Black Diamond  Distance 22 Pack - Men's

1st is the fit. 5’7” 185 39” rib cage measurement. First off this was my first vest style pack. I ordered a medium and large as I was kinda in between sizes. Ultimately went with the medium. At first with the pack fully loaded I felt the medium was tight especially around my shoulders. But after trying the large I found that the large was too loose and didn’t offer any adjustability as pretty much had the chest straps tightened all the way and I suspect that the shoulder straps at the bottom of the pack will stretch out over time. The only difference that I found with the large and the medium was the length of strap at the bottom of the pack where the pocket is closed to the body of the pack. Other than the sizing I echo what others have already said. Build quality is chefs kiss. Gear capacity is enough to go with some food and layers for day hiking to a full summer/fair weather overnight set up. I did notice that the black color is way harder to see to the bottom of the pack than the blue due to the color of the material. My 2 cents size down and enjoy.

I had eagerly looked forward to using this vest, on paper it hit all the boxes. Sadly the durability of my vest was subpar, having one of the straps that hold the soft flasks in place fraying after 2 uses within less than a week. The pockets aren't deep enough to hold much on the front or sides and the material is not very stretchy compared to an Advanced Skin for example. I really hope they use a mesh that stretches more with deeper pockets and stronger elastics in the next version because they are close to a perfect vest for long days out. The fit and comfort was excellent, no chaffing or bouncing. The vest isn't to hot and venting of sweat is decent. I've submitted a warranty claim so we shall see if they stand behind their product

I'm enjoying my long runs in the hills with this pack, poles and 10 essentials fit well. Pack stays tight, pockets are good, space is useful. Easy on and off. I wear a waist belt or pack with it no problem. Light jacket will fit right over the pack no issues. No complaints and hope it holds up.

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!

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.

I love the pac and was able pare down my gear enough for a 4 day summer backpacking trip with food etc. through the Sierras (beyond ultralight). My one gripe is that I bought it for fast packing (I know it's not designed for this application) but it bounces far too much when running with a load. I had intended to fast pack that trip, but could only hike because the bouncing made running impossible for me. I like the capacity, closure, comfort I'm 5'9" and 160 and I believe I bought the Medium. This will become my daypack for fishing. The hiking pole sleeves are great for carrying Tenkara rods... I'm still in the market for a 20-30 liter fast packing/running pack.

I ran a quick 10k loaded with roughly 8 pounds to test the fit and the only issue was some bounce. Stepped it up and ran an overnight 40 miler with about 12 pounds and I thought the shoulder straps were going to saw through my collar bone. The middle of the shoulders are mesh but the edges have a material that doesn't stretch. You're effectively carrying the load on two narrow straps that will dig in very deeply. The lack of hip belt means it's going to bounce. After 15 miles, each bounce generated a sharp pain in my shoulders and I resorted to stuffing socks under the straps to add some cushion. This would make a suitable daypack for climbing or hiking but it cannot handle running with the realistic weight required for overnighting (unless you're not carrying food and water).

The construction of this pack is top-notch! Nearly perfect for those fast-moving days in the mountains when covering lots of mileage and big vert in the alpine. I only wish it hugged the torso a bit better, as running with this pack weighed down induces an annoying bounce- but I suppose that a 22l pack will be hard to eliminate all bouncing. I also wish this pack came with a longer webbing for the top closure that could double as a rope carry, for those days on ridge lines that might require a light rope. Otherwise, this is an excellent pack!

This pack is my favorite bag by far! Holds plenty of stuff for long days on trail and remains runnable. The external stretch pockets are my favorite feature which allows me to easily access important things quickly. I have added a small piece of foam inside the hydration sleeve to give the bag a little more structure that also doubles as my sit pad. I would like to see BD add minimal water bottle pockets on the sides for those trails that require a bit water. Perhaps some stretchy mesh pockets to hold 2 more flasks or smart water bottles?

I bought this after seeing it on many lists as a great running backpack. Unfortunately I'm returning it after using once for a total of 6.5 miles. It is awesome save for the lack of a waist belt. I liked the shoulder straps with all the pockets - very useful! There is no waist belt so all the weight is carried by your upper body. Towards the end of my run I started feeling some pain in my lower back. The next day the pain was a lot worse. It might be useful for light loads but won't suite my needs.