Black Diamond Shadow Backpack

admin November 16, 2007


Black Diamond Shadow Backpack - 45-55 L

Product Description

Price: $104.47
Buy Now
Black Diamond created the Shadow Backpack for alpine climbers who carry half as much gear and move twice as fast as most people on long technical routes. Climbers who’d rather move fast than sleep comfortably love the Shadow Backpack’s ultralight SilNylon construction and minimalist, user-friendly features. This alpine pack comes with secure PickPocket ice tool holders, removable crampon straps, and slots in the waist-belt for ice clippers to help with racking gear. When ounces are at a premium, just strip off the waist-belt, lid, frame sheet, and bivy pad back-panel to cut the Shadow’s already light weight of 3lb 10oz to a scant 2lb 1oz (45L size). The 45L size is ideal for a 24-hour push, while the 55L is for climbers who would like to sleep somewhere along the line.

Product Reviews

Many Excellent Features, though Not Quite Perfect
I use the 55L version for trips that entail a long hiking approach with all my ski gear on my pack then I want a lighter pack once my ski gear is on my feet, or trips where I first have lots of gear to set up basement then I want a lighter pack for daytrips from basecamp. The Shadow is an excellent choice for these applications, although has a few annoying drawbacks: — The top lid can flop around like crazy in many situations. — The pack is very narrow at the bottom and then widens higher up, so when stuffed to its fullest, it’s somewhat unbalanced. — The tightening straps around the waist belt could use a dual approach (instead of one strap on each side). — With both the metal rod and the top lid removed, the pack works fairly well, but with the metal rod removed yet the top lid still in place, the pack becomes somewhat unwieldy at the top. Also, note that the waist belt has slots for a BD Ice Clipper, which provides a useful attachment point for other purposes too.

All Around Pack
First of all this pack is super durable lightweight and comfortable. I’ve taken this pack on two expeditions to china, used it as an ice pack, crag pack, lightweight backpacking pack, and it just keeps on ticking. I don’t have or really like the bigger frame packs, so I end up fitting everything I need into this one. For example- a couple days in the Winds this past labor day I took my sleeping bag, pad, cooking gear, food, a light rack and rope, other climbing gear, a few extra clothes and a couple 24 oz PBR’s. If you have this pack you are forced to trim down what you take but it’s kind of nice to simplify a little and cut away all the excess junk you think you need in the backcountry. You can always lash a lounge chair and down booties to the outside if you really need too…

good pack
Waistbelt, top pouch, Y-frame, bivy pad and crampon straps are all removable. It carries a cragging load comfortably without the Y-frame, but I haven’t tried a heavier overnight load with the frame yet. As other reviews online mention, the top pouch tends to slip around.

Black Diamond Shadow Backpack - 45-55 L
Price: $104.47
Buy Now

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