Being ready for a black diamond isn’t an easy task. Outdoors lovers spend years going through the motions and studying techniques before they drop into trails marked for experts only; you should expect the same development from the gear accompanying you on these harrowing missions.
Black Diamond focuses on producing high-quality climbing and skiing gear, spilling into alpine camping supplies now and then.
Naming your company after the most treacherous marks on the mountain is a bold statement, and it instantly invites further speculation by raising the stakes for their products.
Known initially as Chouinard Equipment, Black Diamond was born from the same hands as Patagonia. The company represented the technical climbing and skiing yang to Patagonia’s more broad-reaching yin.
A backyard metalworking shed sets the stage for some of the finest climbing equipment of the time across the state of California. Slowly perfected over time and countless ascents, the company changed hands and rebranded many times to become the wildly popular niche specialist we’ll introduce you to today.
Through all the growth and change, their M.O. never changed. It has served as a home for highly technical and affordable equipment made by mountaineers for mountaineers.
Like every significant company on the market, Black Diamond has a few more affordable models and products that cant hang on the mountaintop, but today we’ll focus on identifying what peaks this mountain specialist can reach.
From climbing supplies to trekking poles, all the way through bivvy bags and heavy-duty mittens, we’ll look at the best lines in Black Diamonds arsenal across the board.
Astro 300 Headlamp
- > $
- > Affordable headlamp
- > Comes with the ability to adjust your brightness levels
Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell Jacket
- > $$
- > Lightest hardshell jackets
- > Weather resistance
Distance Carbon Trekking Poles
- > $
- > Lightweight trekking poles
- > Fit for anyone running, walking, or scrambling
Twilight Bivvy Bag
- > $
- > Can withstand winds up to 30 mph
- > Genuine four-season certification
GTX FrontPoint Gaiters
- > $
- > Gore-Tex protection
- > Stiff, durable lower half
Absolute Mittens
- > $$
- > Heavy-duty mittens
- > Waterproof
Storm 450 Headlamp
- > $
- > Three separate lenses
- > Can survive 30 minutes underwater
Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
- > $
- > Full tilt and cushy cork details
- > 15-degree angle to deliver maximum power
Momentum Climbing Shoes
- > $
- > Elastic outer edge and a pair of velcro straps
- > 100% vegan materials
Distance Tent with Adapter
- > $$
- > Lightweight shelter
- > Flexible structure all in one
The Best Gear From Black Diamond
We’ve hand-selected a few of our favourite tools that haven’t gone far from our sides in recent years. Whether you’re gearing up for a high alpine adventure, low country boil, or casual backwoods cruise, Black Diamond has the right equipment for the job.
This wide-ranging product assortment will give you a better idea of the widely varying niches Black Diamond has its hands in.
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Join REI Today!#1 Astro 300 Headlamp
The Black Diamond camping brand has all sorts of headgear that keeps the lights on affordably. From high-end luminous options down to this affordable Astro 300, all of their headgear keeps the same quality in mind, making this cheap headlamp one of the most commonly used lamps on the market.
The Astro 300 is front and centre in the headlamp aisle from REIs to speciality climbing stores. Its simple design saves money while shining bright enough to support potty breaks under a starry sky. For less than $20, the Astro still comes with the ability to adjust your brightness levels.
This adjustability gives Black Diamond’s affordable headlamp a key step up from most budget headlamps. Any white light can guide your way across the camp at night, but it’s just as important to have a lower luminosity to move around the tent without blinding your mates.
#2 Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell Jacket
Wake up, dingus; it snowed last night. For the day after mother nature is done dumping, this jacket is breathable enough to slip on and reach the mountain top before dawn and protective enough to charge downhill through flurries.
This hybrid serves as one of the lightest rain hardshell jackets on the market. This jacket has got backcountry skiing written all over it. With all sorts of surprising weather resistance on such a light jacket, you can confidently head into winter storms and winter wonderlands.
#3 Distance Carbon Trekking Poles
Going extreme distances requires extreme equipment. Just ask Joe Grant, who just got back from climbing 57 fourteeners in 31 days. Black Diamond made sure to talk to the ultra-runner and general mountain man every step of the way while designing these incredibly lightweight trekking poles.
The result is his signature trekking poles.
If it’s fit for Joe, it’s fit for anyone running, walking, or scrambling through serious mileage. The poles are light enough to keep stowed away until you need them the most. If you want extra flexibility, an available ‘Z’ model provides tent pole style folding into three compact pieces.
#4 Twilight Bivvy Bag
Even for Bivvys, the lightest shelter class possible, this bag is petite. You can throw it in any gear bag or pants pocket and have home in your pocket while you spend sunrise on the mountain.
At less than .30 Kilos, you might not expect much weather protection, but that’s precisely where this bivvy excels. Thanks to Black Diamond’s Nano Shield, this little green bag can withstand winds up to 30 mph and is just about the closest a bivvy can get to a genuine four-season certification. Sitting at the top of two important minimalist categories makes this bivvy bag an excellent addition to any closet.
#5 GTX FrontPoint Gaiters
You’re bound to come across some mud on your way to glory, especially in sunny springtime. Whether you’re sludging through April showers or skiing your way through the depth of winter, trudge onwards. These knee-high gaiters pack Gore-Tex protection and nylon seals through the knees and keep your extremities bone dry. These bad boys make the most out of wet weather.
Charging through the muck is a requirement for many adventures. These FrontPoints love colder mornings and higher altitudes thanks to a stiff, durable lower half that shields the legs against crampons and dirt, dust, snow, mud, and ice.
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#6 Absolute Mittens
Built for the coldest days of the year, slip on these heavy-duty mittens and your hands will stay warm enough to sneak through one last run as they close up the lifts. You can’t expect loads of agility from a mitten, but the reinforced leather layer across the thumb and main section of these mitts help you hold the line.
A completely waterproof insert can be removed for an incredibly lightweight grip or kept inside to feel all kinds of warmth. Combined, these mittens provide over 500 grams of insulated warmth technology that’s fit for frozen summits. These are amongst the best mittens we have tried.
#7 Storm 450 Headlamp
This technical headlamp brings plenty of high end features down to a middle-class price. The dirt and waterproof headlamp can light up the campsite and the dusty trail. Chase salamanders and make a splash at midnight without worrying about your equipment and take advantage of the three separate lenses to shine a perfect light on the occasion.
The lamp can survive 30 minutes underwater and is durable enough to be thrown in the bottom of any pack, just in case. If you catch yourself on the road after dark, you can cycle through loads of light patterns to make your presence known.
#8 Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
Full tilt and cushy cork details clean up the handlebars of National Park’s favourite pair of trekking poles. These handy walkers keep things moving forward with a 15-degree angle to deliver maximum power. You can reach down and adjust your grip thanks to the low hanging foam that helps up hills.
The telescoper isn’t one of the lightest or most compact poles on the planet. Instead, this powerhouse knows some days in the woods are all about cruising comfortably. The durability travels through the flicking locks through this trail ergo model’s dirty details that make the poles ready for four-season hiking.
The women’s black diamond ergo cork trail trekking poles have changed my trekking game for the better. After trying loads of cheap poles, I knew something was missing but wasn’t quite sure what. These poles can truly endure any landscape and have thus far kept me from falling into a glacial crevasse and have helped me conquer some pretty gnarly uphills in the mountains of Pakistan.
#9 Momentum Climbing Shoes
Let your life on the wall increase momentum with a pair of climbing shoes that will have you itching to get to the gym. Much like Sweden, Climbing shoes will always be tight; there’s Norway around that. However, not all climbing shoes have to be too snug to wear while walking around the gym or crag. These climbing shoes relax a bit and provide a comfortable space on the ground and the wall.
An elastic outer edge and a pair of velcro straps lock you into place and slip off with ease. After a few months of climbing, your feet will mould these climbers into cinderella’s shining slippers. The flexible materials take the shape of your foot and turn into a personalised fit.
Momentum can come off the wall and affect all corners of your life. These shoes with 100% vegan materials prove that sustainability can take you to high places.
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Buy on REI!#10 Distance Tent with Adapter
Delicately walking the line between a bivvy sack and full-on shelter, this tent is all about ultralight travel. The lightweight shelter pairs perfectly with Black Diamonds Distance Carbon Trekking Poles to create a stretchable sitting area and slumber specialist. Don’t expect room for much more than adjusting the headlamp, but you will find it miles roomier than most other welterweight sleepers.
Look at it this way. For exactly 2.5 pounds, you can carry a pair of trekking poles and a flexible structure all in one. The protection and breathability both outperform your typical bivvy sack and make the high tech tent well worth a few extra ounces.
#11 Black Diamond Lightweight Wooltech Glove
If you’re looking for some lightweight, affordable gloves made for outdoor activities then check out the Black Diamond LightWeight WoolTech gloves. These are a game changer when it comes to adaptability and can be used for various different activities. Whether you’re skiing, trail running, or belaying your mate struggling up a sandbag 5b, they come in super handy.
These gloves can be worn on their own or in combination with a larger glove as a liner. The fabric used in the construction provides insulation that can still effectively regular temperature when wet, not only that, but they are odour wicking too… great for sweaty palms! Another feature I just love is that these gloves are usable with a touch screen, such as your mobile phone.
#12 Black Diamond Mission Lt 2.0 Approach Shoes
For those of us who love to climb, scramble and tackle technical hikes whilst out and about, these approach shoes are the perfect travel companion. Being made from lightweight, durable and breathable materials their super sticky Black Diamond rubber made sure I got up the slippery final accent of Mt Kinabalu with no trouble.
Featuring several webbing loops they can also easily be hooked onto your backpack for easy storage when moving from place to place, they are perfect for the adventurous backpacker. Not only that but you can rest assured when buying these shoes that you won’t be contributing to melting those beautiful glaciers you’re exerting so much effort in reaching due to the sustainable materials used in construction.
#13 Black Diamond Lightwire Long Sleeve Technical T-shirt
Your normal cotton T-shirt isn’t going to cut it in the sweltering heat of Southeast Asia, on the trails in South America or on the peaks of the Alps in the summer months. Instead, here is where technical long-sleeve t-shirts, like this one from Black Diamond, come into their own.
With breathable, stretchy and moisture-wicking fabric, the Lightwire allows you to stay cool, dry and fresh when both on the trails or exploring the sweaty streets of Bangkok. Plus, with the long sleeves you’ll be protected from the beating sun.
#14 Black Diamond Lightwire Long Sleeve Technical T-shirt
A baselayer is pretty much your best friend when it comes to weight vs usefulness in your pack. These bad boys take up hardly any room, keep your backpack light and they can literally be lifesavers. The Solution 150 Merino Baselayer keeps you warm, dry and in peak condition no matter where your travels take you.
Worn on its own or as part of a system of layering, the Solution 150 Merino Baselayer is the ideal way to keep your body temperature up when travelling light is of the utmost importance. Featuring NuYarn’s patented stretch Merino wool technology, it offers superior thermoregulation and moisture management all whilst keeping you smelling fresh!
#14 Coefficient LT Hybrid Fleece Hoody
If you’re on the lookout for a super lightweight fleece that will keep you warm on the most extreme of adventures, then look no further than the Coefficient LT Hybrid Hoody. Designed with rigorous activity in mind such as rock climbing and mountaineering. The combination of the woven front panel with the stretchy arms means you’ll no longer be held back on the wall by a stiff and unresponsive fleece.
If things begin to heat up halfway up the route, no worries. The Coefficient LT Hybrid Hoody is breathable and wicks away any moisture that threatens to get in the way of your big send. Other great features are the hood that fits under a helmet, a low-profile chest pocket for essentials and thumb loops to make sure your arms are covered even when reaching new heights.
#16 Beta Light 30L Backpack
If you’ve ever sat and thought “Hmm, I wonder what the world’s most comfortable 30l bag is” then I’ve got news for you pal, I’ve found it here! The Beta Light UL 30 isn’t your bog standard backpack, oh no, it’s built for speed and distance. No longer will you find yourself dragging along a heavy and unwieldy bag on the trails, instead, you’ll move with pace and comfort with one of the world’s lightest yet most durable packs.
Black Diamond partnered with Challenge Sailcloth on this innovative backpack to borrow their Ultra 200 body fabric. This super durable fabric combined with a roll-top closure and taped seams makes it both waterproof and hard-wearing enough to use and use. The running-vest-inspired shoulder straps offer both extra storage, ventilation and incredible levels of comfort.
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Final Thoughts on the Best Black Diamond Gear
Everything Black Diamond touches helps you get outside. Whether you’re planning some serious ascents, scheming ways to stay warm, or just looking for a few pieces to help around camp, you’ll find a high-quality model waiting within.
The gear we selected is just a handful of Black Diamond’s most successful products. All sorts of different models and niche all-stars are available online.
Any camping gear with the Black Diamond logo subtly slapped onto the outside carries with it the blessing of one of outdoor sports’ original gear junkies. We’ve sat back and watched the company as they’ve grown and improved their lines along with the time and have finally seen enough.
Over 40 years and constant innovations have earned this company the reputation as one of climbing’s most powerful brands – in fact they may even one of the best outdoor brands in the world today. Anyone who got their chops climbing understands the importance of gear performing when it counts.
Across the board, Black Diamond products exist to push you to the limits and help you reach new heights outside.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
