Crash Pad Series, Volume 1

Product Information

True to form, Petzl designed an innovative crash pad with the utmost attention to detail. The Alto answers just about every gripe boulderers have about their pads: “my gear falls out the bottom,” “the hinge creates a weak spot,” “the shoulder straps catch when I’m trying to drag my pad.” Not so on the Alto. The unique zipper design allows you to securely carry your gear and compresses the taco fold better than most. Once at the boulders, a flap zips around the suspension system to create a sleek, gutterless pad that can be flipped over and used on either side.

Metolius pads are known for combining great build quality with helpful design features and excellent durability. Even among other Metolius offerings, the Magnum is top-of-the-line. This generous crash pad offers great impact absorption for both low and high falls and is highly durable, despite being fairly lightweight at just 18.7 lbs. 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. While not a deal breaker, the Full Pad doesn't provide any way to attach itself to other pads in a landing zone. It does, however, have nice square edges that usually make this a nonissue. Unless you're looking for a larger pad or one with a few more features, the Full is the best mid-sized pad on the market. 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. While the Recon does a decent job cushioning smaller falls, it’s when used in conjunction with other pads that the Recon truly shines. Its great durability and build quality make the Recon a highly dependable crash pad. We were also fans of its suspension system, with both shoulder straps and handles for ease of transportation. However, it’s worth noting that the Recon does a fairly poor job of transporting other gear.All of the crash pads that we’ve included on our list are manufactured by highly reputable bouldering brands. This helps us ensure that we are exclusively recommending dependable products that uphold high standards. 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. Pink and White Productions is an American pornographic production company, based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on explicit video web and DVD releases showcasing female and queer sexuality. The company's main director and producer is Shine Louise Houston. [1] Houston began her vision for "Pink and White Productions" after graduating from San Francisco Art Institute with a Bachelors in Fine Art Film; her Crash Pad Series (CrashPadSeries.com), which has won many awards as well as being featured in Curve magazine. [2] Along with her feature in Curve, Houston has also won Curve 's Lesbian Sex Culture Curator Award, the Feminist Porn Awards “Visionary, " PorYes Europe's 1st Feminist Porn Awards Honored Filmmaker and International Ms. Leather Keynote Speaker. 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. 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.

It just so happens that many beginner boulderers tend to climb outdoor boulders of similar heights and styles (shorter, fewer dynamic movements, safer landing zones, etc.). You don’t have to climb for very long before you run into someone with a piece of Organic gear. This once-small bouldering gear company has become well-known in the climbing community for its high-quality and long-lasting products. When it comes to padding, there are two main elements at play: the types of foam used and the way in which they’re layered. Starting with types, foam can be broken down into two categories: open- and closed-cell. As the name states, each “cell” of closed-cell foam is sealed off to the air, making it rigid, firm, and unable to compress much under impact. Open-cell foam, on the other hand, is soft and springy, with cells that allow air to enter and exit. In the absence of pressure, open-cell foam fills with air. When force is applied, these cells release air and provide cushion. Organic's pads layer open-cell foam, closed-cell foam, and memory foam While the R3 isn’t ideal for higher falls due to its softness, it’s incredibly supportive for shorter falls. You can also use it on top of firmer pads for higher falls to soften them out and add extra support. The R3’s baffles also make it basically unparalleled for use on the most uneven, bumpy surfaces and terrain.

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 Ishi) A hinge is the most common type of fold on a crash pad. A hinged pad is made up of two completely separate compartments of layered foam connected with a nylon cover, forming a single crease of fabric at the folding point. The benefit of a hinge closure is that no foam is being compressed time and time again in the fold. This preserves the longevity of the pad and allows you to store it folded shut without worrying about weakening foam along the crease. Furthermore, this design allows the pad to fold completely shut, making it one of the most compact of the four systems.