Scramble Floating Pocket (UL Map Bag)

Liberation from Bulky Map Cases and Jacket "Map Pockets"

Scramble designed the Floating Pockets primarily to be worn around the neck and to carry maps and associated navigation aids, however they can just as well be hung from a belt via the 5cm belt loops or used as ultralight pack pockets attached to a backpack with a carabiner or two - and they don't have to carry maps either.

Note: for higher quality images and a little more detail see Scramble's product release.

The Floating Pocket is a near clone of Granite Gear's large Air Pocket, using almost identical components and materials: 55 and 60 g/sm 40D micro ripstop sil-nylon, YKK reverse coil zips and grosgrain ribbon loops etc.  However, there are some relevant differences:

Key Differences: Granite Gear vs Scramble

• Dimensions: The Floating pocket is 2cm taller and 3cm wider to better accomodate UK Ordnance Survey maps in waterproof zip-lock bags.
• Weight: Being slightly larger the Floating Pocket is 2g (4g for the Grey Green version) heavier (on a like for like measure, i.e. ignoring the 2g neck cord).
• Neck Cord: The Floating Pocket comes with a removable neck cord as standard which has a maximum cord loop of 75cm (50cm is generally sufficient to loop round the neck). The cord features a set and forget design (tying off the ends with a simple knot), has a breaking strength of 90kg and weighs just 2g (including slider). Granite Gear's Air Pocket doesn't come with any cord attachment.
• Edging and Loops: We use strong grosgrain ribbon for both the loops and the reinforced edging, whereas Granite Gear only use it for their loops.
• Silicone Coating: The Floating Pocket is double silicone coated (coated on the inside as well as outside) making it more water-resistant than the Granite Gear version (which is only coated on the inside).
• Colours: The Floating Pocket is currently available in Sand, Grey Green, Olive Green, Grey and Orange.  
• Price (UK): The Floating Pocket is around £5.00 cheaper.

Why A Map Bag? (from Scramble's Release)

First off, map cases are heavy, awkward, bulky and rarely provide visible access to a sufficient number of OS map "panels" for those who cover large distances in miserable weather.

Outdoor brands use the phrase "map pocket" very loosely in our opinion. Yes, many jacket will hold a well folded Explorer OS map or two. My preference for all-weather map protection are the large (53 x 38cm) BCB snap seal bags reinforced at the edges with duct tape. These will show 6 panels of an Explorer OS map. This can then be folded, but these never fold perfectly and many jacket "map pockets" become a fiddly nuisance.

More important however, is the simple fact, that in warm or hot weather you're likely not  even wearing a jacket or your chosen jacket (lightweight wind-tops or softshells like Rab's Borealis) don't have any pockets - but you still need to know where you're going.

Specification

• Dimensions (H x W): 35cm x 25cm
• Weight (Default): 26g (+2g for cord)
• Weight (Grey Green Version): 28g (+2g for cord)
• Made in the UK

Materials

• Fabric: 40D High-Tenacity Micro Ripstop Sil-Nylon (Grey Green = 60 g/sm, Others = 55g/sm // 14kg tear strength)
• Coating: Silicone (both sides)
• Zips: YKK Reverse Coil (with tab-less slider)
• Cord: 2mm Polyester (16 windings, 90kg breaking strength, max 75cm neck loop, adjustable = 2g)
• Loops and Edging Reinforcement: 20mm grosgrain Ribbon
• Thread: Rot-Proof Nylon