Black Diamond

Distance 22L Backpack

These packs carry weight better

These packs carry weight better than any other running packs I've tried, and I appreciate the myriad of pockets

Great pack

6'2" 150lbs, 31.5 measurement and the small fit great. Love the pockets and features for quick ascents.

Carries well.

Carries like a fast pack should with weight up high on shoulders to reduce drag to the rear like a pack that is carried too low. Wish side pole pockets were big enough to fit a 1L smart water bottle though.

Great Pack for Scrambling

Only have one trip with this pack so far but it was ten hours linking 14ers. I’ve always been a believer in carrying the weight on your hips but this pack keeps your gear up and out of the way flawlessly for full range of motion. You can pack the kitchen sink in the straps alone and the z-pole storage is a key feature I never new I needed but now makes several more f my other packs lack luster. The only reason i didn’t give it five stars is I feel that the straps may not be extremely durable. But I could be proven wrong over time.

Critical flaws render otherwise well-designed pack unusable

I purchased this pack attempting to upgrade my much loved, thrice-repaired, honorably retired Distance 15 once its shoulder strap tore all the way through. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this pack for its intended uses due to chest cinch failure(s) and bouncy, uncomfortable performance while carrying anything more than a couple pounds. Chest cinch failures: - Nearly immediately upon purchasing this pack, the upper receiving-side chest strap buckle (left side of the vest if you're wearing it) fell off of the vest and was lost. I chalked it up to an unfortunate accident and replaced it with an identical buckle from my old Distance 15. Throughout the last couple of months, I have now had all of the receiving end buckles fall off (2 from the Distance 22 and 2 from my old Distance 15), including while running and scrambling, which was highly frustrating when it happened in the mountains. I tried switching the position of the buckles on the vest to no avail. My regret is not taping them in place, but I thought "surely this can't happen again" until I had no remaining receiving-side buckles. The right-side straps ("inserting end") never had this issue. - Poor performance carrying weight I expect a 22L vest to be somewhat comfortable carrying a day's worth of bars, 2-3 liters of water, and a couple light layers. I am 6'3", 190lbs, climber build and own nothing but Large and XL clothes and gear. The Large Distance 22 fit my chest comfortably but, when weighted, sagged far too low to be comfortable when moving in the mountains. When I tried the Medium for a Nose-in-a-Day and a long run, the shoulders were too tight yet the weight still didn't sit as high on my back as I want. Previous running packs I've owned (even the Distance 15) sat much higher on my back in a much more comfortable position. The Distance 22 never felt like it fit right - running and hiking it bounces around like crazy and jugging it feels like it's pulling me backwards instead of solidly attached to my body. The pack lacks any adjustability beyond the chest straps, leaving me unable to cinch the weight up higher (and see the above paragraph about the chest straps). This vest promised to be a quiver of one - something to take all day trail running missions, scramble peaks, and jumaring as a follower pack on El Cap in-a-day ascents. After testing this pack in all of those situations, I cannot recommend it for any of these uses. I have sadly relegated my Distance 22 to light bike commuter, still plagued by these issues, and will phase it out entirely soon.

Best backpack for hiking

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I ordered it for my trip to the Swiss Alps, it gets the job done. The weight is my most concern, this backpack is very light and didnt add any more weight to the overall weight. It stands well in the rain as well. Highly recommended. The vest design works very well, the multiple pockets on the vest are very convenient.

Best Backpack I’ve ever owned

I’ve trained a lot of backpacks and this is by far the best I own. Has everything you want for a technical day out in the mountains. Because of the roll top, you can fit way more than what you’d think into it. I was skeptical at first about moving away from a hip belt, but the running vest style makes this bag so comfortable even when it’s loaded with gear and the days are long.

Grand Canyon Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim

Just completed my first r2r2r supported by the distance 22 Backpack. It was a long day of 22 hours and 47 miles. The wide shoulder straps spread the weight and caused no shoulder or neck rubbing after extended time. The pole holders were convenient and the small and large storage area in the back were perfect for things needed quickly vs things not needed as often. The only reason I didn’t give the pack a 5 was because the cinch line closing the top access to the bag was not easy to open. After 22 hours, I wanted to be able to super easily and quickly access and that’s not the case. Maybe they can work on that access point…then: 5 stars!

So far I love it

I bought this pack to replace my Distance 15 which was stolen during a TH vehicle break-in. So far, it's working great and is much easier to get on and off than my older 15 was due to the fabric vest material. I wish there was a loop for the end of my water bladder bite valve that would keep that secure and in the right place.

Perfect fastback bag

This fastpack seems perfect for mid-short adventures! Can't wait to try it this summer around Mont-Blanc!