The Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 35 is a roughly 2 lb, top-loading pack built from water-resistant Dimension-Polyant fabric, aimed at hiking and climbing days where you want something lighter and simpler than a framed backpacking pack [1][2]. It has a light frame sheet, a removable floating lid and a basic waist belt rather than a load-bearing suspension [1]. Stock is thinning at some US retailers, so check availability before you set your heart on one, and look at the alternatives below if your size is gone.
Status: still listed, but getting scarce
As of October 2026 the pack is still listed at several retailers, but availability is patchy. Backcountry shows the Scrambler 35L as temporarily out of stock [1]. CampSaver shows at least one colorway and size (Black, M/L) as “no longer available” [3]. A European retailer, Hardloop, still lists the S/M size in stock while marking the M/L as out of stock [2].
None of those pages say Mountain Hardwear has discontinued the pack, and we could not load Mountain Hardwear’s own product page to confirm. Treat it as a current model with uneven stock, not a guaranteed buy.
Specs
| Spec | Scrambler 35 |
|---|---|
| Volume | 35 L (S/M) / 37 L (M/L) per Hardloop [2]; Backcountry lists 35 L (2,136 cu in) [1] |
| Weight | 2 lb (S/M), 2 lb 0.3 oz (M/L) [1]; 907 g / 916 g [2] |
| Torso fit | S/M 16–19 in; M/L 18–21 in [1] |
| Frame / back | Contoured, ventilated back panel with a lightweight frame sheet; no separate suspension listed [1] |
| Max load | Not published [1] |
| Fabric | 4-layer Dimension-Polyant, 57% nylon / 43% polyester, described as water-repellent [2] |
| Hip belt | Adjustable waist belt [1] |
| Hydration | Reservoir compatible, plus two side bottle pockets [1][2] |
| Access | Top loading, removable floating lid with zip pocket [1] |
| Carry extras | Ice axe and trekking pole carry, daisy chains, side compression, sternum strap with whistle, haul handle [1][2] |
| Warranty | Lifetime, per Backcountry’s listing [1] |
Versions: check the fabric
There has been more than one Scrambler. The current listings at Backcountry and Hardloop describe the Dimension-Polyant nylon/polyester body [1][2]. CampSaver’s listing for an older SKU instead describes a 400D TPU-coated nylon ripstop body (75% nylon, 25% TPU) with a removable hip belt [3]. If you are buying used or from old stock, look at the fabric callout and the tag to know which one you are getting. Both are top-loaders with side bottle pockets and reservoir compatibility [1][3].
What the design is good at
The Scrambler is a stripped-down alpine-style daypack. The main things that define it:
- Weather resistance from the fabric itself. The laminated Dimension-Polyant body is described as water-repellent [2], which is why people pick this style of pack for wet approaches and scrambles.
- Light structure. A frame sheet and contoured back panel, not an aluminum frame [1]. That keeps weight near 2 lb but limits how much load it carries comfortably.
- Climbing-friendly details. Ice axe carry, daisy chains, a haul handle and a lid you can remove to go lighter [1][2].
- Stand-up shape. Backcountry notes it is designed to stand up on its own, which helps when packing at a trailhead [1].
Who it suits
- Hikers and scramblers who want a simple top-loader that sheds rain better than a typical nylon daypack.
- Climbers doing single-day objectives who need axe and pole carry plus room for a shell, insulation, food and water.
- People in the 16–21 inch torso range, which the two sizes cover [1].
Who should skip it
- Anyone carrying heavy loads. There is no published max load and no real hip-belt suspension [1], so a framed pack is the better tool for overnights or heavy gear.
- People who like lots of zippered organization. It is a top-loader with a lid pocket and side bottle pockets, not a panel-loading daypack [1][2].
- Buyers who need a specific size right now, given the current stock gaps [1][3].
Current alternatives
| Pack | Volume | Weight | Why look at it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Hardwear Alpine Light 35 | 35 L | 2 lb 2 oz (S/M) | Same brand, with a removable aluminum frame and foam frame sheet [4] |
| Black Diamond Speed 30 | 30 L | 938 g (S/M) | Alpine top-loader with removable frame sheet and hip belt [5] |
| Osprey Mutant 38 | 38 L | 2.8 lb | More capacity, removable lid, ToolLocks and padded hip belt [6] |
Mountain Hardwear Alpine Light 35. The closest in-house step up. Backcountry lists a removable 7000-series aluminum frame plus a removable closed-cell foam frame sheet, a removable padded waist belt and hydration compatibility, aimed at climbing, mountaineering and ski mountaineering [4]. It weighs a couple of ounces more than the Scrambler in exchange for that stiffer frame [1][4].
Black Diamond Speed 30. Black Diamond lists a 210-denier nylon body with a reinforced front patch, a removable lid, metal ice tool attachments, removable crampon straps, and a removable frame sheet and hip belt [5]. The maker shows a $219.95 price, though the page marked it out of stock when we checked [5].
Osprey Mutant 38. If 35 liters is tight, the Mutant adds volume and a padded hip belt, with a removable top lid, an integrated FlapJacket for lidless use, dual ToolLocks and ski-carry loops, at a listed 2.8 lb [6].
Bottom line
The Scrambler 35 makes sense if you want a light, water-resistant top-loader for day objectives and can find your size. If stock has dried up, or you need a pack that carries real weight, the Alpine Light 35, Speed 30 and Mutant 38 cover the same ground with more structure.
Sources
- Backcountry — Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 35L Backpack (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Hardloop — Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 35 backpack (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- CampSaver — Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 35L Backpack, Black, M/L (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Backcountry — Mountain Hardwear Alpine Light 35L Backpack (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Black Diamond — Speed 30 Backpack (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Neptune Mountaineering — Osprey Mutant 38 Pack (accessed Oct 8, 2026)