Our Heritage

You can’t tell the history of climbing and mountain sports without telling the history of Black Diamond.

Black Diamond was born from Chouinard Equipment and was a natural continuation of the passion and ethos that Yvon Chouinard and his friends started in 1965. Peter Metcalf and the employees of Chouinard Equipment took over in 1989, changed the name to Black Diamond and moved to Salt Lake City, to be at the base of the Wasatch mountains.

We create equipment for the most technical, demanding users in the harshest environments. We endeavor to meet that need with innovation, rigorous engineering, and performance.

A Glimpse into the Future

Venture into the Black Diamond offices on a Monday or Tuesday morning and you’ll likely overhear stories from last weekend’s exploits. From coffee-fueled tales of intricate crux sequences to floaty turns through powder, Black Diamond employees will be sharing their recent adventures with tired, yet satisfied souls.

By Wednesday, however, the conversations will have shifted. The focus will now be on what’s to come. The usual bookmarked web pages are open again, and weather forecasts mixed with beta are the de-facto topic of choice. By Thursday, our weekend plans will be in motion.