[danielb]

I'm going to get a bouldering mat in the next couple of days, I've no shops near by that carry a decent selection of mats to look at so I'm buying online. The only problem with this is that I can't try the mats out first or even see them.  I'm torn between the Standard Pod Mat, Franklin Satelite or the Franklin Dropzone... The only thing I really want is a pad that you can carry ruck sack style (for long Scottish walk ins) and will not take up too much room in my boot!

The main bouldering I will be doing will be in abandoned quarries near my home, nothing too high I think. So I'm not sure that I need a mat the size of the Dropzone (41"x48") but I can't decide if the Satelite (41"x31") is too small! The Standard Pod mat could be a good comprimise but from the picture on NeedleSports.com it looks like it only has a shoulder strap for carrying and the Pod website is down currently

Any advice guys? Promise no more bouldering mat related questions from me once I get a mat!

Daniel

[danielb]

Oh and this is the site about the Satelite, I hope when they say 'Modular carrying system' they mean it can be carried with a shoulder strap or with rucksack style straps...[/url]

[Bubba]

Can confirm that the Dropzone is a big pad and will probably take up most of your boot-space. It could also do with a waist-strap (may have them now) for longer walk-ins.

[dave]

Both the standard and large Pod mats can be carried either as a shoulder strap or fitted like a rucksack. The needle sports picture is out of date - the new mats have velcro instead of plastic buckles which is bo.

[squeek]

Can't advise you on size, but the franklin dropzone is a top notch
pad.  Really good foam, which is what counts really, and a nice
system for carrying stuff.  If I was buying a new one I'd probably
get one, my holdz one, although good value hasn't got as good foam.

[danielb]

Yeah the Flashed Temple mat on the needle sports looks cool with the hipblet but from the pics on the flashed site it looks even bigger than the Dropzone when folded up.

My car is an Escort Estate so I can't see a dropzone not fittng in it!  I want to be able to fit in climbing gear, bivi gear and 2 bouldering mats (an S7 and whatever I buy). We've already got the gear and 1 mat in fine before

Thanks for the beta on the Pod mats, sounds like the standard Pod mat may be the best compromise. Just heard back from Franklin that the 'modular carry system' on the Satelite just means you can attach the should strap the normal way or diagonally across the mat so not rucksack style straps

So I guess its down to the Pod or the Dropzone now!

Daniel