Scramble's Tower 11L Pack Extender (Version 2) Note: The V2 Tower product pages are now up on the SYSTEM store and will be available from the beginning of December. The X-Pac and Dark Navy HITs will [...] Read more
Best 40L to 60L Mountain Pack
Crux's AX50 Climbing Pack (50L) Preface This Crux AX50 review was a "special mention", but now the Blue Ice Warthog 40 (pre-2019) is impossible to track down, the equally capable AX50 takes the top [...] Read more
Modular Tent (1. Body): Best Hooped Bivvy (Bivi, Bivvi, Bivy, update)
Macpac's Bush Cocoon (Pertex Shield Version) Preface From eVent to Pertex A few years ago Macpac made some changes to their Bush Cocoon; they stopped using eVent (due to eVent's overly aggressive [...] Read more
Best Solo Cooking Pot (900ml)
Keith's 900ml Titanium Single Walled Pot (Ti3209) Preface As always, we're looking at the Keith 900ml Titanium Pot from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Test subject: [...] Read more
Best Head Torches, Flashlights (Budget & Sub Zero Lighting Updated)
Torches, Batteries and the Cold (2024) Preface Note: This post has been updated following the 2023 summer and 2024 spring (wet weather) kit tests. If you want to jump to the updated sections, click [...] Read more
Best Ultralight Trekking Tripod
GPN Media's Scrambler UL Modular Trekking Tripod Preface As always, we're looking at the GPN Media Scrambler from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain (please note our [...] Read more
Notes On Flame & Fuel
A Repository For Miscellanea Around Stoves, Fire & Fuel Preface We were going to do individual mini-reviews for a number of the items that will appear in this post, but rather than eulogise a [...] Read more
Best Standard Baseplate Compass
Suunto's A-30 Metric Baseplate Compass Preface As always, we're looking at the Suunto A-30 compasses from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Test item: A-30 NH Metric [...] Read more
Manufacturing Note: Scramble G-Series Tarps 2023
Scramble's G-Series Tarps: A Bad Batch We have some interesting reviews coming shortly, but before we get to them we just needed to address an issue (now resolved) that fortunately affected only a [...] Read more
Best Lightweight (~100g) Trekking Towel
Lightwave's RAP-VAP Towel Preface As always, we're looking at the Lightwave RAP-VAP from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: [...] Read more
Best Tent Pegs (For Various Conditions)
A Tent Peg Arsenal for Almost All Conditions (2024) Preface As always, we're looking at this collection of tent pegs (stakes) from the point of view of long distance solo trekking over challenging [...] Read more
Special Mention: Food Bag, UL Day & Carry-On Travel Pack
Edelrid's Lite Bag 30 (Minor Mod) 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 [...] Read more
Modular Sleeping Bag 2: Best 1 Season and 3 Season Outer
Carinthia's G-90 Sleeping Bag (L) 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 [...] Read more
Best Trekking Knife (and Backup)
Ka-Bar's Dozier Folding Hunter (Drop Point) Preface In this review we're looking at two knives. The main one is Scramble's official recommendation (a consensus opinion) and the backup is the editor's [...] Read more
Best Cold Weather (Sub Zero) Sleeping Mat
Multimat's Expedition Summit Compact 38S Self-Inflating Sleeping Mat Preface As always, we're looking at the Multimat Expedition Summit 38S from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough [...] Read more
Best Pack Accessories (Dry Bags, Stuff Sacks, Packing Cells etc...)
Roll-Top, Drawcord & Zippered Pack Accessories Preface The purpose of most of the items outlined in this post, aside from providing some form of protection, is to make packing and unpacking in [...] Read more
Scramble G-55 Deluxe Solo / UL 2-Person Sil-PU Tarp - Final Release
Scramble's G-55 The G-55 is a minimalist deluxe solo / ultralight 2 person tarp designed to be setup quickly in harsh conditions with minimal fuss. Targeted specifically at bivvy bag users, the G-55 [...] Read more
Tarp + Bivvy Bag (1. Tarp): Best Deluxe Solo / 2 Person UL Tarp
Scramble's G-55 Deluxe Solo / 2-Person UL Tarp Preface To understand how we arrived at the tarp + bivvy bag setup for long duration treks in warmer conditions, please read our companion post "Reasons [...] Read more
Letter to Blue Ice (August 2019)
From the Editor Preface We occasionally write to manufacturers we like, when we feel they're in the process of blundering. Normally these correspondence remain private. At Scramble we test gear and [...] Read more
Scramble G-38 Solo Ultralight Sil-PU Tarp - Final Release
Scramble's G-38 The G-38 is a minimalist, ultralight tarp designed to be setup quickly in harsh conditions with minimal fuss. Targeted specifically at bivvy, hooped bivvy and UL tent users, the G-38 [...] Read more
Scramble Floating Pocket Pro (Map Bag) - Final Release
Scramble's Floating Pocket Pro (UL Map Bag) Preface To see why we made the (original) Floating Pockets in the first place, please refer to "Scramble Floating Pocket (Map Bag) - Final Release". [...] Read more
Modular Tent (2. Porch, Quick Shelter): Best UL Solo Tarp
Scramble's G-38 Ultralight Solo Tarp Preface To understand how we arrived at the (hooped) bivvy + tarp setup, please read our companion post "Reasons To Go Modular". The G-38 is the upgraded version [...] Read more
Best ~4 Litre Belt Bag (Pouch)
Scramble's Machine 4L Belt Bag Preface A couple of things to note. Firstly, the item photographed in this review is a prototype, as such the finishing is a little rough and ready; the product images [...] Read more
Scramble Floating Pocket (Map Bag) - Final Release
Scramble's Floating Pocket (Ultralight Map Bag) Preface At Scramble we've been long time users of Granite Gear's excellent Air Pocket primarily as a free-floating map pocket worn around the neck (see [...] Read more
Best Backpack Side Pocket (Rucksack Side Pouch, Cell, Pod)
Scramble's Tower 11L Full Zip Pack Extender Preface To understand why we made the Towers read our post "The Problem with Pouches, Pockets and Dry Bags". In addition we've outlined the reasoning [...] Read more
Scramble's G-Mod 55 Deluxe Solo / UL 2-Person Tarp - Final Release
Scramble's G-Mod 55 & Variants The G-Mod 55 is a minimalist deluxe solo / ultralight 2 person tarp designed to be setup quickly in harsh conditions with minimal fuss. Targeted specifically at [...] Read more
Best Trekking Mug
Tatonka's Expedition Mug Preface As always, we're looking at the Tatonka Expedition Mug from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Test item: Expedition Mug Kit Tests: [...] Read more
Best Water Bottle & Carry Pouch (MOLLE, Belt System)
US GI 1 Quart Canteen & Bulldog Tactical Gear's Laser MOLLE Medium Upright Utility Pouch Preface This review will be most relevant to those who prefer climbing or military "patrol" packs that [...] Read more
Tarp + Bivvy Bag (2. Bivi): Best Bivy Sack
Alpkit's Hunka Bivvy Bag Preface To understand how we arrived at the tarp + bivvy bag setup for long duration treks in warmer conditions, please read our companion post "Reasons To Go Modular". As [...] Read more
Best 3 Season Sleeping Mat
Nordisk's Ven 2.5 Self-Inflating Sleeping Mat Preface As always, we're looking at the Nordisk Ven 2.5 from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Test subject: Chest 42", [...] Read more
Best All-Round Trekking Ice Axe (Under 500g)
Blue Ice's Bluebird Preface As always, we're looking at the Blue Ice Bluebird from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Though the Scramble team are regular users of ice [...] Read more
Scramble's G-Mod 38 Ultralight Solo Tarp - Final Release
Scramble's G-Mod 38 The G-Mod 38 is a minimalist, ultralight tarp designed to be setup quickly in harsh conditions with minimal fuss. Targeted specifically at bivvy, hooped bivvy and UL tent users, [...] Read more
Scramble's G-Mod 35D Ultralight Solo Tarp - Development Release
Scramble's G-Mod 35D The G-Mod 35 is a minimalist, ultralight tarp designed to be setup quickly in harsh conditions with minimal fuss. Targeted specifically at bivvy, hooped bivvy and UL tent users, [...] Read more
Why A Modular Tent?
Gimme Shelter: Reasons To Go Modular, Parts 1, 2, 3 This is a companion post to all of our shelter reviews, which follow the rationale outlined below. Products Covered Product (Type) Review Macpac [...] Read more
Scramble's UL Windshield (Windscreen) for the Kovea Spider
Datasheet Materials: TC4 Titanium Sheet (0.1mm) 100% Dimensions (packed flat) 7.8 x 30cm x 0.3cm Weight 25g Scramble's Price on SYSTEM £20.45 Available on SYSTEM Scramble's Spider Ultralight Titanium [...] Read more
Modular Sleeping Bag 1: Best ~450g 1 Season and Inner
Alpkit's Cloud Cover Preface The following assumes the use of a tent / hooped bivvy or a tarp and bivvy in warmer conditions (hammock users will need to decide whether such a system may benefit [...] Read more
Modular Sleeping Bag 3: Best 4 Season (Sub Zero) Bag and Extreme Outer
Carinthia's Defence 4 Sleeping Bag Preface The following assumes the use of a tent / hooped bivvy or a tarp and bivvy in warmer conditions (hammock users will need to decide whether such a system may [...] Read more
Best Trekking Bowl
Snow Peak's Titanium Trek Bowl Preface As always, we're looking at the Snow Peak Trek Bowl from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain. Test item: Trek Bowl Kit Tests: Winter, [...] Read more
Best 4 Season Gas Stove
Kovea's Spider Remote Canister Stove Preface Kovea are a Korean company that specialise in manufacturing outdoor equipment and are predominantly known for their stoves, but they aren't nearly as well [...] Read more
Best ~20 Litre Pack
Blue Ice's Dragonfly 18L Packable Backpack (pre-2019) Preface: Dragonfly 18L v.2 (2017 - good), v.3 (2019 - not good) 2019 (v.3) - The Bad I hope we're not going to have to add Blue Ice to the list [...] Read more
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