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Black Diamond Nylon Daisy Chain Review

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black diamond nylon daisy chain
Black Diamond Nylon Daisy Chain
Credit: Black Diamond Equipment.com
Price:  $22 List
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Manufacturer:   Black Diamond
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Oct 4, 2010

Our Verdict

The Black Diamond Nylon Daisy Chain is a classic as far as daisy chains go and a superb value. Overall, we prefer the Black Diamond Dynex Daisy Chain if you want a light daisy for alpine climbing, but it is double the price. For big wall climbing we prefer the Metolius Monster Daisy Chain because it comes with a reinforced clip-in point. If you are mainly using a daisy chain for clipping into the anchor when trad climbing, get the Metolius Personal Anchor System, which is much more bomber for that purpose.
REASONS TO BUY
Good value
Reasonably durable
Big loops are easy to hook with fifi or clip with carabiner
REASONS TO AVOID
No reinforcement at end

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes


This daisy chain is one of the best deals available. It also comes in width and size that is durable. It will take a lot of big walls to wear this out. Because it is made of nylon, it will give a little more stretch in a daisy fall compared to a daisy chain made of spectra, Dynex, or Dyneema.

A plus of the generously large loops of this daisy is that they are less effort to clip a carabiner to or hook a fifi hook. The Metolius loops, in comparison, lie flatter and are a bit trickier to clip.

Dislikes


Because it does not have a reinforced end, this daisy chain will wear out at the clip-in point if you do a bunch of big walls. Also, as you can see in the video below, it has the same problem as most daisy chains if you plan to use it as your primary clip-in point at an anchor. If you want a daisy chain for free climbing, you are probably better off with a an option like the Metolius Personal Anchor System where each loop is full strength.

Other Versions


The BD Dynex Daisy Chain, as its name implies, is the Dynex version of this daisy. It is more lightweight, but also less durable and more expensive.

Best Application


Aid climbers should opt for the 55" length version because the 45" version is not long enough. The shorter length may be useful for other free climbing scenarios.

Value


This is one of the best deals in daisy chains. You will be hard-pressed to find a daisy chain for less and many daisy chains cost 40 percent more.

— Chris McNamara