Ram Mountaineering Gear

We're a company of users - it's who we are. We're the greatest dreamers about what could be, and the harshest of critics about what exists and because of this—the creation of Black Diamond is a process which will never end. The company today is more committed than ever, thanks to the many people here in the U.S., at Black Diamond Europe and at Black Diamond Asia whose limitless energy and hands-on involvement have created a promising future for all climbers and skiers worldwide.

Black Diamond was founded on December 1, 1989 when the assets of Chouinard Equipment Ltd. were purchased by a group of former company employees that included Peter Metcalf, Maria Cranor, Meredith Saarinen, Hong Kyu Kwak, and a few outside investors. Birth of the new company was facilitated by Yvon Chouinard, who extended deadlines until financing could be arranged.

During the late 1980s, Chouinard Equipment Ltd. was the target of several liability lawsuits, mostly the result of non-climbers who alleged not that the equipment was defective, but that there was insufficient warning of the dangers of climbing. Yvon Chouinard placed the company in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 1989.

On founding, the company was located in one end of the Patagonia warehouse in Ventura, California. The company moved from Ventura to the Salt Lake City, Utah, area on September 1, 1991.

Black Diamond manufactures part of its line of climbing gear in a Utah facility (including carabiners and climbing protection), but has most gear manufactured to specifications outside the US, mostly in China, and distributes Fritschi Diamir backcountry ski bindings in United States. Black Diamond purchased Bibler Tents and Ascension Enterprises to add to their line of mountaineering and backcountry skiing products.