#9
Black Diamond Equipment
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Salt Lake City climbing hardware leader building harness-ready BD.dry stretch rain shells ($160–$495), HighLine 3L, and Alpine Start windshirts.
Born out of Chouinard Equipment in 1989 and headquartered beneath Utah's Wasatch Range, Black Diamond engineers apparel strictly through a climber's and backcountry skier's lens—highlighted by the ultralight Schoeller Alpine Start Hoody, Fineline/StormLine stretch rain shells, and Recon ski shells.
About Black Diamond Equipment
Salt Lake City climbing hardware leader building harness-ready BD.dry stretch rain shells ($160–$495), HighLine 3L, and Alpine Start windshirts.
Also Ranks On
View canonical entity profile (4 lists) →Born out of Chouinard Equipment in 1989 and headquartered beneath Utah's Wasatch Range, Black Diamond engineers apparel strictly through a climber's and backcountry skier's lens—highlighted by the ultralight Schoeller Alpine Start Hoody, Fineline/StormLine stretch rain shells, and Recon ski shells.
Key Metrics
Specifications
Headquarters Salt Lake City, Utah (est.1989)
Core Shells StormLine / Fineline Stretch Rain ($160–$185), HighLine3L & Recon Stretch Ski Shell
Wind Layer Alpine Start Hoody
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Underarm climbing gussets and mechanical-stretch BD.dry fabric give $180 rain shells genuine multipitch mobility.
- Alpine Start Hoody remains a go-to breathable wind and light-precip layer that stuffs into its own chest pocket.
Cons
- Flagship 3-layer hardshell catalog is narrower than dedicated outerwear houses like Arc'teryx or Norrøna.
- 2.5L stretch rain linings wear faster under heavy overnight backpack shoulder straps than 70D 3L nylon.
Eligibility
- Best for: Multipitch rock climbing, Wasatch/Rockies ski touring, and high-value stretch rain protection under $200
Things to Watch Out For
- Watch out for: 2.5-layer Fineline/StormLine budget shells feel clammy next to bare skin compared with 3-layer backers
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