The Best Bouldering Crash Pads of 2024

Bouldering was once considered a simple training activity for longer climbing routes and big walls, but has since become one of the most popular forms of rock climbing.

Compared to other climbing disciplines, bouldering is approachable and easy to understand. All you need to get started is a pair of climbing shoes, chalk, and a good crash pad.

The object of the game is simple: climb to the top — no rope required. As you improve, more difficult routes open up to you with fresh possibilities, offering a satisfying method for tracking progress. It’s a social world, where hanging out with fellow climbers is as much a part of every session as the actual climbing.

Well-placed crash pads are vital for safe outdoor bouldering. And now, as new products arrive to meet the growing demands of pebble wrestlers everywhere, there are more crash pad options than ever before.

From recognizable and well-established brands like Metolius and Organic to newer, innovative designs from the likes of Asana and Trango, we tested and compiled the best crash pads available in 2024.

Scroll through to see all of the crash pads we recommend. At the end of our list, be sure to check out our comparison table and comprehensive buyer’s guide.

Editor’s Note: We updated this article in September 2023, adding four new crash pads and lots of fresh buying advice.

The Best Bouldering Crash Pads of 2024

Best Overall Crashpad: Organic Full Pad
Runner-Up Crashpad: Metolius Session II Crash Pad
Best Large Crashpad: Black Diamond Mondo
Best Featured Crashpad: Petzl Alto
Best Sit Start Pad: Metolius Short Stop Crash Pad
Best Supplemental Surface Pad: Asana Pro Spotter

Best Overall Crashpad

Organic Full Pad

Specs

Folded dimensions 36” x 24” x 8.5”
Open dimensions 36” x 48” x 4”
Weight 12 lbs.
Best for Those looking for high-quality function with minimal extra features

Pros

Excellent foam quality
Good value
Customizable colors

Cons

No bells and whistles

USA-based Organic Climbing is revered for having the highest quality crash pad foam in the game. With a specific focus on bouldering, Organic Climbing has invested careful attention over many years to develop an ideal landing surface maximized for safety and shock absorption.

With a full 4 inches of padding, including an inch of stiff closed-cell foam and 3 inches of plush open-cell foam, the Full Pad ($199) is a streamlined workhorse that will hold up to many seasons’ worth of repeated falls.

Featuring a 1,050-denier ballistic nylon shell and a 1,000-denier Cordura landing zone, the Full Pad’s surface materials match the quality of its foam. It’s also burly enough to hold up well to being dragged around on rugged terrain.

As our testing proves, Organic pads can withstand many years of regular use. For hiking and storage, the Full pad folds down to 36 inches by 24 inches by 8.5 inches, and is secured with nylon straps and metal buckles.

Organic Climbing’s deluxe hip belt is well-padded with heavy loads and long approaches in mind. As with all Organic pads, the landing zone is customizable with your choice of background and accent colors upon purchase.

At $199, the Full Pad provides to be a great value in every category. It’s a high-quality option for beginners looking for a do-it-all pad, or for experienced climbers looking to add more reliable surface area to their quiver of pads.

While it can stand alone for shorter boulders with flat landings, at 36 inches by 48 inches, the Full Pad’s landing surface will often need to be complemented by additional pads.

Although slightly more expensive, the Organic Thick Big Pad ($329) is a large and well-designed option that we also recommend. For a smaller accessory pad from Organic, the Briefcase Pad ($109) is a handy piece of extra-lightweight protection.

Check Price at Organic Climbing

Runner-Up Crashpad

Metolius Session II Crash Pad

Specs

Open dimensions 36" x 48" x 4"
Folded dimensions 36" x 26" x 8"
Weight 9 lbs.
Best for New climbers seeking their first pad and climbers on a budget looking for the best value

Pros

Great value
Functional features including carpet square and flap enclosure

Cons

Less durable than other options

This competitively priced option from Metolius ($200) has the same dimensions as Organic Climbing’s Full Pad. The difference is that both the foam inside and the 900-denier polyester outer fabric are not quite as durable and will likely wear out faster than Organic’s. Still, at $200, it’s a solid value with plenty of well-considered features.

The Session II comes with a large flap enclosure system. Because the flap seals the bottom of the pad closed while folded up in backpack mode, you won’t have to worry about your stored gear spilling out on the approach.

Two drag handles make it easy to quickly reposition the Session II, or move it from boulder to boulder without folding it back up. We also like the carpet square sewn into the landing area for wiping mud and dirt from your shoes in between attempts on your project.

The Session II features an angled hinge that eliminates the gutter that would otherwise exist along the fold line. In other words, landing on the fall line and injuring an ankle is less likely with the Session II.

Seasoned boulderers will probably be familiar with the Session II. It’s among the best-selling pads of all time, and rightfully so. While it may show wear faster than its competitors, it’s an overall great value with lots of added features and a reasonable price tag.

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Best Large Crashpad

Black Diamond Mondo

Specs

Open dimensions 44” x 65” x 5”
Folded dimensions 44" x 32.5" x 10"
Weight 20 lbs. 6 oz.
Best for Highball boulders with bad landings

Pros

Thick foam and huge surface area
Suspension system with lots of padding for heavy loads

Cons

Heavy
Expensive

We’ve been testing this pad for months, and it has quickly become the centerpiece of our landing zones.

With nearly 20 square feet of surface area and a thick 5 inches of foam, the Mondo is what you want beneath you on the tallest boulders with the sketchiest landings. At $430, this is one of the more expensive pads on the market, but the security that it offers against high falls when you need it most is invaluable.

The most recent version of the Mondo has been redesigned with square corners to ensure minimal gaps between other pads. Also, a rubberized nylon underside prevents the pad from slipping around on slanted or uneven landing zones.

Aside from these practical features, the pad is actually quite simple — there are no flashy patterns or hidden pockets. This pad has one job: to soften that terrifying digger when the time comes to commit way off the deck.

A hardy 1,000-denier nylon covers the entire landing area, while a base layer of open-cell foam conforms to the ground. An upper layer of closed-cell foam disperses impact across the entire surface of the pad.

For hiking, the suspension system is made to handle heavy loads. And at 20 pounds, you’ll appreciate the padded shoulder straps and hip belt.

For such a large pad, we appreciate that Black Diamond kept the overall design simple and uncomplicated. For new climbers or climbers on a budget, the Mondo might be more pad than you need. But for mega highballs, there is no better option on the market.

Check Price at Black Diamond Check Price at Backcountry

Best Featured Crash Pad

Petzl Alto

Specs

Open dimensions 46" x 39" x 4"
Folded dimensions 26" x 39" 10"
Weight 12 lbs., 9 oz.
Best for Those who appreciate an innovative design

Pros

Lots of features
Many of its features solve common issues with other pads

Cons

Expensive relative to its surface area
If the zipper breaks, the pad is difficult to carry

The Petzl Alto ($320) is packed with thoughtful features. Although the Alto has been around for several years, its innovative design remains a standout on the crash pad market.

Most notably, the Alto is completely buckle-free. Instead, a multipurpose zipper keeps this taco-style pad folded while in cargo mode on your back.

While bouldering, the same zipper covers the shoulder straps with a large flap and creates a smooth landing surface. It’s a unique design that solves many problems that other pads struggle with. Unfortunately, if the zipper breaks (and as we know, zippers do break), the pad loses its advantages.

A burly suspension system is great for heavy loads, and it features Velcro along the waist and shoulder straps instead of buckles. Because this is a taco-style pad, it does not have a hinge or a gutter.

The other benefit of the taco style is the plethora of storage space it offers while in hiking mode. Because of the zipper system, you won’t need to worry about your stuff slipping out of the bottom. As a tradeoff, though, taco pads don’t sit perfectly flat when open, especially after heavy use.

The foam is slightly thinner overall than other pads with similar surface areas. However, Petzl utilizes a dual-density, closed-cell foam layer that sits on top of a layer of plush open-cell foam which cushions all but the largest falls very well.

As a bonus, the Alto can easily convert into a two-person bench seat for lounging around camp. The larger version of the Alto is the Cirro, which is identical other than its increased size.

For those who love technical designs with quirky features, this is the ideal pad. For everyone else, though, at $320 for a standard-sized pad, you are paying for features that don’t necessarily enhance the basic utility of the pad.

Check out our full review of the Alto.

Check Price at Backcountry

Best Sit Start Pad

Metolius Short Stop Crash Pad

Specs

Open dimensions 36" x 23" x 0.75"
Weight 2 lbs.
Best for Filling gaps between pads, sit starts

Pros

Versatile
Lightweight
Perfect for solo bouldering

Cons

Only works alongside other pads

Sit start pads are handy little accessories that can significantly improve a bouldering session. Unlike standard crash pads, sit start pads aren’t meant to cushion a fall. Instead, these thin lightweight pads are ideal for keeping your butt out of the dirt and mud on sit start problems.

The Metolius Shortstop ($50) is our favorite sit start pad. It’s simple, durable, and highly versatile. During solo bouldering sessions, the Short Stop fits easily inside any standard-sized pad. It weighs just two pounds, and you can hardly tell it’s there while in transit.

In addition it its sit start utility, the Short Stop also works well to plug gaps in your landing. It can seal cracks between larger pads and cover pesky roots and boulders. Spotters can even use it as a spotting shield — a clever tactic that improves safety margins for everyone involved.

For $50, this micro pad adds big value to your bouldering kit. If you bring the Shortstop to the proj, you’ll always find a job for it.

Check Price at REI

Best Supplemental Surface Pad

Asana Pro Spotter

Specs

Open dimensions 74" x 44" x 0.75"
Folded dimensions 36" x 22" x 3"
Weight 5 lbs.
Best for Covering gaps in pads and smoothing over landings

Pros

Perfect for covering gaps between pads
Highly versatile
Lightweight
Easy to carry

Cons

Slightly slick surface occasionally causes the pad to slide around

From home walls to boulder fields, thin, foldable supplemental pads are growing increasingly common across the globe. These versatile top layers have lots of possible applications, but they’re particularly helpful for covering dangerous gaps or “gutters” between standard pads.

Our favorite thin supplemental pad is the Asana Pro Spotter ($150). It’s lightweight, durable, and easy to carry when sandwiched between other pads. The Pro Spotter has become a staple of our bouldering kit — it improves the safety margin of nearly every landing.

Made from stiff closed cell foam, this pad is ideal for dispersing impact forces. When fully open, the Pro Spotter is less than an inch thick and wide enough to cover lots of pesky landing gaps. Fold the pad in half, and you’ve got a handy 1.5-inch cushion. Fold it again, and it offers a full three inches of cushion.

Because it stores easily inside of almost any other standard pad, the Pro Spotter is easy to haul. When the rock tugging sesh is over, this pad also makes a fine picnic venue or sleeping pad.

Check Price at Amazon Check Price at Asana Climbing

Best of the Rest

Trango Stratus

Specs

Open dimensions 39” x 51” x 5”
Folded dimensions 27 x 39 x 9.8"
Weight 12.4 lbs.
Best for Boulderers of all levels looking for a midsize pad for regular use

Pros

Good value
High-quality foam
45-degree hinge eliminates dead spots

Cons

No bells and/or whistles

Crash pads are all about the foam. Our climbing editor has used a pre-production version of the Trango Stratus ($289) for almost a year, sampling the shock-absorbing ability of the 4 3/4 inches of foam in alpine boulder fields in Colorado, and the desert crucible that is Hueco Tanks. The Stratus has also been a permanent fixture under his Moonboard at home.

And the proclamations are bold: “I claim the Stratus to have the best foam layup I have tested to date, and I’ve tested a lot of high-quality pads, including what boulderers have considered a standard for primo foam: the Organic 5″ Thick Big Pad.”

This pad features high-grade durability and offers elite performance without unnecessary frills. We’re quite certain the Stratus will have a home on our list of the best crash pads for years to come.

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Metolius Magnum

Specs

Folded Dimensions 47" x 25" x 13"
Open dimensions 47" x 70" x 4"
Weight 18 lbs., 11.2 oz.
Best for Solo sessions, highballs, standalone use

Pros

Massive surface area
Good value
Durable

Cons

Heavy

The massive Metolius Magnum ($400) may be the only crash pad you need to own. Its trifold design yields an enormous landing zone. For solo bouldering sessions, this pad should be enough to protect quite a few problems.

Metolius designs crash pads with careful attention to detail. The brand’s angled hinges help to eliminate hazardous gutters, and the fuzzy center square is perfect for cleaning off your shoes before pulling onto the proj. We also appreciate that the Magnum comes with an external stash pocket — the perfect place to store shoes, chalk, etc.

In our experience, these pads hold up for many years of regular use. The firm closed cell foam top layer absorbs impact and protects the softer open cell foam below. Another layer of closed-cell foam lines the bottom, creating an effective foam sandwich. Burly 900-denier nylon protects the foam from abrasion and moisture.

Thanks to its enormous dimensions, the M agnum can serve as a full-size bed when car camping. At nearly 20 pounds, it’s a bit of a pain to haul on long approaches. But hey, that’s a small price to pay for intact ankles.

Check Price at REI

Trango Cumulus

Specs

Folded dimensions 26.4" x 35.8" x 8.6"
Open dimensions 47.2" x 35.4" x 4.3"
Weight 8 lbs., 12.8 oz.
Best for Long arduous approaches, regular use

Pros

Lightweight
Comfortable to carry
Fits in almost any car

Cons

A bit small to use on its own

The Trango Cumulus ($189) is our top choice when the approach is long and arduous and we were keen on saving as much go juice as possible. At a svelte 8.8 pounds verified weight, and a folded size of 26.4″ x 35.8″ x 8.6″, it’s easy to shuttle to far-flung zones a la Chaos Canyon.

Like the Trango Status crash pad, the 3-layer foam core impressed in the impact absorption department. We felt comfortable attempting low-percentage moves on most boulders short of highball status.

There is no getting around the Cumulus’ open dimensions being smaller than many of our larger pads. Scary, taller boulders require thicker pads. However, when carrying efficiency was a priority or when smaller climbers joined the gang, the Trango Cumulus is an excellent small-package pad.

For a more in-depth look, check out our full review of the Trango Cumulus.

Check Price at Trango

Evolv Launch Pad

Specs

Open dimensions 60" x 48" x 5"
Folded dimensions 30" x 48" x 11"
Weight 19 lbs.
Best for Tall boulders and scary mantles

Pros

Great impact absorption
Large surface area
Neat graphics

Cons

Heavy

The Evolv Launch Pad ($349) is a favorite in our climbing editor Seiji Ishii’s arsenal of bouldering crash pads. A luxurious 3 inches of open-cell foam sandwiched between layers of 1-inch closed cell foam gives Ishi confidence during desperate lurches atop scary and tall blocs. The pad easily absorbs larger hits, at the cost of a slightly less comfortable landing from lower orbits.

The 60″ x 48″ x 5″ open size and 30″ x 48″ x 11″ closed size hit the sweet spot between surface area and portability. There isn’t anything extraordinary about the padded shoulder strap and waist strap suspension, but the pad carried well during a trip to Colorado where the approach was close to an hour.

As an added bonus, the skull internal graphic on the grey Launch Pad always drew comments. Evolv also offers a tan version printed with Joshua Trees.

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Crash Pad Comparison Chart

Pad	Open Dimensions	Folded Dimensions	Weight	Best For
Organic Full Pad	36” x 24” x 8.5”	36” x 48” x 4”	12 lbs.	Those looking for high-quality function with minimal extra features
Metolius Session II	36″ x 48″ x 4″	36″ x 26″ x 8″	9 lbs.	New climbers seeking their first pad and climbers on a budget looking for the best value
Black Diamond Mondo	44” x 65” x 5”	44″ x 32.5″ x 10″	20 lbs. 6 oz.	Highball boulders with bad landings
Petzl Alto	46″ x 39″ x 4″	26″ x 39″ 10″	12 lbs. 9 oz.	Those who appreciate an innovative design
Metolius Short Stop Crash Pad	Does not fold!	36″ x 23″ x 0.75″	2 lbs.	Filling gaps between pads, sit starts
Asana Pro Spotter	74″ x 44″ x 0.75″	36″ x 22″ x 3″	5 lbs.	Covering gaps in pads and smoothing over landings
Trango Stratus	39” x 51” x 5”	27″ x 39″ x 9.8″	12.4 lbs	Boulderers of all levels looking for a midsize pad for regular use
Metolius Magnum	47″ x 70″ x 4″	47″ x 25″ x 13″	18 lbs., 11.2 oz.	Solo sessions, highballs, standalone use
Trango Cumulus	47.2″ x 35.4″ x 4.3″	26.4″ x 35.8″ x 8.6″	8 lbs., 12.8 oz.	Long arduous approaches, regular use
Evolv Launch Pad	60″ x 48″ x 5″	30″ x 48″ x 11″	19 lbs.	Tall boulders and scary mantles

How We Tested Crash Pads

metolius bouldering crash pad — Eyeing a boulder problem in Texas; (photo/Austin Beck-Doss)

This list of recommendations has been compiled by Austin Beck-Doss, an avid climber and climbing instructor who has been bouldering and falling repeatedly on crash pads for many years. Based in Lander, Wyo., Austin is surrounded by world-class bouldering areas. GearJunkie Climbing Editor Seiji Ishii also tested and reviewed multiple pads.

With several decades of bouldering experience between them, Austin and Seiji have developed a keen sense of how a crash pad should perform, and which ones stand out above the rest.

While testing crash pads, we paid particular attention to foam density and durability, versatility, design, and overall value. Accounting for each of these factors, this list contains the top-performing bouldering pads available today.

In addition to field testing, we polled opinions from elite climbers and novices alike. Our final list of recommendations is the combined result of thorough first-hand experience and numerous nerdy conversations about features, fabric, foam, and sketchy landings.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Crash Pad

Tall boulder problems require multiple layers of foam; (photo/Seiji Ishii)

When selecting the best crash pad for you, you’ll first want to identify your specific needs as a climber. If you are new to outdoor bouldering and looking to buy your first pad, buy a good, all-around option that is durable and fits your budget.

If you are looking for something to protect your 30-foot-tall highball project, you’ll want something with thick padding and lots of surface area.

Several factors contribute to the overall protection that a crash pad offers. Size, thickness, foam type, outer material, and hinge type should be considerations for anyone looking to purchase a crash pad.

Size

Crash pads come in a variety of sizes. Of course, more surface area is a positive trait in a crash pad. More surface area equals more protection.

However, simply purchasing the largest pad available might not be the best move for everyone. Large pads are expensive, and they also tend to be quite heavy.

If you drive a small hatchback or a sedan, you might not be able to fit a large pad inside for transport to the boulders. Generally, a large pad is any pad with a landing area measuring over 20 square feet. These behemoths often have names like the Mondo or the Magnum, and they’re especially handy for high bouldering.

Pads with a landing area of less than 20 square feet can be considered regular-sized pads. This category varies quite a bit in size, and it’s usually a good place to start for those looking to buy their first pad.

The Organic Full Pad and the Metolius Session II are both options in the regular pad category. Pads of this size can sometimes stand alone as protection for short boulder problems with flat landings. More often, climbers use multiple regular-sized pads together to create a safe landing zone.

Yet another size option is the supplemental pad. Expect pads in this category to be less than half the size of open regular pads, and a bit thinner, too.

These smaller, lighter pads are designed to be used as supplements to regular or large pads, and they don’t offer much on their own. Instead, a supplemental pad can provide a key piece of coverage over a pointy rock or ankle-threatening crater.

Supplemental pads are great for boulder problems with a sit start — especially when the ground is wet or muddy.

Thickness

After surface area, pad thickness is the most important characteristic to consider. Regular pads are usually between 3 and 5 inches thick. Large pads are almost always at least 4 inches thick. Supplemental and sit start pads are usually around an inch thick.

A nice, thick pad goes a long way to cushion your fall from that precarious top out at the lip of your project. If you plan to pursue tall boulder problems with potentially scary falls, opt for a thicker pad.

For certain falls, the thickness of a single pad is not sufficient. You’ll need to stack multiple pads on top of each other. Bottoming out and feeling the ground through your pad is an experience that every boulderer wants to avoid.

However, thickness alone does not tell you how effective any particular pad is at softening a fall. Materials are also a factor.

Climbing steep terrain in Hueco above the trifold Metolius Magnum; (photo/Seiji Ishii)

Materials and Layering

Two primary types of foam are used in the layers of a crash pad. Open-cell foam contains small compartments that are open to the air. When compressed, the air within each of these cells can escape. After compression, air will rush back into these cells to pump the foam back up and help it return to its original shape.

Closed-cell foam does not have nearly as much give as open-cell foam. Closed-cell foam is firm and fairly rigid, as the air inside the cells is not able to escape, even during impact.

Most crash pads use a layered system that combines closed-cell foam with open-cell foam. Generally, these layers are configured so that the stiffer closed-cell foam can disperse the impact across the pad’s entire area while the soft open-cell foam absorbs the impact.

Different manufacturers choose to layer their foam in various strategic configurations. Some pads are filled with chunks of foam rather than large, flat layers. This results in a more pliable crash pad overall, which is great for specialty use but is not as effective as a standalone pad.

When foam wears out, which it inevitably will with heavy use, companies like Organic Climbing offer replacement foam to give the pad new life.

Crashpad foam is housed in a durable outer casing — typically made from abrasion-resistant nylon. Since your crashpad will be in contact with rocks, trees, and mud, be sure it comes with a quality outer covering.

Headed to the blocs on a beautiful summer day; (photo/Seiji Ishii)

Types of Hinges

Because of their large landing zones, bouldering pads have to be folded to become small enough to easily transport. A few different folding methods exist, and each comes with its own pros and cons.

The most common types of crash pad hinges include the classic hinge, the angled hinge, the taco, and the hybrid.

Classic Hinge

Crash pads with classic hinges are the most common. A classic hinge is found on a pad that simply folds in half along a crease made of nylon or other fabric. Each side of the pad is a separate compartment of layered foam, and the two sides fold perfectly together without creating any space in between.

While folded, the classic hinge does not compress any of the pad’s foam, which is good for longevity. When compressed, foam loses its integrity over time.

The downside to the classic hinge is that, when the pad is laid out during a climbing session, there is a small gap between the two symmetrical compartments of layered foam. This gap — also known as a gutter — can create a hazard because there isn’t any foam to absorb impact beneath the nylon.

When using a pad with a classic hinge, it’s important to ensure that no rocks or other hazards are sitting inside the gutter’s open space. Some manufacturers like Black Diamond have added Velcro to the inside of the hinge to help eliminate negative space.

Angled Hinge

To solve the gutter problem, other manufacturers, including Metolius, utilize an angled hinge that is lined with Velcro. When the pad is open, this hinge style creates overlapping foam layers and greatly decreases your chances of bottoming out.

Taco-style Hinge

The taco-style hinge is hardly a hinge at all. Instead, taco-style crash pads are one continuous piece of layered foam that simply folds in half and gets secured into position for transport. While tacos totally eliminate the gutter problem, they need to compress quite a lot to fold, which can harm the foam’s integrity over time.

Taco-style pads like the Petzl Alto are great for storing lots of gear, but they tend to be more difficult to switch into backpack mode. We recommend that taco-style pads are stored open when not in use to prevent excessive compression.

Hybrid

Finally, a few pads combine a classic hinge with a taco fold in an attempt to get the best of both worlds. These hybrid pads include a cut hinge that is covered by a surface layer of foam. With hybrid hinges, the gutter is hidden beneath foam and tends to be less of a hazard.

Outer Materials and Durability

An assortment of crash pads reporting for duty; (photo/Seiji Ishii)

Crash pads need to meet the demands of rough terrain and heavy use. Over the lifespan of a pad, it will cushion falls and be dragged through the dirt over and over again.

The inner foam is contained by an outer layer of nylon fabric that is tasked with facing the stress of constant wear and abrasion. For this reason, look for a pad with a durable cover.

All nylon comes with a denier count that measures its thickness and abrasion resistance. Generally, the greater the denier count number is, the tougher the fabric will be. Most crash pads come with 1,000-denier nylon or greater.

The Black Diamond Mondo pad has a rubberized underside surface to add durability and prevent pad slippage. If you know you’ll be bouldering in areas with lots of highly abrasive surfaces, like Joshua Tree or Vedauwoo, you need an extra robust nylon cover.

Suspension System

While the landing surface is the most important functional part of any crash pad, some other features can decrease hassle during transport. Once you know the pad size and thickness you are after, you can begin to consider other traits that may impact your decision.

Depending on where you like to go bouldering, approaches can be long and strenuous. If you’ll be dealing with difficult hikes during your climbing day, you’ll want to select a pad with a well-designed suspension system.

Some pads on this list weigh over 20 pounds — even before you account for any extra gear. After you add your snacks, water, layers, shoes, chalk, camera, tripod, fan, and supplemental pads to the load, you may end up lugging over 30 pounds to your project.

Approaches to boulders notoriously include talus scrambling and bushwhacking. In these conditions, a good suspension system can make all the difference.

Padding and Straps

The larger the pad, the more padding you’ll want on the carrying straps. Some straps are adjustable, so make sure you’ll be able to customize your pad to fit your body.

Some pads have a built-in sternum strap, which adds additional support and helps the pad move in sync with your body. The Black Diamond Mondo has a noticeably comfortable suspension system, whereas the Petzl Alto has reinforced straps that inspire confidence in the suspension system’s longevity.

During bouldering sessions, easy grab straps or handles allow you to quickly adjust the pad’s placement. Too many bells and whistles can make a pad cumbersome and overly complex. However, well-placed handles are worth seeking out.

Finally, remember that the best crash pad is the one that meets your climbing needs and fits into your lifestyle. Think about how you will transport your pad from your home to the boulders. Typically, a single regular-size pad will fit in the back seat or trunk of most small sedans. Larger pads require larger vehicles for transport.

If you spend a lot of time traveling, be aware that a crash pad can be difficult to transport by plane. Most crash pads are too large to be checked, and you have to pay extra to bring them along.

FAQ

Although we recommend crash pads like the Organic Full Pad and the Metolius Session II for their value and overall performance, the best crash pad is the one that serves your current and future needs as a climber.

Ask yourself questions like: How much space do I have to store a crash pad when I’m not using it? What kind of boulder problems do I most like to climb? What is my budget?

Once you’ve identified your needs, you can select the pad that will best serve you. We recommend all of the pads on this list.

Crash pads have two major elements — the inner foam that provides cushioning, and the outer covering that offers abrasion resistance and durability.

On the inside, two kinds of foam are usually layered to create an effective system of impact distribution and absorption. Open-cell foam is easily compressible because the air within each cell can seep out under pressure. This kind of foam gives a pad its plush cushioning qualities.

Closed-cell foam is more rigid and doesn’t soften when compressed. Inside a pad, the layer(s) of closed-cell foam will be thinner than the layer(s) of open-celled foam. When layered, these two types of foam combine to dissipate and absorb impact.

To contain the foam and protect it from the elements, most pads employ thick nylon covering. Nylon fabric has a denier count, which basically conveys the thickness of the material.

For crash pads, look for at least a 1,000-denier count. When you’re dragging your pad across the forests of Squamish or the deserts of Bishop, you’ll want to know that your pad can hold up to constant abrasion.

Back in the day, climbers often went bouldering without pads, opting instead for a thin carpet square that would hardly inspire the confidence of contemporary boulderers. Now, crash pads have become a standard piece of necessary gear. We don’t recommend going bouldering without pads.

Depending on the boulder problem, you may only need one or two. In some cases, you’ll want to get the whole squad together to contribute pads before giving that highball project a go.

Foam is usually the first part of a pad to wear out. After cushioning lots of falls over the years, foam can become lumpy, flat, and lifeless. When this happens, it’s wise to retire the pad from climbing and perhaps repurpose it as a bed for your pet.

Some pads — including offerings from Organic Climbing — can be refilled with fresh foam that is available from the manufacturer upon request.

The lifespan of a pad depends on the frequency of use and quality of materials. But, you should expect to get at least a few years out of any good-quality option.

Because crash pads come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, prices vary a ton. Most regular-sized pads cost between $150 and $300, while most large pads cost between $300 and $500. Supplemental pads are rarely more than $100.