Black Diamond Equipment Introduces Spring/Summer 2026 Product Collection

Salt Lake City, UT (March 3, 2026) — Black Diamond Equipment, a global leader in climbing, skiing, and mountain sports apparel and equipment, announces its Spring/Summer 2026 product collection. This season centers on athlete-driven innovation across technical equipment and apparel for climbing, mountain running, and alpinism. This season’s collection reflects extensive collaboration with Black Diamond athletes, guides, and mountain professionals.

“Every update to this collection originated in the field,” said Neil Fiske, President of Black Diamond Equipment. “Our harnesses have gone through extended projecting sessions and groundbreaking redpoint efforts, the Distance line took shape during record-setting endurance efforts, and our alpine systems were tested at altitude with professional guides operating on Denali and Rainier. The result is equipment that reflects real mountain experience rather than theory.”

Essentials Engineered for the Send 

This season, Black Diamond brings radical improvements and athlete insights to a complete overhaul of its Solution and Zone Harness designs. The Solution Harness remains the all-around workhorse, now more ergonomic and adaptable across disciplines, while the Zone Harness is geared toward lightweight, performance-oriented sport climbing. Both have been structurally reengineered to enhance durability, improve load distribution, increase racking capacity, and enhance freedom of movement while reducing bulk and eliminating pressure points. The result is a new generation of harnesses that move more naturally with the body, last longer without compromising structural integrity or reliability in critical load-bearing zones, and carry more equipment with far greater stability than previous iterations.

Key features include`:

• Widened gear loops with expanded racking capacity, up to 12 quickdraws per loop for the Zone and 15 for the Solution
• Seamless Infinity Belay Loop for smoother belay carabiner interface
• Contour Edge Construction and stitch-free laminated seams to reduce pressure points and conform to the body

“The Infinity Belay Loop in particular is a big step forward for these harnesses,” says Black Diamond athlete Babsi Zangerl. “With the older version, it was always jarring when it got caught at the seam while belaying, and even worse while hauling. That issue is completely gone now. The bigger gear loops are also a nice plus, especially for trad and big wall days when you’re carrying more equipment.”

The New to the harness lineup, the Solution Guide Plus Harness was developed in partnership with Open Spaces to better serve climbers of size and expand access to technical climbing equipment. It accommodates a wider range of bodies without sacrificing performance or comfort with a four-buckle configuration and adjustable leg loops to significantly extend fit range. 

Black Diamond also expands its climbing footwear line in S26 with the redesigned Momentum Climbing Shoes. Built for climbers developing technique and confidence, the Momentum emphasizes all-day wearability with a neutral last and breathable upper materials. A soft-flex midsole and sticky Black Label rubber provide a degree of sensitivity and reliable grip rarely found in introductory shoes, raising the bar for what an entry-level equipment can deliver. The Momentum is available in Velcro and Lace-up models, along with Little and Big Kids sizing and a full adult size range.

Speed-Driven Mountain Systems

Black Diamond pioneered the hybrid mountain running pack, developed through deep collaboration with athletes moving quickly across demanding terrain who needed a storage system that stayed stable at speed while carrying the abundance of equipment required for technical objectives. For Spring/Summer 2026, the brand continues to prioritize the experiences of its endurance athletes as they pursue Fastest Known Times and top performances on the global stage. Those insights led to major updates to Black Diamond’s best-selling Distance line, including a complete revamp of its Distance Vest and Pack lineup and the introduction of the new Distance Carbon FKT Poles.

The all-new Distance 2 and Distance 6 Vests, as well as the minimalist Distance Belt, provide streamlined options for fast racing and no-frills solo missions alike. These performance-oriented running vests feature: 

• Custom-engineered diamond spacer mesh back panels to dramatically increase airflow
• Soft-edged stretch materials to prevent chafing
• Stretch-mesh construction to widen range of movement
• Accessible Z-pole storage to quicken transitions across variable terrain

“The Distance 2 is pared down to just the essentials,” said Black Diamond mountain athlete Hillary Gerardi, “which makes the mesh all the more breathable, but its capacity is still surprising. I found that even for the French National Long Distance Championships there was enough room to carry all my required gear.” 

The high-capacity Distance Pack collection refines its vest-inspired fit for improved stability, breathability, and durability on adventures that bridge mountain running with fastpacking and peak bagging. These packs are available in 8, 15 and 22 liter sizes and feature a lightweight, body-mapped harness layout, spacious storage without bounce, integrated Z-pole carry, gender-specific fits, and updated recycled nylon and polyester fabrics for better resilience in alpine environments. 

Complementing the Distance Vest and Pack overhaul are the new Distance Carbon FKT Poles designed in direct partnership with Black Diamond’s mountain running athletes with a focus on unparalleled efficiency and economy of movement. Built to minimize transition time and maximize energy return, the FKT Poles create meaningful performance advantages out of small efficiencies. The key piece of innovation involves a quick-connect magnetic glove strap system for rapid deployment and removal. 

“We've specifically thought about this pole in terms of an athlete trying to go as fast or as far as possible,” adds Gerardi. “They’re light, reliable, durable and fuss-free for clipping in and out as you move through different kinds of terrain.”

Hiking Equipment Engineered from Experience

For those who take the long way around, the Pursuit and Trail Vista series deliver dependable gear for full days spent bagging peaks and linking trails. The collections balance comfort with efficiency to support steady momentum through the mountains.

For Spring/Summer 2026, Black Diamond expands on the premium ultralight Pursuit Carbon Z Poles to offer an adjustable Pursuit Carbon FLZ design. Both models continue to feature an ergonomic, 100% cork grip that transfers forces from the hand to the wrist for more sustainable weight distribution over long distances.

The new Trail Vista Shock Poles and Trail Vista FLZ Poles focus on versatility and fatigue-resistance at accessible price points. Internal shock-absorbent springs in the Trail Vista Shock Poles cushion against vibrations and protect the upper body from the impact of ground forces. Both contain durable UL-validated recycled aluminum. The Trail Vista FLZ Poles aim for all-around functionality with cork-wrapped grips, flick-lock adjustability, and Z-pole packability.

The updated Pursuit Packs are now offered in consolidated gender-specific 15L and 25L capacities that prioritize ease of movement. The Pursuit 15 slims down the waist belt for sleek simplicity, while the Pursuit 25 retains the more robust contoured harness with adjustments for security and flexibility. Both packs now offer: 

• More breathable back panels
• Stronger recycled body fabric
• Additional external storage and technical equipment attachment options
• Stowable elastic rain covers. 

Born From the Climbing Life

The Spring/Summer 2026 Apparel collection features additions to Black Diamond’s technical outerwear shells, alongside adaptable apparel that merges climbing function with everyday style. Each piece is built with the same performance-first mindset that defines Black Diamond’s climbing heritage, while offering versatility that reflects how climbers move through the world, whether they’re on or off the rock. 

Leading the collection is the Strataline Stretch Shell. This light, sleek shell for delivers a 30,000mm waterproof rating with a 30,000g/m²/24-hour breathability rating thanks to its BD.Dry 3-layer waterproof, breathable, and windproof construction. The YKK Conceal zipper is waterproof and low-profile for ultimate versatility and protection.

Carrying the same commitment to robust weather protection into the harshest alpine environments, Black Diamond introduces the Mission 6000M Down Parka as the latest addition to the expedition-grade Mission system, developed in close partnership with RMI Expeditions, Alpenglow Expeditions, and Black Diamond’s high-altitude athletes. Built for sustained exposure in extreme cold, the Mission 6K will serve as RMI’s parka of choice on Denali, outfitting the guides and climbers who operate in the most severe conditions.

The Deploy family continues to evolve as a modular, scalable approach to ultralight layering. The Deploy 0.5 Hoody met the demands of athletes who cannot compromise on either warmth or weight as the lightest down hoody in the world, followed by the Deploy 1.0 for a thermal boost in less hospitable situations where weight still matters but conditions require more heft. The Deploy 3L Shell now builds on that system with packable weather protection for mountain running, fastpacking, and alpine climbing in unpredictable conditions. Weighing in at just 256g for a Men’s Medium, this minimalist shell employs BD.Dry 3L for a 20,000mm waterproof rating. 

The Rift Fleece presents a new midlayer option, made from recycled fleece incorporating CiCLO synthetic fibers designed to behave more like natural fibers when they enter the environment, reducing microplastic pollution. The entire jacket, excluding zippers, is made from a single material to ease chemical and mechanical recycling. The Rift features custom rock-inspired prints by artist Heidi Lister Hevesy, whose work also appears on special editions of the Alpenglow Sun Hoody, Sierra Shorts, and Men’s Wingate Short Sleeve.

Black Diamond expands on the Circuit family with new full-length Long versions of the Women’s Circuit Tee and Tank for more coverage, as well as a new Men’s Circuit Midlayer Crewneck.

Finally, Black Diamond revisits its classic Alpine Pant collection to refine fit, pocketing, reinforcements, and waistband construction across all three styles: the versatile Alpine, simple Alpine Light, and rugged Alpine Hybrid. The Women’s Alpine Light Pant now also features an adjustable belt for improved security and fit. All styles retain their low-profile design, four-way stretch fabric, and PFAS-free DWR finish. The Alpine Pant collection has been a core component of Black Diamond’s apparel line for years, improving with each iteration through extensive athlete involvement and informed feedback from hundreds of days in the field. 

Black Diamond Equipment’s Spring 2026 collection is available online and at select retailers. For more information, visit: https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/shop/new-arrivals.

About Black Diamond Equipment

Black Diamond Equipment is a global leader in designing innovative outdoor-engineered equipment and apparel for climbing, skiing, and mountain sports. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Black Diamond is known for its commitment to performance, durability, and purposeful design.