Scott Patrol E2 Ultralight Review: One of the Lightest Electronic Airbag Packs for Ski Touring

Introduction

Electronic avalanche airbag packs keep getting lighter, and the Scott Patrol E2 Ultralight is one of the clearest examples of that trend. Scott has taken its existing Patrol E2 platform, which runs on the Alpride E2 electronic system, and rebuilt it around a Dyneema composite fabric. The result is an electronic airbag backpack that comes in at under 2 kg, which makes it one of the lightest options of its type on the market right now.

That weight figure matters more than it might sound. Airbag systems carry inherent weight, so shaving grams from the fabric and structure is where touring-focused packs earn their keep on long approaches and multi-day objectives.

Who This Pack Is For

The Patrol E2 Ultralight is aimed at ski tourers and ski mountaineers who want the safety margin of an electronic airbag system without the bulk of a traditional heavy airbag pack. If your days involve long ascents, boot packing, and technical terrain where every gram on your back is felt, this is the profile it is built around.

It also suits skiers who carry their skis a lot. The diagonal ski fixation is a core part of the design, and Scott has reinforced the pack specifically around the forces that a heavier ski creates when it is carried diagonally.

Main Strengths

The headline feature is the Dyneema composite fabric. Compared with standard pack materials, it makes a real difference in weight while keeping durability very high, so the low total weight does not come at the cost of a fragile shell. On the show floor the material felt rugged and tough, exactly what you want from a pack that will be scraped against rock, ice, and ski edges.

The pack also runs the Alpride E2 electronic airbag system, which has been established in the market for a couple of years. That maturity matters, because Alpride’s own internal testing has fed back into how packs like this are constructed, particularly around keeping the zipper closure secure under load.

Rescue Access and Organization

One of the most practical touches is how the avalanche tools are handled. The pack is designed so you can pull a probe out quickly and reach your rescue gear without digging through the main compartment. Scott has also refined the zipper area with small reinforced pockets that look like ordinary stash spots but actually take the strain off the zipper when a heavy ski is mounted diagonally. That construction follows recommendations from Alpride’s own testing, which is a reassuring detail rather than a marketing flourish.

Inside, the organization is thoughtful too. The helmet carry is integrated directly into the pack rather than being a loose strap system you can forget at home, and the main compartment uses a cinch and roll top arrangement. For day touring you can roll the top down to keep the profile low, and for hut trips you can extend it to gain extra volume.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few details are worth thinking through before committing. The adjustment system on the shoulder area uses a simple cord-style setup that requires a push-and-pull motion rather than a single pull; once set it stays put, but on-the-fly tweaks take a moment. On earlier versions of the E2 line, some users reported zippers opening under heavy crashes, and while the reinforcement pockets address that concern, it is a history worth knowing about. The under-2 kg claim also applies to the electronic version as a whole, so confirm the configuration you are buying matches that figure.

It is also a purpose-driven design. If you mostly ride lifts and rarely carry skis or travel on glaciers, you may not use the features that justify this pack’s structure. It rewards tourers who actually use the diagonal carry, the tool access, and the expandable volume.

Buying Advice

If you are shopping for an electronic airbag pack and weight is your priority, the Patrol E2 Ultralight should be high on your shortlist. The combination of the Alpride E2 system, Dyneema composite construction, and sub-2 kg total weight puts it among the lightest electronic options currently available, while the reinforced zipper design and integrated helmet carry show that the weight savings were engineered rather than simply stripped out.

Buy it if you are a committed ski tourer who wants modern airbag technology in the lightest practical package. If you are more budget-conscious or mostly resort-focused, a simpler non-airbag touring pack may serve you better.

Conclusion

The Scott Patrol E2 Ultralight is a focused product: it takes a proven electronic airbag system and wraps it in Dyneema composite fabric to hit a weight few competitors match. With strong durability, clever rescue access, and design input from Alpride’s own testing, it is a compelling choice for serious ski tourers. Just make sure its touring-first layout matches how you actually spend your days in the mountains.