10 Best Black Diamond Backpacks (Review) in 2020

This editor’s top pick, the Bullet 16 is an extremely inexpensive, high-capacity way to enjoy the full durability and construction of Black Diamond products. First and foremost, we have to talk about how fantastically lightweight and compact this pack is. When it’s empty, it’s less than a pound-and-a-half. You can take full advantage of the entire pack without weighing yourself down too much. That lowered weight doesn’t mean that they had to exclude features to make it happen. You get one spacious external pocket, as well as an internal mesh pocket to stash your electronics or quick-access items.

On top of that, the Bullet gives you a bit of freedom. You can either deploy or detach the 20mm hip belt, which is made of a high-durability webbing. Need that extra support for your lower lumbar? Just pop this out and you’re good to go. In the spirit of support, they’ve also included a removable back panel, made of high-density foam. This adds support and some spine to the backpack, so it doesn’t fall awkwardly when you place it down. Be sure to also check out our list of the best Timbuk2 backpacks for more great items like this.

The best, the brightest of the lot in our humble opinion, is the Speed 30. When you’re hauling fifty, sixty, even seventy pounds of gear on your back, the empty weight of your pack matters. Every pound is a bit of the burden, which is why Black Diamond made this super lightweight, weighing less than three pounds when empty. They kept it simple, but still wanted you to be able to use this for hiking and skiing, as well as other winter activities. There’s an exterior pocket specifically designed to store an ice pick, so you can keep your hands free while still having it within reach.

What’s remarkable about this pack is how versatile it is. That word gets thrown around a lot, but Black Diamond really took it to the next level. You can remove the straps, and if you want, you can even remove the entire nylon frame to turn this backpack into a bivy pad. To go a step further, you can also remove the lid over the top load pocket, so you can turn this into whatever you want. Last but not least, the back panel is heat-resistant, so you won’t be sweating up a storm just because you had this hauled over your back for five hours. Our handy guide to the best waterproof backpacks features more great products like this.

The great outdoors are calling: will you answer? It’s a hell of a lot easier to answer nature’s call when you have the right gear. The Element pack gives you massive control over how you proceed in the outdoors. Our favorite aspect of this is the lid to the top load compartment. It converts into a system for your lower lumbar, designed to make quick hikes a lot less stressful on your joints. On that subject, this pack also has a built-in suspension system to alleviate stress and pressure. When you fill this up to total capacity with your tents and camping sleeping bags, you need all the relief you can get.

Relief doesn’t just come in weight, by the way. Nobody knows that more than Black Diamond, which is why they also raised the back panel to keep off your shirt, so you won’t sweat through it. Proper ventilation maintains a cool, low-heat presence, which reduces how quickly you fatigue from a long hike. You get an external hip belt pocket for fast access to outdoor essentials, as well as ample interior storage and a fairly lightweight construction to tie the whole thing together. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, we recommend the Moroccan Blue. 

Are you about to hit the trail? Can’t leave your electronics behind? Say no more. Black Diamond came up with the perfect solution. Most “hiking backpacks” that offer space for your electronics give you too much space, as if they’re trying to rob you of the idea that you’re mostly going for the outdoors. You get one simple, fleece-lined sleeve along the internal storage with the Nitro 26 pack, so you can stash a phone and a tablet without bringing you entire home office to the campsite. Building on their innovative, supportive design, Black Diamond included the reACTIV suspension system with this model for maximum support while hiking.

You can comfortably store most of your hiking and camping essentials in here, but that heavy load often leaves you seriously fatigued. As if the suspension system wasn’t enough, they also added the OpenAir back panel technology to maximize airflow and reduce sweating. Less sweating, slower build to real fatigue. The shoulder straps are adjustable, the price is right, and the style is out of this world. Love this product? Check out our review of the best tactical backpacks for our top picks.

Black Diamond is all about conquering the outdoor world while dually respecting it. This linear pack gives you all the carrying capacity you could ever ask for, and does it with an eco-friendly construction and fantastic touch of style. You’re able to remove the entire nylon strap frame, as well as the deployable webbing-based hip belt. This makes the Mission 55 much easier to clean and customize to your liking.

The real star of the show is the SwingArm padded shoulder straps. These are built in a way to contour to your body, but also have enough padding to conform to any rugged shape. You’ll feel a lot less pressure than standard wafer-thin nylon straps that most similarly-priced backpacks are peddling. When empty, this weighs just under five pounds, and for all the room it’s packing, that’s an excellent base weight to start with. Whether you go with the full cobalt or the black accented style, you’ll be prepped to camp and climb with the best of them. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best external frame backpacks.

They’ve capitalized on their pill-shaped backpack design with the Speed 22. This has a little bit of both worlds between hiking and winter activities. If you’re ready to slip the snow gear on and get out the door, you’ll need a bit of Speed in your step. You get a specific pocket that’s designated for a micro ice pick, as well as a section that’s built to handle your coil of rope for climbing. If you’re not keen on using that bit, it can easily be tucked away so it’s not an inconvenience for whatever activities you’ll be attempting.

The side crampon straps are removable, but the most supportive feature in this backpack has to be the padded straps. Supportive and comfortable, these ultra padded straps help to reduce the stress of your contents so you don’t feel it in your shoulders when all is said and done. It’s accompanied by the thermoformed back panel, which provides breathability while also keeping the weight of the pack off your lower lumbar. You’ll be able to hike all day. Our guide to roll top backpacks offers more great backpack options so check it out.

We’ve come to expect suspension and durability from Black Diamond so far. We were shocked to find that they were able to outdo themselves with this hardcore Element 60 backpack. Not only do you get the reACTIV suspension system, but you’re also getting the full power of their back panel, which reduces sweating and includes a soft, yet supportive system for your lower lumbar. When you’re packing this much gear, you need all the comfort you’re able to grasp.

If you’re a hiker, you can use the ice axe loop for a retractable walking stick. If you’re sticking it out in the snow, you’ll be using this bad boy to hold onto your tools while you’re ascending that wall of ice. You’ll also get a hip belt for fast access to essential items, and your external pocket will lend you a hand with a tidy mesh organizer right inside. When it comes down to packing the most gear, Element has your back. Zippered access to your wearable sleeping bag from the outside, less than five pounds when empty, and a ton of style points to boot.

We’re not out of the woods yet, and with the Stone 45, you’ll never want to leave. This super simple, minimalist design gives you exactly what you need. No sleeves for electronics, no unnecessary pockets, nothing but maximum storage capacity and a few features that ice climbers are going to love. You get a tuck-away loop designed to hold your small pick or axe, as well as a top load feature with a drawstring closure. Quickly access your internal pocket while dually keeping the contents safe.

You also get padded shoulder straps to reduce fatigue and cut down on stress that’s applied to your joints. If you’re going to hit the trail, you need to muster every bit of strength you can while carrying this on your back. Lightweight construction, simple design, and proper support for your lower lumbar. The Stone 45 also comes in three colors, as well as two sizes. If you enjoy traveling, check out our travel backpacks review and find the perfect backpack for you.

They’ve built this on the same principles as the Element 60, giving it a slight facelift in the style department. You get the same great reACTIV suspension system that Black Diamond uses, while also getting the option to slip a retractable walking stick or an ice pick into the pull-out loop if you’d like. That suspension system is complimented by the padded back panel, giving you just enough ventilation while also reducing strain on your back.

Being lightweight out there is extremely important. The Elixir weighs less than five pounds when empty, and maximizes storage space with every inch of your main internal compartment. It’s not just a dump-and-go kind of bag either, because you also get an external access pocket with a mesh organizer along the inside. Top it all off with the support and cushioning capabilities of the Swing Arm shoulder straps, and you’ve got a low-fatigue pack that’s willing to see you through the toughest parts of your trek. Make sure you also read our North Face backpacks review for more great items like this.

Last but certainly not least, you have a ton of power packed up in a little package with the Creek 35. This gives you excellent internal storage, while sticking to the same great features that put Black Diamond on the map in the first place. The thermoformed back panel helps to create a breathable environment, reducing sweat and fatigue throughout your journey. Speaking of fatigue, you’ll also be able to rest easy thanks to the padded shoulder straps, taking the brunt of some of that pressure quite literally off your shoulders.

Black Diamond doesn’t make the associated materials a big point, but they wanted you to know that this is crafted of one of the most durable outdoor materials ever: 1200D polyester. It’s TPU-coated, reducing its susceptibility to stains and enhancing its natural waterproofing. To top it all off, you get ample storage thanks to the foam waist belt, as well as the massive internal storage. Black Diamond has and always will focus on quality at the heart of each backpack, as well as their lineup of other outdoor accessories.