BABSI FLASHES FREE RIDER
A film documenting the first flash ascent of El Capitan by BD Athletes Babsi...
- All Stories
- Athlete
- Gear Myths
- QC Lab
- How To
- Training
- Films
- Innovations
THE BD EXPERIENCE
Welcome to the Black Diamond Experience, an organic presentation of inspirational stories, photos and videos from our athletes, employees and partners. The Black Diamond Experience is where we showcase climbing, skiing and hiking adventures from around the world, plus event news, advocacy efforts and product and technology highlights-all in one dynamic smorgasbord of stoke. Enjoy.
COMMITTED
BD Ambassador Didier Berthod’s 20-year odyssey to climb the Cobra.
Q&A: BABSI AND JACOPO SEND MAGIC LINE
BD Athletes Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher share their story of climbing one of...
BLACK DIAMOND PRESENTS: MULKEY AND GLATTHARD SWING THE HYDRA IN MONTANA
BD Athletes Aaron Mulkey and Yannick Glatthard take the new Hydra into the backcountry...
DEEP IN ALASKA
Follow Dorian Densmore and Mya Akins for a month-long, exploratory mission in the Chugach...
A WEEKEND IN THE VALLEY WITH ALEX HONNOLD AND CONNOR HERSON
QC LAB: ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE AND AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS
With ski season kicking off, the QA Lab crew dives deep into the world...
QC LAB: ALUMINUM VS. STEEL ICE SCREWS
Light is right, but steel is real. So, when it comes to ice screws,...
THE MENTOR
She was many things—a Stonemaster, an outdoor industry visionary, a physicist. A rock dropped...
GEAR MYTHS: METHODS FOR CLIPPING A CHALK BAG
GEAR MYTHS: BOLTS ARE ALWAYS BOMBER, RIGHT?
Go ahead, take the whip. You’ve got a trucker bolt just below. But wait...
QC LAB: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF USING SNOW ANCHORS
The QC Lab team is joined by IFMGA Mountain Guide Mark Smiley to discuss...
HOW TO BUILD YOUR FIRST TRAD RACK
Follow these expert pointers on how to properly build out your very first trad...
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TREKKING POLES
A look into the technology and construction of an essential tool for hiking and...
HOW TO CHOOSE A CLIMBING HARNESS
Find out from the experts at Black Diamond, the tips to find the best...
GEAR MYTHS: THE HELMET QUESTION—WHEN SHOULD YOU WEAR A HELMET AND WHY?
In this Gear Myths, we’re opening the lid (pun intended) on the topic of...
HANG RIGHT: SHOULDER MAINTENANCE FOR CLIMBERS
Physical Therapist Esther Smith joined BD Bootcamp for a few days to work with...
RETROMODERN PART 4: THE BIG SMILE
Follow BD athlete Sam Elias and filmmaker Mike Call in this exploration of climbing...
QC LAB: CHOOSING THE RIGHT CARABINER
Our QC Lab posts aim to answer some of climbing's most common gear-related questions....
WHAT TO WEAR CLIMBING
In this article, we’re sharing our tips on what to wear while bouldering, sport...
BLACK DIAMOND PRESENTS: DOUBLOONS
Featuring young crushers and BD Ambassadors Tanner Bauer and Chris Deuto, this film captures...
HARD SENDS WITH SEB BOUIN—BIBLIOGRAPHIE 9B+ (5.15C)
Watch BD athlete Seb Bouin attempt Céüse’s hardest route.
TICINO GRAVITY
An homage to Ticino bouldering.
ALWAYS ALIVE: THE STORY BEHIND HILLARY GERARDI’S FKT OF MONT BLANC
A documentary film currently debuting in film festivals around the world.
CONNOR HERSON: SENDING BLACKBEARD’S TEARS (5.14C TRAD)
Watch Connor claim the coveted second ascent of this California testpiece.
QC LAB: DAISY CHAIN DANGERS
We see it all the time. People at the cliff with one or two...
QC LAB: WORN BELAY LOOPS AND RETIRING A HARNESS
The following QC Lab was originally posted years back after Todd Skinner died in...
QC LAB: THE BEAUTY AND LIMITATIONS OF BIG CAMS
The bigger the better, right? Well, not so fast. In this QC Lab, Quality...
REMEMBERING KYLE DEMPSTER
It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to Kyle Dempster, one of...
GEAR MYTHS: ESSENTIAL CLIMBING KNOTS, FIGURE 8 VS DOUBLE BOWLINE
Gear Myths: Essential Climbing Knots, Figure 8 vs Double Bowline
QC LAB: CONNECTING TWO SLINGS TOGETHER
Our QC Lab posts aim to answer some of climbing's most common gear-related questions....
QC LAB: OLD VS. NEW GEAR TESTING
Remember that weathered tree tat you were eyeing? Or how ‘bout that 20-year-old rope...
QC LAB: SCREWTRUSION
To tie off or clip the hanger? That is the question.Join Matt Berry and...
QC LAB: SHARPIE FOR MARKING THE MIDDLE OF A ROPE?
Here's the question we get asked probably more than any other: "Can I use...
QC LAB: STRENGTH TESTING OF THE GEAR YOU'VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT
Ever wondered exactly how strong a cam placed in “umbrella” mode actually is? Or...
QC LAB: PERSONAL ANCHOR SYSTEMS EXPLAINED
In this QC Lab, BD’s Climbing Category Director Kolin Powick (aka KP) digs into...
GEAR MYTHS: OPPOSING QUICKDRAW CARABINERS
In this Gear Myths, we talk about your quickdraw orientation preference. More specifically, opposing...
HOW TO ICE CLIMB WITH BD ATHLETE WILL GADD
ANTTE LAUHAMAA: SKIING KEBNEKAISE
Follow BD Athlete Antte Lauhamaa on an exploratory winter mission in the remote Scandinavian...
BLACK DIAMOND PRESENTS: ANCESTRAL FOOTPRINTS
This film contributes to the rising tide of voices elevating the importance of safeguarding...
BLACK DIAMOND PRESENTS: ONSIGHT
Featuring blind athlete and BD Product Developer Seneida Biendarra on her emotional journey to...
SESSIONS
Believe in possible.
BLACK DIAMOND PRESENTS: DORIAN DENSMORE AND MIKE BARNEY IN THE CENTRAL ANDES
Watch these BD shredders send it in South America.
RAW SENDS: BABSI ON THE FOURTH ASCENT OF MELTDOWN (5.14C)
Watch the uncut of BD athlete Babsi Zangerl sending the iconic Yosemite trad testpiece.
HARD SENDS WITH SEB BOUIN: ACL (9B/5.15B)
In the first of the Hard Sends series, BD athlete Seb Bouin takes us...
ICE TRAINING: HOW TO BUILD A PLICE
Black Diamond Ambassador Will Gadd offers advice for building a Plice, a.k.a plywood ice.
INTRODUCING THE #21 CAMALOT C4
TAME THE MONSTER.
HANG RIGHT: ELBOW PAIN IN CLIMBERS
It's hard to find a climber who hasn't experienced elbow pain at some point....
ALEX HONNOLD'S FREERIDER HANGBOARD WORKOUT
BD Athlete Alex Honnold dives into his training routine and why hangboarding was crucial...
