Black Diamond Distance 15 vs Black Diamond Women's Pursuit 25
Quick take: The Black Diamond Women's Pursuit 25 carries more (25 vs 15 liters); the Black Diamond Distance 15 is lighter (0.73 vs 1.54 lbs).
Which one to buy
At $200 each, the question is do you run or walk? The Distance 15 is a vest pack for trail running, skimo and fast alpine days, and if you walk your miles, you're paying for running features you won't use. The Women's Pursuit 25 is a day-hiking pack built on a harness derived from the Distance line, reshaped through the shoulders, chest and hips for women, with 10 L more room.
The Distance 15 is roughly half the weight at 0.73 lbs, and its Dynex-blended shell gives tear resistance well beyond plain nylon, plus a shape that holds when the pack is partly empty. Its limit is volume: it's right for a fast half-day, and a full mountain day in changing weather outgrows it. The Pursuit 25 holds enough for that full day, and both take a hydration reservoir.
Sizing runs on different measurements. The Distance 15 is sized by chest circumference across S, M and L, and vest harnesses fit a narrow range of bodies. The Women's Pursuit 25 comes in S/M and M/L, but Black Diamond doesn't publish torso ranges for either. A woman hiking full days will find the Pursuit's shaping and room more useful than the Distance's speed.
Black Diamond Distance 15
For runners, skimo racers and fast alpinists whose outings stay around a half-day and who want a light vest that won't bounce.
Black Diamond Women's Pursuit 25
For women who hike full days at a walking pace and want a pack shaped for their frame with room for layers and lunch.
| Spec | Black Diamond Distance 15 | Black Diamond Women's Pursuit 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199.95 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (11) | — |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 15 L | 25 L |
| Weight | 0.73 lbs | 1.54 lbs |
| Max Load | Not specified by the manufacturer | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | Sized S/M/L by chest: S 26.5-33.5 / M 31.5-39.5 / L 35.5-44 in | Sized S/M and M/L, women's fit in shoulders, chest and hips |
| Material | 87% recycled nylon / 7% PE / 6% recycled polyester body | 96% recycled nylon / 4% recycled polyester |
| Back Panel | Dynex body material | Breathable back panel (frame construction not stated by the maker) |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Distance 15
- ✓11.6 oz for a pack with a genuine vest harness is very light.
- ✓Dynex blended into the shell adds tear resistance well beyond plain nylon.
- ✓Vest-style construction keeps the load from bouncing at running pace.
- ✓Black Diamond's alpine pedigree shows in the attachment points and simplicity.
- ✓Small enough to disappear under a running pack of layers.
- ✓Widely available with a mainstream brand's warranty and returns.
- ✓Holds shape better than soft running vests when partly empty.
- ✓Well suited to skimo and fast winter days as well as summer running.
- ✗$200 for 15 L is one of the steepest prices per litre of any daypack on this site, shared with the Women's Distance 15.
- ✗15 L is genuinely small for anything beyond a fast half-day.
- ✗No frame or support structure of any kind.
- ✗No published maximum load, though the construction implies very little.
- ✗Vest harnesses fit a narrow range of torsos well.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets, unusual at this price.
- ✗Not a general-purpose hiking daypack despite the price.
- ✗Overkill for anyone not actually moving fast.
Black Diamond Women's Pursuit 25
- ✓Women's shaping at the shoulders, chest and hips rather than a recoloured unisex pack.
- ✓Slightly lighter than the unisex version at 700 g in S/M.
- ✓Same dedicated hydration pouch and Distance-derived harness as the Pursuit 25.
- ✓Lifetime warranty against defects.
- ✗Black Diamond does not publish torso ranges for the women's sizes.
- ✗$199.95, with no raincover and no stated load rating.
- ✗Hipbelt pocket provision is not described.
Black Diamond Distance 15 vs Black Diamond Women's Pursuit 25: common questions
Is the Distance 15 a good day-hiking pack?▾
It's built for running pace, and walkers pay for features they won't use. It's also sized for a fast half-day, so a full hiking day in changing weather outgrows it.
How do I size the Women's Pursuit 25?▾
It comes in S/M and M/L, but Black Diamond doesn't publish torso ranges for either, so try it on. The Distance 15 is sized by chest: S 26.5-33.5, M 31.5-39.5 and L 35.5-44 in.