Black Diamond Cirque 25: The Smallest Technical Ski Mountaineering Pack in BD's Cirque Line
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The Black Diamond Cirque 25 is the smallest-volume pack in BD's redesigned technical Cirque line, and it sits in a narrow, useful lane. Light enough for ski mountaineering training days and recreational rando races. Featured enough for real backcountry days with full avy kit, ice tools, and a layering system. 25 liters of carry. 780 grams in S/M. Roll-top main, dedicated avy pocket, on-the-go diagonal ski carry. Built for "demanding ski lines from the Chugach to Chamonix," in BD's words.
What it is
The Cirque 25 is Black Diamond's smallest technical ski mountaineering pack. The redesigned Cirque line came out for the 2024 to 2025 ski season as a refresh of BD's previous Cirque pack lineup, with new harness geometry, a new ski carry system, and a vest-influenced strap design that pulled in cues from BD's ski mo race line.
The 25 is the entry size in the redesigned line. Above it sit the Cirque 35, 45, and larger volumes for longer alpine and ski mo objectives. The 25 is positioned for fast and light missions: dawn-patrol skin laps, rec-level rando race training, single-day ski mo objectives, and any backcountry day where you want a real safety kit but do not need overnight volume.
It carries 25 liters in a roll-top main compartment. It has a dedicated, externally accessed avalanche-tools pocket sized for a shovel and probe. It has a quick-access side stash pocket sized for skins or ski crampons. It has an on-the-go diagonal ski carry that loads and unloads without removing the pack. It carries up to two ice tools via Black Diamond's PickPocket piolet system. The shoulder straps are stretch-woven and padded, with a vest-influenced cut that puts the load on the shoulders without pinch.
It comes in two sizes (S/M and M/L) and two colorways (Carbon and Sulphur Green). It is currently shipping from Black Diamond at $219.95.
Specs that matter
Volume: 25 liters
Weight, S/M: 780 g (27.5 oz)
Weight, M/L: 860 g (30.3 oz)
Sizes: S/M, M/L
Colorways: Carbon, Sulphur Green
Closure: Roll-top main compartment
Avalanche pocket: External, dedicated, fits shovel and probe
Side stash: Quick-access pocket for skins or ski crampons
Ski carry: On-the-go diagonal ski carry
Ice tool carry: PickPocket piolet system, two-tool capable
Harness: Stretch-woven padded shoulder straps
MSRP: $219.95 USD
A few of these earn extra context.
The 25-liter volume is the smallest end of the technical ski mo pack range. Anything smaller (15 to 20 liter pure race packs) cuts the avy pocket and the ice tool carry to save weight. Anything larger (35-plus liter touring packs) adds overnight capacity you do not need on a single-day mission. 25 liters fits a full layering system, an avy kit, lunch, water, a shell, and a light insulator. It is the size that handles a real day without weighing you down on the skin track.
The 780-gram S/M weight undercuts most full-featured 25 liter ski touring packs by 200 to 400 grams. BD got there with a vest-style harness rather than a traditional padded panel, a roll-top closure rather than a heavier lid, and judicious fabric weights throughout. The weight number is a real one. It is not a stripped pack pretending to be feature-complete.
The PickPocket piolet system is BD's two-tool ice tool carry. Picks go into a reinforced sleeve at the bottom of the pack, shafts under bungees. The release is fast, one pull on the bungee and the tool is in your hand. It is the right system for the kind of ski mo line where you need an ice tool on a short steep section without setting the pack down to dig it out.
The on-the-go diagonal ski carry is the feature most ski mo skiers will notice first. Most ski-carry systems require taking the pack off, threading a strap, then putting the pack back on. The on-the-go version loads and unloads without removing the pack. On a transition where you are moving fast, that saves 30 to 60 seconds and keeps the pack on your back through the changeover.
Materials & construction
The Cirque 25 body is built from a ripstop nylon face fabric. Black Diamond does not publish a denier number on the product page, but the construction reads as a mid-weight ripstop, durable enough to handle ski-edge abrasion without being so heavy it adds grams unnecessarily. The face has a light DWR finish for snow shed.
The harness is the part that earns the weight savings. Rather than a traditional padded back panel and a structured hipbelt, the Cirque 25 uses stretch-woven padded shoulder straps with a minimal hipbelt that doubles as a tool/skin attachment point. The harness style borrows from BD's ski mo race line and from the running-vest world. The tradeoff is that loaded over about 18 to 20 pounds, the harness comfort drops off compared to a fully-suspended pack. Inside that load range, it carries cleanly and disappears on the body.
The roll-top main compartment closes with a buckle, not a hardware-heavy lid. Roll-tops are lighter than lid closures and let you cinch the volume down when the pack is not full. They are also faster to access on a transition. The tradeoff is that the lid storage of a traditional pack (the small top pocket for keys, snacks, lip balm) is gone, those items go in the side stash or the avy pocket instead.
The avalanche-tools pocket is sewn as a separate compartment with its own external zipper. Keeping avy tools in their own pocket separated from the main compartment is a safety standard for ski mo packs because it lets a partner deploy the rescue kit fast in a beacon search without unloading the rest of the pack.
The PickPocket pick sleeve at the base of the pack is a reinforced sewn pocket, not a daisy-chain or strap system. The reinforcement is what lets BD market the system as quick-deploy without worrying about the pick wearing through the fabric on repeated use.
Who it's for
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 is built for the fast and light ski mo skier who wants a real pack, not a race-only stripped vest. Specifically:
The dawn-patrol skinner doing one or two laps before work, carrying full avy kit but not overnight volume.
The rec-level rando racer who trains in their race kit but wants the safety kit and ice tool capability for non-race days.
The single-day ski mo objective where the route includes a steep section that needs an ice tool but not full alpine kit.
The light-and-fast backcountry skier doing inbounds slackcountry or short tour days where pack weight matters more than carrying capacity.
It is the right pick if you ski steep, technical lines and want a pack that does not get in the way of the line. It is also the right pick if you are upgrading from a traditional 30 to 35 liter ski pack and want to drop weight without losing the safety pocket.
It is the wrong pick if you tour with overnight gear or carry heavy loads regularly. The vest-influenced harness does not handle 25-plus pound loads as comfortably as a fully-suspended pack like the BD Dawn Patrol or the Gregory Alpinisto. It is the wrong pick if you almost exclusively race and want the lightest possible setup, an 18 to 20 liter race-specific pack will be lighter still.
It is the wrong pick if you want a do-everything pack. The Cirque 25 is purpose-built for ski mo. It is not a hiking pack, not a climbing pack, not a commuter. It is a focused tool for one job.
How it compares
The 25 to 30 liter technical ski mo pack category has a few credible comparisons.
vs. Black Diamond Cirque 35: The 35 is the next size up in the same line, same harness, same features, more volume. The 35 is the right pick for longer ski mo days where you need more layering capacity or rope storage. The 25 wins for fast and light days.
vs. Mountain Hardwear Snoskiwoski 30 (or BD's Dawn Patrol 32): Traditional 30-plus liter ski touring packs run 1100 to 1400 grams with full hipbelt suspension and a panel back. They carry heavier loads more comfortably but weigh 300 to 600 grams more. The Cirque 25 wins for light kits and fast missions. The traditional pack wins for big-load days.
vs. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40: HMG's Crux line is the ultralight Dyneema option. It runs lighter still than the Cirque 25 in some configurations but lacks the dedicated ski-mo features (no on-the-go diagonal carry, no PickPocket sleeve). The Cirque wins for ski-specific carry. The HMG wins for pure weight if you do not need the ski features.
vs. Mammut Aenergy ST 32: Mammut's Aenergy ST 32 is the comparable ski mo pack at 32 liters, with similar feature set and roughly comparable weight (around 1100 grams). The Aenergy is European-cut and slightly more aerodynamic on the body. The Cirque 25 is smaller and lighter, with the diagonal ski carry as its standout feature.
Where it shines (and where it doesn't)
The Cirque 25 shines when:
You ski fast and light. The weight number is a real one, and the feature set does not feel stripped.
You need an avy pocket and ice tool carry on the same pack. Many ultralight options ditch one or the other.
You value transitions. The on-the-go diagonal ski carry is the feature you will notice every time you skin up or ski down.
You ski steep, technical terrain. The pack does not get in the way of body movement on steep skinning or jump turns.
It does not shine when:
You carry overnight gear. The harness is not built for 25-plus pound loads.
You almost exclusively race. A pure 18 to 20 liter race pack is lighter and stripped to spec.
You want one pack for ski touring and hiking and climbing. The Cirque is purpose-built for ski mo, not multi-sport.
You prefer traditional lid-closure packs over roll-tops. The roll-top is faster but takes adjustment if you are coming from a lidded design.
Where to get it
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 is available now from Black Diamond's direct site at $219.95, in two colorways (Carbon and Sulphur Green) and two sizes (S/M and M/L).
It is also stocked at REI Co-op and at specialty backcountry retailers including Cripple Creek Backcountry. Black Diamond's direct site typically has the broadest size and color availability.
The bottom line
If you ski fast and light, run rec-level rando races, or want a single-day ski mo pack that does not give up the safety pocket or the ice tool carry, the Black Diamond Cirque 25 is the cleanest design at this volume. The weight number is honest. The feature set is real. The on-the-go diagonal ski carry is the kind of small design choice that earns its weight every time you transition. At $219.95 it is priced where the better technical ski mo packs land, neither premium nor budget.
It is not the right pack for overnight tours, heavy loads, or multi-sport use. It is purpose-built for one job. If that job is what you do, it is one of the better tools in the category right now.
Specs and pricing accurate as of 2026-04-29 when this post was published. Check the brand page for current availability and colorways.
FAQ
What is the Black Diamond Cirque 25?
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 is the smallest-volume pack in Black Diamond's redesigned technical Cirque ski mountaineering line. It carries 25 liters in a roll-top main compartment, weighs 780 grams in size S/M, and has dedicated ski mo features including an external avalanche-tools pocket, a quick-access skin pocket, an on-the-go diagonal ski carry, and a PickPocket piolet carry system for one or two ice tools. It is built for fast and light ski mo missions in steep, technical terrain.
How much does the Black Diamond Cirque 25 weigh?
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 weighs 780 grams (27.5 oz) in size S/M and 860 grams (30.3 oz) in size M/L. The 80-gram difference between sizes accounts for the longer back panel and slightly larger harness on the M/L. By ski mo pack standards, both weights sit in the fast-and-light category. They beat most traditional 25 to 30 liter ski touring packs by 200 to 400 grams.
How much does the Black Diamond Cirque 25 cost?
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 retails for $219.95 USD. Both colorways (Carbon and Sulphur Green) and both sizes (S/M and M/L) carry the same MSRP. It is currently shipping direct from Black Diamond and is also stocked at REI and at specialty backcountry shops including Cripple Creek Backcountry.
Does the Black Diamond Cirque 25 have an avalanche tools pocket?
Yes. The Black Diamond Cirque 25 has a dedicated, externally accessed avalanche-tools pocket sized for a shovel and probe. Keeping the avy tools in their own pocket separated from the main compartment is a safety standard for ski mo packs because it lets a partner deploy the rescue kit fast in a beacon search without unloading the rest of the pack contents.
Can the Black Diamond Cirque 25 carry skis?
Yes. The Black Diamond Cirque 25 has an on-the-go diagonal ski carry system that lets you load and unload skis without removing the pack. The diagonal carry runs from the upper-right strap down to the lower-left attachment, holding the skis tight against the pack body. The on-the-go feature is the part that distinguishes it from traditional ski-carry systems, which require taking the pack off to load or unload.
How many ice tools can the Black Diamond Cirque 25 carry?
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 carries up to two ice tools using Black Diamond's PickPocket piolet carry system. The picks slide into a reinforced pocket sleeve at the bottom of the pack, and the shafts are secured by quick-deploy bungees. PickPocket is designed for fast retrieval, the bungees release with one pull, so you can pull a tool when steep terrain shows up unexpectedly without setting the pack down.
Where can I buy the Black Diamond Cirque 25?
The Black Diamond Cirque 25 is available now from Black Diamond's direct site at $219.95 in two colorways (Carbon and Sulphur Green) and two sizes (S/M and M/L). It is also stocked at REI Co-op and at specialty backcountry retailers including Cripple Creek Backcountry. Black Diamond's direct site typically has the broadest size and color availability.