Black Diamond Beta Light 30 vs Black Diamond Women's Distance 22
Quick take: The Black Diamond Women's Distance 22 costs $200 less; the Black Diamond Beta Light 30 carries more (30 vs 22 liters); the Black Diamond Women's Distance 22 is lighter (0.93 vs 1.53 lbs).
Which one to buy
Running or sleeping out? The Women's Distance 22 is a frameless 22 L running pack at 420 g with a vest harness, cut for women, and nothing on it is meant for a night out: no hipbelt, and Black Diamond doesn't even promise a hydration sleeve. The Beta Light 30 also wears like a running vest, but adds a removable frame pad, a removable hipbelt with pockets, a hydration sleeve and a roll-top body in UltraWeave 200, a woven UHMWPE fabric that resists abrasion better than plain nylon. It's built for fast-and-light overnights and long mountain days.
That extra pack costs $200 more, and the Beta Light 30 is about double what most 30 L ultralight packs cost. Sizing is the other gap. The Beta Light comes in four published torso sizes from 14 to 21.5 in; Black Diamond gives no women's size ranges for the Distance 22, so you'll need to try it on. If your longest day ends at the trailhead, the Distance 22 does the job for less.
Black Diamond Beta Light 30
Worth the price if you move fast but sleep out, and want a precise torso size, a hipbelt and an abrasion-resistant body.
Black Diamond Women's Distance 22
For women running or fastpacking long single-day routes, where a 420 g frameless vest pack beats structure you won't use.
| Spec | Black Diamond Beta Light 30 | Black Diamond Women's Distance 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $429.95 | $229.95 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 30 L | 22 L |
| Weight | 1.53 lbs | 0.93 lbs |
| Max Load | Not specified by the manufacturer | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | Sized XS 14-15.5 / S 15.5-17.5 / M 17.5-19.5 / L 19.5-21.5 in | See manufacturer sizing |
| Material | Challenge UltraWeave 200D (Ultra 200 PE) body, 4-way nylon stretch mesh front pocket, 100D nylon ripstop accents | Body fabric not detailed on the women's listing (unisex version: 87% recycled nylon / 7% PE / 6% recycled polyester) |
| Back Panel | Removable frame pad with a running-vest-style harness | Mesh back with vest-inspired suspension |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Black Diamond Practical Product Lifetime Warranty against defects | Black Diamond Practical Product Lifetime Warranty against defects |
Pros & cons
Black Diamond Beta Light 30
- ✓UltraWeave 200 is a woven UHMWPE fabric that resists abrasion far better than laminate or nylon at the same weight.
- ✓Four torso sizes from 14 to 21.5 in, a rare spread for a 30 L pack.
- ✓The vest-style harness keeps bottles and snacks on the chest for moving fast.
- ✓Removable hipbelt with pockets, plus a hydration sleeve.
- ✓Covered by Black Diamond's lifetime warranty against defects.
- ✗$429.95 is roughly double what most 30 L ultralight packs cost.
- ✗Black Diamond publishes no load rating.
- ✗Store variant weights run 710-760 g, heavier than the 695 g headline figure.
- ✗Roll top only, with no lid pocket.
Black Diamond Women's Distance 22
- ✓A women's cut of one of the lightest 22 L packs available, at 420 g.
- ✓Vest harness keeps the load close for running.
- ✓Covered by Black Diamond's lifetime defects warranty.
- ✗Black Diamond does not publish size ranges for the women's version.
- ✗No hipbelt and no stated hydration sleeve.
- ✗Same high $229.95 price as the unisex pack, with no published load rating.
Black Diamond Beta Light 30 vs Black Diamond Women's Distance 22: common questions
Can the Women's Distance 22 handle an overnight?▾
It isn't built for one. It's a frameless 22 L running pack with no hipbelt, so a sleeping bag and stove would ride entirely on your shoulders. The Beta Light 30 adds a frame pad, a hipbelt and 8 L more volume for fast overnights.
How do I know which size to buy?▾
The Beta Light 30 lists four torso sizes: XS 14-15.5, S 15.5-17.5, M 17.5-19.5 and L 19.5-21.5 in. Black Diamond doesn't publish women's size ranges for the Distance 22, so try it on first.