• Climawool Lite® in a low-profile design that sheds snow and cheats the wind.
• Softshell Fabric
• Merino Interior
• Average Weight 2 oz.
• Low profile, lightweight Climawool® softshell performance beanie for:
  • Nordic skiing
  • Winter running/cycling
  • Snowshoeing
  • Ultra-racing

Description [return to top] The Scull Cap is part of IBEX’s Ibextremities series, made with a Climawool soft shell and a Merino wool lining. It is meant to fit snugly on the head, covering most of the ears. There are four equally spaced radial seams on the top of the cap, and a seam all the way around creating a headband nearly 2 in (5 cm) wide.

The cap, when laid flat, measures about 7.5 in tall by 11 in wide (19 x 28 cm). There are two tags sewn together into the inside of the back of the cap – a size tag, and a care tag that reads:

The Scull Cap is Ice Blue (an ice-like pale blue) inside and out, with an Ice Blue IBEX logo on the front. The cap stretches easily over my head, almost completely covering my ears, and fits closely all over. If I move my head around a bit the hat will slide up slightly in the back, resulting in a straight line for the headband, and slightly less coverage for my ears, but still a good fit.

First Impressions [return to top] Although the website did not give measurements, and there is no entry on their sizing chart for hats, I found the remainder of the site informative and received pretty much what I expected.

Field Information [return to top] Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 25 to 30 ºF (-4 to -1 ºC) to highs around 95 to 100 ºF (35 to 38 ºC). Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). All of these events will likely involve a significant amount of time spent just standing around, watching and/or supervising the boys. I wear a hat year-round when outdoors, although I generally wear lightweight versions or ball caps. My weekends, when not working during the day, are spent outdoors as much as possible. The cap will be with me nearly every day of the testing period – to include to and from work, camping and hiking, and Boy Scout trips – so it should get quite a durability workout. Besides, it will get my lady off my back about the condition of the hat I’ve been wearing lately.

Things I am/will be looking for: Fit. Does it fit me? Is the sizing on the web site accurate? Does it stay on well in windy conditions? Fabric. Is the Climawool Lite durable (I have no prior experience with the fabric)? Does it stretch? Does it fade? Is it windproof? Waterproof? Does it pill, pull, or snag readily? Warmth. How cold can it get out and still keep me warm? Does it ventilate well? Comfort. Am I constantly aware of the cap, or does it just seem to disappear on my head? Does the headband effectively keep sweat out of my eyes? Can I wear it comfortably while sleeping? Washability. Are there special instructions? Are they easy to follow? Does it dry well? Does it hold much dirt in the first place?

Things I like [return to top] Light. Compact. Comfortable. Warm. Things I don't like [return to top] None yet.

Backpacking Background [return to top] My family started car/trailer camping when I was about 5. I spent 17 years in the Army Reserve fine-tuning my packing methodology – when I got out, I was down to a fairly respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load in my ALICE pack. Advancing age, arthritic knees and a car accident have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices, experiment with tarps and hammocks, make some of my own gear, and take a closer look at my ‘toys’ with an eye for multi-use and light weight. I now have a sub-30 lb (14 kg) 3-season load, and should be able to reduce it to 20 lb (9 kg) – before food, fuel and water – without much more effort.

Thank you for your time. Chuck Kime a.k.a. Fuzzy

Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Ibex Scull Cap > Chuck Kime > Initial Report