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Black Diamond Stubby Review

Compact and bomber, this bag comes in a variety of sizes and is a decent price
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Black Diamond Stubby Review (Black Diamond Stubby)
Black Diamond Stubby
Credit: BlackDiamondEquipment.com
Price:  $180 List
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Manufacturer:   Black Diamond
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Nov 17, 2016
74
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#7 of 8
  • Durability/Material - 40% 7.0
  • Capacity - 10% 3.0
  • Waterproofness - 10% 5.0
  • Closure systems/Ease of Access - 20% 10.0
  • Carrying/Suspension System - 20% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Black Diamond Stubby stands out for its compact and bomber size. Whereas many haul packs look more like backpacks, this really looks like a mini version of the Black Diamond Touchstone haul bag. We have used it on El Cap a handful of times and find it is a great little bag but it is a little small. If you are watching your wallet, we would lean toward a bigger bag like the Black Diamond Touchstone Haul Bag or Metolius Quarter Dome Haul Bag because they are sizes that can be used for a much bigger variety of climbs. However, if you have the cash, this is a great little bag to have in the quiver.
REASONS TO BUY
Free-standing
Easy to get in and out of
Comfy to carry
REASONS TO AVOID
No waterproof closure
Hard to clip stuff underneath

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
black diamond stubby
This Product
Black Diamond Stubby
Awards  Top Pick Award   Top Pick Award 
Price $180 List
$126.06 at Backcountry		$220 List
$219.95 at Amazon		$190 List
$189.95 at Amazon		$230 List
$149.47 at Backcountry		$70 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
74
92
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A mini version of another BD counterpart, it's bomber and comes in a various sizesAn ideal haul bag for short walls or as a supplementary haul bagDue to its small size, we would choose a different option unless you're going on a fast and light missionStreamlined and straightforward, though there are better options out thereAn incredibly convenient and intelligent design
Rating Categories Black Diamond Stubby Metolius Quarter Do... Metolius Sentinel Black Diamond Touch... Metolius Waste Case
Durability/Material (40%)
7.0
10.0
10.0
7.0
10.0
Capacity (10%)
3.0
6.0
4.0
6.0
1
Waterproofness (10%)
5.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
10.0
Closure systems/Ease of Access (20%)
10.0
9.0
9.0
10.0
9.0
Carrying/Suspension System (20%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
0
Specs Black Diamond Stubby Metolius Quarter Do... Metolius Sentinel Black Diamond Touch... Metolius Waste Case
Volume (cu inches) 2136 4200 2800 4272 500
Weight 3 lb 15 oz 5 lb 1 oz 4 lb 11 oz 5 lb 4 oz 10.6 oz
Main container material 37 oz vinyl-laminated nylon Durathane Durathane 37 oz vinyl-laminated nylon Durathane
Closure material 840 Denier ripstop Ballistic nylon Ballistic nylon 840 Denier ripstop Ballistic nylon
Sewn or welded seam Sewn Welded Welded Sewn Welded

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes


This bag is great for its simplicity. It is easy to get in and out quickly and to tuck and stow the straps. It stands up on its own when resting, which makes it a great crag pack. It's hard to overstate how nice this free-standing feature is until you use it. Instead of always reaching down for your pack and digging through it, you just peer down and can see just about everything in your bag. For multi-day big walls, it is the perfect size to store the extra rack in. As a crag pack, it is the perfect size for a skinny rope, light rack, harness, and shoes.

Dislikes


The closure is not watertight. It if rains, you will have to rig a garbage bag or some other seal to keep the water out. It is a little hard to clip stuff under the bag on big walls — it would be nice if the straps were a little more separated from the material. We noticed when leaning way under the bag to clip or unclip the poop tube that you have to be much more precise than with the Metolius clip-in points.

Value


This is less expensive than some similar-sized bags. It is not a bad deal for a mini haul bag. However, if you spend a bit more, you can get a much bigger and more versatile Black Diamond Touchstone. It all comes down to how many big walls you will do and how much you will use it as a crag pack. I use a bag this size all the time but some people may find it better just to buy a really light and solid crag pack plus a big haul bag.

Conclusion


This is ideally a crag pack or an extra bag on the wall for rack. This bag is too small to be considered a second haul bag like the Touchstone. We would typically use it on a five-plus day nailing route where you have two other medium-sized bags like the Metolius Half Dome Haul Bag and this one as a third bag for an extra rack.

Other Versions


There are three sizes in the Black Diamond Haul Bag Family:
Black Diamond Stubby - Tiny - 2136 cu in
Black Diamond Touchstone - Small - 4272 cu in
Black Diamond Zion Haul Bag - Big - 8848 cu in

— Chris McNamara
 
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