Best Bouldering Crash Pads In 2022

On the other end of the price spectrum, the Metolius Session II Crash Pad is a great value option perfect for beginners or those who don’t have too extreme bouldering options close by. Evolving from the Session I, this crash mat comes with a redesigned flap making the pad easier to load into cars while also simplifying transportation with comfortable padded shoulder straps. 

Once it’s on the floor, it’s also easy to move around, and the new drag handles are robust with enough weight behind them to move the pad with little effort. The lightweight design also contributes to this, and eases the pressure on your arms and hands, saving them for the actual climbing.

The Z Athletic Landing Crash Mat isn’t designed strictly for bouldering. It’s a multipurpose mat for gymnastics, martial arts, bouldering, and more. That means it doesn’t provide as soft a fall as some of the crash pads we’ve featured but we still think it’s well worth considering. For starters, it’s larger than most at six-feet by three-feet so put a couple of these together and you can easily cover the whole floor. It’s also four inches thick, so it’s not as if it’s thin. 

Made from high-quality 18oz vinyl, it’s suitable for use both indoors and outdoors. The core is made from opened cell foam, which does a fantastic job of breaking your fall. One of the most important features is the hook and loop closure on every side of the mat. They allow you to attach the mats together and make one larger mat, and (crucially) they don’t come apart easily. 

The Metolius Short Stop crash pad is great for those looking for a nice lightweight pad or if you want to team it together with other crash pads for extra protection. The quality materials are durable and strong enough for the rugged terrain it is used on. This crash pad is .75 inches thick making it ideal for use as a spotting shield but also to fill the gaps in between a layout of other crash pads.

The Metolius Short Stop is also can also be used as a spotting shield. It is a great crash pad for beginners due to its compact size and lightness. The handles make it easy to transport around making this crash pad useful on its own or with a collection of other crash pads.

The Mad Rock Mad Pad is another decent and slightly cheaper pick for relatively experienced boulderers and those who are lucky enough to have their own home-bouldering wall. With it, you’ll get a reliable combination of close and open cell foam to ensure the best of both worlds, which softens impact and delivers firm but comfortable drops without risk of injury.

The backpack straps make it easy to carry, and the hip belt offers greater support to help maintain your posture when on the move. Unfortunately, there are no gear straps or pockets to keep your items safe when climbing, but if you’re someone who travels light, this won’t be an issue.

With a trifold design, the Metolius Recon Crash Pad doesn’t just ensure longevity, but also easier storage in the back of your car, and the sides clip together to keep it secure when in transit. It also boasts a greater surface area than standard climbing pads, providing 5.5 square feet, which is ample space to drop and roll without risking injury.

The 900 denier fabric is tough, but not the toughest around, which doesn’t seem quite right when you consider the price. What the cover lacks in basic durability, though, it makes up for with protection, and the ballistics on the bottom enhance and increase its lifespan where other 900D fabrics would fail.

If you’re looking for somewhere to spend all the money you’ve got set aside for climbing gear, the Petzl Alto Crash Pad is a superb choice. It’s super-protective, boasting 3 layers of foam of varying densities to soften your fall like nothing else around and allowing you to drop from whatever distance you feel like with confidence.

It’s easy to transport, despite its weight, and the wide shoulder straps ensure comfort when carrying it between crags and boulders. The zippered flap is also useful for keeping valuables secure while you’re up high, and the vibrant orange color means you’ve got an easy-to-aim-for-target.

Triple Mad Pad is the biggest crash pad ever made by Mad Rock. With a size of 72 x 44 x 5 inches, the foam offers the widest protective coverage compared to any other crash pad you can find. So, no matter how you land, you can rest assured that Triple Mad Pad has literally got you covered. The bouldering industry recommends a minimum of 4 inches thickness for all crashing pads, but Mad Rock exceeded the standard by an impressive 25% thickness. So, this pad also offers the deepest coverage, hence, you won’t feel a thing, no matter the height you fall from. On top of that, the Triple Mad Pad still maintains a compact and light design. So boulderers who do not like to carry heavy loads on their journeys will find the mat really helpful. Plus, everything you need to set it up is included in the bouldering kit, so you don’t leave anything behind.

A crash pad with a surface area as large as the Triple Mad Pad will still be difficult to carry even though it has a lightweight design. Hence, Mad Rock thought it wise to construct the Triple Mad Pad with a bi-fold design. This way, you are actually carrying two crash pads that somehow still weighs as just one pad. And for added convenience, the bi-fold design enables you to carry it in the form of a backpack for long-distance movement. But the drawback of this design is that it is quite difficult to place gear in the middle due to its compact nature. Another thing we have to point out is that the pad is pretty stiff. While this is good for high falls because the pad doesn’t become loose over time, it won’t be really great for low falls. This is because landings might be a little rough.

The Black Diamond Impact Crash Pad is specially designed for persons with little or no experience in bouldering. Hence, it offers more protection than other crash pads designed for professional boulderers. So, we recommend this product to those seeking to get their first crash pads. Additionally, as the padding of the Black Diamond is adequate for supporting low to mid-level falls, many users appreciate the fact that they did not experience any sprained ankle or bottomed out. However, we must quickly point out that the Black Diamond is fitted with hinges to facilitate folding. And the thing with such a closing mechanism is that it leaves an allowance in the middle of the pad which pebbles or sharp objects can protrude on landings. So, beginners have to be careful when using the crash pad.

And although the thickness, though, advertised as 4 inches, falls short in performance when compared to other crash pads of the same thickness, this isn’t too surprising because the pad comes at a very affordable price. As for the durability of the Black Diamond Impact Crash Pad, we can confidently vouch for it. In fact, many customers have said that even after using it regularly for over 2 years, the foam is still firm as ever. This is by virtue of the fact that it is coated with 600D polyester material. This material makes it water-resistant, so even under a heavy downpour, you don’t have to fret about the safety of the crash pad. Overall, the Black Diamond Impact Crash Pad is a beginner bouldering kit that provides support for low and mid-level falls.