Crash In Review By: John Myrick When I began bouldering as a youngster, things were a little different. No one used crash pads and the use of spotters wasn't very common. It wasn't until the late 80's that I noticed boulderers using mattresses and whatnot. Back in the day, you could see all sorts of crap being lugged or dragged around. The most common of early crash pads being actual mattresses or your common open cell foam with shagadellic carpet dut-tapped on the top. Until several years ago, I shied away from using a pad. I thought they sucked ant that all they did was show how weak you were and give you a false sense of security. That quickly changed after using one. Looking back on the heinous falls I took without a crash pad I tremble with fear and thank god that I have one Now. Over the years I've seen and cratered on many a pad, from many a height. Out of all the pads out there it was easy for me to narrow it down to the top three; the cushiest of the cush, if you will. These are in no particular order: the Large Pad from Metolius, the large pad from Cordless, and the Misty Mountain Highlander. I've chose these pads based on a number of factors regarding stability of landing platform, protection against the ground, durability, convenience or ease of operation, and the overall bombproof factor. The large Cordless, considered by many boulderers I know, as the cadillac of all crash pads, covers the most ground at 41" X 48". It is 31/4 inch thick. This pad uses the taco style closure system. the closure flap has an accessory pocket. Ther are padded shoulder straps and a waist belt. This pad can be finished with velvety upholstery or 1000 D cordura. The innerds of this pad consist of 3, 3/8" thick pieces of firm foam and one 2" piece of medium density foam which can be shifted for variably stiff landing surfaces. The cordless goes for $149. www.cordlessclimbing.com or 1-888-cordless. The large Metolius now has aluminum buckles which will never bust and uses uses a hinged closure style. This style of closure enables this pad to fold up smaller than the others. The floor coverage of the metolius is 36" X 48" and it is three inches thick. It has padded shoulder straps, the covering material is indestructable with a centered carrying handle. The guts of the pad are a layer of one inch closed cell foam and a layer of two inch open cell foam. Out of all the pads, I like landing on this one the best. I have never felt the ground through one of these. The Metolius goes for $139. www.metoliusclimbing.com The Misty Mountain Highlander rounds off the list at 36" X 48" X 31/2" inches bringing it in as the thickest pad. The Highlander boast 1050 D ballistic cloth construction with an auto carpeting top, unbreakable superlock buckles, burly bar tacks and double stitched seems at all stress point, and two handles on each side of the pad for suitcase style carrying without having to strap the pad together; very convenient. It also utilizes the taco style closure method. The guts of this pad consist of one layer of 3/16" closed cell foam and one 3 inch layer of open cell foam. All in all, the construction of this pad is the toughest. The Highlander goes for $149. Contact Misty Mountain at 828-963-6688