Mountain Project Logo

BD recalls are adding up...

Original Post
J Roatch · · Leavenworth, WA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 162

Dang, there have been quite a few BD recalls. I'm starting to rethink them as being a reliable company for gear. It's kind of frightening, although there don't seem to have been any deaths or injuries from the products-do I want to be the first? There are plenty of other manufactures out there...

What are other people's thoughts?

J Roatch · · Leavenworth, WA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 162

Do you think this is related to them shifting production to China?

Luc-514 · · Montreal, QC · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 12,506
J.Roatch wrote:Do you think this is related to them shifting production to China?
Seems more like a bad learning curve bringing production back to the US...
Sam Keller · · Mallorca, ES · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 30

Disagree. They make the best equipment in a competitive market. Have you actually read the recall announcement? They only discovered 1 defective rivet on a C4 and initiated a voluntary recall for inspection. Also, look at their website. They are hiring for all sorts of quality control positions. Makes me think that heads rolled. To me, this screams accountability.

Plus, the recalls are a result of them giving the people what they wanted. They moved assembely back to America and their Salt Lake factory.

Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

I've never understood why so many people like BD gear. Recalls aside, the quality has never seemed particularly good to me. I've considered them an industry standard, as in minimum standard. What have they done in the past to gain themselves such a good reputation?

RangerJ · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 65
blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

2016 is a bad year for recalls, but their track record seems strong for producing quality gear.

There was this unfortunate incident with that alpine bod buckle back in the 90s though.

youtube.com/watch?v=ccC_d1u…
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
RangerJ wrote:There was this unfortunate incident with that alpine bod buckle back in the 90s though.
That was a tough year for all of us...
Sam Keller · · Mallorca, ES · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 30
Mathias wrote:I've never understood why so many people like BD gear. Recalls aside, the quality has never seemed particularly good to me. I've considered them an industry standard, as in minimum standard. What have they done in the past to gain themselves such a good reputation?
Besides inventing the double axle cam??

BD makes great gear. Their cams are the standard for excellence. Their carabiners are a great value for a quality product.
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Sam Keller wrote: Besides inventing the double axle cam?? BD makes great gear. Their cams are the standard for excellence. Their carabiners are a great value for a quality product.
I got a pair of their ski pants this winter and after one season I'm super impressed. Bomber materials, great features, wicked warm.

Their Jetpack avy bags are way ahead of the rest of the industry as far as I can tell...
Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306
Sam Keller wrote: Besides inventing the double axle cam?? BD makes great gear. Their cams are the standard for excellence. Their carabiners are a great value for a quality product.
See, I knew there must have been something. The double axle explains it.

I like their oval biners and the big HMS lockers, but other than those I don't much like their biners. CAMP or Petzl are mainly what I use.
Shepido · · CO · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 50

The Cobra is a great ice tool.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266
Mathias wrote:I've never understood why so many people like BD gear. Recalls aside, the quality has never seemed particularly good to me. I've considered them an industry standard, as in minimum standard. What have they done in the past to gain themselves such a good reputation?
Some stuff I like some I don't.

C4s are the standard cam for a reason, they are almost perfect finger and larger cams. I have never preferred their nuts or smaller cam lines c3 and x4 but they all appear solid to me and I do not hesitate to climb on other racks with them.
reboot · · . · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125
Sam Keller wrote: Besides inventing the double axle cam??...Their cams are the standard for excellence.
Sure they did. As for the cam being the standard of excellence, you should probably read this thread up...
Max Forbes · · Colorado · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 108

Doesn't chance my opinion one bit. If anything I trust them more to own up to mistakes and be accountable. They make good stuff

Emmett Lyman · · Stoneham, MA (Boston burbs) · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 480
Sam Keller wrote:Disagree. They make the best equipment in a competitive market. Have you actually read the recall announcement? They only discovered 1 defective rivet on a C4 and initiated a voluntary recall for inspection.
Yeah, seems like they've really fallen on the sword with these recalls. In an effort to go above and beyond by doing the right thing they've created a false illusion of quality problems. BD makes fine stuff - quality is at least as good as other brands.
Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

Fallen on their sword or protected their asses? If even one person were to die from a known fault in quality control and production, it could ruin them. Seems like they're being very responsible and sensible to me.

Brian L. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2016 · Points: 90

The fact that the majority of the recalls are for bad rivet's, I'm guessing they discovered a way for their inspection equipment to pass a bad rivet. I'd say this is basically an extension of the biner recall.

But if anyone isn;t comfortable with their "poor quality BD cams" I'd be happy to buy them off you for $20 a cam...

Ben Stabley · · Portland, OR · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 207

Well, it has to be hard to get a 'Murican to do a rivet peening factory job well for less than $50/hr, with full benefits. Plus I'm sure there's a Merican Union of Rivet Peeners that allows up to 10% unpeened rivets to pass and still meet the industry quality standard.

Micah Klesick · · Charlotte, NC · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 3,971
Sam Keller wrote:Disagree. They make the best equipment in a competitive market. Have you actually read the recall announcement? They only discovered 1 defective rivet on a C4 and initiated a voluntary recall for inspection. Also, look at their website. They are hiring for all sorts of quality control positions. Makes me think that heads rolled. To me, this screams accountability. Plus, the recalls are a result of them giving the people what they wanted. They moved assembely back to America and their Salt Lake factory.
+1
Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520
Morgan Patterson wrote: That was a tough year for all of us...
I remember that recall notice [If your Bod harness buckle has been subjected to a hacksaw, discontinue use.]
Patrick Shyvers · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10

The via ferrata equipment apparently had missing bar tacks, which is the same problem the slings had in the previous inspection recall. Another bet on "extension of previous recall".

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Climbing Gear Discussion
Post a Reply to "BD recalls are adding up..."

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.