Gear Guide 2020: Black Diamond Hot Forge Hybrid Quickpack 12cm Review
Our picks for the best gear of 2020.
Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ Sign up for Outside+ today.
Last autumn, I punted on a route due to fumbling with a sticky-gated draw then pumping out—arrrggghhh! Smooth gate-action is a must at your limit, and BD has nailed it with these draws, which have the über-fast-clipping, redesigned HotWire wiregate on the bottom—I never bobbled once, even on limit sends. I dug the “hybrid” aesthetic, too: A Hot Forge solid-gate biner on top made for easy visual distinction from the rope-side biner, which is bright blue to make a good clipping target. Best yet, the six-pack-o’-draws only weighs 21 ounces—they’re incredibly light. MSRP: $90
