Back in Yosemite National Park, California
It was more than 50 years ago, in 1957 to be exact, when 18-year-old Yvon Chouinard sold hand-formed pitons from the trunk of his car to finance his climbing trips. At the time, he certainly had no idea that this would one day give origin to the world-renowned Black Diamond Group. But the passion for alpine sports and the demand to develop products of the highest quality made the later company so successful.
By climbers for climbers
To develop such high-quality and innovative alpine sports equipment, you have to be extremely crazy about climbing yourself. For this reason, all Black Diamond employees are themselves outdoor athletes who also use the products. They say of themselves: "We are the biggest dreamers of what can be and the biggest critics of what exists" and that is what brings them forward on the ladder of success.
For more safety on the mountain
But it's not just the Black Diamond team itself that tests the products through their paces under real-life conditions. There are also the Ambassadors, an international team of top athletes from the various disciplines, and the more than 300 outdoor athletes and young talents supported by Black Diamond. Beyond climbing, the company offers equipment for hiking, mountaineering, trail running and skiing. The safety of athletes in the mountains and the sustainability of the production processes are top priorities.