Long-Term Report: Ibex Scull Cap

Date: September 7, 2005

Summary
I tested the Ibex Scull Cap on 25 trips totaling 58 days while snowshoeing, doing peak ascents, backpacking, and day hiking. It weighs only 1.5 oz (43 g). It’s tall enough to cover my ears. I often wore it under a billed cap for extra warmth and to reduce the roar of the wind in my ears. In camp, it provided extra warmth in the evenings and mornings, and I used it as a sleeping cap at night. Overall, I found the Scull Cap to be lightweight, warm, breathable, durable, and versatile.

Product Information
Product Tested: IBEX Scull Cap (#815)
Manufacturer Website: http://ibexwear.com/
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Fabric Description: Climawool Lite™ is Skifans fabric made by Schoeller. It is a stretch woven blend of 72% nylon, 20% merino wool, and 8% spandex. The inner surface is napped merino wool. The fabric has mainly vertical stretch and minimal horizontal stretch.
Color: Black
Colors Available: Black, blue
Sizes Available: Medium, large
Size Tested: Men’s Large
Weight Listed: average weight is 2 oz (57 g)
Weight as Delivered: 1.5 oz (43 g)
MSRP: $30 US

Product Description
The IBEX Scull Cap, according to the IBEX website is “Climawool Lite® in a low-profile design that sheds snow and cheats the wind.” It is a “low-profile, lightweight Climawool® softshell performance beanie for Nordic skiing, winter running and cycling, snowshoeing, and ultra-racing.” Product literature claims that Merino wool does not itch or develop odors, has a broad comfort range, and is machine washable.

Long-Term Report
In the six-month testing period (March-August 2005) I used the Ibex Scull Cap on 25 trips totaling 58 days, as follows:

Test Locations and Conditions—As shown in the above table, the Scull Cap received a lot of use in different activities. Locations included desert hiking in California and Arizona, canyon hiking in Arizona and Utah, and mountain hiking in Colorado. Terrains and conditions included desert, canyons, mountains, on-trail, and off-trail.

I encountered a wide variety of weather on my trips. In Utah canyon country and in the Southern Colorado mountains I had several windy days where I wore the Scull Cap under my hiking cap for warmth and to reduce the roar of the wind in my ears. On several backpacking trips I hiked in strong winds with rain or snow showers, and wore the Scull Cap under my hiking cap for extra warmth. In camp, temperatures frequently got down to freezing, and I wore the Scull Cap for warmth in the mornings, evenings, and as a sleeping cap at night. On my snowshoe trips I wore the Scull Cap under my hiking cap when I got above timberline (11,800 ft/3600 m), where it was breezy and chilly when the sun was blocked by clouds. At home I wore the Scull Cap on a rainy day hike to see how it would do in the rain.

Construction And Quality— All seams are flat and smooth on both the outside and inside to minimize abrasion and to fit easily under other headwear. Sewing is high quality and very sturdy. Overall quality of the cap is excellent. I could not find any flaws.

Features—The top of the cap has a square shape obtained by sewing four panels together. Those 4 panels are sewn to a 2 in (5 cm) wide headband. The headband has a moisture-absorbing lining. According to product information, Climawool Lite® does not smell or itch, the cap has a broad comfort range, and is machine washable.

Fit and Comfort—The cap (size large) was snug on my head at first, especially when worn over the ears. After using it a few times it stretched a bit and now fits perfectly. The headband has about 2 in (5 cm) of stretch. The inside of the cap is brushed Merino wool, and feels very comfortable against my skin.

Measurements—When the hat was new, the relaxed circumference was 22 in (56 cm). Now, it's 22.5 in (57.2 cm). The stretched circumference has remained at 24.3 in (62 cm). Height is about 5 in (13 cm).

Performance—The Ibex Scull Cap is the most versatile 1.5 ounces (43 g) in my pack. It is the cap I always take for extra warmth when I need it. In camp I usually wear the Scull Cap by itself. In cold/windy hiking conditions I often wear it under my billed hiking cap (Outdoor Research Sahara Cap) because I like having a sun visor. By itself, it stays on well in the wind and is quite wind resistant. It is tall enough to cover my ears, which I really appreciate in the wind. It seems to ventilate well because I can feel a light breeze through it when I wear it in the wind. On the trail, I have found it surprisingly comfortable to wear over a broad range of conditions. In camp, I have found it to be warm down to about freezing when I am moving about in camp. When I wear it as a sleeping cap, it is warm down to about 35 F (19.4 C). When it gets colder I wear another cap over it. In my hike in the rain, the Scull Cap had no problem shedding a steady rain. I stayed warm as long as I kept moving.

Durability—I ran into a few tree stubs while wearing the cap, with no damage to the cap (but a little damage to me). The Ibex Climawool softshell fabric is tough and shows no signs of wear. 

Washing—Washing instructions on the label read: “Machine wash in lukewarm water up to 88 F (30 C), separately, gentle cycle, inside out. Use a mild detergent (Ivory Snow). Do not use fabric softener. Do not tumble dry. Hang or lay flat to dry, cool iron if necessary. May dry clean using any solvent except trichloroethylene.” I hand washed the Scull Cap using Woolite about six times during the test period and each time washing restored it to like-new. The cap did not develop any odors between washings.

Personal Information
Name: Will Rietveld
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Head Circumference: 22.5 in (57 cm)
Email: willi_wabbit@bresnan.net (willi_wabbit AT Bresnan DOT net)
City & State: Durango, CO 81301
Location for Testing: Southwestern US (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico).

Backpacking Background
I have been an avid backpacker for 47 years. Backpacking is my passion and I backpack nearly every week in the summer. In the summer I backpack in several wilderness areas in southern Colorado, with occasional trips to other states. In the fall, winter, and spring I backpack in UT, AZ, and NM.

Backpacking Style—I have been a lightweight backpacker for many years and an ultralight backpacker for six years. My current interest is super-ultralight backpacking (less than five pounds base weight). In our local area, my wife and I give presentations on backcountry cooking and ultralight backpacking, and to share information, have developed a website called Southwest Ultralight Backpacking.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank IBEX and the BackpackGearTest Group for selecting me to participate in this test.

Will Rietveld