To me, having your own bouldering crash pad is freeing, almost like having your own car for the first time. It provides climbers with the sense of freedom and liberation to go bouldering outside whenever they want. Which is a pretty awesome feeling if you have had to rely on others to supply the gear every time you have wanted to go bouldering outside in the past.
But let’s face it, all climbing gear is expensive and bouldering crash pads are not an exception to this. That said, there are a couple good options of bouldering crash pads out there for climbers on a budget.
Below I detail what makes a good cheap bouldering crash pad, what I believe are the best cheap crash pads, a few helpful tips to help you save money when purchasing a crash pad, and discuss if there are any suitable alternative options to them.
If you are interested in seeing what the current prices are for the most popular crash pads, you can find them on Amazon by clicking here. Using the Amazon affiliate link above and/or other links in the article helps support this website.
Best Cheap Bouldering Crash Pads
When looking to buy a good cheap bouldering crash pad, you will want to make sure it is durable, has both types of foam (open and closed cell), and is thick/big enough for the bouldering you are planning to do.
If you are looking to stick to lower and medium height boulders (lowballs) then a standard pad should be big enough for what you are planning to do. Larger and thicker pads are needed for climbing more high up bouldering problems (highballs). If highballing is something that you are looking to do, you should plan on having multiple pads with you to increase the area you can cover from falling and stack them in the really dangerous spots.
Best Cheap Standard Size Bouldering Crash Pad
As mentioned above, standard crash pads are best suited for lowball (low to medium height) boulder problems. They can be stacked together to be used for higher bouldering problems but it is not recommended to only use just the one for them.
In general, by opting for a cheaper crash pad, you will likely not see the same durability as the more expensive options. The following is the best cheap standard size bouldering crash pad I have found.
Metolius Session II
If you are looking for a good lowball pad that won’t break the bank then look no further than the Metolius Session II. Metolius is a well known and trusted brand in the climbing gear space. They consistently make quality products that are durable and perform at a high level. The Metolius Session II is a great example of this. After all, it isn’t highly touted as being a great crash pad for no reason. It is the perfect budget pad for beginners.
The Metolius Session II is 4 inches thick and covers an area of 36″ x 48″ (3 x 4 feet). This is the perfect size for lowball bouldering. While the Session II has been noted to have softer foam than other pads, this is not an issue when sticking to lowball bouldering problems. Its soft foam catches climbers like a cloud compared to some of the other harder pads.
In addition to providing soft landings, the Session II is designed to be very portable and easy to move. The pad folds up to be 36″ x 26″ x 8″, has padded shoulder straps and a waist belt to transport it like a backpack, suitcase style handles, and has two drag handles to maneuver it when unfolded (a very underrated feature).
Unlike some other cheap crash pads, the hinge of the Session II is cut at an angle. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, it is. This angle helps mitigate falling into the “gutter” (hinge space without foam padding) and provides a better catch area of foam in the middle of the pad.
The pad even has a built-in rug to clean your shoes off! You can check out its current price here on Amazon.com. The only drawback is it isn’t quite as durable as some of the more expensive pads. However, that is to be expected when getting a crash pad for this low of a price point.
Best Cheap Oversized Bouldering Crash Pad
Oversized crash pads are best suited for highball (high) bouldering problems and long traverses as they provide a bigger area and are better at distributing large forces. In addition to this, a lot of climbers enjoy using these for the lower to medium height bouldering problems as their large size gives them a greater sense of security.
Due to their larger size and additional material, oversized pads are typically more expensive than standard sized pads. Below is the best cheap oversized pad I have found.
Mad Rock Triple Mad Pad
The Mad Rock Triple Mad Pad is the definition of a cheap oversized pad that will still get the job done. A lot of really cheap oversized pads have just absolutely awful quality. The Mad Rock Triple Mad Pad is the best cheap oversized pad I have found that doesn’t sacrifice too much quality.
The Triple Mad Pad is absolutely gigantic measuring in at 72″ x 44″ when fully open with a 5″ thickness. Its tri-fold design allows it to fold up into a much more manageable 24″ x 44″ x 15″ area. Due to its large size and heavy foam, the pad weighs in at a whopping 24 pounds.
To help manage this weight, the pad has a waist and shoulder straps to transport it like a backpack. It even can be folded up to be used as a sofa after a long day of climbing. You can check out its current price here on Amazon.
While the Triple Mad Pad is good for the price, I do believe you are sacrificing a bit of quality with it compared to other oversized crash pads. Check out my recommended gear page that details exactly what you should look for in an oversized crash pad and the best one available if you are able to spend just a little bit extra.
A little bit of extra money spent up front can be very beneficial in the long run when getting a crash pad (especially an oversized one).
Tips To Save Money On Bouldering Crash Pads
Below are three helpful tips that will help you save money on crash pads.
Look For Sales
Wait until you see the crash pads go on sale. If budget is a big concern and you have lasted this long without a crash pad then you might want to consider waiting until the crash pads go on sale. I know the urge to get your own can be hard to resist. However, if you are able to hold out until the pad you are looking for goes on sale, you may be able to save a good chunk of change.
Join a Social Media Climbing Gear Exchange Group
Join a climbing group on social media (Facebook for example) that is set up for climbing gear exchange. These groups are great ways to find bouldering crash pads that are slightly used but are still in good enough shape to fall on. While these used pads typically won’t last as long as a brand new pad, they are typically much cheaper. On top of that, they generally are in better shape than ones you will find on Craigslist or something like that.
Before going out and buying one straight away, I recommend checking the pad out in person or having the seller perform a jump test on video so you know what kind of condition the pad is currently in. If the pad is too soft and doesn’t distribute weight well, you will need to find a different one that is in better shape.
Take Care of Your Crash Pad
While taking proper care of your crash pad won’t help you save money right away, it will in the long run. If you are able to properly care for your crash pad, you will help extend its lifespan and keep it functioning for a long time. This will eliminate the need for you to keep having to find replacement pads and keep spending money on them. Check out my article that explores just how long crash pads last and has tips on how to extend their lifespan.
Bouldering Crash Pad Alternatives
I have heard stories from some of my fellow climbers who have gone bouldering without crash pads. Instead of using a crash pad, some climbers have attempted to use old mattresses, couch cushions, and I even heard that someone tried using a stack of old yoga mats that they had been collecting. Let’s just say most of these stories did not have happy endings.
Crash pads are designed to help break your falls and prevent you from taking bad landings. Bad landings while bouldering can be anything from twisting your ankle to much more serious injuries. Using items not designed for this really increases the chance of getting injured and not being able to climb anymore.
Even using crash pads improperly is dangerous enough in itself. Do not take the extra risk to just save a few bucks. If you have never used a crash pad before or are relatively inexperienced with them, then I highly recommend checking out my article that details 11 helpful tips on how to use a bouldering crash pad.
If you don’t have the money to buy a crash pad right now and are unable to borrow a pad from a friend, you should just rent one. Some climbing gyms and even the really popular bouldering fields will have bouldering crash pads available to rent. Spending a little bit of money on renting a crash pad can save you a lot more in potential medical bills.
In addition to crash pads, there are a lot of other items you will need to bring with you on your next bouldering trip. Check out my article that details the 21 items that you should bring with you for your next outdoor bouldering trip.