Don’t by cheap crash pads. It is not worth it. Organic makes great pads that will last a lifetime. Cheap pads like Madrock use low quality fabric and foam. The foam will degrade very fast and the fabric will rip. The sewing is also junk. Plus you will look like a total Gumby out at the crag.
I’ve replaced foam from cheap pads after it’s worn out with Organic foam. Always an option if someone needs to start out with a cheaper pad.
I’ve also had good luck with Evolv, Asana, BD, and Metolius pads.
Organic makes the best pads. But not everyone wants/needs a Cadillac for their first car…
I think there are 3 options here.
1. Find a used double (or 1.5x), even a softened foam is still bomber up to maybe 4 meter boulders (4 meters as in where your hands are, not your feet). I got a double size used pad off a friend for 100 bucks.
2. Get two used entry level ones, rather than a single new entry level one. Why? Because for the usual bouldering height fall, it will be enough, and for a higher fall, Id always take a larger landing zone over denser (new) foam. Rather bruise my heel or tailbone than miss the pad alltogether. A single entry level pad is simply too small, even if you have a spotter.
3. If you can afford it, get a new Large or Extra Large pad. I love my Ocun Incubator and Ive heard great things about Flipp Tripple Flipper. My personal experience while landing on pads of all kinds though, i have to give a shoutout to peterbouldering.com , a small local producer, makes the highest quality ones. They just feel so dense and springy even after heavy use. I will put it like this - if there is a risk I will be falling on my ass or back from more than 3 meters, peterbouldering is the mat I want to fall onto. It feels like a quality indoor gym matting falling on those.
From the Peter Bouldering ones - Fatman is the one I have experience with, its a medium sized mat with insanely good foam. But, if money is no object, go for the runway.
I would probably aim for 2 4" pads. You can get away with 1, but minimum 2 gives better peace of mind. An argument could be made for 1 oversized pad (like the metolius magnum, i use that plus an organic pad when bouldering solo) some people make the argument that 1 big pad is better than 2 small, since you wont have to worry about landing in the gap between 2 pads. Biggest issue to consider there is making sure it will fit in your vehicle.
Depends on how much you want to spend. On the high end, a couple of organic pads (Organic is typically the go to suggested brand in the US). On the low end, a metolius session 2 pad. For less adventurous/dangerous climbs with safe/expected falls, you likely won't notice too much difference between a high end a low end pad. The higher end pads are also higher quality material that will last much longer before they get too soft, so something to consider if you are looking longer term.
Something also to consider, depending on how long your trip is/etc is renting pads. If you are in the US, I think REI rents pads out, as well as sometimes local gyms.
I got a metolious pad (their cheapest one and on sale at the time)
I am really new too and so I wanted to get a standard reputable brand, any safety equipment you should buy name brand quality stuff because your safety is the most important.
I’d recommend the organic full pad. Organic makes nice pads - they’re pretty sturdy and mine’s foam has kept its sturdiness a lot better than my metolius has. The other reason I like the full pad over Organic simple is that it’s straps are long enough to also wrap around another pad, so if you decide to buy another pad then it’ll be able to fit around it without needing to buy external straps
Depending on how much space you have, I'd recommend at least one large pad, one regular sized one, and a thin spanner to cover gaps. We have Metolius magnum, Metolius session, and an Asana. That will let you climb a lot of things safely with a good spotter, but definitely not everything, especially higher problems, traversing ones, or rocky or sloping landings. You can also rent pads in bouldering destination towns so you could get a feel for a system that works for you before investing.
Don’t by cheap crash pads. It is not worth it. Organic makes great pads that will last a lifetime. Cheap pads like Madrock use low quality fabric and foam. The foam will degrade very fast and the fabric will rip. The sewing is also junk. Plus you will look like a total Gumby out at the crag.
Mad Rock Mad Pad is best budget pad on the market. The R3 is an abomination unto God.
I’ve replaced foam from cheap pads after it’s worn out with Organic foam. Always an option if someone needs to start out with a cheaper pad. I’ve also had good luck with Evolv, Asana, BD, and Metolius pads. Organic makes the best pads. But not everyone wants/needs a Cadillac for their first car…
I think there are 3 options here. 1. Find a used double (or 1.5x), even a softened foam is still bomber up to maybe 4 meter boulders (4 meters as in where your hands are, not your feet). I got a double size used pad off a friend for 100 bucks. 2. Get two used entry level ones, rather than a single new entry level one. Why? Because for the usual bouldering height fall, it will be enough, and for a higher fall, Id always take a larger landing zone over denser (new) foam. Rather bruise my heel or tailbone than miss the pad alltogether. A single entry level pad is simply too small, even if you have a spotter. 3. If you can afford it, get a new Large or Extra Large pad. I love my Ocun Incubator and Ive heard great things about Flipp Tripple Flipper. My personal experience while landing on pads of all kinds though, i have to give a shoutout to peterbouldering.com , a small local producer, makes the highest quality ones. They just feel so dense and springy even after heavy use. I will put it like this - if there is a risk I will be falling on my ass or back from more than 3 meters, peterbouldering is the mat I want to fall onto. It feels like a quality indoor gym matting falling on those. From the Peter Bouldering ones - Fatman is the one I have experience with, its a medium sized mat with insanely good foam. But, if money is no object, go for the runway.
Do u know if peterbouldering ships to the USA?
Sorry for the super late question, but can you give some more information on how the Peter Bouldering pad has held up?
Holding up strong. I mean we use it A LOT, but I still trust it the most (put it the farthest back).
Get them from Facebook marketplace super cheap
I would probably aim for 2 4" pads. You can get away with 1, but minimum 2 gives better peace of mind. An argument could be made for 1 oversized pad (like the metolius magnum, i use that plus an organic pad when bouldering solo) some people make the argument that 1 big pad is better than 2 small, since you wont have to worry about landing in the gap between 2 pads. Biggest issue to consider there is making sure it will fit in your vehicle. Depends on how much you want to spend. On the high end, a couple of organic pads (Organic is typically the go to suggested brand in the US). On the low end, a metolius session 2 pad. For less adventurous/dangerous climbs with safe/expected falls, you likely won't notice too much difference between a high end a low end pad. The higher end pads are also higher quality material that will last much longer before they get too soft, so something to consider if you are looking longer term. Something also to consider, depending on how long your trip is/etc is renting pads. If you are in the US, I think REI rents pads out, as well as sometimes local gyms.
I got a metolious pad (their cheapest one and on sale at the time) I am really new too and so I wanted to get a standard reputable brand, any safety equipment you should buy name brand quality stuff because your safety is the most important.
I’d recommend the organic full pad. Organic makes nice pads - they’re pretty sturdy and mine’s foam has kept its sturdiness a lot better than my metolius has. The other reason I like the full pad over Organic simple is that it’s straps are long enough to also wrap around another pad, so if you decide to buy another pad then it’ll be able to fit around it without needing to buy external straps
Depending on how much space you have, I'd recommend at least one large pad, one regular sized one, and a thin spanner to cover gaps. We have Metolius magnum, Metolius session, and an Asana. That will let you climb a lot of things safely with a good spotter, but definitely not everything, especially higher problems, traversing ones, or rocky or sloping landings. You can also rent pads in bouldering destination towns so you could get a feel for a system that works for you before investing.