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Black Diamond Padded Gear Sling Review

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black diamond padded gear sling
Black Diamond Padded Gear Sling
Credit: BlackDiamondEquipment.com
Price:  $23 List
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Manufacturer:   Black Diamond
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Jan 17, 2010

Our Verdict

Review Archives
REASONS TO BUY
Burly
Comfortable
Convenient
REASONS TO AVOID
Not widest padding
The text below is our archived assessment of this Black Diamond sling.

This is a solid gear sling that will last forever. Overall, we prefer the comfort and ease of clipping of the Metolius Adjustable Gear Sling. That said, the simplicity, durability, and bomberness of the Black Diamond padded gear sling make it a top contender.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes


The Black Diamond Padded Gear Sling uses a timeless design that is still popular today. It has a simple adjustment to fit just about anyone. Because the buckle and webbing are burly, we have never known anyone to wear one out. If you run out of slings at the end of a pitch, this can be used as a runner (it's rated to 2000 pounds). We have rarely used it for this, but when we did, we were thankful. It comes with soft fleece lining that is ergonomically shaped. It has convenient clip in points so you can clip it to the anchor and organize the rack.

Dislikes


The only thing it does not have is a plastic-coating like most of the Black Diamond harnesses and big wall gear sling. This makes the gear bunch up a little more. Also, the padding is not quite as thick as some gear slings and not quite as light as others. Alpine climbers probably want a more featherweight option but most trad climbers will find it plenty light.

Chris McNamara