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Winter climbing demands a pack with low weight, useful features, and a functional design—the Black Diamond Sphynx Backpack. This Black Diamond pack holds enough gear for a day of ice cragging or a quick one-day ascent of an alpine route. Strip the Sphynx Backpack of its lid, frame, and waist-belt to reduce weight from 3lb 12oz to 2lb 13oz (42L size). Whether you spend the day ice cragging in Canada, mixed climbing in Ouray, or doing a single-push route in the North Cascades, you get everything you need from this backpack.
Bottom Line: The ice is in! Load up the Black Diamond Sphynx Backpack and get after it.
I've taken this pack from Mexico to Canada; hiking, flying, and floating and have yet to even frown at my purchase. It fits comfortably, the padding is excellent even when weighted. Plenty of space, yet fits in overhead compartments and under seats. No "hot spots" develop after miles on the trail. Great material and stitching. I would recommend to anyone.
Hi there, I just received a Sphynx 32L bag. Inside the bag, there is a piece of gray fabric covering the back panel. On that fabric, there is a diamond shaped cut near the hydration exit port. I really don't see the point of such a cut since it leads toward the inside of the bag. And the cut is quite irregular or poorly done.
Is this part of the bag design? Or is it poor quality control?
I have the 42L, but am thinking they are the same. I believe this cut is for the hydration tube. Because the hydration sleeve is on the inside of the bag, this cut had to be made to get the tube to the outside (otherwise it would have to go through that Velcro access to the back panel or around it, considerably shortening the tube). Hope this makes sense, I've included a picture. Yes, the cut does look rather shoddy, but if you look closely, some finisher/sealant type product has been applied around the cut.
I am a total "gear-head" and BD has outdone themselves again. Have used this backpack for multiple day excursions, mountaineering, climbing, backcountry skiing, SE Asian/European traveling. you name it, this bag can do it.
Big plus: the 42L can be carried on almost every airline with the exception of air korea.
Just got my pack....but how do you attache the crampon straps to the four little black rings on the front of the pack? I've looked at the photo, but it doesn't show enough detail.
First of all, this pack has been great at everything I've used it for (mostly 30 min to 3 hour approaches to climbs, probably 35-50 pounds). I use the 42L and I am 5'9", 145 pounds, and it fits great. Surprisingly spacious given its streamlined appearance, as I have fit a rope, 16 draws, some additional gear, harness, 3 pairs of shoes, jacket, raincoat, lunch and a water bottle in it with little trouble. A notable plus is that no matter how much you fill the body, the brain remains easy to access. Some downsides are that the brain doesn't detach and that there are no outside pockets on the pack, but they are outweighed by its general functionality. The title of this review refers to the fact that a while back, a few friends and I were hiking near the Flatirons when one of them took a nasty spill, sustaining an open fracture to his shin. Turns out the spine of this pack comes out, as does the foam backing, and with some extra padding we were able to splint him up and get him out, using just a few jackets and this pack. Not a feature that will be used often, but nice to know it will work. He's fine, by the way.
I have not used this backpack to climb any mountains or do any day hiking. What I have used it for is to lug all my various stuff as I flew from Germany to Texas and then to Iraq. It is great. I use the top compartments for my electronic gear(plugs/cords/adaptors/etc...) and the main body serves as a nice catch all for my books, portable ipod speakers,and other gear. It really is also very easy on my back and it fits to me snugly and I barely feel the weight of the material in the backpack.
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