Help Choosing A Crashpad

I currently own an Organic and a Metolius pad. I previously owned a Flashed as well. The Flashed was alright but the foam got “tired” fast. The Metolius is stiff, featureless and feels cheap (well it is cheap to buy so one can expect…).

Organic is by far the best crashpad that I’ve owned. It’s durable and well made. Plus the owner is really nice to work with and very available to respond to various requests.

Durability was the main driver behind my choice, and i sure don’t regret it so far!

i agree on going w/ the organic pad… i always explain to folks that i bought mine when i was still getting free pads from franklin [now black diamond]… i had problems with all my former pads bottoming out, ripping the shoulder straps right off, ripping buckles off, etc.

going on 4 years of heavy abuse [and carrying heavy loads and multiple pads strapped to it], my first organic is still kicking. the velcro is done, but they are using metal buckles now. of course, the foam is seeing some effects of age, but i’ve never had a pad last longer than 12 months before my first organic… 4 years and still going!

in the long run, the additional cost is certainly worthwhile.

there are a few pads out there that i do not currently hate, but in comparison to the organic pads, the marginally lower price is not justifiable in my mind.

the caveat is that i’m friends w/ josh, but i agreed to buy one of his first retail-sold pads well before i knew him.

i’d save a little cash and go for the largest organic pad and call it good. you will not be disappointed.

Organic pads are now pretty cheap in comparison to all other brands check out current prices on the BD, Metolius and Revolution pads ORGANIC is 50-100 cheaper for big and 20-50 for a standard size pad

organic. you’ll save in the long run.

I really love my Metolius Behemoth. It’s lighter and less awkward to carry in talus fields and on steep trails than the big, thick pads that a lot of companies make. I also like it because it’s 4″ thick and covers a good deal of landing zone (almost twice what a normal sized pad covers) which is nice if you climb alone very much. The pad is solidly built (much better than the first generation Behemoths) and the foam feels like it will last for a good while. One other thing that I love about the Behemoth is that is is great for sleeping on during road trips, the size makes it comfortable for two people to sleep on and you don’t end up with half the body hanging off one side of the pad or another. I love the pad and my friends seem pretty happy to fall on it too.

Oh, and one last thing, whatever you do end up getting, do not get a Black Diamond pad. I’ve run into a few people over the last 6 months that have had them fall apart within a month of buying. I’m not sure if it’s true but I’ve heard the Black Diamond is having their products made cheaply overseas now. True or not, these days the quality of their pads have become considerably worse.

The madrock pad is a really awkward ratio of area to thickness for protecting landings. every time I’ve used one I’ve wanted to use it at the bottom of a large pile to try to even out the huge drop off. Thick can be good for highballs, but if you catch the edge your ankle is fucked.

OK……2 words…….Misty Mountain. I hav a standard misty that I have had for 8 years now and a misty magnum that I have had for 6 years. Both pads have seen extinsive use and are still going strong. Sure you need to replace th foam after a couple of years (you need to do this with any pad) but the straps and body of the pad are still as bomber today as they were when I bought them. The organinc pads do look nice, but misty gets my money.

I bought a small Asana pad recently and it has been used a lot. Very affordable, lightweight, and solid. The Organic pads are in my opinion overbuilt with lightweight shoulder straps. The pads can feel very heavy which is good except when carrying them a long way. I have an almost 10 year old Misty Mtn pad that has held up really well.

FLASHED. The foam is a perfect balance between being lightweight yet firm. Organic is overly firm and hence, too heavy. Asana is light but so soft it will last you barely a few months.
Flashed is also the only pad with a good waistbelt. It is the only one beefy enough to transfer weight onto your skeleton and off your back.
Plus, it is cheaper than organic. All around best value. Get the Ninja for a starter pad.

The organic Full pad is less than half a pound heavier. Take into consideration that in a Organic pad you get BALLISTIC NYLON and way better foam that is time tested to outlast the “Lighter” “Softer” stuff, or 1000d nylon in other companies pads. The only other pads in the Organic class are the Revolutions which also use a good foam and good fabrics. Simple economics you get what you pay for. 5 Bucks gets you a lot more in the long run in my opinion.

Organic shoulder straps are also replaceable for extra long life unlike the sewn in ones on misty, revolution,BD, asana, flashed. You break the adjuster or strap and you need a new pad on those.

Also, good luck getting a repair from any other brand pad, if for some reason you manage to tear an organic just send it back to the wyoming shop to get a quick fix.

If price and weight are important take a look at the streamlined Simple pad from Organic, no extra weight from the pouch yet bomber foam and fabric.

And with the recent economic news remember Organic=MADE IN USA

ok peter based on your concerns about weight, but your shared love for much paddage [i'm well accustomed to the multi stack on back, as you know], i’d like to change the course of this discussion to instead gain some leverage on josh…

here’s what i want: two sheets of the 1″ BURLY STIFF FOAM OF DOOM in the size of the largest organic pad. no soft foam between. then, only a handle and a buckle strap at bottom and top.

purpose: MAXX COVERAGE AGAINST TALUS without nancyboy frills. this woudl be designed as what i call a “rider pad”, to be strapped on your main rig. the result: a lightweight system of maximum talus protection without any frills.

yeah, this would be stiff as hell, but the point would not be soft, cushy landings… it would be to make sure you don’t get stabbed in the back and that you’d have enough surface area to cover all hazards without extra weight.

thoughts?

interesting… i had envisioned something that would be strapped to my existing big boy pad, but you’d want it to have the straps and whatnot to actually use as the hauling pad for the rest to be lashed to it…. seems like both options would be easily done based on the same template.

options.

awesome.

i will require all people who want to climb w/ me to purchase one. if you do the same, including all the strongmo foolish kids who go to gyms, then it will be grand.