Solid review, Kane. What I like about all your reviews is they’re based on actual use, multiple uses… Anyone can review a piece of gear out of the box - you always go beyond. 🙏🏼
I had a pretty good idea of what it was like right away! But yes, best to put in at least a week of use. Obviously can't comment on durability at this point, but it should hold up pretty well based on the build quality.
Looking at some cottage companies, I feel almost as if they would make shoulder straps optional if they could, on what are already expensive packs. Everything, from pockets, hip belts, straps etc is adding $$$ quickly. I like that for this one, what you see is what you get, already minimalistic and you can remove stuff from it. There are some small discount available in stores. After months of looking at all options, I finally triggered on my first UL pack after seeing your video, I ordered the Beta Light 45. Thanks for the review!
Great review!!! I couldn't agree more about the cordage they used with those Linelocs......I was actually sitting down the swap the cordage on mine, when your video popped up. I too prefer removing the waist belt, especially since this pack has the "running vest" style harness, which I absolutely love!!! (coming from the Zerk 40) Now if only their water flask for the left shoulder packet was available anywhere in the world, that would be great!!! 🤙
Good review Kane. I love all my Black Diamond gear but will give this a pass and stick with the Durston Kakwa and support local (and a good guy). You should try the Wapta, it is big enough for an over night or weekend and has a removable hip belt.
@ I don’t know the Kakwa is better as I have not used the Black Diamond pack. However I have used the Kakwa a lot and can stand behind it as a good pack. It is light, tough, comfortable, and produced by a small, local and innovative company which appeals to me. Kane’s video shows the Black Diamond pack well and I just don’t see the advantage of it over the Kakwa.
@stanchorney9698 having used both now I prefer the Kakwa (55). The BD is a perfectly serviceable pack but at that retail price I expect the details to be more refined. The hipbelt pockets are odd, harness not quite adapted to backpacking loads. My main criticism is the hydration port that puts a hole in a seam sealed pack. My last trip was in heavy rain and water pooled inside with nowhere to go… The Kakwa isn’t sealed so in very wet conditions it will infiltrate, but at least drain simultaneously. The kakwa is very comfortable, and more refined from use based feedback.
Those triangular hip belt pockets are bizarre to say the least, maybe enough to put me off of this pack. I like hip belts and pockets on my packs and I think that design is a very strange choice.
Whats the point of this pack when its almost 1 kg? I feel that the big brands lack an ability to take risks in their designs and truly cater to the up and coming niche markets.
I am disappointed with the performance of the Betalight 45 backpack and the customer service from Black Diamond. In promotional videos (for example: th-cam.com/video/uVsYqb2pAzw/w-d-xo.html), it is clearly stated that while the Betalight 45 backpack shouldn't be submerged, no rain would get inside. Unfortunately, this was not my experience. After 2-3 hours of continuous rain during a thru-hike in the Alps, all of my gear inside the backpack, including my sleeping bag and sleeping mat, was completely soaked. This could have been very dangerous in the mountains, where temperatures can drop significantly. Even more disappointing was the response from customer service. I was told that the backpack is only "weather-resistant" and that this does not qualify as a warranty case, despite the product being advertised differently in these videos and on the website. For a backpack at this price point and from a reputable manufacturer, I expected more. I hope Black Diamond will improve its product descriptions and customer service in the future.
U r right, but if it's like other well known brand packs, then yeah, body might be say 25L folded (and can be extended by another 10L, I imagine), front pocket say 10L, side pockets say 5L each, and they add all the numbers up to get a total, which while technically correct, is rather misleading. I always break them down to the volume of the body to compare - the data is usually available in the detailed specs.
20L is a small daypack… For comparison I have a ULA CDT, NUL Sundown, UD Fastpack 40. The main body is the biggest on the BD BL 45 L. The ULA CDT is pretty similar.
@@timmo971 Per the Black Diamond website….”Main Pack: 43L, Side Pocket: 1L each side (2L total), ** Stretch front and hip pockets are bonus volume”. Coming from the Mountainsmith Zerk 40, which has a 32L main at the collar and 40L with the collar extended, the Beta Light has a notably larger main compartment in person. I wish all the pack companies would list their respective volumes in the same manner. Some companies include every pocket in their volume measurements and some only include the main body of the pack. It’d be nice if the consumer could see the number in the name and know exactly what that meant, without having to dig so deep.
![[Full] 4 ต่อ 4 Celebrity EP.922 | 10 พ.ย. 67 | one31](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zmV5HRIxIBI/mqdefault.jpg)
Solid review, Kane. What I like about all your reviews is they’re based on actual use, multiple uses… Anyone can review a piece of gear out of the box - you always go beyond. 🙏🏼
I had a pretty good idea of what it was like right away! But yes, best to put in at least a week of use. Obviously can't comment on durability at this point, but it should hold up pretty well based on the build quality.
Congrats to Kane for being selected to receive free gear by a major brand! That’s a big step for any channel.
Looking at some cottage companies, I feel almost as if they would make shoulder straps optional if they could, on what are already expensive packs. Everything, from pockets, hip belts, straps etc is adding $$$ quickly.
I like that for this one, what you see is what you get, already minimalistic and you can remove stuff from it. There are some small discount available in stores.
After months of looking at all options, I finally triggered on my first UL pack after seeing your video, I ordered the Beta Light 45. Thanks for the review!
Great review!!! I couldn't agree more about the cordage they used with those Linelocs......I was actually sitting down the swap the cordage on mine, when your video popped up. I too prefer removing the waist belt, especially since this pack has the "running vest" style harness, which I absolutely love!!! (coming from the Zerk 40) Now if only their water flask for the left shoulder packet was available anywhere in the world, that would be great!!! 🤙
The BD flasks are just Hydrapak flasks. Nothing special except for the logo. I have 4 of them. Ha.
Haha. When you rolled it, I was like you roll it weird - I guess I do it “the other way” :)
Whatever works!
Good review Kane. I love all my Black Diamond gear but will give this a pass and stick with the Durston Kakwa and support local (and a good guy). You should try the Wapta, it is big enough for an over night or weekend and has a removable hip belt.
Why is the kakwa better than this?
@ I don’t know the Kakwa is better as I have not used the Black Diamond pack. However I have used the Kakwa a lot and can stand behind it as a good pack. It is light, tough, comfortable, and produced by a small, local and innovative company which appeals to me. Kane’s video shows the Black Diamond pack well and I just don’t see the advantage of it over the Kakwa.
@stanchorney9698 having used both now I prefer the Kakwa (55). The BD is a perfectly serviceable pack but at that retail price I expect the details to be more refined. The hipbelt pockets are odd, harness not quite adapted to backpacking loads. My main criticism is the hydration port that puts a hole in a seam sealed pack. My last trip was in heavy rain and water pooled inside with nowhere to go…
The Kakwa isn’t sealed so in very wet conditions it will infiltrate, but at least drain simultaneously.
The kakwa is very comfortable, and more refined from use based feedback.
Those triangular hip belt pockets are bizarre to say the least, maybe enough to put me off of this pack. I like hip belts and pockets on my packs and I think that design is a very strange choice.
Bit of a head scratcher indeed.
Whats the point of this pack when its almost 1 kg? I feel that the big brands lack an ability to take risks in their designs and truly cater to the up and coming niche markets.
I am disappointed with the performance of the Betalight 45 backpack and the customer service from Black Diamond. In promotional videos (for example: th-cam.com/video/uVsYqb2pAzw/w-d-xo.html), it is clearly stated that while the Betalight 45 backpack shouldn't be submerged, no rain would get inside. Unfortunately, this was not my experience. After 2-3 hours of continuous rain during a thru-hike in the Alps, all of my gear inside the backpack, including my sleeping bag and sleeping mat, was completely soaked. This could have been very dangerous in the mountains, where temperatures can drop significantly.
Even more disappointing was the response from customer service. I was told that the backpack is only "weather-resistant" and that this does not qualify as a warranty case, despite the product being advertised differently in these videos and on the website. For a backpack at this price point and from a reputable manufacturer, I expected more. I hope Black Diamond will improve its product descriptions and customer service in the future.
I’m immediately offside because I DON’T understand the “45” in the name?! It sure isn’t 45 litres- more like a 20 it looks like a tiny fast pack
U r right, but if it's like other well known brand packs, then yeah, body might be say 25L folded (and can be extended by another 10L, I imagine), front pocket say 10L, side pockets say 5L each, and they add all the numbers up to get a total, which while technically correct, is rather misleading. I always break them down to the volume of the body to compare - the data is usually available in the detailed specs.
20L is a small daypack… For comparison I have a ULA CDT, NUL Sundown, UD Fastpack 40. The main body is the biggest on the BD BL 45 L. The ULA CDT is pretty similar.
@@timmo971 Per the Black Diamond website….”Main Pack: 43L, Side Pocket: 1L each side (2L total), ** Stretch front and hip pockets are bonus volume”.
Coming from the Mountainsmith Zerk 40, which has a 32L main at the collar and 40L with the collar extended, the Beta Light has a notably larger main compartment in person.
I wish all the pack companies would list their respective volumes in the same manner. Some companies include every pocket in their volume measurements and some only include the main body of the pack. It’d be nice if the consumer could see the number in the name and know exactly what that meant, without having to dig so deep.
Do not buy this pack. bd is redesigning it. Had a dozen flaws, shoulder straps fall apart. I have a 1000 miles of experience testing it on the PCT.