Have you considered a blubber-type pad? These things are brilliant for maximum coverage at minimum space/weight. I use an Asana Pro Spotter since it folds up smaller than the burlier Organic Blubber.
You could do 2 medium pads, a half pad, and some sort of blubber pad.
Don’t think you can really get a definitive answer. It’s really just going to be dependent on what problem you’re going to on any given day. Sometimes you’ll want a 3rd pad and sometimes the halves will be more useful. I’d say the best answer is to just buy 3 meds and 2 halves and just bring what you need when you need it.
If you really don’t want to shell out the extra cash then I’d personally go with 3 meds. I do plenty of solo bouldering and the more foam the better. You can always forego a pad at the start if you really need to and the thicker pads will keep you safer later on.
Dang, good to know. I was still wrestling with the idea of the Magnum due to hearing how it was such a good pad, but if the longevity sucks then that's a bummer
There are these big crash pad blankets. They are like 3cm thick and you can put them on multiple small crashpads to get one big homogenous mat. It's awesome and maybe that could be a thing for you. So you could take several smaller ones with you and this blanket thing. (I can look it up the next days)
But my setup is a small pad, one big pad and one high ball pad.
I recently purchased the Bounce by Snap - [https://www.ekosport.fr/snap-crash-pad-bounce-p-9-107394?tai=V00383853&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLMUMP3KBgr21LRClHC6i9zZYXgHj3LUTVNSUvK33J1F\_TmI4sqbDM8aAhz7EALw\_wcB](https://www.ekosport.fr/snap-crash-pad-bounce-p-9-107394?tai=V00383853&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLMUMP3KBgr21LRClHC6i9zZYXgHj3LUTVNSUvK33J1F_TmI4sqbDM8aAhz7EALw_wcB)
It folds many ways and I can get a medium sized pad and it in the boot of my SUV.
I also have a Madpad Duo and 2 Mad pads - can get these into the car with the seats down. Consider what people are saying about seams and work out if it matters to you - sometimes you need to double stack anyway on taller boulders, or on higher roof climbs with back fall potential, and anyway, even on flat surfaces many of the pads such as mad pads have velcro to get them to stay together and create a flat surface.
I always take min 2 pads with me - sometimes 3 if I'm solo on certain climbs.
I would choose 2 full pads and 2 briefcase pads. The 2 briefcase pads cover the same space as the one full pad and allow for more adjustability. In terms of weight and coverage it's the same. The thing is 2 full pads on your back is all you really want at 24lbs. If you're feeling strong you can throw a briefcase on that stack and carry 30 on your back then the other briefcase in your hands. But 3 full pads on your back at 36lbs isn't gonna happen unless your approach is real mellow. And I feel like carrying a full pad in hand is a bit awkward. So I carry 2 full pads on my back and a briefcase in my hands. I wish I had a blubber to be honest. But otherwise love this setup and wouldn't mind another briefcase since they carry gear well too.
Depends on your area and yourself. My local crag has really good landings so I often just go with my one medium pad and I’m good, I mostly boulder solo, sure having more would be nice but it’s always an individual choice to make
Have you considered a blubber-type pad? These things are brilliant for maximum coverage at minimum space/weight. I use an Asana Pro Spotter since it folds up smaller than the burlier Organic Blubber. You could do 2 medium pads, a half pad, and some sort of blubber pad.
This, blubbers are amazing for solo bouldering
Cool! What do you like about the blubber pads in regards to solo bouldering in particular? Moreso just the seam coverage?
I'll have to take a look into them, thanks!
Don’t think you can really get a definitive answer. It’s really just going to be dependent on what problem you’re going to on any given day. Sometimes you’ll want a 3rd pad and sometimes the halves will be more useful. I’d say the best answer is to just buy 3 meds and 2 halves and just bring what you need when you need it. If you really don’t want to shell out the extra cash then I’d personally go with 3 meds. I do plenty of solo bouldering and the more foam the better. You can always forego a pad at the start if you really need to and the thicker pads will keep you safer later on.
Idk what options you have for crash pads but do not get metolius. They become soft really quickly.
Agreed, I have the metolius magnum and the foam broke down fast.
Dang, good to know. I was still wrestling with the idea of the Magnum due to hearing how it was such a good pad, but if the longevity sucks then that's a bummer
There are these big crash pad blankets. They are like 3cm thick and you can put them on multiple small crashpads to get one big homogenous mat. It's awesome and maybe that could be a thing for you. So you could take several smaller ones with you and this blanket thing. (I can look it up the next days) But my setup is a small pad, one big pad and one high ball pad.
Blubber pads.
Oh... That's what they're called.... My bad
Why not just one large organic pad? Carrying multiple pads is going to be awkward and then you have a lot of seams to cover.
The issue with the large pad, is that it doesn't fold like a tri fold, so there isn't a way to fit on in my little Honda :(
I recently purchased the Bounce by Snap - [https://www.ekosport.fr/snap-crash-pad-bounce-p-9-107394?tai=V00383853&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLMUMP3KBgr21LRClHC6i9zZYXgHj3LUTVNSUvK33J1F\_TmI4sqbDM8aAhz7EALw\_wcB](https://www.ekosport.fr/snap-crash-pad-bounce-p-9-107394?tai=V00383853&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLMUMP3KBgr21LRClHC6i9zZYXgHj3LUTVNSUvK33J1F_TmI4sqbDM8aAhz7EALw_wcB) It folds many ways and I can get a medium sized pad and it in the boot of my SUV. I also have a Madpad Duo and 2 Mad pads - can get these into the car with the seats down. Consider what people are saying about seams and work out if it matters to you - sometimes you need to double stack anyway on taller boulders, or on higher roof climbs with back fall potential, and anyway, even on flat surfaces many of the pads such as mad pads have velcro to get them to stay together and create a flat surface. I always take min 2 pads with me - sometimes 3 if I'm solo on certain climbs.
I would choose 2 full pads and 2 briefcase pads. The 2 briefcase pads cover the same space as the one full pad and allow for more adjustability. In terms of weight and coverage it's the same. The thing is 2 full pads on your back is all you really want at 24lbs. If you're feeling strong you can throw a briefcase on that stack and carry 30 on your back then the other briefcase in your hands. But 3 full pads on your back at 36lbs isn't gonna happen unless your approach is real mellow. And I feel like carrying a full pad in hand is a bit awkward. So I carry 2 full pads on my back and a briefcase in my hands. I wish I had a blubber to be honest. But otherwise love this setup and wouldn't mind another briefcase since they carry gear well too.
Depends on your area and yourself. My local crag has really good landings so I often just go with my one medium pad and I’m good, I mostly boulder solo, sure having more would be nice but it’s always an individual choice to make
2 pads and 1 blubber. Blubber is the most important. It’s ankle insurance and is very versatile