How to Choose Daypacks

Designed for long days in the alpine that toe the line between running and scrambling, the men's Black Diamond Distance 15 pack combines lightweight tech with extra storage for mountain endeavors.
Imported.
Best Use | Multisport |
---|---|
Bag Style | Backpack |
Frame Type | Frameless |
Ultralight | Yes |
Gear Capacity (L) | 15 liters |
Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 915 cubic inches |
Weight | 12.6 ounces |
Material(s) | Body: 90% nylon/10% Dynex; liner: 100% polyester |
Pack Access | Top |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 7 + main compartment |
Raincover Included | No |
Reservoir Compatible | No |
Dimensions | 22.4 x 11.8 x 3.2 inches |
Gender | Men's |
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Unfortunately these packs have a design flaw. The shoulder-straps are made of a thin mesh that tears very easily, and all that protects them is a narrow glued-on hem. If the hem ever separates then the rest of the strap will tear all the way through. I've had two of them and they've both failed in the same way. Black Diamond offers a "lifetime" warranty, but apparently they consider that the lifetime of these packs is only two years.
I wanted a light bag. So I don't regret my choice. It's light and has good storage. It will be useful when hiking. This bag is very famous. There's a reason why it's loved so much. I'll find out by using this bag.
Really great day pack both for trail running or hiking, the front strap water bottle holders is great for a soft flash. Fit everything I needed it to on my Mt Whitney summit.
Still in the early stages, but lots to love about this pack after a few long runs. It sits really comfortably on my back and the size is a great balance between fitting enough for a long adventure and not weighing yourself down. My only critique so far is that (when running solo) I wish it was easier to put running poles back into the side sleeves without unclipping the front straps and swinging the pack around to your chest. I can manage to take the poles out of the pockets alright while keeping the pack on. Not a big deal on personal adventures, but might come into play when racing. I'm 5'10" 155 lbs and a medium fits well.
I bought the this in addition to the Distance 8. I was going to choose one but kept both. As the weather turns or on longer hikes I can put a down sweater and more things I need for the mountains in the 15. I’ve tried several other ways of carrying my stuff from waist belts to my hands. This vest carries all the rain gear, snacks, water and small things I need for a run in the mountains in Montana. The HydraPak ultraflask speed 500ml fit the front pockets. You can put a bear spray canister in one if needed. For longer outings you can put a 1. 5 liter bladder in back too. The Distance 15 cinches down tightly in back and doesn’t bounce like a regular small backpack. Overall I’m super happy with this running solution. (Yes, I did cut and paste part of this review from my Distance 8 review). If I could add one thing it might be a stretchy pocket on the back of the bag for quick stuffables. Not a deal breaker though. The 15 adds dual piolet carry. I’m imagining this will be a great back for off track cross country skiing too.
The Distance 15 Backpack is a stellar choice for both trail running and mountain biking. Its design ensures a perfect fit that stays in place, eliminating any annoying movement during activities. The front zipper pocket is thoughtfully sized to securely hold a phone measuring up to 6 inches by 3 inches, providing easy access. Additionally, the backpack accommodates a CamelBak seamlessly, with a convenient pocket to tuck the valve away. With a 15-liter capacity, this backpack is ideal for a full day of exploration, offering ample space for all your essentials. The combination of practicality and comfort makes this backpack a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts. Highly recommended!
A solid and considered pack that is little more than a single large pocket with pockets on the shoulder straps. Yet it does this will aside from a few glaring flaws. The pouches in the main compartment point out a few of these issues. First I still haven't found a dedicated exit site for a bladder hose. Also the ditty/key pocket is too low by a few inches. Protection of the main opening should have an additional rain cover similar to the Creek Climbing packs. Also if not fully loaded of cranked down the closure regularly unhooks. The shoulder strap pockets should be an industry standard. Their designs are highly functional. The vertical/water bottle pockets are massive. They will hold a 24oz cycling bottle easily. A major flaw is the zipper/phone pocket. It sits outside the water pocket or away from the body. I would suggest moving this against the body instead. The reasons being, to reduce challenging the zipper with a full bottle pocket underneath. Plus making it easier to slide things in and out under the same set up. I highly encourage making sure the fit is correct as the shoulder straps don't adjust. This is a strength and a weakness. Less to break as they well sown but all the adjustment is in the chest straps. I found the sizing to be accurate for my purchase. A huge plus is the compression straps for the pole stash pockets. When the pack is not full the effectively reduce the contents from bouncing around. Likewise the pack flopping about. The welds for the anchors and the rings should hold up long term. Haven't messed around with the included quickdraw pole holder. Seems contrived. Overall, its utilitarian but light/packable and seems durable. I will be taking it into the mountains at pace until it falls apart.
I bought the distance 15 primarily as a running backpack and chose it over traditional running vests because of its versatility for other activities. I’ve fitted it with a 2L Hydrapak bladder and two 600mL Hydrapak soft flasks. The bags quality feels really good and the vest pockets are very nicely places. My only complaints are that one chest pocket is open (does not have a zipper) making it pretty useless when running because I don’t want anything to fall out. Also hydration sleeve hold the bladder pretty loosely causing the bladder to bounce quite a bit during running; so far it’s holding up but I worry the constant bouncing will eventually wear out the clip that suspends the bladder.
I owned the first generation Distance 15 and it was a game changer for my mountain running adventures. Especially those which required a light ice axe or were in inclement weather (of which there were quite a few). The only problem was the water flask pockets were too short to hold a standard 500ml flask and so narrow it was a struggle to get the flask in the pack. the gel pockets were also very hard to get ones hands into for similar reasons. The generation 2 Distance 15 solved both of these problems creating the perfect solution for mountain running/light and fast mountaineering objectives
Can someone please explain how to use (or remove) the Z pole carry system? There’s a big dangly thing at the top of the pack that’s not intuitive at all, and I don’t see the bottom part of the system either.