Black Diamond

Black Diamond’s origin story is one of innovation driven by a commitment to protecting nature and ensuring a better experience for outdoor enthusiasts. Founders Yvon Chouinard and Tom Frost initially sold climbing pitons, but when they saw that permanent climbing protection was damaging rock faces, they boldly advised customers to stop using them. This revolutionary approach led to the invention of removable climbing protection, like the iconic Black Diamond Camalot, which minimized damage to climbing crags and marked the beginning of Black Diamond’s influence on the climbing world. Since then, MEC has been a proud carrier of Black Diamond outdoor gear for climbing, hiking, snowsports, and much more.

Gear for climbers and skiers

Today, Black Diamond is known for its huge range of high-performance climbing and skiing gear, trusted by both beginners and pros. Their climbing equipment has essentials such as carabiners, belay devices and camming units, each designed with a focus on durability and safety. For climbers of every style, Black Diamond offers technical accessories like chalk bags, harnesses and climbing shoes. Their ice climbing lineup includes gear like crampons, ice axes and ice screws, all crafted for challenging alpine conditions. Black Diamond also caters to skiers, especially those drawn to backcountry adventures, with high-quality skis, poles and accessories that promise reliability on unpredictable terrain. Essentials like their high-performance headlamps keep climbers and skiers safe and visible during early morning starts or night outings, illuminating the path forward in all conditions.

Protecting outdoor spaces

Black Diamond’s dedication to the environment goes beyond product design. They’ve implemented sustainable practices at every level of production to reduce their environmental footprint. At their distribution centers, they recycle polybags and aluminum, while their manufacturing facility reuses scrap metal and cardboard. Additionally, many of the fabrics used in their apparel and climbing harnesses carry bluesign® approval, a certification that ensures responsible use of resources and chemicals throughout the manufacturing process.

In addition to environmental sustainability, Black Diamond promotes accessibility and inclusivity in the outdoors. They support diverse communities in exploring and protecting outdoor spaces through partnerships with organizations like Protect Our Winters (POW), which focuses on climate action within the outdoor industry. Whether you’re scaling rocky crags or skiing powder-filled backcountry trails, Black Diamond’s gear and mission work together to support the planet and the people who love it.