Let it be known that I am not a rock climber. I have climbed a couple of times in a rock gym and I'll scramble rocks here and there when camping or hiking to a good fly fishing spot but I certainly wouldn't consider myself an avid climber. That being said, I do really like rock climbing gear. Functional. Check. Bomber. Check. Attractive. Check.
So without further adieu I bring you the best day pack I've ever used. The Black Diamond Demon 34 is sweet! I've used it a bunch this last summer while traveling through northern California and Oregon and it performed admirably.
- The Black Diamond Demon 34
It took me some time to find the right bag I must say. I wanted something that was roughly 30-36L, wasn't bulky, and didn't have those huge hip belts that you so often see on some of the larger day packs. In other words, I wanted it to be fairly large yet streamlined. This is the bag that most perfectly fit that bill. The main compartment is spacious to say the least. Recently, on a dreamy, glassy day trip to a remote surf spot down the coast, it handily fit my 5/4 hooded wetsuit, sweatshirt, bagged lunch, and water bottle. The lid flips open to reveal an zippered inner pocket equipped with key clip, which serves as a great spot to stash your wallet and phone. A second zippered pocket adorns the lid on the outside, which is great for smaller items that you might want easy access to (e.g. sunglasses, camera, headlamp, sunscreen, etc.).
One of the nicest features about this pack is that the lid opens away from your head. This may seem insignificant but it is actually a nice touch. As you probably know, oftentimes we lay our open bags on the ground so that the shoulder straps face up. The upside is that the straps and cushioning stay clean. The downside is that sometimes the lid tends to get quite dirty and dusty. The lid-opening-away-from-your-head feature helps prevent this phenomenon because when you open the lid up and lay the bag on the ground you can set it so that the straps face up and the top of the lid stays clean (see picture below). Nice!
- Lid-opening-away-from-head feature
Of course the Black Diamond Demon is hydration compatible. It also has compression straps (they hold a beach towel quite nicely) and a helmet holder set up. What it does lack are water bottle pockets, which I kinda miss I must say (but it does help maintain thestreamlinedness of the bag).
The Black Diamond Demon comes in three color combinations, grey, black, and burnt orange on grey. It also comes in three different sizes (32L, 34L and 36L). I chose the 34L size with the orange on grey color combo. It fits my taller (6'2") frame nicely, is lightweight, and seems tough as nails. I hope to keep this bag for a good long time and expect it to serve me well. If you are looking to get a new hiking bag you might want to check this bad boy out.
Cheers
