Origins

Our roots stem to 1957, the year an eighteen-year-old named Yvon Chouinard bought a hammer and anvil and started pounding out hand-forged pitons. To support his climbing habit, Yvon traveled to Yosemite and sold gear from the trunk of his car. His intelligent designs were quickly recognized by climbers as the best available.

Among the early products developed by Chouinard Equipment was the Chouinard carabiner. A vast improvement over existing biners, the Chouinard Standard was light, strong and uncomplicated. It rapidly became the industry standard, embodying the principles of simple, high-function design, durability and performance.

In 1972 an article in the Chouinard Equipment catalog changed the course of climbing forever. A concept that originated in Britain and became known as clean climbing carried a clear, powerful message: preserve the rock by using nuts and other "clean" protection. This revolution was supported by Chouinard Hexentrics and Stoppers. Since then we've been refining the exceptional geometries of Hexs and Stoppers to make these two designs as relevant today as they were in 1972.

A little over thirty years after Yvon Chouinard pounded out his first piton, Chouinard Equipment filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, seeking protection from several liability suits that threatened to sink the company. The tragedy of Chouinard Equipment was not that the company manufactured defective products, rather it was sunk by its alleged "failure to warn" customers of the potential dangers inherent in the use of climbing equipment. The spirit that had been Chouinard Equipment could not be extinguished however, and on December 1, 1989 the former employees of Chouinard Equipment signed the papers to make the first employee-owned company in the climbing industry official. Black Diamond Equipment was born.

What began with a backyard anvil and a hammer has grown into a global company that's not just for rock climbers, but one that stands for the enthusiasm and spirit of the sports we represent, their values and goals, past, present and future. Since 1957, our designs and products have grown and progressed. This is partly the result of hard work and a great collection of individuals. It's also the result of each of us being climbers and skiers ourselves. 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. The creation of Black Diamond is a process that will never end. The company of today is better than ever, thanks to the many people here whose limitless energy and commitment to our sports have created an inspiring future for us all.