Black Diamond Stubby Haul Bag

"While originally intended as a wall-in-a-day bag, the BD Stubby also has a secret double life as one of the very best crag packs ever made." I read this review and it persuaded me to order a Stubby.
The body material is SO tough I can't imagine anything but a very sharp point breaching it, and the edges are so built up I cannot imagine anything more than continual scraping and absolute abuse doing them any harm. For someone like me with limited gear, the Stubby is completely adequate; but I have to wonder out loud if someone with a large amount of hardgoods might want to move up to the next size, just to be sure. The choice is important, because you're gonna be stuck with whichever one you choose for many, many, many years - it's that bomber!
One last thing, my top skirt drawstring came with two of those plastic/nylon squeeze locks, so I took one and threaded the blue ribbon through it. Much better than simply tying it off.
I am flying to California at end of the month and have decided to use this as a either a carry-on or if forced to a checked bag. I am going to tie off the loose ends of the haul straps to shorten them and use a Petzl William large sized carabiner through the haul straps to secure the top and as a carry handle. If forced to check, I can stow the shoulder straps and remove the waist belt.

I've dropped this bag from 3 pitches up and it didn't have a scratch. This bag has been a staple for 5+ years on longer approaches and hauling up overnight climbs from Yosemite to the Winds. It's pretty heavy - but this will be the last haul bag you ever buy!

Firstly, I've had this pack for 10+ years. Every year I've done multiple trips to Moab UT, Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and every crag spot in Utah across the Wasatch front. Here is what the bag doesn't do:

I needed a new crag pack, so why not get one that doubles as a small haulbag for bigger wall routes? The material is much stiffer than the 32oz. stuff on my Fish Deluxe big pig haulbag, which means this thing is about as burly as they get.

It fits my full double rack from #00 to #5, draws, nuts, etc., an extra layer, two pairs of shoes, a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle, a couple tastier beverages, and my helmet at full stuff. I don't mind that it doesn't fit a rope because if I'm carrying the rack, my climbing partner gets rope duty.

The thick shoulder straps feel great on the approach with 20-30lbs and are easily stowable for hauling. The Stub will definitely show signs of hauling and general crag pack abuse, but I doubt it will ever blow a seam or fail. If it does, though, it's easily repairable with some heavy duty thread and a couple layers of Plastidip.

This is a great bag for just about every climbing use. The only thing I don't use this bag for is multi-day alpine stuff that requires me to pack a tent. Other than that, I use it for absolutely everything.



It's great for short walls. It's even a great alternative to huge haul bags for long walls - Two people with Stubby sized bags beats the heck out of using something like a Zion because organization is easier, you've got roughly the same volume capacity and it makes the approach and decent easier as each person can carry half of the load. For cragging, I flake a 70 into the bottom of the bag and can still cram a rack, draws, harness, helmet, food and water on top - albeit just barely.



Anyway, I would totally recommend this bag if you want something that, although it may not be especially flashy - mine actually is pretty flashy because I spray painted a stencil of R2Rd on the side ;) - it's pretty dang versatile and will last for ages.

While originally intended as a wall-in-a-day bag, the BD Stubby also has a secret double life as one of the very best crag packs ever made.



Don't go taking your UL backpacking pack to the crag when all you're doing is shlepping around your rack & a 6-pack from line to line (not that you should be drinking and climbing at the same time!)--the BD stubby is tough enough to get thrown around at the base of any climb, it's easy to use, and seriously--who cares about saving grams when you're just headed from the parking lot at Donnely canyon up to run laps on Generic Crack?



Seriously. My favourite cragpack ever.

I love these bag, it is great to pack all your day climbing gear. i easily pack a 70m rope a full set of cams, stopers, hex, helmet, quick draws, etc and it packs easily and the best is that it is super durable.

This bag is serious. It is as durable as anything out there, like knife-stopping durable. Im not willing to stab my $100 dollar bag in order to prove myself right, but you get the idea. It is a great size for on day climbs and sport-climbing, and holds the essentials with ease. I got it on sale, but had I known what I know now, I would have easily paid full price for it. Its a great bag and I plan on using it for years to come.

Of all of my gear bags the Black Diamond Stubby Haul Bag has taken the most abuse and withstood every bit of it. It got dropped of a 180 foot cliff by accident skid the entire way down the sandstone and hardly had a scratch. The opening makes all of your gear easily accessible without having to reach down into a dark bag feeling for what you need. You'll never have to pull out everything to find what you want. I recommend this bag to anyone who needs to haul a bunch of gear around.

bags great. great durability, weight and functionality...an 85 L size would be nice

I use this pack often and it is the best addition to my canyoneering gear! It just went on 4 rappels, 2 swims and it's the toughest piece I own. It has been dragged, hauled, mauled, thrown, sank, and strapped fully loaded on the back of my GS BMW 650 down a dirt road 35 miles to go canyoneering! This bag is easy to access and I love it!