Sweet Gear Review: Black Diamond Nitro Pack

Don't ask why my fingers are pointing different directions... Instead enjoy the view of Mount Rainer.

I always have too much stuff. I guess it’s because I like to tinker with things and climbing gear just tends to appeal to me. This does not always work out when I try to bring to whole kitchen sink to the crag with me. I want to have two pairs of climbing shoes, maybe an extra jacket and a trusty pair of crag sandals or Sanuks plus rope, cams, etc.

Looking at the Black Diamond Nitro I was unsure how I could manage to bring my plethora of climbing “accessories” to the crag with me. For the first many months I just avoided the problem entirely and used the Nitro as a day pack. The Nitro came to the climbing gym with me twice a week for about 5 months and worked perfectly to hold a harness, chalk bag and two or three pairs of climbing shoes. I have the Nitro in a size Medium, which has a volume of 22 L (1,340 cu in) and weighs in at 940 g (2 lb 1 oz).

One of the first improvements I noticed was the external mesh pockets. The grey mesh actually stretches enough to fit a one Liter bottle when the pack is fully loaded. On older BD packs like the RPM, you cannot fit anything in the external pockets when the pack was stuffed to the brim. Having pockets that allow you to bring even more stuff, and are easily accessible, is a big plus!

In addition to the two external water bottle pockets, the Nitro is hydration compatible and the internal sleeve sits against the solid back sheet. This molded plastic panel provides the stability for the pack and I was impressed with the amount support this had for a day pack. There is a place for a Camelbak or equivalent hose to come out of the top of the pack but no clip or strap on the shoulder straps to keep the hose from flying around.

The waist-belt uses a floating buckle that allows the user to really cinch it down and offers a wide range of sizes. The right side of the belt has a nice zippered pouch that works well for cliff bars, chap stick, or a watch. Since the pack has no lid, there is a small zippered pouch on the front panel with a key loop. I usually keep my cell phone and a headlamp in here.

Awesome external pocket is perfect for a pair of shoes!

One interesting feature is an exterior kangaroo pocket with a pair of compression straps. At first I had no idea what to put in it but have come to use it constantly. It is perfect for a pair of sandals, or you can stuff in a jacket or a pair of sweaty climbing shoes. I always have something shoved in there when I take the Nitro to the gym or the crag, making this my favorite feature of the pack.

The “compression” straps above the front pocket do not reduce the size of the pack but are functional for attaching a rope or securing clothing such as a down jacket. When I eventually took the Nitro cragging, I was surprised that I could fit a harness, a set of draws, a few pairs of shoes, water bottle and lunch inside a sub-30 Liter pack. I had to strap the rope on the outside, but it was very functional for a light day of cragging.

One of the main features of the Nitro is the ReActiv suspension which allows the pack to move with you as you walk. The shoulder straps are connected at bottom of the pack with a wire that runs through the back sheet. The waist belt also has a bit of side-to-side mobility. I could really feel the advantage of the suspension when I had the Nitro fully loaded. When I was hiking on talus or moving on uneven terrain, the pack would stay centered by moving with my body. This was a really cool feeling and showed me that the technology worked as designed.

The special reActiv suspension and back panel (photo from Black Diamond)

The only thing that I would like is a load lifting system, although the pack is probably too small for that to work. Strapping too much weight to the Nitro causes it to put a lot of weight on the shoulder straps. A taller pack might help address this issue, but I’m not sure if this would be possible without eliminating the benefits that come with a smaller day pack.

I really enjoyed the Nitro and commend Black Diamond on the innovative suspension. This is a great size for a day pack and can work in a pinch as a small crag pack if you only have to carry the rope or the rack. The exterior pockets are super convenient and I hope Black Diamond starts using the extra stretchy grey mesh on more of their packs.

Pros:

• External kangaroo pocket is always useful
• Mesh pockets are very stretchy and can easily fit a 1 Liter water bottle.
• reActiv suspension moves with your body and makes loads seem lighter.

Cons:

• Missing a keeper loop or clip on the shoulder straps for a hydration hose.
• An internal zippered pocket or a larger top pocket would have been nice.

Enjoy,

Luke

Full Disclosure: Black Diamond provided this backpack to DreamInVertical in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed above are my own and reflect my experience with this backpack.  Feel free to leave comments regarding your opinion of the Nitro backpack.

For more Sweet Gear reviews from Luke and Lizzy check out our Gear Reviews page.