Necessity of a crashpad?

I've been bouldering without a pad for a while now, and haven't really had any problems with large falls or anything (worst fall being about 15-20 feet) but as I progress I'm curious as to if I need a pad for larger falls. I can land a 20 foot fall pretty easily, and pads are so expensive. When is the financial burden of a pad logical?

You wont be able to afford a pad, all your money is going to go to medical bills.

This is a poorly crafted troll.

May be a troll, but what ever-

People used to boulder without pads all the time before they were invented, but didn't generally push the height as much as now. It seems to me that spotters were more attentive back then too. Even if you don't crack something, pounding on your joints and organs repeatedly is not a good thing. Figuring out how to pay for a pad and getting one is well worth it if you want to keep climbing.

M Sprague wrote:May be a troll, but what ever- People used to boulder without pads all the time before they were invented, but didn't generally push the height as much as now. It seems to me that spotters were more attentive back then too. Even if you don't crack something, pounding on your joints and organs repeatedly is not a good thing. Figuring out how to pay for a pad and getting one is well worth it if you want to keep climbing.

Why do you all think I'm trolling? Not everyone can afford a $150 pad. I'm actually seriously curious.

read john sherman's "better bouldering" book. it gives a lot of detail to the importance of spotters and how to anticipate falls.

Land from 20' up on flat dirt is one thing, but what when you've got a rocky landing, or roots, or whatever? $150 for a pad is a GOOD investment.

Greg Petliski wrote: People think you are trolling because saying you can ace a 20 foot fall sounds pretty ridiculous. But if price is your limitation, you can find a used pad Im sure, or make one from foam you buy (or liberate from construction sites). Be creative.

Most of the 20 foot stuff is more a preplanned drop. I'm a teenager and I'm pretty lazy, so dropping after sending is more what I meant. Poor wording on my part

Although climbing pads can help avoid acute injuries, their real value is reducing chronic injuries. I can just off my kitchen counter without getting hurt, no problem. However, if I just off my counter 50 times a day for 100 days of the year, it will likely start degrading my knees. If you up the ante and start jumping off higher things, it is much harder on your body.

Additionally, the come in handy in talus.

Having bouldered for many years before pads came out - my creaky 51 year old knees & ankles advise you to get a pad! They are worth the money for sure.

Years ago I saw a guy on ebay selling the outside fabric with back pack straps and all for maybe 50 or 60. You had to find your own foam. There is also DIY if you have access to a sewing machine.

instructables.com/id/How-to…
Homemade Crash Pads

Zac Diehl wrote:Not everyone can afford a $150 pad

$150 won't even cover the first shot of pain meds when you get wheeled in the ER for a whole bunch of fractures of your lower extremities.

And even if you don't get injured, wear and tear is a thing that you don't even need to wait to be in your 70s to experience. Bouldering is hard on the body. Pad the landing fool!

I actually picked my Metolius crash pad up at a yard sale for $10. had to fix one strap but it was in damn near perfect shape.

Andrewww wrote:I actually picked my Metolius crash pad up at a yard sale for $10. had to fix one strap but it was in damn near perfect shape.

Where do you live? I live in South Dakota so everyone has either new gear or is 40 and loves their gear too much to give it away.

You are a teenager? Get a summer job, save your money, and buy a pad.

Haha I live in NH. I was actually buying a piece of furniture and spotted it out of the corner of my eye, asked how much and he said $10. Couldn't say no to that.

I started bouldering couple years before pads became commercially available. After a broken foot, couple badly bruised heels, broken tooth, dislocated jaw, and a few sprained ankles I made a pad. When I got tired of lugging around a 25 pound home-made pad, I bought one. No major injuries since. My knees are shot, but that may just be because I'm old, fat and decrepit.

C. Archibald wrote:You are a teenager? Get a summer job, save your money, and buy a pad.

And/or find buddies who like to boulder, and buy a pad together. A $150 pad split 4 ways isn't so bad.

You could also do like the first bouldering pads- find an old mattress. This will also probably require friends, because mattresses are pretty darn awkward and heavy to lug up a trail.

Zac Diehl wrote: I live in South Dakota so everyone has either new gear or is 40 and loves their gear too much to give it away.

I bought mine off of Rapid City's craigslist for $50.

Just borrow the cushions from your mom's couch and maybe she'll get you one for your birthday.

Chronic injuries is right. I've had the same conversation in J-tree and places like that about four times:

Old timer: (wandering by) "Man, you *kids* and your silly bouldering pads. Back when I was climbing, we didn't have crap like that."

Me: "You still climb?"

Old timer: "No, man. My knees, they gave out a long time ago."

I'm in my thirties now. Let me tell you: even if you're falling 5 feet onto flat ground, you feel fine each time... it'll add up over the years.