This pack was recommended to me at two mountaineering stores. I initially preferred a Golite Daypack for the weight savings - the Golite weighs 14 ounces while the Zippo weighs 1 pound 9 ounces. However, I have come to see that the weight is well spent on the Black Diamond Zippo. The Black Diamond Zippo has a waist belt, which keeps the pack from shifting on me when I stumble during dayhikes and making my stumble worse; same issue with a sternum strap. The Zippo has an interior sleeve for your choice of water bladders if you like to carry your water that way, together with an exit flap for the water tube. There is plenty of room for a jacket and rain pants, plus lunch; the foam back pad is removable and would be very helpful in an emergency overnighter (sit on the pad, lean against a tree, put your feet in the empty pack - I also carry a 6 ounce silnylon vapor barrier sack, from Oware, that doubles as an emergency bivvy sack. On the semi-technical side, it has two ice axe straps, always good for early spring, and a crampon pouch on the back that doubles as a 1.5 liter water bottle holder, shoe pouch, ditty bag holder - I can think of a lot of varied uses. Finally, the pack is trim and doesn't interfere with arm movement while walking. For climbing aspects of the bag, see the Black Diamone website - BDEL.com. Quality is excellent! The only thing I would like to see is the use of lighter materials, as in the Speed 28 pack that Black Diamond just introduced. Although not a full line equipment manufacturer, Black Diamond is an outstanding niche player with some very well focussed products.

Customer Service

Incredibly fast - considering I only used UPS ground, I got the pack within days of ordering.

Similar Products Used:

Golite Daypack, Golite Dawn (both good), Marmot daypacks (various - all too heavy for what they offer, but I use them now for travel and urban adventures), Camelbak (good on hydration, need improvemen