Black Diamond

Black Diamond in the Journal and Guides

Everything we've written that covers Black Diamond.

• GuideBlack Diamond Moji R+: a rechargeable lantern for small camp spaces

  Review the Black Diamond Moji R+ lantern: rechargeable power, hanging and magnetic placement, lighting modes, and a specification discrepancy to check.

• GuideBlack Diamond Orbiter 450 vs 650: which camp lantern should you choose?

  Compare Black Diamond Orbiter 450 and 650 lanterns with official photos, weight, battery capacity, charging ports and mode-specific runtimes.

• GuideHow should you choose a Black Diamond helmet and harness?

  Use Half Dome and Momentum as examples when choosing climbing equipment by fit, activity, instructions and model-specific safety notices.

• GuideBlack Diamond Spot or Storm: which headlamp should you choose?

  Compare the current Black Diamond Spot and Storm headlamps by power source, controls and model generation, with official product photography.

• GuideWhat a Backpack's Liter Rating Actually Measures

  ASTM publishes a test method for backpack capacity. Almost nobody cites it. What seven makers state about volume, per-size capacity and fit.

• GuideHow an Avalanche Beacon Works (and What the Range Number Means)

  Every certified avalanche beacon transmits on 457 kHz. What the antenna count, the range figure and the 20/50 interference rule actually mean.

• GuideWhat Do the Numbers on a Carabiner Mean?

  The three kN figures on a carabiner are lab breaking strengths for major axis, minor axis and gate open — not working loads. How to read them.

• GuideClimbing Helmet vs Work Helmet: What the Standards Actually Test

  EN 12492 and EN 397 test opposite things — including chinstraps that must hold versus chinstraps that must break away.

• GuideWill These Crampons Fit My Boots? B0–B3 and C1–C3 Explained

  B0–B3 boots and C1–C3 crampons, what the welts actually decide, and why that lettering is trade convention rather than a published standard.

• GuideWhen Should You Retire a Rope?

  No US regulator sets a rope expiry. Makers publish ten-year ceilings, start the clock in different places, and cut it to a year under heavy use.

• GuideStatic or Dynamic Rope — Which Do You Need?

  Dynamic rope stretches to absorb a fall; low-stretch EN 1891 rope does not. The published elongation figures, and which job each rope belongs to.

• GuideWhat Is a Via Ferrata Set — and Why Does It Expire?

  A via ferrata set is an EN 958 energy absorber rated 40-120 kg. It's scrap after one fall, and each maker sets its own expiry date.

• GuideShould a Headlamp Use Rechargeable or Disposable Batteries?

  Rechargeable for everyday use. But in real cold the right answer is primary lithium, not rechargeable — and alkaline leakage is the leading cause of flashlight failure. Here is how chemistry changes what the same lamp does.

• GuideHow Many Lumens Do You Actually Need in a Headlamp?

  Fewer than the box implies — and lumens do not tell you how far the light reaches. Here is what the ANSI FL1 numbers on the packaging actually measure, and why the headline brightness and the headline runtime are never the same mode.

• GuideHeadlamp or Handheld Flashlight — Which Should You Buy?

  Headlamp for anything you do with your hands. Handheld for distance — and the gap is bigger than lumens suggest, because a 250-lumen handheld out-throws a 2,200-lumen headlamp.

• GuideWhat Do IP Ratings Mean on a Flashlight or Headlamp?

  Two digits — dust, then water. The traps are that IPX7 does not cover water jets, IPX8 conditions are set by the manufacturer rather than the standard, and the same product can carry different IP claims on different regional websites.

• JournalCamp lighting has three different jobs

  A headlamp, a table lantern and a work light solve different problems. Compare Black Diamond and COAST products through official photos and practical examples.

• JournalRecall or advisory? How to read a safety company by what it publishes

  One maker recalled 150 units after zero incidents. Another offered a better carrying case after a death. A third refunded at 130% of retail. Same industry, same decade — and for occupational PPE in the US, none of them had to tell you anything.

• JournalWho actually owns your gear companies, and why it shows up in the product

  One rope brand is owned by private equity, another by the family that started it in 1790. A rescue-gear maker sold itself to its own staff. The company employees bought out of bankruptcy in 1989 is now listed on NASDAQ and shopping itself. Ownership is a spec.