Black Diamond Solution Review — The All-Rounder, Updated for 2026
Research-Based Verdict for European Climbers
Contour Edge comfort, room for a double rack and a seamless Infinity belay loop
Comparing more than one harness? The Solution is our best sport climbing pick in our full climbing harness comparison — see how it stacks up against the Mammut Ophir 3 Slide 2.0, DMM Renegade, Petzl Corax, Arc’teryx Skaha and Edelrid Jay / Jayne.
Read the full comparison →| Weight | 316–440 g, depending on size |
|---|---|
| Size Range | XXS–XL |
| Gear Loops | 4 large-capacity thermoformed loops + low-profile rear fifth loop |
| Racking Capacity | Room for 15 quickdraws per side |
| Belay Loop | Infinity Belay Loop — seamless, durable and lightweight |
| Waist Belt & Leg Loops | Contour Edge — rigid in the centre, softer at the edges |
| Leg Loop Risers | Adjustable, releasable elastic |
| Materials | 20% poly fabric, 20% nylon fabric, 20% EVA, 20% nylon webbing, 10% UHMWPE, 5% aluminium, 5% urethane tube |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Best For | All-round rock climbing — sport and trad, indoors and out |
Front view
How It Rates
Overall: 8.9 / 10 — average of the five ratings above
In This Review
Where to Buy the Black Diamond Solution
Support your local climbing shop first. If it’s out of stock, these retailers ship across Europe:
Prices shown are approximate — tap through for current pricing and stock.
What’s New for 2026
Black Diamond updated the Solution for 2026, and this Black Diamond Solution review covers that current version (article number BD651120). The headline change is the gear loops. There are four large-capacity thermoformed loops, which Black Diamond says give you room for 15 quickdraws per side — enough to carry a double rack and link pitches — plus a low-profile fifth loop at the back.
As UKClimbing’s review points out, those are the exact same gear loops as on the Solution Guide. Their reviewer rated them big enough for a substantial mountain crag or sea cliff rack, with the rear loop ideal for a belay device, screwgates and a nut key.
The other big change is construction. The previous Solution used Black Diamond’s Fusion Comfort webbing; the 2026 version switches the waist belt and leg loops to Contour Edge construction: rigid in the centre and softer at the edges, to reduce pressure points and follow the shape of your body. The belay loop is Black Diamond’s seamless Infinity Loop, and the leg loop risers are adjustable and releasable elastic.
The trade-off is weight. Black Diamond lists the new men’s Solution at 378 g in size M; retailers still selling the previous version list it at 330 g in M.
Which Black Diamond Solution? Old vs New, Men’s vs Women’s, Solution vs Solution Guide
Several harnesses are sold under the Solution name, and shops and review sites mix them up. Check the article number on the listing before you buy.
Solution, 2026 version (men’s) — BD651120
The harness reviewed here. Contour Edge waist belt and leg loops, four large thermoformed gear loops plus a low-profile rear loop, Infinity belay loop. 316–440 g across XXS–XL. Black Diamond Europe lists it at €85.
Solution, previous version — BD651082
Fusion Comfort webbing and four pressure-moulded gear loops, listed at 330 g in size M. Still sold as past-season stock, often heavily discounted. Lighter, but with the smaller gear loops older reviews criticise.
Women’s Solution
A separate model with women’s-specific rise and dimensions, the same Contour Edge construction and the same four-plus-rear gear loop layout.
Solution Guide
Adds adjustable leg loops and Ice Clipper slots, with a wider waist belt and leg loops. UKClimbing says it shares the Solution’s gear loops. Heavier, and the better pick for winter or climbing over layers.
Solution Guide Plus
A four-buckle version of the Solution Guide with extended adjustment, including an XXL for a 102–114 cm waist, and four Ice Clipper slots.
Reading other reviews: Older reviews that call the Solution’s gear loops too small for trad describe the previous pressure-moulded loops, not the 2026 thermoformed ones Black Diamond says take 15 quickdraws per side.
Comfort & Fit: What Reviewers Say
UKClimbing’s reviewer found the Solution incredibly comfortable — the waist belt and leg loops are low-profile but wide enough to spread the load — though not quite as comfortable for hanging around as the wider Solution Guide. They also found it durable, and because the Infinity belay loop is seamless, there’s no bar tack to catch on when you’re working routes.
On gear loop position, some buyers in Black Diamond’s own customer reviews report the loops sitting further back on the hips than on their previous harness. That’s a good reason to try it on before you buy.
Buyers are positive too: the Solution Harness holds 4.3 out of 5 from 10 customer reviews on Bergfreunde, with 80% recommending it — but seven of those ten reviews were posted before August 2025, and Bergfreunde tags one as a review of an older model, so much of that score likely reflects the previous version.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Updated gear loops with room for 15 quickdraws per side
- Low-profile rear fifth loop for a belay device and accessories
- Contour Edge waist belt and leg loops reduce pressure points
- Seamless Infinity belay loop with no bar tack to catch
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- No ice clipper slots, so it’s not a winter harness
- Less hanging comfort than the wider Solution Guide
- Some climbers find the gear loops sit too far back
Black Diamond Solution Review: Final Verdict
The 2026 Solution is a rock climbing all-rounder done properly: comfortable, well built, and now with gear loops big enough for a proper trad rack. UKClimbing’s reviewer rated it perhaps even more highly than the Solution Guide, their all-round Best in Test — and it’s the best sport climbing pick in our harness comparison.
If you also climb in winter and want ice clipper slots, look at the Mammut Ophir 3 Slide 2.0 instead, or compare all six in our full climbing harness comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Black Diamond Solution weigh?
Black Diamond lists the men’s 2026 Solution at 316 g (XXS) to 440 g (XL), with size M at 378 g. The previous version was listed at 330 g in size M.
Is the Black Diamond Solution good for trad climbing?
Yes. The 2026 version has four large-capacity gear loops with room for 15 quickdraws per side, plus a rear fifth loop. UKClimbing found them big enough for a substantial mountain crag or sea cliff rack.
What’s the difference between the Solution and the Solution Guide?
The two share the same gear loops, but the Solution Guide adds ice clipper slots and a substantially wider waist belt and leg loops, making it more comfortable for hanging but heavier. The Solution is the lighter, lower-profile rock climbing all-rounder.
How do I tell the 2026 Black Diamond Solution from the old one?
The 2026 men’s Solution is article number BD651120, with Contour Edge construction and four thermoformed gear loops. The previous version, BD651082, uses Fusion Comfort webbing and smaller pressure-moulded gear loops, and is still sold as discounted past-season stock.