Black Diamond has been making some extremely good packs for fast hikers or distance runners. Just use it on two big summit hikes. For high alpine hikes between 4-12 hours, this pack is nearly perfect. My only complaint might be how the chest strap is not padded enough to carry a canister of bear spray. It fits in there, but it's quite uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Sean didn't cover it, but the pack has loops to carry two ice axes.
Hi, thanks for the video. Can you put 500ml normal water bottle in the side pocket where you put the pole in this video? (tumbler not soft bottle) Thank you so much (I have to order abroad since this model is not available in my country so I could not try it myself)
Thanks for the review. It looks like you've maxed out the chest straps on the medium, and probably wouldn't work on you over a jacket. I also have a big chest and shoulders, so think I'd go for a large. Can you tell me if you can stow and access your poles while wearing the pack, or must take it off? Thanks!
For anyone else that has this question, I have the 15L and had to get the large. My chest isn’t as big as the author but the shoulder straps were easily maxed out. If you have any doubts, go a size up.
Hi there would you know how much load can this bag hold? I'm planning on summiting Mt Fuji and my loadout will be about 7kg+, I have a matador freerain 22 and stupidly tried loading it out but the shoulder straps started tearing with a load of ~6kg.
If it helps, I have a Google Pixel 4a, and it fits in all the chest pockets. The two small pockets it just fits, the larger one on the left fits the whole phone very comfortably, but all three pockets are stretchy. But if you want more security, the zipped pocket on the right only just fits my phone with the zipped closed.
Great question! They are both really good. For many, this pack is going to shine. As it is lighter and more catered to fast and light. The Bridger is still my favorite. The frame is more robust and the pack just fits my body so well.
Hi. I have an Osprey Talon 36 (S/M, so 34 litres), and it comfortably holds my 1.5 litre Camelbak water bottle in the side stretch pockets. Do you think the side stretch pockets on Black Diamond Pursuit 30 that you have the hiking poles in do the same? Many thanks.
Hello! That is a great question. I would test that out for you, but I gave the pack to a friend. I have fit a 20oz Hydroflask in the side pocket for sure.
@@Engearmentthanks for getting back to me, much appreciated! I resisted from purchasing the pack at first for quite some time, and I even went for the Montane Trailblazer 25 in the end, a great pack with running vest style straps too, don't know if that's the previous pack you're referring to earlier in the video? But, I succumbed in the end and bought the Black Diamond Pursuit 30 also, but in the Carbon-Moab Brown colour way. It's a really comfortable pack! I haven't tested it out in the outdoors yet, but I like the look and feel of it. At first I was unsure about the side pockets, it does just hold my 1.5 litre bottle at a stretch, and with the aid of the side compression strap to help secure it. And I was also unsure about the open air hip belt pockets at first, instead of having conventional zipped pockets to securely hold items like on most other packs. But after a bit of testing they do seem to hold a number of energy gels quite securely when the pack is against the body. But, these open air pockets also give the option to hold my 1.5 litre bottle sideways too, so I can get to it and put it back without taking off the pack. So all good in the end 👍 I must say though, the strap pockets are a little small. The zipped pocket does just hold my phone at a stretch, but my phone isn't particularly big. So larger phones will be a struggle.
Very interesting pack! Is there a frame sheet for the back? Quite a different philosophy in design / use of this vs something like a Mystery Ranch Coulee 30!
Hey Paul! It’s a cool pack. Very nice for minimalist. No stiff frame sheet though. It is a light frame sheet that contours to the back. I like the Coulee for carrying more of a load. MR nails it on load transfer. BD nails it here for ultra light and fast with good space.
Black Diamond has been making some extremely good packs for fast hikers or distance runners. Just use it on two big summit hikes. For high alpine hikes between 4-12 hours, this pack is nearly perfect. My only complaint might be how the chest strap is not padded enough to carry a canister of bear spray. It fits in there, but it's quite uncomfortable after a couple of hours.
Sean didn't cover it, but the pack has loops to carry two ice axes.
Very helpful cheers 👍
Is the back panel soft or hard? Because I want to fold it up and put it into a larger backpack. Thanks.
No option to add a pioled somehow right?? Or a helmet outside...? It would be perfect if possible. :(
Hi, thanks for the video. Can you put 500ml normal water bottle in the side pocket where you put the pole in this video? (tumbler not soft bottle) Thank you so much (I have to order abroad since this model is not available in my country so I could not try it myself)
Hello! I do not have this pack anymore (it was stolen from my truck) otherwise I could have tested the fit out for you. Sorry!
Thanks for the review. It looks like you've maxed out the chest straps on the medium, and probably wouldn't work on you over a jacket. I also have a big chest and shoulders, so think I'd go for a large. Can you tell me if you can stow and access your poles while wearing the pack, or must take it off? Thanks!
you have to take it off
For anyone else that has this question, I have the 15L and had to get the large. My chest isn’t as big as the author but the shoulder straps were easily maxed out. If you have any doubts, go a size up.
Hi there would you know how much load can this bag hold? I'm planning on summiting Mt Fuji and my loadout will be about 7kg+, I have a matador freerain 22 and stupidly tried loading it out but the shoulder straps started tearing with a load of ~6kg.
Can a phone fit in one of the chest pockets?
If it helps, I have a Google Pixel 4a, and it fits in all the chest pockets. The two small pockets it just fits, the larger one on the left fits the whole phone very comfortably, but all three pockets are stretchy. But if you want more security, the zipped pocket on the right only just fits my phone with the zipped closed.
How does this pack compare to the Mystery Ranch Bridger 35 that I know you have used in the past? Which would be your choice?
Great question! They are both really good. For many, this pack is going to shine. As it is lighter and more catered to fast and light. The Bridger is still my favorite. The frame is more robust and the pack just fits my body so well.
Hi. I have an Osprey Talon 36 (S/M, so 34 litres), and it comfortably holds my 1.5 litre Camelbak water bottle in the side stretch pockets. Do you think the side stretch pockets on Black Diamond Pursuit 30 that you have the hiking poles in do the same? Many thanks.
Hello! That is a great question. I would test that out for you, but I gave the pack to a friend. I have fit a 20oz Hydroflask in the side pocket for sure.
@@Engearmentthanks for getting back to me, much appreciated! I resisted from purchasing the pack at first for quite some time, and I even went for the Montane Trailblazer 25 in the end, a great pack with running vest style straps too, don't know if that's the previous pack you're referring to earlier in the video? But, I succumbed in the end and bought the Black Diamond Pursuit 30 also, but in the Carbon-Moab Brown colour way. It's a really comfortable pack! I haven't tested it out in the outdoors yet, but I like the look and feel of it. At first I was unsure about the side pockets, it does just hold my 1.5 litre bottle at a stretch, and with the aid of the side compression strap to help secure it. And I was also unsure about the open air hip belt pockets at first, instead of having conventional zipped pockets to securely hold items like on most other packs. But after a bit of testing they do seem to hold a number of energy gels quite securely when the pack is against the body. But, these open air pockets also give the option to hold my 1.5 litre bottle sideways too, so I can get to it and put it back without taking off the pack. So all good in the end 👍
I must say though, the strap pockets are a little small. The zipped pocket does just hold my phone at a stretch, but my phone isn't particularly big. So larger phones will be a struggle.
Is that really the 30L? Ultralight crowd very regularly goes unsupported at 40L yet you essentially have just 4 things in there.
It is the 30l.
Would it be possible to fit a smartwater bottle in the side trekking pole pockets?
I think there’s be totally fine.
I appreciate your reviews! How does this compare to the Bridger 35?
Thank you!! I love that Bridger. It’s still one of my favorites. Has the mystery ranch load carry science and the convenient features of this pack.
Very interesting pack! Is there a frame sheet for the back? Quite a different philosophy in design / use of this vs something like a Mystery Ranch Coulee 30!
Hey Paul! It’s a cool pack. Very nice for minimalist. No stiff frame sheet though. It is a light frame sheet that contours to the back.
I like the Coulee for carrying more of a load. MR nails it on load transfer. BD nails it here for ultra light and fast with good space.
@@Engearment Thanks, Sean! Great insights. Given my age, comfort has climbed up the Ladder of Importance 🤣
@@PaulBeiser I am with you on that my friend! Comfort first!
Can you fit a 500 ml soft flask in the stretch pockets on the shoulder straps? The way it fits in a running vest..Thanks.
Can this pack hold ice axes?
Yes, it can carry two.