Buying organic pads first time

big pad + full pad + blubber pad or full pad + simple pad + blubber pad or something else? I'm 6 foot. I'll be doing a mix of bouldering alone and with friends who have pads. The highest boulder I'll prob try is 30 feet; most of them are 15-20 feet

The first set up will get you solid landings on plenty of boulders and the ones it doesn’t work for you can wait till you are with others. For a few years I used two smaller pads and it worked fine, but upgrading to a big pad was a game changer, especially when out solo.

One thing you could look into is switching the full to the simple. I believe the only difference is the flap, but if you do that first set up and you will be wearing the big pad, I think you’ll have to find a different strapping system anyway. If someone else has the Big/Full and uses it they should correct me if I’m wrong about that. 

I use two fulls, a blubber, and a briefcase and I can strap them all together without additional closure systems besides what’s on the full pads. The big pads are great but make sure you’re aware of the 1 inch thickness difference between that and the full/simple. If you have the blubber you should be fine but otherwise that’s a place you can roll your ankle where they meet. The briefcase is great for sit starts but way more critical when it’s a rocky landing and you can use the briefcase folded in half to level out the landing and out another crash pad on top that’s what more stable and flat.

You’ll be fine either way but just think about how you’re going to strap them together.

Bryan wrote:

The big pads are great but make sure you’re aware of the 1 inch thickness difference between that and the full/simple. 

Good call Bryan, meant to address this in my first response and forgot. The big pad can be ordered in 4” or 5”. I got the 4” for this exact reason so it’d level out with my other pads.

I use Big 4 + Blubber w/ load flap.  Blubber protects tree trunks, stumps, etc.  It can be single, or doubled, or quadrupled for different thickness vs area.  Blubber pad is great for all kinds of things beyond climbing.  I use it in place of yoga pads (much better!), I've slept on it, taken it to the beach/park.  It fits well in truck bed or 2 person tent.

Get the upgraded shoulder straps. Very worth it if you’re carrying all that any distance. 

tobias bundle wrote:

Get the upgraded shoulder straps. Very worth it if you’re carrying all that any distance. 

Do the better shoulder straps and the padded waist strap get in the way while climbing? Seems like they could create a lump on one side if the ground is flat. 

J C wrote:

Do the better shoulder straps and the padded waist strap get in the way while climbing? Seems like they could create a lump on one side if the ground is flat. 

The upgraded set is actually the only one that is removable! (Almost wish all my pads had it so I could remove them from all but the one I needed them on.)

That said I’ve never felt they caused enough of a problem to actually need to remove them. 

With the optional load strap you can carry the big pad fine with a smaller one.  Optimal carry for me is a full pad strapped to a simple. 

tobias bundle wrote:

Get the upgraded shoulder straps. Very worth it if you’re carrying all that any distance. 

are the shoulder straps used to strap the big and simple pads together? 

John Ryan wrote:

With the optional load strap you can carry the big pad fine with a smaller one.  Optimal carry for me is a full pad strapped to a simple. 

Do you think I even need a blubber pad then?

I use Big4 + simple + blubber often and it’s highly versatile and can be strapped and carried together without additional strapping needed.

I put the blubber in the middle between the two 4” pads. The outside simple pad is flipped upside down with shoulder straps in. The middle closure strap of each of the 4” pads connects to the other, big pad strap though the Simple’s carry handle, and into the tab of the big , and from the simples strap to the carry handle of the big.

 Best bet is to buy the load flap strap. Increase your lashing options infinitely.

 Enjoy your purchase of the best mats money can buy! 

Kevin N. wrote:

I use Big4 + simple + blubber often and it’s highly versatile and can be strapped and carried together without additional strapping needed. I put the blubber in the middle between the two 4” pads. The outside simple pad is flipped upside down with shoulder straps in. The middle closure strap of each of the 4” pads connects to the other, either to the carry handle, or ideally the tab. Enjoy your purchase of the best mats money can buy! 

Wait so big4 + simple as opposed to big4+ full means that I don’t need to buy additional strapping. Do they come with shoulder straps or did you need to buy them?

Yes, full flap won’t work for attaching to the big without additional strapping. I believe the load flap won’t work also?? The handle is covered by the flap when closed.

The full pad works great when the full is being used as the piggyback-er. Can carry at least one other regular sized 4” pad under its flap…I’ve never tried a 4” pad plus blubber.

Load flap works with any of the 4/5” pads (and older 3” I suppose, but I always use the thicker pads as the carrier pad.)  

Or with the load flap. Added is the carpet pad as well, and I buy ‘muffin top protector’ waist belts for all my big pads. 

Wrong Mass wrote:

Wait so big4 + simple as opposed to big4+ full means that I don’t need to buy additional strapping. Do they come with shoulder straps or did you need to buy them?

They all come with shoulder straps. 

Wrong Mass wrote:

Do you think I even need a blubber pad then?

The blubber is excellent for super uneven zones due to its flexibility or for creating a nice seamless surface.  Not necessary but pretty sweet 

Kevin N. wrote:

Or with the load flap. Added is the carpet pad as well, and I buy ‘muffin top protector’ waist belts for all my big pads. 

Hey I was wondering if you had a picture of how the big4 + simple + blubber are strapped together without additional strapping? I'm trying the method you described earlier but I'm not too sure if it's sturdy enough

Here you go. Big4>blubber>simple (upside down/straps in) simple middle strap goes through big4 carry handle and back to simple, middle big4 strap goes to simple carry handle with blubber in the middle. Viola.

I rock 2 5" bigs and a blubber and that gets me protection climbing almost anything I should be climbing solo/willing to risk it for. I have a briefcase pad with a separate pad (I think this is the full?) but I rarely bring that when climbing solo. It's better to have the extra inch and protection than not have it and the weight difference isn't huge. The Backcountry pad is great if you have the cash.