Our tried-and-true on-route alpine pack, proven everywhere from the Canadian Rockies to the Fitz Roy massif, the Black Diamond Speed is designed for lightweight performance on rock, snow and ice objectives the world over.
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Reviewers like the Speed 40 for being light, comfortable and well organized, using it for alpine and glacier climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, guiding and light overnight trips, and several like that it strips down to a day pack. Durability is mixed: many call it sturdy, but about five reported seams, stitching, the back pad or fabric wearing through within a year or on early trips. A few also found the tool and crampon attachments awkward and wanted external pockets or bottle carry.
AI-generated summary of verified customer reviews.
Overall rating: 4.3714285 / 5 from 35 reviews.
The Speed 40 Backpack is praised for its versatility, comfort, and suitability for various activities. Customers appreciate its lightweight performance and updated features like the moisture-wicking back-panel and redesigned shoulder straps. However, there are some concerns about the buckles on the crampon straps.
Review topics: ["feel","straps","material","pack","fit","weight","size","backpack","speed","looks","fabric","gear","bag","design","loads","fan","tool","attachment","cinches","climbing","light"].
"Overall, this is a very good pack, however it has one major flaw. First, the pros — from a carrying capacity perspective, this pack is perfect for climbing and alpine objectives. I use it primarily on long approaches in the Cascades and for cragging. It always seems to fit what I need and manages to never feel either over-stuffed, or so empty that my gear is sloshing around. An average load for me includes a rope, rack, climbing shoes, harness, chalk bag, food/water, and layers, all of which fits quite easily in the main compartment. The modular nature of the pack gives you flexibility for how and what to carry. It's also generally comfortable with or without the hip belt. The major flaw – the stitching on the pack fails aggressively at the seam line between the base of the backpad and the bottom of the pack. I purchased my first Speed 40 in the summer of 2023 and the seem ripped pretty quickly, then only got worse over time. I used it until the summer of 2026, at which point the teared seam became very uncomfortable and started chaffing my lower back. I would give this pack 4 stars, however I bumped it down to 3 because immediately after my first pack became unusable, I purchased a second Speed 40. Within a week of using the pack, I'm already noticing signs of wear in the same exact spot as my first pack. I even took extra care in those first few uses to avoid dropping the pack in that area and load the pack differently, but it seems like the same problem is already manifesting itself. Given this, I'm regretting buying the same pack so quickly, wish I shopped around for a different pack, and feel less inspired to use this piece of gear knowing it's going to have a pretty finite life. I have filed a warranty claim for my first pack. The two photos are of my first and second Speed 40. The black bag is the first one, the yellow one is the second, which is about a week old."
"This ripped in multiple spots on my first weekend rock climbing trip. I've never bought a bag that was made of such cheap material - and it's not a cheap bag! I have no idea what it's supposed to be used for if you can't take it outdoors because it is so fragile. Would not recommend to anyone."
"I used this to climb Mount hood and it exceeded all my expectations. My original pack had issues and Customer Service worked with me to help replace my existing pack in a timely manner, and I was able to have this one for my trip. The pack held my ice ax correctly, was very easy to pack, and expands to while beyond 40 L. I would definitely recommend this pack to someone."
"Managed full glacier climb gear very comfortably in this pack for an overnight, super stoked with how packable it was. Looking forward to using it for alpine objectives this summer!"
"Perfect one all pack. Use this for multi day camping/climbing and hiking mainly in Colorado. Also perfect with the external attachments for winter routes needing crampons, snowshoes, ice tools, etc. extremely comfortable to carry even when fully loaded. 40L is large enough to load up but not be cumbersome."
"Bought this as a multi use pack for climbing, alpine missions, hike and fly, and more, and have been impressed with it's durability, comfort, features, and robustness. Its comfortable to carry (sits high and has a feel similar to a running vest, which makes it stable on the trails), is full of great features, and is incredibly ergonomic. Highly recommend."
"I've used this pack for many many days in the mountains. I am finally done with BD packs. My biggest complaint is that the frame sheet rips out of the pack fabric. Sure, they warranty it (I'm on my third!), but come on BD, make better packs. Seams are ripping (also warranty, but also, come on). Small gripes: The ice axe holder string should be longer, it barely fits a Nomic, and almost impossible once the pack is full. The big problem is that these are well-designed packs, made with good materials, but the quality of workmanship is so bad that it belies a good foundation. Use better thread!"
"Light, comfortable, right-sized and durable. This is the perfect pack for my alpine guiding work."
"This is the perfect bag for me - had wanted something a bit larger than my Osprey 32L, as this was not cutting it on Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, etc. This is perfect for bringing up what I need to basecamp and then also for summit attempts. Durable and comfy - will hold up for a long time. Whenever ppl see me with this on the mountain, they ask about it and end up grabbing one."
"Excellent backpack—lightweight and very functional. It can handle heavy loads without any issues. In my case, I’ve carried up to 35 kg, and it performs extremely well. It doesn’t cause shoulder pain at all. An outstanding backpack"
| Size | Torso Length | Waist Circumference |
|---|---|---|
| S/M | 16 - 19 in 41 - 48 cm | 26 - 40 in 66 - 102 cm |
| M/L | 18.5 - 21.5 in 47 - 55 cm | 28 - 45 in 71 - 114 cm |
Measure between the iliac crest (the top of your hip bones) and the C7 vertebra (feel for the protruding bone at the base of your neck while looking down.)
Measure around your hips at the iliac crest (the top of your hip bones), not at your waist.
