Scramble News (December 2022)
Kit Tests, Products and Plans
In this post we preview the upcoming Winter Kit Test 2023, provide some product, site and store updates, explain our decision to skip the 2022 kit tests and provide a brief, picture-book tour guide for the "Summer" Kit Test of 2021. You can read the full update on Scramble's main site. Below we've outlined just the future kit queued for testing in 2023 (and maybe 2024).
Upcoming Kit Test Items for 2023
- [ Cold Weather LS Baselayer Top ] Brynje Super Thermo Crew Neck LS Mesh Base Layer With Shoulder Inlays.
The price of quality merino-synthetic mix baselayers seems to rocket up every year. For a long time now, we've wanted to test the polypropylene baselayers by Brynje and use them in conjunction with a tee or baselayer that will get use in the non-winter months. In our opinion mesh layers require a semi-fitted layer over them to trap the warm air.
- [ Lightweight (<300g) Softshell Jacket ] Rab Borealis Tour Jacket Softshell (290g) + Mountain Equipment Aerofoil Full-Zip Jacket (120g)
No major finding expected, but we want to test these together.
- [ Midweight (~700g) Insulated Jacket ] Rab Generator Alpine Jacket
Unlikely to displace the Keela Belay Smock due to the major price difference, but if specs are anything to go by this may get a special mention. Another Primaloft Aerogel item, that's 120g lighter and should be a little warmer than the Keela.
- [ Lightweight (~250g) Insulated Gilet ] Haglofs LIM Barrier Vest (144g)
The gilet version of the excellent Barrier Jacket. We'll hopefully slip it into a Summer Kit Test.
- [ Lightweight (<300g) Waterproof Jacket ] Sub Zero Lightweight Waterproof Jacket (306g)
Slightly overweight for what we're after, but we want to test this polyester-based waterproof from Sub Zero. There's always an interesting battle between polyester and nylon when it comes to waterproofs. Nylon is tougher but less natively hydrophobic and thus more prone to "wetting out" than polyester. Generally, a polyester based item is likely to be a little heavier but more waterproof. If this outperforms the Keela (our current pic) it will be a close run thing.
- [ Lightweight (~200g) Thermal Sleepwear Bottoms ] Mountain Equipment Kinesis 3/4 Pant
Unlikely that these will topple the Rab Powerstretch Pros, but we're interested in testing the "Octoyarn Warp-knit's" thermal properties.
- [ Extremities / Accessories ]
Black Yak Mountain Shemagh Balaclava
Rab Ninja Balaclava
Haglofs Betula Beanie
Sub Zero Factor 2 Fingerless Glove
Outdoor Research PL100 (modified cut-offs)
- [ 3 Season Sleeping Mat x 2 ] Vango Aotrom Short Sleeping Air Bed Mat (308g + Vango 10g Stuff Sack), Klymit Inertia X Lite Short Mat (159g + 4g Stuff Sack)
We hope to test each of these mats in the Summer 2023 Kit Test in conjunction with our prototype short sleeping mat protector (weighing 150g and made from Tyvek Hardstructure and SkyTex 27 for mats up to 140cm long).
- [ Towel ] Lightwave RAP-VAP Towel (60 x 95 cm, 89g without case)
This is the lightest, best performing towel we've been able to track down. It's not cheap but will save some meaningful grams. Ingeniously, Crux / Lightwave realised that certain baselayer fabrics such as Polartech's polyester have excellent wicking properties and thus pull moisture away from the body and then distribute it across the surface of the fabric. Since the moisture is not actually absorbed by the fibres, it evaporates more quickly. That's the theory we shall be testing.
- [ Focused Beam Torch ] Manker E02 II + RovyVon Aurora A1X (corded with quick release)
A non-budget (£40 to £50 all in) focused beam backup light combo. These two ultralight mini torches pack quite a punch and function really well together. The Manker is a right-angled torch and can clip onto a pack or jacket (with a max beam of 420 lumens) and with the RovyVon Aurora you get a short blast of 650 lumens to light the distant way ahead. This kind of power and throw is very handy when crossing treacherous terrain in the dark and for being able to judge what can and cannot be traversed. The combination weighs just 56g including batteries, cord and micro quick release (the latter two items do not come with the products).
- [ Sub Zero Lighter ] Titech Titanium Peanut Lighter & Fuel Canister (~40g total)
Pizzo-electric and butane lighters are pretty useless in sub-zero conditions. Petrol based lighters are really the way to go. We've stored zippos in zip-lock bags in sub zero conditions and the naphtha fuel still evaporates. This combination is around 20g lighter than a zippo and appears to solve the fuel evaporation issue. Both items are screw tops with o-ring seals. The Peanut lighter has a smaller fuel capacity but extra fuel can be carried in the canister. This looks like a likely solution to a problem that has caused us to not recommend any sub-zero lighting solution to date.