panel covering about 40% of the waist circumference with belt loops only featuring at the side and toward the front. Similar to what Mountain Equipment did on their earlier Ibex trousers.

Rab avoided the integrated belt fad, so we have choice restored, with belts loops and poppers.

The Inclines use double mini popper fasteners at the waist (pictured above) which work fine. No issues here.
 

Pockets

Rab's Incline trousers feature four zipped pockets.  Two hand pockets, one back pocket (pic #3 below) and one medium sized thigh pocket (pic #2 below). 

I use the back pocket for the day's toilet paper in a zip-lock bag. When trekking, the hand pockets remain empty (as I don't need access to cards or cash). All the pockets have a nice perforated mesh inner and, if empty, can be used as vents if required.

Rab's Inclines have four mesh-lined zip pockets

The Thigh Pocket

Pictured below, the thigh pocket doesn't look that substantial, but you can actually fit quite a bit in it, largely due to the stretchiness of the Matrix softshell.

The thigh pocket can handle quite a few accessory items.

Similar to the Ibex, the Incline's thigh pocket can hold quite a lot. I was able to pack it with the following:

• Alpkit Kantju Running Gaiter (Black, L)  [ pictured below ]
• Scramble Waterproof 1/2 Overshorts (Grey, S/M 30-34)
• Scramble Waterproof 3/4 Overshorts (Grey, S/M 30-34)
• Karpos Lavaredo Vest (XL, 92g)

Each of these items pack down quite small; I had them packed inside an Osprey 2L Ultralight Packing Cube (S) which then slid easily inside the Incline thigh pocket.

Rab's Incline Pants paired with Alpkit's Kantju Gaiters and Bestard's Gobi trekking shoes.

Most of the time I was wearing the Waterproof 1/2 Shorts, so that made for a less bulbous thigh pocket, but with 12% elastane in the Matrix softshell mix, the Incline's pockets have enough stretch to hold quite a few supplemental items.

No complaints at all when it comes to the pockets on the Inclines; the right number in all the right places.
 

Ankle Hem Cord Adjuster

Finally, at the ankle are some very well implemented friction shockcord adjusters which employ a cord-end anchor point to prevent the cord spilling out below the hem.

Rab's Incline Pants have excellent cinch cord adjusters at the ankle.

An excellent design which works very well.  This cinching method is something OMM could employ in their (recently reviewed) Halo Smock.
 

Any Negatives?

By resisting the temptation to scratch that niggling design department itch that wants to fix what is unbroken, Rab kept it simple and have made in our opinion a straight-forward, functional, classic pair of softshell trousers. Clear-headed design, excellent fabric, finished to a high standard. As a result we have no negatives to report. 

Conclusion & Rating

To conclude we'll simply re-iterate what we said at the beginning:

Rab haven't attempted anything ground-breaking or novel-for-no-reason, instead they've kept it nice and simple: tough enough, stretchy enough, breathable, a good non-billowy cut, three leg lengths (S, R, L), belt loops (no integrated belt nonsense), the right number of zipped pockets in all the right places and well implemented, unfussy drawcord hem adjusters. 

Rab's Inclines are light enough for a standard UK summer, yet heavy enough to function as the backbone of a modular trouser, fortified internally and externally to function in harsh winter conditions.

A mix of clear-headed design, excellent fabric and quality finishing are the key ingredients that go into creating classic outdoor apparel. We're very glad Rab didn't stray far from the beaten path; as a result they've given us nothing to complain about.  We just hope, as we often do, they don't get bored and decide to break things for no reason, or give up on a product line that, like the Borealis, deserves a long run.

Rab's excellent Incline Pants are Scramble's top pick in the Lightweight Softshell Trousers category. A category we may need to rename to the Modular 4-Season Softshell Trousers category. We'll see what the winter brings.

Product Images

(% gallery name=rab-incline-pants %)

Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

Last Updated: 10/12/25

OMM's Halo Smock

Preface

As always, we're looking at the OMM Halo from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test item: 2025 Version, Orange-Navy, Size = Large
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction: A Categorical Shift
• Overview
• Features
• Traditional Wind-Tops
• Any Negatives?
• Conclusion, Rating & Product Images

Introduction: A Categorical Shift

In our Scramble News, April 2025 we wrote about our decision to alter two categories in our review catalogue. One such change was the shift from "Ultralight (~100g) Hooded Wind Jacket" to "Hybrid Wind-Top & UL Waterproof Jacket":

Inspired originally by items from Black Yak and Marmot (especially Marmot's very pricey yet very good Bantamweight Anorak), the advances in genuine ultralight waterproofs has narrowed the gap between a wind-top and a waterproof to such an extent that we've increasingly been packing jackets that are nearly as light as wind-tops (~140g) but which will get you through a few hours of very heavy rain, without resorting to a full-on waterproof. In locales (such as the UK) where the weather is capricious these UL waterproof jackets are ideal. Within this category, we'll still recommend a number of traditional wind-top options (a budget, an ultralight and a fully featured), but such items will no longer be our main focus. Instead we're going to be testing jackets like OMM's Halo Smock.

We've subsequently conducted two full (essentially) Wet Weather Kit Tests with the OMM Halo. The first in May 2025 and then again in September. We pushed the latter kit test back to garner a wetter experience and we got what we asked for. By August the hot spell had subsided and by the end of August the rain came (and barely stopped) and OMM's Halo didn't disappoint.

First we'll look over the Halo, then we'll recommend some traditional wind-tops for those not swayed by our shifting stance, before we jump back to the Halo, cover any negatives and offer our conclusion.
 

Overview

One could make the argument that, at least in theory, waterproofs have more of a duty to concentrate on "breathability" and moisture transport than traditional wind-tops.  Everyone knows that bin liners are 100% waterproof, but no one creates jackets from them, because wearers would get soaked from the inside due to condensation. So manufacturers, keen to avoid damning reviews, focus as much on releasing vapour as preventing water ingress.  In our experience, many of the light to ultralight waterproofs we've tested have been surprisingly breathable compared to (and when performing as) wind-tops.

Obviously, there are limits and we tested these on the two wet weather kit tests this year. The OMM Halo performed very well in cold and biting winds in May, even when the sun was out.  Though when the winds stilled and I was working hard on uphill stretches, the inevitable dilemma arose: "shall I keep this on, or can I do without it from here?".

This is why softshells exist; to muddle through the 50/50 conditions. In our view, the goal of a hybrid wind-top / UL waterproof is two-fold:

1. As an additional layer when conditions have become extreme and ones baselayer and softshell combo is being over-powered, and
2. As a waterproof to get you through on/off showery and stormy conditions (without requiring a full-on waterproof jacket).

The Halo performed this role superbly, allowing this wearer to largely ignore the warning signs overhead. With wind tops, I found I was always hedging: "shall I keep this on or do I need to get into my waterproofs", with the OMM Halo (and to a slightly lesser extent the Marmot Bantomweight, but to a greater extent the heavier Black Yak Bruna) I was able to "keep calm and carry on", largely impervious to the whims of the sky gods.

The OMM Halo Smock showing its windproof credentials.

Designed primarily for fell and trail runners, the Halo Smock's design mirrors that of a traditional minimalist hooded wind-top.  It's made from OMM's proprietary nylon Point Zero H2O 2-Layer fabric which has a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm. The smock has a nicely dropped back to cover your arse and an excellent non-adjustable hood. There are no pockets to stuff it into and it doesn't come with a stuff-sack (more on this later).

The OMM Halo Smock looks like a traditional minimalist hooded wind-top.

All the seams are taped and the smock employs a YKK Aquaguard zip which drops to just below the sternum and zips up to just below the mouth (at least on me, wearing a size large). Aside from that and a couple of hip adjusters, that's really about it. 

Next, we'll delve into the Halo's few features in a little more depth and see if we can't find something to complain about.
(spoiler: we can)

The Halo uses OMM's Point Zero H2O 2-Layer nylon fabric.

Features

We'll start from the top and work our way down.

Hood

The lycra-bound hood on the Halo Smock is a masterpiece of minimalist design.  It has no adjustments and doesn't seem to need any.  We always recommend carrying a cap and wore the Halo with a Mountain Equipment Squall (spring, pictured below right) and a Ronhill Air-Lite Split Cap (in summer). However, the hood on the Halo functions well without a cap, in part due to its reinforced (double layer) peak (pictured below left), which projects the hood outward and prevents it drooping over the eyes.

The Halo's hood has a double layer stiffened peak.

You'll notice in the image (above right), I'm wearing the Halo underneath my softshell. These ultralight pieces require some protection and when squeezing under felled trees (many of the forests had been decimated back in the winter by a violent storm) or scrambling over wet and sharp gritstone, it's often sensible to let the softshell take the pounding.

Zips

The OMM Halo features an Aquaguard zip from YKK, a tried and tested zip which ends in a zip housing / garage.  No issues here. In addition, OMM have their rather fancy zip pulls (pictured #3 below) which don't add much, but are funky enough to note. 

The OMM Halo has a single waterproof half-zip from YKK.

Wrist / Cuffs

The Halo has lycra bound cuffs with thumb loops.  I almost never used these, but they're a standard, unobtrusive feature which can occasionally be helpful.  One feature that was quite welcome and worthy of note was the double layer guard for the back of the hand (pictured #3 below).  When holding on to pack straps in harsh winds, these do a great job of protecting the hands and in conjunction with the thumb loops may negate the need for gloves. A nice touch.

Lycra binding at the wrist, with double-layer cuffs covering the back of the hand.

Hip Adjusters

Now we get into niggle territory.  We're aware that the target customer-base for the OMM Halo are runners and as such this group are unlikely to carry heavy packs with hip belts or be carrying heavy duty belt bags.  But, as the Halo is a pocket-less smock, it's not beyond the imagination to envisage a scenario where one might need to raise the smock to access a pocket on a softshell for example. Though not necessarily a criticism in and of itself, for such a lightweight jacket, the Halo hip adjusters are surprisingly heavy duty (see pic #2 below, red arrow).

To get the jacket on, I needed to take off my Machine Padded Belt and Belt Bag (MBB) and remove my backpack.  Then I'd slip into the Halo and re-attach my MBB and put on my pack.  What happened on numerous occasions, when I needed to access something from my softshell pockets (often my Sony RX0), the ends of the adjusters would be trapped under the strapping / belts and anchor the Halo, the shockcord would then bite into and rip through its stitched opening (as highlighted in green, pic#1 below).  

Surprisingly bulky plastic hardware at the hip.

I should add that the image above makes the cord (which we believe is 2mm) and the adjusters look far more chunky than they actually are.  We've laid out a couple of possible remedies in our "Negatives" section below and we'd urge OMM's design team to at least consider these potential solutions. The hip adjuster issue isn't a deal breaker, but it is a stain on what would have been a pristine review.

Before we delve further into negative territory, let's take a quick detour ...

Traditional Wind-Tops

For those interested in traditional lightweight windtops we recommend taking a look at the following:

• Basic:  Keela Cloud Smock (Size L = ~120g). RRP £50
• Fully Featured (Hooded, Side Pockets):  Rab Vital Hooded Jacket (Size L = ~140g).  RRP £75
• Ultralight:  OMM Sonic Smock (Size L = ~75g) . RRP £80

Any Negatives?

1. The reported weight issue

Near the end of the "Summer" Kit Test, I managed (for the first time) to lose a kit test item (somewhere around here, packed inside an UL Tread Lite Gear, grey DCF stuff sack - so if you find it and remove it from the mountains, please keep and enjoy it).

As such, we've now had two size large 2025 versions of the OMM Halo.  The first (Navy-Orange) weighed 135g, the second (Blue-Grey) weighs 128g.  We'd written to OMM regarding the weights in January 2025 stating:

Here's the stated weights per size courtesy of UOG:

• XSmall weighs: 94g     (which would mirror OMM's stated weight on the Halo Smock product page) and ...
• Large weighs: 110g

We got a size large (Orange, Navy) and it weighed (without tags):  135g.
This is about 22% heavier than UOG's stated weight (we would expect perhaps a +/- 5% manufacturing variation for fabric, seam sealer, coatings etc ... but 22% seems high).

In response OMM wrote:

We weighed a few different sizes and colours of the smock, and it seems like certain newer colourways come out a little heavier than older ones despite none of the specifications changing. [...] I have been in touch with our product design team about this, and they are contacting the fabric supplier to see if something has changed along the way.

As far as we know they're still looking into this. However, the solution is simple. OMM have nothing to hide; they've made an excellent lightweight piece. They should simply choose a standard size, M or L, and provide an average weight and give a margin of error for the variance, for example:
Weight (Size Large) = 125g (+/- 10%)

2. The Shockcord Hip Adjusters

As highlighted above, the hip adjuster method on such a lightweight fabric is perhaps not the best. We understand the OMM Halo is designed for trail and fell running and our issue relates to its use with heavier duty belt bags / backpack hips belts etc. But we feel a jacket like the Halo could simply copy Black Yak's elasticated banding as featured on the Bruna which covers approximately four-fifths of the hem and works very well.

The Black Yak Bruna's elasticated banding covers approx. four-fifths of the hem.

Since elements like hip adjusters are largely a set and forget feature, we're going to experiment with some Gorilla and Spinnaker tape to make an internal housing for the adjuster to prevent it dangling outside the jacket and getting caught underneath any belts and straps. We'll update this review if that's successful.

The OMM Halo feels robust for its weight. Its waterproof properties have been a real surprise and if I hadn't lost the Orange-Navy version pictured in this review, it would have served as the only waterproof worn over a very wet 23 day period.  I was really pissed off to lose it.  Half of the frustration was due to leaving something on the mountains (normally I'm removing litter), but the other half was because I'd grown to like it so much - it's just so useful.

I stored the OMM Halo in a DSF stuff sack and attached it inside the lid of my Machine Belt Bag, secured via the loops in one of the drybags. I'd clearly neglected to clip it in and while Scrambling up a ridge it came free and jumped ship. Not wanting this to happen again, I've purchased a Dragonfly Pouch from the excellent Wild Sky Gear (who we hope to work with in the future). This attaches below the lid of my MBB and cannot come free (I really don't want to lose another Halo).

We've docked a full point for the hip adjusters and a half point for the overweight / weight reporting issue. In addition we're going to dock another half point for the fact that the Halo doesn't come with a stuff sack and has no way to pack into itself.

But that's the totality of the niggles in what has been a very positive overall experience. 

Conclusion & Rating

Much cheaper then Marmot's Bantomweight and much lighter than Black Yak's Bruna, the OMM Halo Smock is a superb and impressive hybrid for battling wind and rain. The Halo feels surprisingly robust for its weight and the Point Zero H2O fabric offers outstanding waterproof and windproof properties.

The Halo's deep zip allows for venting and provides sufficient space for a map bag. The peaked hood and protective cuffs have been well thought out and nicely implimented. The OMM smock packs down small and easily fits in a hip or belt bag. At just 130g (for a size large) it's a genuine ultralight option and will benefit from a little protection when the going gets sharp and spiky.

If you're gutted when you lose an item, it's a pretty good sign you really liked it. I immediately got mine replaced; OMM's Halo Smock has quickly become an essential part of Scramble's kit and is our top pick in the new "Hybrid Wind-Top & UL Waterproof Jacket" category.
 

Side Note:  A while back (quite a few years now) we checked out OMM quite a bit and, somewhat like Montane, they were making, in our opinion, odd decisions we couldn't really understand, often around certain fabrics and insulations. They've certainly turned things around and now seem to be making good and thoughtful choices (for example using "Crosscore" insulation and Primaloft's "Next" fabric).

Product Images

(% gallery name=omm-halo-smock %)

Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

Last Updated: 28/01/26
Updated the part about the hip adjusters (as the image made them lookk bigger than they are in reality).

This product has been toppled

Click on the image above or here to see its replacement.

Datasheet

Google Search

Overview

As we discussed above, once you've got a good active beanie, all the useful stuff in a balaclava is in the bottom half.  Enter Brubeck's M-Pro Half Balaclava (M-Pro HB from hereon), the result of some clear thinking on Brubeck's part (and finding it, a good deal of research on ours).

Brubeck are a Polish company that use the same high-tech Italian machinery as the Dutch brand Megmeister to make baselayers and a range of accessories. 

Their M-Pro HB is a light, stretchy, comfortable neckgaiter-facemask made from a sensible balance of merino wool, nylon and elastane.  It solves the ill-fitting issue that plagues many balaclavas; it negates the "flip-top" design choice that some implement poorly and others not at all; and perhaps most importantly, it provides a generous breathing vent (pictured below #1 and #3) which accommodates both nose and mouth and doesn't seem to impede the intake and exhalation of air at all.

Brubeck gave their M-Pro HB a generous vent to cover the mouth and nose.

The M-Pro HB fulfills the "just enough, but not too much" criteria outlined above. There's enough protection to take the edge off a biting wind, but not too much that you overheat. This half balaclava seems to be a popular choice among motorcyclists and skiers alike; both groups need to counter strong, cold winds without fogging their eye wear.

We've only tested this item with goggles in a simulated environment, not yet in the wild.  We need to do more sub-zero testing before we can provide a final assessment, but so far, the M-Pro HB looks very promising indeed. If we find it's a fraction under-powered in more extreme cold, it's the kind of item one could pair with a simple balaclava like Sub Zero's excellent lightweight polypropylene Meraklon Balaclava.

For those that require a balaclava for serious, high altitude mountaineering, our recommendations is Black Yak's Mountain Shemagh Balaclava. 
 

Fit & Function

The M-Pro HB works well as a simple neck-gaiter (pictured right, #4) when the face-mask is not required. When you need a face-mask, there's really three settings, each of which functioned well in our kit test.  I tended to wear the M-Pro HB as pictured in #2.  

The combination of the Brynje Super Thermo Helmet Hat and the M-Pro Half Balaclava seem made for one another and we look forward to throwing them into some harsh sub-zero conditions this winter.  

The M-Pro will fit most users and can be fitted in a number of ways to provide more or less protection.

Weight, Packability & Sizing

The M-Pro HB weighs in at just 36g (size L/XL) and takes up hardly any space in a pocket or belt bag. In winter, it's the kind of item you'd put on in the morning with your baselayer and remove at night.

The Brubeck M-Pro Half Balaclava comes in two sizes:

• S/M which will fit the majority of women
• L/XL which will fit the majority of men
   

Any Negatives?

None yet, but we need to do more testing in sub zero conditions. Thus the "special mention" status of this review and the lack of a final rating for this item. We'll update this review when we've completed the upcoming winter kit test.
 

Last Updated: 29/05/24