Black Diamond Quantum 65 Pack - 3845-3967cu in - 2009 BCS

The quantum is a sweet pack and is very versatile. Its great for a long expedition and can also been used for a day of shredding. Its light weight and is comfortable with huge loads.

Very light and versatile pack for alpine outings. Did some hauling of 50lb to 70lb loads and it did really well. Pretty amazing to get that out of a 4lb pack. It sat out in the rain/snow and kept all my shit dry. I did put a hole in it with an ice pick and could see some of the seams loosen from the heavy loads. Overall I'm really happy with the comfort, fit, and ability of this pack. We'll see about the long term life as it gets more abuse.

I have the 55L and love it. I have ski toured, mountaineer, hiked, and backpacked in it. The Black Diamond Quantum will be my travel pack that I take to Peru this summer also. I'll post some pics.

This pack is just how everyone has described. A simple but thoughtout design but made from very weak material. It is also not the most comfortable of packs either. I expected more from a company that normally produces such great gear.

I took this pack on a week long trip to the Gannet Peak area in western wyoming. The shoulder straps were comfortable and when paired with the minimal waist belt it carried 30-40 pounds like a dream. BUT it fell apart. Abrasion from rock tore the sides, tree branches punctured it, and the ice axe velcro tore! Later after a rap and gear lower the bag looked like it had been through years of abuse but it was only a week old! The buckles froze and became fragile and 3 broke. The crampon strap system is pointless. Black Diamond customer service told me "thats the nature of the material" Shenanigans!

My Q55 held up like a champ thru the OP Bailey Range Traverse (7 days/70 miles).. 50 lbs at the start.. no complaints at all.. and no holes either.. Did I abuse it.. no. Did I baby it.. no.

Performed as I expected.. exceptionally

This pack is well balanced and does great carrying loads. It is inevitable, however, that after a few trips (maybe even one!) the straps will be falling off and your loads will be lost through the giant holes torn in the bottom. I’m on my second pack (BD replaced the 1st one). After 3 backcountry trips, carrying mostly softgoods, this one is shot as well. Shoulder straps are coming undone and there are giant holes everywhere in the bag. I don’t remember what caused the holes because all I ever brushed up against were pine branches. I don’t want to send this back to BD because even if they replace it I’ll just be stuck with another unreliable piece of crap. I’d prefer they sent me something that isn’t going to fall apart. Either that or they should sew the thing back together with something other than their current materials of toilet paper and spider web. I’m convinced that the goobers at BD do not actually use their junky stuff. I’d look at another brand (Granite Gear, Wild Things, etc.) until they finally get it right.

I agree with the other reviewer--this pack is extremely well designed for alpine climbing, but the fabric is much to flimsy for serious trips. I ordered this back for climbing and skiing this spring and summer, and took it out for the first time for a three day backcountry ski trip last weekend. Since I was staying at a lodge, the pack wasn't super heavily loaded--probably around 40lbs, but I could see strain on material around the seams near the bottom of the pack. There's no way the fabric near the sewing was going to hold up under heavier loads and repeated use. Also, in the course of three days, I managed to put two small tears in the pack bag--not from ice axes or crampons (didn't bring 'em), or from ski edges (wrong location), but just abrasion on rocks and trees. If you tried to haul this pack I imagine it would be in tatters almost immediately. I hope BD will remake the pack with a better fabric, because the size, fit, weight, and features make it perfect for alpine climbing.