Best giant crashpad?

I’m looking for a new crashpad to replace my old BD Mondo. I mostly boulder alone and sometimes highballs so I prefer a large pad. Ideally, I’d buy something that has more sturdy foam than the Mondo, but with similar coverage. Any recommendations?

Organic Big Pad is the gold standard against which other pads are compared. Especially with regards to foam quality and durability.

My hueco guide sold me on Send pads due to their carry system. So much more comfortable when carrying multiple pads. Would love to eventually replace all my organics with send, but they’re even pricier and less common so hard to find used. They make bigger pads and can do customs as well.

What’s different/better about their carry system?

Seconding the beefcake! organicclimbing.com/product…

The Organic Back 40 is a tank at carrying tons of pads. Same as the big pad but with a Mystery Ranch suspension system. Slap on a load flap and hauling a pad stack feels about as easy as it gets with those.

Was curious to see what Send's pads are like as I don't see them around that often but they aren't even listed in their website...

I've been using the metolius magnum for the past year and a half. The coverage is great and it's not too bad to carry. Does have a good closure system that I can also carry my mad rock bi-fold in. The only down side for me is that after much use it seems like the foam is not quite as sturdy when I first bought it. Have taken a couple of high falls on it though and no broken ankles yet. Might start doubling up on pads for the high ones or switch to organic. 

Woolly Mammut wrote:

I've been using the metolius magnum for the past year and a half. The coverage is great and it's not too bad to carry. Does have a good closure system that I can also carry my mad rock bi-fold in. The only down side for me is that after much use it seems like the foam is not quite as sturdy when I first bought it. Have taken a couple of high falls on it though and no broken ankles yet. Might start doubling up on pads for the high ones or switch to organic. 

The foam on my Magnum has not held up very well either. 

Cheiftan Mews wrote:

The foam on my Magnum has not held up very well either. 

Same experience here.

That's an issue the metolius pads are notorious for. The foam stiffness is ok when brand new, but it deteriorates fast and within a couple seasons is way too soft.

The Organic pads, by contrast, are a bit too stiff when brand new and take a season of use to break in. But then they are a nice stiffness and will stay that way for years.

A standard "buy nice or buy twice" situation.

JCM wrote:

That's an issue the metolius pads are notorious for. The foam stiffness is ok when brand new, but it deteriorates fast and within a couple seasons is way too soft.

The Organic pads, by contrast, are a bit too stiff when brand new and take a season of use to break in. But then they are a nice stiffness and will stay that way for years.

A standard "buy nice or buy twice" situation.

Yeah, I thought that I had done enough research beforehand and was buying nice, haha, live and learn. 

Tony S wrote:

What’s different/better about their carry system?

Sorry for the delayed response, forgot to check back on this thread.

the carrying system is very thought out and not just a few simple straps without support. It feels like a true backpack carrying system. I haven’t seen the organic/mystery ranch collabs so can’t compare but it’s leagues better than the straps on the organic full pad. IIRC, the send pads have this fiberglass plate that helps distribute the load when carrying and falling. It’s just soooo much more comfortable wearing one and it doesn’t feel heavy at all. They’ve designed them such that linking multiple pads, both while carrying or placing them to fall on, is super easy. This is definitely something much better to experience in person as it’s hard to give a true description of load carrying feeling over words unfortunately their distribution is pretty limited as theyre a tiny outfit.

The Send crashpads do look really nice, with well thought out features. That price tag, though. Makes Organic look like a discount brand.

I've got an Organic crash pad for sale if you're still looking, it's the big pad 5inch thick with pack straps, single crease taco folding pad thingy majiggy.

Don’t by cheap crash pads. It is not worth it. Organic makes great pads that will last a lifetime. Cheap pads like Madrock use low quality fabric and foam. The foam will degrade very fast and the fabric will rip. The sewing is also junk. Plus you will look like a total Gumby out at the crag.

Ever heard of carpet squares buck-o?

I want to chime in and say that my Asana superhero has been great for me. The foam is still stiff despite falling a lot

Todd Berlier wrote:

do you use cams?

Yeah, I’ve got two, a left and a right ✋

I’ve been using an Evolv home pad, which is ridiculously big, and it’s actually been great. Even though it’s huge, it’s not hard to haul unless the trail gets really tight. It’s definitely a confidence boost knowing you have that much foam beneath you.

Mad rock trifold is like 30% bigger than a big pad. Carrying system sucks but the foam is pretty durable esp for the price. If you were just getting one pad to start out, that'd be what I'd get. Easy enough to cinch a second pad to the back too.

Ocun Incubator might also be worth looking at if you need a long one but I remember those Ocun pads getting blown out pretty quickly, though IDK if they've improved.

I use the Petzl Cirro. It's fuckoff huge and hard to fit in smaller trunks but I strap it to my roof and off I go.