Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 OutDry Backpack

There aren't that many waterproof daypacks on the market. Sure there are packs with rain covers, but then you have detracting issues such as losing the cover all together, getting it torn while on the trail, having to stop and attach it when it rains, and remembering to pack the cover to begin with. The Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 Outdry is ready for the worst conditions at all times year round without the need for covers.

As the name suggests, the Scrambler is perfect to grab and go when headed off to wet areas during stormy weather. Here's the pack sitting in a pool of water at the base of a waterfall while it is raining... and my snacks, sleeping bag and sweater are perfectly dry inside. Made from 400D HD Nylon this 30 litre pack weighs a light 770 grams.

The pack is intended for rock climbers, snowboarders and hikers and has padded shoulder straps with an adjustable sternum strap. There are carry loops for ice axes or trekking poles and a pocket on both sides that easily carry a 1L Nalgene water bottle. Two reinforced gear loops on the bottom of the pack offer a secure spot to clip gear to or carry skis A-frame.

The bag itself while waterproof to falling rain, is not submersible as it closes with a drawstring. The top lid pocket is seam taped, which keeps out rain and mist, however after the bag took a quick dip in the water, my pack of Kleenex inside was pretty soggy.

On the flip side however, having a pack that can lay in the bottom of my canoe and I won't have to worry about the contents getting wet from stray water is pretty handy. The Scrambler 30 is far more comfortable than Drybag backpacks and moves with you easily. It has a comfortable framesheet that conforms well to your spine and allows for some airflow.

The pack has side compression straps to keep everything from shifting around and you can cinch it down very effectively. While there are no internal pockets, this top load pack is meant to pack light and it opens very quickly with a nifty mechanism that lets you get into it simply by pulling outwards on the tab.

The Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 Outdry Backpack is a great waterproof pack that takes the worry of adverse conditions out of the equation. The tough material has stood up to all the scrapes from branches and rocks without any blemishes, and better yet, not a drop of rain has made it into the main compartment.