@@tkbattaglia ah yes, I should've said. The 45 is rated to 18kg - not sure if the 30 is less or not. Not sure if 18kg is ever that comfy either but at least it can handle it - even if I don't want to 😁
For a $500 backpack i expected more pictures and in depth explanations on your website. I had to download a picture and zoom way into the shoulder straps to see what they looked like. Good thing you had a huge macro shot of the challenge sailcloth tag, though.
I second this comment. I went to the website to analyze the pack based on some clear product photos but was underwhelmed by how little was available. Premium product? Sure. But then market it with premium effort. It's not too late Black Diamond. You can go back and add some stuff! :)
Don't by this bag. Go to the companys thats done this for years that they are copying. Brands as; LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs, Durston and so many more. Nothing of this is new, regardless of what BD says. On the wesites from the brands mentioned obove you can get all the data you need about the fabric and weights and more
@@SigfridSWE I've been a Durston/Pa'Lante fanboy for years now. You speak the truth friend. FWIW I don't think Black Diamond put out a bad item here. I think they were lazy in their advertisement, don't fully understand or appreciate how meticulous thru-hikers and ultralight folk are for specs, and are trying to go the HyperLite route (e.g. charging well above other pack maker prices because they know they have a "house hold name" and that a certain number of people will buy it just for brand recognition.)
Price is too steep. A few things I like vs Durston pack: back ventilation, 400D reinforced bottom. I particularly don't like the single top strap (Durston has double top strap), since it's unstable to hold things like bear canister.
Agreed. Most pack manufactures that are paying attention to what us UL consumers want (like Dan Durston) know that we expect a few important specs. 1. roll top 2. Y strap on top 3. reverse pull hip belts 3. load lifters 4. weather proof hip pockets big enough to carry the largest cell phones. To add to this, this I think this pack will be a total bust as BD has priced it out of the market. Sure, some will buy out of curiosity to review on their YT channels but the masses will take a pass as there are other, better less expensive options.
AFAIK the Kakwa has a 400D bottom, or at least where the frame stay hits the bottom does. It's also worth mentioning that the Kakwa uses a U-frame whereas this uses the typical stays design that will barrel when loaded up.
This is a roughly 5 year old design, done with pretty much 3 year old fabric, that's been made very similar by a handful of smaller companies. Finally catching up with the times...
@@woahitstheillusion9749 None of these packs from LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs or Durston etc. are really meant for serious hikers. They're meant for people who only walk through well-marked and well-known hiking trails that have a shop to fill up on your food and water every 20-30 miles (at most). I've come across quote a lot of guys who use these kinds of packs, and when I've asked if they'd be interested in joining me on a hike across places like the Caucasus Mountains or the Arctic Circle, or even a small 60-mile hike from the border of Saudi Arabia to Wadi Rum Village, they go "Nah, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with hiking so far away from civilisation". Only ever found ONE guy who joined me on a 150-mile hike across the Dasht-e Lut Desert in Iran 7 years ago, and he was an Aussie like me. North Americans and most Europeans are pussies when it comes to hiking. As soon as they figure out they're more than 80 miles from the next water supply and that they'd have to carry 12L of water, they go "NUH UH, NO WAY".
Almost perfect. Would have like to see reverse pull hip belts on this pack. Not sure why pack manufacturers keep building packs without them. Also, it appears it won't fit those of us that have a 21"+ torso size?
Looks great. Wish you guys would mix the running vest with a tmp trampoline style back system. The sweaty back is no joke on these packs, and with the vest design it is even more surface contact with the body.
What is the weight on these packs?? All the blah blah but nothing is mention about the weight. Price is steep and comparable to HL and others. Durston Kakwa 55 is hard to beat
Yeah, I just compared this with hyperlight and it's $100 more for something around the same weight but 10 fewer litres. It also doesn't have the brand name that Hyperlight has.
I just wish they made a taller pack for longer torsos. It looks like the 45 liter is just barely long enough for Joe Grant to make use of the load lifter straps/hip belt. The 30 liter on him may as well not have a hip belt.
I had to buy the 60+10 version of my main big pack because the 50+10 was too short. I also discovered later that the waist belt doesn’t go small enough when I only have a t shirt on (I do have strange proportions). Waist belt set to the min and back length set to the max
I said the same thing. That fact that its max is 21.5" torso is short sided on their part. Thank God for builders like Peter at ULA Equipment for catering to us taller folks.
I appreciate that some expensive fabric have been used. But the price point on these can not be justified by that. I can have a custom made to measure Dyneema pack with very similar features for that kind of money. (which I do)
How do these compare to your blitz packs? My blitz 20 gets very sweaty but handles weight way better than it should. I haven’t broken it yet but the material doesn’t feel like it will last much rough treatment. I think I have the old model with the blue webbing. Are there any internal compartments?
Hard to find in search engines you have to run the words together and then a discontinued tent keeps coming up . If you put these packs in rei I will buy one . If I can only order it off the web I’ll stick with the more popular cottage company ones that have a proven track record
Having the mass of the pack in direct contact with a person's back, coupled with the fact that there is a large unbreathable pad insert in this area, leads me to believe that in hotter temperatures, your back is going to be absolutely drenched in sweat. You need an air gap between the pack and a person's back for air flow.
@@nothanks3146 Hence why literally ALL ultralight packs are for pussies who only hike short distances in perfect weather on well-known and well-marked hiking paths... None of these packs from LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Hyperlite, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs or Durston are really meant for serious hikers. They're meant for people who only walk through hiking trails that have a shop to fill up on your food and water every 20-30 miles (at most). I've come across quote a lot of guys who use these kinds of packs, and when I've asked if they'd be interested in joining me on a hike across places like the Caucasus Mountains or the Arctic Circle, or even a small 60-mile hike from the border of Saudi Arabia to Wadi Rum Village, they go "Nah, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with hiking so far away from civilisation". Only ever found ONE guy who joined me on a 150-mile hike across the Dasht-e Lut Desert in Iran 7 years ago, and he was an Aussie like me. North Americans and most Europeans are pussies when it comes to hiking. As soon as they figure out they're more than 80 miles from the next water supply and that they'd have to carry 12L of water, they go "NUH UH, NO WAY".
None of these packs from LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Hyperlite, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs or Durston etc. are really meant for serious hikers. They're meant for people who only walk through well-marked and well-known hiking trails that have a shop to fill up on your food and water every 20-30 miles (at most). I've come across quote a lot of guys who use these kinds of packs, and when I've asked if they'd be interested in joining me on a hike across places like the Caucasus Mountains or the Arctic Circle, or even a small 60-mile hike from the border of Saudi Arabia to Wadi Rum Village, they go "Nah, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with hiking so far away from civilisation". Only ever found ONE guy who joined me on a 150-mile hike across the Dasht-e Lut Desert in Iran 7 years ago, and he was an Aussie like me. North Americans and most Europeans are pussies when it comes to hiking. As soon as they figure out they're more than 80 miles from the next water supply and that they'd have to carry 12L of water, they go "NUH UH, NO WAY".
None of these packs from LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs or Durston etc. are really meant for serious hikers. They're meant for people who only walk through well-marked and well-known hiking trails that have a shop to fill up on your food and water every 20-30 miles (at most). I've come across quote a lot of guys who use these kinds of packs, and when I've asked if they'd be interested in joining me on a hike across places like the Caucasus Mountains or the Arctic Circle, or even a small 60-mile hike from the border of Saudi Arabia to Wadi Rum Village, they go "Nah, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with hiking so far away from civilisation". Only ever found ONE guy who joined me on a 150-mile hike across the Dasht-e Lut Desert in Iran 7 years ago, and he was an Aussie like me. North Americans and most Europeans are pussies when it comes to hiking. As soon as they figure out they're more than 80 miles from the next water supply and that they'd have to carry 12L of water, they go "NUH UH, NO WAY".
None of these packs from LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs or Durston etc. are really meant for serious hikers. They're meant for people who only walk through well-marked and well-known hiking trails that have a shop to fill up on your food and water every 20-30 miles (at most). I've come across quote a lot of guys who use these kinds of packs, and when I've asked if they'd be interested in joining me on a hike across places like the Caucasus Mountains or the Arctic Circle, or even a small 60-mile hike from the border of Saudi Arabia to Wadi Rum Village, they go "Nah, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with hiking so far away from civilisation". Only ever found ONE guy who joined me on a 150-mile hike across the Dasht-e Lut Desert in Iran 7 years ago, and he was an Aussie like me. North Americans and most Europeans are pussies when it comes to hiking. As soon as they figure out they're more than 80 miles from the next water supply and that they'd have to carry 12L of water, they go "NUH UH, NO WAY".
"It comes from..." sorry not you. It comes from you copying packs and things from the UL community and garage companys and thrue hikers like LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Design and Durston and sooo many more small companys - some of them handmade. Ive used a pack like this for 7 years (Dyneema) and they have excisted for mutch longer then that. When it comes to the Ultra fabric its been used for about 4 years (LightAF one of the first that started using it). Have a Nashville pack in Ultra 100. Always fun as an early adapter to see when the bigger companys starts to copy and take things from the pioneers
The pricing of outdoor gear in the UK is now beyond ridiculous. The outdoors should be for anybody but sadly kit manufacturers are pricing certain folk out of this important pass time!
You can tell who was and wasn't the brains of the op. Words aren't that hard. Just looks like every other thru hike BP. Wish the shoulder and hip straps were more focused on. With any significant weight, I bet this thing hurts.
absolutely INSANE pricing for next to no information. Whats with these companies just not providing information for outrageous pricing. Are we supposed to just say whatever and buy it?
I am disappointed with the performance of the Betalight 45 backpack and the customer service from Black Diamond. In promotional videos (for example: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uVsYqb2pAzw.html), it is clearly stated that while the Betalight 45 backpack shouldn't be submerged, no rain would get inside. Unfortunately, this was not my experience. After 2-3 hours of continuous rain during a thru-hike in the Alps, all of my gear inside the backpack, including my sleeping bag and sleeping mat, was completely soaked. This could have been very dangerous in the mountains, where temperatures can drop significantly. Even more disappointing was the response from customer service. I was told that the backpack is only "weather-resistant" and that this does not qualify as a warranty case, despite the product being advertised differently in these videos and on the website. For a backpack at this price point and from a reputable manufacturer, I expected more. I hope Black Diamond will improve its product descriptions and customer service in the future.
With all the removable features left on the pack, 695g for the 30L and 890g for the 45L is correct! However, the weight also reduces as you take off the extras-we just wanted to make sure you’ve got options. Take out the removable metal stays, the hip belt, optional webbing, and the extra padding on the 45L and it’s down to 521g (1.15lbs.) If you go for the 30L you can get it down to 452g (1 lb.)
@@BlackDiamondEquipmentLtdif you want to sell these packs to its intended audience you need to make a more in depth overview video that shows every nook and cranny.
If you're paying 500 for this pack instead of paying less than 300 bucks for a better pack that's been made by a cottage brand with years of experience then you are a fool.
None of these packs from LightAF, Zpacks, Nashville packs, Pa'lante packs, Superior Wilderness Designs or Durston etc. are really meant for serious hikers. They're meant for people who only walk through well-marked and well-known hiking trails that have a shop to fill up on your food and water every 20-30 miles (at most). I've come across quote a lot of guys who use these kinds of packs, and when I've asked if they'd be interested in joining me on a hike across places like the Caucasus Mountains or the Arctic Circle, or even a small 60-mile hike from the border of Saudi Arabia to Wadi Rum Village, they go "Nah, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with hiking so far away from civilisation". Only ever found ONE guy who joined me on a 150-mile hike across the Dasht-e Lut Desert in Iran 7 years ago, and he was an Aussie like me. North Americans and most Europeans are pussies when it comes to hiking. As soon as they figure out they're more than 80 miles from the next water supply and that they'd have to carry 12L of water, they go "NUH UH, NO WAY".
So you guys made a thruhiking backpack. People have been making these in their garage for 10 over years now. You definitely didn’t reinvent the wheel here.
I’m no BD acolyte, and I def didn’t pick up that vibe at all. Pretty sure dude literally said they, as in BD, were taking inspo from the thruhiking movement.
@tripdox So did you have a reason for torpedoing the announcement of a new product by a small company? They never said they reinvented the wheel, you just decided to slam them with no motive or justification.
