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Best Rock Climbing Crash Pads

Updated June 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Mad Rock Triple Mad Pad
Mad Rock
Triple Mad Pad
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Bottom Line

All the cushioning you'd expect from Mad Rock – quality construction and comfortable straps – in a convenient, portable tri-fold design.

Pros

Pad is 5 inches thick. Made of open and closed cell foam. Measures 24 inches by 44 inches by 15 inches when closed. Measures 70 inches by 44 inches by 5 inches when opened. Comfortable shoulder and waist straps. Durable and portable.

Cons

May be too large to fit in smaller vehicles.

Best Bang for the Buck
Mad Rock R3 Crash Pad
Mad Rock
R3 Crash Pad
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Bottom Line

This rugged pad cushions against falls, molds well to uneven ground and features hidden snack pockets. Be forewarned, though, it's a bit heavy.

Pros

Fill system enables pad to both lay flat and fold easily. Dampens impact from falls. Baffles contain recycled EVA/PU foam. Rugged 1680 denier nylon shell construction. Molds well to rocks and uneven ground. Dependable straps. Convenient snack pocket.

Cons

A bit large and heavy to carry to your climbing location. Be sure to follow directions for breaking in.

Mad Rock Mad Pad
Mad Rock
Mad Pad
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Bottom Line

This basic pad is lighter than other models, so it's easier to carry to your favorite climbing spot.

Pros

100% nylon outer. 13 centimeter padding. Carry using waist belt, handles and shoulder straps. Measures 24 inches by 36 inches by 10 inches when closed. Measures 48 inches by 36 inches by 5 inches when opened. Stable to carry. Lightweight.

Cons

Outer fabric tears relatively easily. No place to hide gear or snacks.

Metolius Recon Crash Pad
Metolius
Recon Crash Pad
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Bottom Line

This pad folds into a narrow tri-fold design, but expands to a larger-than-average crash surface.

Pros

Tri-fold sandwich foam design for shock absorption. Closed-cell top layer. Narrow design when folded. Unfolds to larger-than-standard pad size. 900 denier body fabric. Ballistics on the bottom for durability. Cross-clipper logo rug for cleaning shoes. External and internal pockets for gear.

Cons

May not fit in some vehicles.

Mad Rock Hera Crash Pad
Mad Rock
Hera Crash Pad
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Bottom Line

Female climbers may want to try this Hera crash pad from Mad Rock. Designed for women, it's lighter to carry and has a better bounce.

Pros

Features softer foam that's lighter to carry to your bouldering location. Has a better bounce for female climbers. Carrying straps. Weighs 13.8 pounds. Measures 24 inches by 36 inches by 10 inches when closed. Measures 48 inches by 36 inches by 5 inches when open.

Cons

May be a little hard at first.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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36
Models
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105
Consumers
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28
Hours
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