2026 Summer Kit Test, Manufacturing & Store Updates

This is just a quick update regarding out Kit Test schedule, developments in the middle east, its impact on the outdoor industry and some store updates.
 

Warm Winters & A Bad Moon Rising

Another warm winter.  We waited (to no avail) through January for the temperature to drop, then February when all it did was rain. The March forecast was looking decidedly unwintery when the US decided to launch an illegal war of aggression on Iran.

Iran stated they would limit / deny traffic through the Straits of Hormuz should they be attacked. The effects on oil (and its derivitives, that pretty much backstop the outdoor industry) as well as fertiliser (food supply), sulphur (required for sulphuric acid used in refining / mining), helium (for CPU / chip fabrication) will have profound effects on the global economy; the outdoor industry is far from immune.

As such, we decided to put our manufacturing hats back on and buy in materials before the price shocks got too ugly (we've still got some items awaiting transport amid rapidly escalating and volatile courier quotes as jet fuel prices rocket higher). 

So, between the uncooperative weather and a flailing empire (and its disposable vassals) it's not been a great start to 2026.  We're going to get things back on track at the end of May with an early summer kit test and will hopefully have more reviews coming after that. 

The good thing about walking is you don't need to rely on other people's energy.
 

By the way, if anyone thinks the oil futures price (that the media like to quote) is what a physical barrel of oil actually costs, it's not.  The actual price varies depending on region, but search for "dated brent" which is the price paid for a physical barrel for delivery within a one month time frame (versus the price of a speculative paper contract) and you'll see charts like this. 
 

SYSTEM Store Updates

• We've re-stocked our DURA Towers and should have some more stock updates soon (we'll add them when confirmed).
• A new batch of Scramble's Spider Titanium Windshields was dispatched to SYSTEM and are now available (with more on the way). 

That's all for now. 

Last Updated: 24/04/26