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Bouldering mats - Info required please...

Take!

5-May-2005
3:16:11 PM

Considering purchasing a bouldering mat. Questions to those in the know:

What's good?
What's not?
and where to get a good deal (prolly buy from Sydney/Blueys area but would buy elsewhere if worthwhile).

Thanks for your help

Tel

5-May-2005
3:19:50 PM

tools of the adventure stunt mat........... reasonably priced and well made, good for highball falls, weight is 8kgs, shoulder straps waist belt zip pcket for keys etc,plus makes and excellent bed.

Duncan

5-May-2005
3:28:41 PM

Yup, the tools pads are great. Mountain Equipment on Kent St sell them.

Gunta Skirtpulla

5-May-2005
3:54:07 PM

Tools, Metolius, Franklin are all good choices.
Franklin is usually sold by Paddy's and have seen Metolius in OZ but unsure which shop.

Good OS brands are Cordless (now going by the name of Revolution), available in the US and
Beal (France).

But Tools wins out as the best home grown pad (from NZ).

trent

5-May-2005
4:08:25 PM

Apparently http://www.mingygoat.com.au (which is now operating out of Newcastle) is going to be stocking Franklin (soon to be re-branded Black Diamond) bouldering pads.

The Drop Zone II is a very very nice pad.

adski

5-May-2005
6:47:19 PM

The Mingy Goat link's brokn Tman, perhaps the site's not online yet? Regardless, a company to look out for, especailly as it's in my hood. Speaking of hoods, looks like your avatar's getting a workout again buddy
;-P

socialclimber

7-May-2005
8:23:11 PM

I'd back the Tools of the adventure pads. Bullet proof.

Ben

9-May-2005
1:56:55 PM

The stunt mat also makes an excellent mattress for in the tent - just need to stuff some clothes under your feet if you are taller. I wake up sooo much more refreshed that I used to on those crappy blue foam rollup mats.

sabu

9-May-2005
4:19:36 PM

ahh the foam roll up mats; don't wat to take them but have to take them that is if you're too poor to afford a better mattress like me :)!!

dan

11-May-2005
6:28:23 PM

There should be two layers of good quality foam (does it break up when you rub it between your fingers?). A hard layer on the top, a thicker softer layer on the bottom. The more expensive mats have sealed plastic around each foam layer. The material covering it should be a thick canvas style material with re-enforced (double layer) corners, a solid zip, a carpet section to clean your shoes. Shop around there are many climbing/adventure stores that just can't move these items and will just be happy to see them go, and if they have these above attributes it's hard to go wrong.

Dan

runnit

27-May-2005
1:34:20 PM

i'm a big fan of my franklin mat

i got mine in qld but i think franklin's owned by BD or something so i'd guess that anywhere that stocks BD is likely to have them too

dave

28-May-2005
11:13:06 PM

Just use a thermarest as a bouldring mat
As seen on Hardgrit!
Great for any fall less than 25 cm

Rocky

29-May-2005
3:21:53 PM

so long as it's nice, thick and comfortable, because no doubt you will be lying and sleeping on it staring up at the hard boulder problems more often than not.

Take!

28-Jun-2005
8:43:10 AM

I thought i'd get back to you all on the bouldering pad thing. I decided to stitch up a (basic) cover and fill it with foam as $400-500 was hard to cough for. The home made jobbie was gonna cost about A$140, using decent foam and cover material. Unfortunately I knew it'd be a while 'til I actually got around to making it.
Anyway last week Mtn Designs (Sydney) had a 20% off sale which means I picked up their last "Direct hit" bouldering mat for $239. It's your standard 1240x900x100mm centre folding pad, with the usual straps/handles and a diagonal cut fold to make it safer.
I'm pretty chuffed with it. The cover has enough space for another 20mm layer of EVA foam too, if needed.

Thanks again for your info.

take!

14-Jul-2005
10:01:07 AM

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by 'Burger' in another tread...

Couple of questions.
Does anyone have an opinion on what the Direct hit pad from mountian designs is like and the tools smaller solution mat.
And can anyone tell me the approx price of the franklin drop zone 11 and who stocks them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I like the Direct Hit pad (see post above) I think its better than my friends Whippet pads that they bought a while ago. The Direct hit has a firm top layer (similar material to the old Morey Boogie boards) and is 'fully featured'. We also have a Venus mat which is less rectangular and thinner than the Direct Hit. The Venus pad is good too and has similar foam properties as the Direct hit. Though the Direct Hit is a bit thicker so tends to take bigger falls better. Both work.
During my shopping around I noticed that the U.S. name-brand pads in the standard size (approx 1200x900x80) were usually around $400, while the bigger mats would go to $500. I think Mtn Des also had a Franklin mat and Mtn Equipment had Metolius and Tools mats. If you get a taco style mat don't store it folded up (...like they do in the shop!) as it damages the foam and it stays crushed where folded.

Most of my walk-ins are short so I'm thinking of removing the backpack type straps from the Direct Hit and fitting just a single over the shoulder strap with quick clips to remove it when bouldering. When I get the time I would like reinforce inside the corners of both mats with 'Seam Grip' (flexi glue)... one day.

Good luck

Take!

14-Jul-2005
4:05:18 PM

That's how I saw it. The Metolious has cool alloy buckles and somehow (this is totally not a scientific evaluation) 'looked' better made.. if you know what I mean. But the foam felt the same and the price difference was much more enticing than the shiney buckles... and the way the taut Metolious cover sexily shimmered at me in the light of the shop :-)

"Take! is an old bumbly and is in no way sponsored by MD. Nor am I sponsored by any laxative companies, which means I can freely tell you all what gives me the sh*ts"

IdratherbeclimbingM9

14-Jul-2005
5:22:29 PM

On 14/07/2005 Take! wrote:
>"Take! is an old bumbly and is in no way sponsored by MD. Nor am I sponsored
>by any laxative companies, which means I can freely tell you all what gives
>me the sh*ts"
LOL
Love it!

Setha

14-Jul-2005
9:31:54 PM

I would say the foam in the Metolius pad is denser (thus harder) then the Mountain Designs pad. Not a massive difference, but when using the two next to each other the difference is definitely noticeable. For the price the Mountain Designs matt is well featured and represents pretty good value.

dalai

12-Sep-2005
10:20:45 AM

Does anyone have a copy of the Rock Magazine Bouldering mat review they could scan and email me?

Thanks Martin

psd

17-Jul-2008
10:22:01 AM

On 5/05/2005 Take! wrote:
>Considering purchasing a bouldering mat. Questions to those in the know:
>
>What's good?
>What's not?
>and where to get a good deal (prolly buy from Sydney/Blueys area but would
>buy elsewhere if worthwhile).
>
>Thanks for your help

To drag up an old topic ... any update on the info provided above? Anyone got some new thoughts on good bouldering mats? What about flashed pads?

There are 20 messages in this topic.