Black Diamond Hollowpoint Backpack - 1220cu in

well made, for sure, and i like the styling a lot, but this pack keeps failing tests for me. i originally bought it as a day pack for travel, but because it's so high on the top, you can't wear it on your stomach. then i thought i'd at least use it for bike riding, to replace my messenger bag, but alas, it's too high for that too and kept forcing my head forward. and as another reviewer said, the front pocket has a lot of little mini pockets, but stuff won't stay in them and you're inevitably faced with a gumbo of little things upon arrival. not only that, but because it's not actually a proper section, but just a division of the main compartment, when you have the pack stuffed, the outside pocket gets smashed flat, making it hard to load and basically worthless. i do really like the fit though, although the usefulness of a regular old bookbag type backpack would trump this thing.

Along with the Bullet, perhaps the most perfect small day pack every conceived, Black Diamond's other "perfect" pack is the slightly (5L) larger Hollowpoint (2007-2008 design). Though it goes without saying for a Black Diamond product, the workmanship here is impeccable. I particularly like the well-thought-out dimensions: Though this is a top-loader, you can still reach the bottom of the pack without emptying it first. The body of the bag is wide enough to give you elbowroom when reaching inside, but narrow enough still to give your elbows room to swing -- on the trail, on the ski slope, or racing from one end of an airport to the other. And on that subject, one place this bag really shines is as a travel pack. The small compartment on the outside fits travel documents and accessories nicely (though by big hands would appreciate a longer zipper). The inner compartment is big enough for a good supply of quick-dry shirts, pants, and shorts -- enough for a month in South Africa (World Cup 2010, anyone?) or Southeast Asia or Hawaii -- basically anywhere you don't need multiple layers of bulky cold-weather clothes. And it fits airline carry-on size regulations easily so you don't have to trust it to the airline baggage manglers. In sum, it's a comfortable pack. A stylish pack. A tough pack that you could clip onto a rope and drag up a rock face. A well-sized and thoughtfully dimensioned pack. And, yes, the little whistle on the sternum strap is cute, too.

I use this for short skiing trips and every day to and from work. Great pack for both uses, small when empty but large capacity. Very light.

Very well made, good shape, very comfortable on the back. The hydration bladder is good and tight, keeping the bladder in it's proper position. The bag fits more than you'd think, but it doesn't collapse on itself when mostly empty - it does not have compression straps, and does not need them. I'm not crazy about the design of the "front pocket" - there are no zippers or velcro closures on the sub-pockets within, so things don't really stay "organized." Instead they tend to migrate. Overall, another fine product by Black Diamond.

I bought this pack for gym use for the most part. In my opinion this is what it's best for. It will hold your harness, shoes, chalk bag, and a change of clothes. That's about it. A little smaller than I expected, but it works perfectly for what I need. Front pocket is nice. Has a place for pens, iPod, wallet, a hook for keys, and a few more things. I don't think that this pack would work that well for hiking, although I suppose it depends on what you take with you and how long your staying out. I'll definitely be buying a bigger pack when I head out to the mountains.

....this pack is amazing. I can't get over how well built and high-performance it is for the price. Great quality fabric, zips, and other details. Super comfortable to wear due to the semi-rigid back. Works great in a variety of situations - hiking, travel, commuting, or school!