BLACK DIAMOND TECHNICAL SNOW BACKPACKS F/W 2025/26 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Technical Snow Backpacks F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Black Diamond
Interviewee: Loïc Tonnot, Ski & Mountain Product Manager Europe

Which technical snowpacks sold best in the winter 2023/24 and why?
The Dawn Patrol 25 snowpack is one of our bestselling backpack globally. Originally introduced in 2015, redesigned in Fall 2023, we are now updating it with new colorways for Fall 2025. It is a versatile, stylish, fully featured snowpack that bridges the gap between ski touring and freeride pack.

Are you feeling the impact of climate challenges (unpredictable conditions, snow at higher altitudes, more expensive costs) on your product demand and development?
We especially feel the impact of climate challenges on our winter business, with shorter and more unpredictable winter seasons. This has pushed us to think about how we can design packs that can be used in more than one season, and additionally driven Black Diamond Equipment towards the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. As climate challenges impact us globally, we see continued demand for backcountry equipment and avalanche safety gear. As we all become more aware of the impacts of climate change, we continue to consider how we can incorporate more sustainable or more durable materials in our products to extend the life of our equipment.

What are the technical highlights in construction and materials of your 2025/26 collection?
Last year we partnered with Challenge Sailcloth to incorporate their Ultra body fabric into our Beta Light Series, creating one of the lightest yet most durable packs on the trail, launched in summer 2024. The feedback was really positive, and we’ve continued this partnership to extend the Cirque Pack line, which launched in winter 2024/2025. For winter 2025/2026, we’re introducing the Cirque Ultra Pack Series, featuring the same Ultra material used in the Beta Light Pack. The back panel of these packs is constructed with Ultra 400D for added durability, while the main body utilizes Ultra 200D to maintain a lightweight profile. Our goal is to offer packs that are both durable, yet light packs, and the Ultra material stands out as the lightest fabric available for its level of strength and durability.

What color palettes, prints or patterns are you featuring in your 2025/26 collection?
In our 2025/26 collection, we will introduce a color refresh throughout the Dawn Patrol Pack Series, featuring shades like white oak, burnt sienna, foam green, and purple. We picked colors that complement Black Diamond’s apparel line while ensuring they pair well with outfits from other brands. These new colors are designed to bring a fresh, modern feel to the series. You’ll also notice purple highlights across all our product lines, including apparel, hardgoods, packs, and gloves. Additionally, we are making a significant update to our Helio Carbon Ski Series with new graphics and gender-neutral colors, along with bold new patterns.

Which technical snowpacks do you expect the most growth from in 2025/2026 and why?
We anticipate the Cirque Pack and Cirque Ultra Pack will experience growth in 2025/2026. The Cirque is a versatile, lightweight, ski mountaineering pack that feels true to Black Diamond’s technical mountain heritage. Made of lightweight and durable nylon with a Dynex grid, we see the Fall 2024 update of this already-loved pack as an exciting update. Even more exciting is adding the Cirque Ultra to the mix. With our commitment to technical packs, and in an effort to make packs with the greatest strength-to-weight ratio, we’ve expanded our Challenge Ultra program to include the Cirque Pack in Ultra material.

How are you implementing sustainability in your products and production processes?
We are constantly thinking about how we can make quality, durable products that stay in use for as long as possible. We are working towards using recycled main body fabrics on new packs, repairing products through our new ReRoute program, and are working on future pack projects that limit waste and offer circularity.

What are your marketing stories for 2025/26?
Our key brand stories fall under the umbrella of “Be One with the Sports We Serve.” In the summer, we focus on climbing, and in the winter, we shift our attention to backcountry adventures. Our main backcountry campaign for next winter, “Designed for the Deep,” embodies our commitment to going deep in adventure, deep in powder, deep in product design, and deep in relationships. We will support this campaign with athlete stories, aspirational content, and deep storytelling that showcase how our snow products are truly designed for the deep. Alongside this, we will run category and product-specific marketing campaigns to promote climbing, lighting, and more.

How are you helping retailers to sell this category?
To help our retailers sell this category we will combine product marketing, PR efforts, brand stories, in-store displays and shop windows. With this omnichannel approach we aim to attract attention, boost sales, and build long-term customer loyalty. Our BD athletes and ambassadors, who use our snow products during their mountain adventures, provide additional selling support by showcasing them on their own channels. Their testimonials serve as highly credible reference points for both customers and retailers.

Key Products:

Dawn Patrol 15:
Made with 100% recycled main body fabrics, the Dawn Patrol 15 is purpose-built for short missions off-piste, all-day lift laps and big freeride lines. The separate snow safety pocket stores your avalanche safety kit, and an oversized insulated shoulder pocket holds a hydration tube, soft flask, or radio. The pack’s form-fitting suspension provides a contoured, body-hugging fit, while the main zippered panel opens for quick access to your gear. Exterior attachment points for skis, snowboard, helmet, and piolet accommodate the needs of skiers and riders.

DAWN PATROL 15 BACKPACK_Foam Green_01

Cirque 25:
Compact yet fully equipped for demanding ski lines, the Black Diamond Cirque 25 is our smallest-capacity technical ski mountaineering pack. The Cirque 25 has a roll-top main compartment, an external avy safety pocket, and a quick-access side pocket to stash skins or ski crampons. An on-the-go diagonal ski carry system makes transitions seamless. Stretch woven padded shoulder straps make for a comfortable carry. Quick-deploy PickPocket piolet carry system is compatible with piolets or tools and comes in handy during unexpected sections of steep terrain.

CIRQUE 25 BACKPACK_Sulphur Green_01

Cirque Ultra 35:
A durable, sleek, and weather-resistant pack that is built to tackle demanding ski lines. It is slimmed-down, with a roll top closure, diagonal ski carry strap, and a quick-access external pocket for avy gear. BD partnered with Challenge Sailcloth to bring their Ultra 200D and 400D body fabric to our Cirque series to create one of the lightest, yet most durable, ski packs out there. This pack has side compartments for skins and crampons that can be accessed from the outside and is hydration and/or radio compatible.

Cirque Ultra 35_Storm Gray_glam 2_White