BD Speed Packs - Rolled/Packable?

I'm looking for some input from those that have, or have used, Black Diamond Speed Packs.  They advertise the pack as having a "Strippable design: removable frame sheet / bivy  frame sheet / bivy pad and removable hipbelt with fixed webbing belt" which has me wondering if it can be rolled up and stashed in a larger bag to use as a summit pack on a backpacking trip, for example. I'd love to hear from folks if this is possible, if it damage the pack, was worthwhile? And maybe see some pictures. Thanks. 

I don’t have a speed 30 so take this with a grain of salt, but I do have a distance 7 that I used to take as a summit bag on backpacking trips and still use it for longer outings. In general I’ve found BD bags to be really good at packing down - but 30L might be a bit overkill as a summit bag. For reference I used a 7L bag to summit longs and carried two layers, 3L of water, and a days worth of food without issue, it was also a great bag on capitol peak. It can be used on multipitches too due to the low profile nature since it’s technically a running bag. Doesn’t seem to have had any damage from rolling or anything. If you’re concerned about space they have 15L and 22L versions that might pack better than a 30L bag. But in general BD bags seem to be built pretty tough and are true to their stated features / capabilities. 

I think the BD Blitz 20 or 28 would make a much better packable/rollable summit bag vs. the Speed series

Quin K wrote:

I don’t have a speed 30 so take this with a grain of salt, but I do have a distance 7 that I used to take as a summit bag on backpacking trips and still use it for longer outings. In general I’ve found BD bags to be really good at packing down - but 30L might be a bit overkill as a summit bag. For reference I used a 7L bag to summit longs and carried two layers, 3L of water, and a days worth of food without issue, it was also a great bag on capitol peak. It can be used on multipitches too due to the low profile nature since it’s technically a running bag. Doesn’t seem to have had any damage from rolling or anything. If you’re concerned about space they have 15L and 22L versions that might pack better than a 30L bag. But in general BD bags seem to be built pretty tough and are true to their stated features / capabilities. 

Lots of good info here thank you Quin! I haven't had a BD pack before so that's good to know they generally are "packable". Hearing what you're saying, I agree 30L could be overkill for a standalone summit pack for what I described. I'm stuck trying not to buy several packs and was hoping to also use it for a longer day trip bag as well. I'll take a dive into the distance series. When you say that was a summit pack, are you also taking ice axe/crampon/helmet/ rope with a bag that small? 

Travis Allen wrote:

Lots of good info here thank you Quin! I haven't had a BD pack before so that's good to know they generally are "packable". Hearing what you're saying, I agree 30L could be overkill for a standalone summit pack for what I described. I'm stuck trying not to buy several packs and was hoping to also use it for a longer day trip bag as well. I'll take a dive into the distance series. When you say that was a summit pack, are you also taking ice axe/crampon/helmet/ rope with a bag that small? 

Happy to help! The distance 15 and 22 packs can support ice axe and helmet for sure - I think there’s an ice axe tip “garage“ on the back of it. The helmet can be rigged to be held by the closure strap easily (this is what I’ve done), and you could probably also rig your crampons on the outside. Rope is where it might be sub optimal. Since these are pretty light packs they might lack the support to comfortably carry a rope - even a really light alpine rope might be too much. I think the sweet spot for day trip / summit bags is somewhere around that 20L mark. does your backpacking bag have a removable frame sheet? If so I wonder if there is a pack that would be cross compatible with your frame sheet to give you the flexibility of a rollable pack, but the support of a frame for those longer days and more technical requirements. 

Rexford Nesakwatch wrote:

I think the BD Blitz 20 or 28 would make a much better packable/rollable summit bag vs. the Speed series

Looking at the blitz series again I think your probably right. I was ultimately looking for something a touch more versatile to use as comfortable day tripper too, which is why I leaned into the speed series. I'm still interested to hear if others have had luck rolling up a speed pack but if it just doesn't seem to be the case then a blitz seems like a solid choice. Thanks

I have the BD Speed 22 and roll it up/stash it in my 70L all the time. No issues. 

Dallin Carey wrote:

I have the BD Speed 22 and roll it up/stash it in my 70L all the time. No issues. 

That's awesome! Thanks for the info Dallin. What size would you say it packs down to? 

I have a BD speed 22 that I use for multipitch and ski touring. I am a big fan. The back insert can be removed quickly and the pack rolled down. Furthermore the top/brain can be removed for more space savings.

Travis Allen wrote:

That's awesome! Thanks for the info Dallin. What size would you say it packs down to? 

Fwiw, I pack a smaller "route pack" inside a larger approach/expedition pack relatively often. My experience has been that flattening the small pack against the back panel while inside the larger pack seems to work much better than rolling the small pack up. It takes up less volume and seems to carry better for me. 

I use this 

https://seatosummit.com/products/ultra-sil-day-pack

It’s 2.5 oz, can hold 20L and its smaller than a pool ball. 

The Speed 30 can be stripped down like that.

Sam The Average Climber wrote:

I use this 

https://seatosummit.com/products/ultra-sil-day-pack

It’s 2.5 oz, can hold 20L and its smaller than a pool ball. 

No straps for gear, no way to carry a rope, looks too light for heavy-ish loads, not sure this is the best climbing pack compared to the BD Speed?

Biggest thing for this is lightweight.

NateC wrote:

Fwiw, I pack a smaller "route pack" inside a larger approach/expedition pack relatively often. My experience has been that flattening the small pack against the back panel while inside the larger pack seems to work much better than rolling the small pack up. It takes up less volume and seems to carry better for me. 

Same here - and I have used it both ways... With the foam pad removed from the blitz, it gets really small. But for winter/alpine routes I find it easier to pack as a stuff sack with the puffy layers it is going to carry anyway and shove that into the larger pack. Less faffing at transitiions and less likely to forget ro repack something.

That said, looking at the speed 30 vs the blitz series... I am curious how light the speed 30 can really get down to when fully stripped... since it starts around a kilo and the blitz's are around 300-400g.

But the side compression straps of the speed might be worth the weight penalty.

I like my Speed 22.  Over the years, it's been slid inside of 40L, 50L, 85 and 95L packs, sometimes even being strapped to the outside of a 95L pack.  Slid in flat, because rolling it up just creates a larger void fraction.  I also have a Blitz15 for light rock routes, but the Speed 22 has been a great all around pack, and while a bit heavier, fussier with webbing, it's been versatile enough to stuff inside of a larger pack just for on-route stuff, to being a stand-alone pack for hitchhiking across border for a few days of climbing back across - granted, with bivi gear, it's stuffed to capacity, tools and crampons lashed to it, and with a rope tossed behind my neck, that pack is at or beyond it's comfortable carry limit after a number of hours, sure - but on route, or roped up moving to the route, I don't even notice it.  

With all the straps, I can just ditch and lash unneeded layers to it pretty easily - which is clutch because I overheat real quick.

Sometimes, I just feel plain weird climbing without my murse.

Jason EL wrote:

I like my Speed 22.  Over the years, it's been slid inside of 40L, 50L, 85 and 95L packs, sometimes even being strapped to the outside of a 95L pack.  Slid in flat, because rolling it up just creates a larger void fraction.  I also have a Blitz15 for light rock routes, but the Speed 22 has been a great all around pack, and while a bit heavier, fussier with webbing, it's been versatile enough to stuff inside of a larger pack just for on-route stuff, to being a stand-alone pack for hitchhiking across border for a few days of climbing back across - granted, with bivi gear, it's stuffed to capacity, tools and crampons lashed to it, and with a rope tossed behind my neck, that pack is at or beyond it's comfortable carry limit after a number of hours, sure - but on route, or roped up moving to the route, I don't even notice it.  

With all the straps, I can just ditch and lash unneeded layers to it pretty easily - which is clutch because I overheat real quick.

Sometimes, I just feel plain weird climbing without my murse.

Great experience and info Jason, this sounds like the way to go.  With the ability to slide it into another pack, The versatility of the Speed 22 sounds right in my lane. I'll takes pictures and post measurements for anyone else wondering which route to take when I get one in hand. 

They advertise the pack as having a "Strippable design: removable frame sheet / bivy  frame sheet / bivy pad and removable hipbelt with fixed webbing belt"

I didn't realize I could pull the frame sheet out of my Speed 40 until this thread.  So, wow, thank you.  I checked it out, and yeah, I could stuff this in my Baltoro 95, roll it up and lash it, whatever.

Now, now alls I got ta do is take advantage of this new information.

I like this.  Thank you.

Jason EL wrote:

I didn't realize I could pull the frame sheet out of my Speed 40 until this thread.  So, wow, thank you.  I checked it out, and yeah, I could stuff this in my Baltoro 95, roll it up and lash it, whatever.

Now, now alls I got ta do is take advantage of this new information.

I like this.  Thank you. 

Yes this is a great feature of the speed packs. I like my 40L Speed stripped for multi day carryover climbs. You can really cut down the weight by removing the crampon straps, brain, brain straps, back pad, and stay. Cuts the weight significantly and makes it much more pleasant to climb while wearing it.