Gear Spotlight: Black Diamond Beta Light 45
I’ve used the Black Diamond Beta Light 45 on nearly every mission this year, apart from a few quick fastpacking trips. It’s the pack from Bivouac Outdoor I keep coming back to, and one of the most versatile packs I’ve used. Forty-five litres sounds small when you start laying out gear for an alpine trip, but I’ve been surprised by how much I can get into it.
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3 mins
Location:
New Zealand
Date:
Why I keep using it
The running vest style harness holds the pack close to my body, with space for soft flasks and snacks up front. I spend less time stopping to open the main compartment, which makes a difference when we’re trying to keep moving. The big stretch pocket on the front is one of my favourite parts. I can quickly stuff a jacket into it when I take it off, and it has room for much more than that. The side pockets are large too. When the main compartment is full, the straps along the sides give me somewhere to lash boots or other gear. All that outside storage makes the pack feel bigger than its 45 litres. I also clip on the Beta Light Satellite bag. Its extra four litres usually hold my gloves, sunglasses, GoPro and a few snacks. It sounds like a small addition, but having those things within reach is handy when Tarn and I are out together. Either of us can grab what we need without unpacking everything. The main compartment has a roll top, and the Ultra 200 fabric feels tough for something so light. The taped seams and weatherproof body are welcome in New Zealand conditions. At about 890 g, it gives me plenty of storage without starting a trip with a heavy pack. It doesn’t have dedicated ice axe attachments. I use the external loops and straps to secure my axes, which has worked for the trips I’ve taken it on.
The Mount French test
Mount French was the trip that really tested its capacity. Tarn and I had packed for three days, although we finished in two. Between our two packs we had ice axes, shovels, transceivers, ropes, harnesses, helmets and snow stakes, plus boots, warm layers, food and cookers. We each ended up carrying about 25 kg, with both packs full to the brim. What impressed me was how evenly that weight sat across my shoulders and waist. I could feel that I was carrying a heavy load, of course, but the harness and hip belt did their job throughout the trip. I wouldn’t buy a Beta Light expecting to carry 25 kg regularly. Mount French was an unusually heavy test, and the trip itself deserves its own story. For this piece, it’s enough to say the pack held more than I expected.
Where it fits
I’ve also used the Beta Light on Mitre Peak, at Esquilant Bivvy and on family trips where we’ve carried tents and extra gear. That range is why I reach for it so often. I can take it on an overnight hike or an alpine mission without having to rethink my whole setup.
For me, its sweet spot is a trip where I want to move fairly light but still have room for the gear the conditions demand. I like the no-fuss feel of it, especially how easy it is to use all that storage on the outside.
One thing to check before buying: I’ve found the sizing runs quite small. Try it on with some weight in it and see where the shoulder straps and hip belt sit before you choose a size.
bivouac.co.nz
Black Diamond Beta Light 45 Backpack
View the Black Diamond Beta Light 45 at Bivouac Outdoor.
