[Nibile]

So, four or five years ago, I borrowed two pads from a friend of mine to be safer, given that I used to climb on my own 90% of the times. Now he needs them for his home board, and I need to buy a new one, given that I climb on my own 100% of the times!
The ones I'd really like, Moon, POD, are too expensive, but I found this one
http://www.oliunid.it/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&category_id=8&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=133

It's big and not too expensive, but with the two hinges I fear it could be a bit unstable, especially when placed on rocks. I've never used this type of pads, has someone here? I'd like advice. Obviously I think that a non hinged one would be better but they are smaller and less thick...
Thanks.

[namnok]

maybe this?

http://www.bananafingers.co.uk/beal-big-air-pad-p-748.html

[namnok]

these are based in germany?

[ghisino]

lore,

i've used exactly the one you posted a few times...unfortunately for you, most of the times over perfectly flat landings! 

for rocky/uneven landings i'm split between two opinions...
on one side it's true that you don't want to fall right on the hinges, especially not on the one facing upwards.
On the other i think that in some occasions those pads are actually "more stable" than a non-hinged or single-hinged one, ie they tend to conform to the terrain better and if placed right they have less tendancy to move from the initial position...

[Nibile]

Cheers beasts!!!
Thanks for the links Namnok, unfortunately I think that anything coming from abroad would be very expensive due to shipping costs! The Italian website I linked offers free shipping.

Thanks Ghisino, I know what you're talking about... those terrible, flat, sandy landings under the horrible problems of Font... you bastard.
Is the pad in itself any good, respect fabric and foam? And do you know the non hinged version?
This one
http://www.oliunid.it/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=132&category_id=59

I think that having a non hinged pad and a single hinge pad, a two hinges pad could do. I am giving back two pads and getting only one, so the bigger the better.

[Nibile]

Hold on, hold on!
I've found a shop in Milano that sells Moon pads for cheap. I think they are very good, aren't they?
Dobbin, Paul, and many others have one, right? Any comments?
Thanks!!!

[Paul B]

I like to support British and the foam has massively out-performed that of my previous Metolius pads...

[dave]

To be fair I reckon the foam scourer next to our kitchen sink would outperform most metolius mats.

[Paul B]

you did that without mentiong my weight Dave, how thoughtful.

[ghisino]

Is the pad in itself any good, respect fabric and foam? And do you know the non hinged version?
This one
http://www.oliunid.it/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=132&category_id=59

no, i've only experienced the double hinged one and a single hinged that's now discontinued.

the single hinged was pure crap: marshmallow-soft in 10 days out. Based on my personal experience as well as others'.
Good fabric and bucckles though.

strangely the double hinged one i've seen seems to be much stiffer to start with and to hold much better, but i also have to say that the friend who has one is not the most hardcore boulderer around so the pad is probably receiving less falls and abuse than normal.  puzzling.

moon pads i've fallen on always felt good, imo you can't go wrong with those or with snap.

[Nibile]

sorry to bother you all, but options keep coming.
I have the chance to get a Mondo for 180 Euros, used by the BD dealer for central Italy for some tests (his words). the guy is a friend of mine, don't think he wants to scr** me.
other option is a new Saturn for 260.
or a new Mondo for 260.

please help me.

[Andy B]

I reckon, given where you climb most, if you can afford it I'd snap the guys hand off for the cheap mondo, assuming it's not fucked. If that's not for you then I used to have a much older version of the Pad double hinged one and loved it. It was actually useful for uneven landings cos you can fold it round things, and tuck one side under to flatten slopes. Mine got nicked at the same time as our van, but the new ones look even better, and I'd defo have another.

Ps. The spelling on that website you linked to is atrocious! I can barely read a word!

[Nibile]

assuming it's not fucked.

yes, that's the problem. I think there's no way for me to check the conditions of the foam, I don't know which kind of tests they've done on it, and for how long. I'd have to go and have a look at the exterior anyway, so probably another hassle and money for petrol as well.
Plus, if the pad doesn't behave well, I won't have any chance to send it back and I'd be thinking "that's what you get from used items". So I think the used one is not an option anymore.
I think this time I could spend more to have something I really want to have.
Probably it will be the Saturn, because it's what my British heart tells me, and also because it's in one piece, and because I can stuff it with my 23 pairs of shoes...

anyway, thanks for all the replies, keep the coming!!!

[Andy B]

I know others think differently, but in my experience taco pads' foam doesn't last as well as hinged mats. This may not be patriotic, but if I could get a Mondo for the same price as a Saturn I'd go for the Mondo.

Re. the second hand one, I would have said that because the Mondo has such thick foam, you'd be more likely to have issues with the straps etc. tearing before you start bottoming out on it. On my Saturn, the foam has gone along the fold line, and I've bottomed out through this more than once now, but the rest of the foam is fine, whereas several of the straps have ripped.

[rodma]

I have an older Mondo (the franklin one) and some people on here report that the BD one is not the same quality, but I love my mondo and, as Andy B has suggested, am just about to do some repairs to the straps, but the foam is almost as good as new some 5 years into its service.

If it was a Franklin Mondo I'd be telling you to get that. The downside being that the Mondo is (or was) just about the heaviest pad ever made, which is a definite downside. With the Mondo, a small pad and my shoes etc. I'm walking in with about 20kg extra ballast which is not cool at all.

[Nibile]

Andy, I know what you mean. I've always stored my pad flat, and always carry a lot of things in it, so it stays more rounded than plied and the foam is still very good with no problem or folds.
anyway that's really useful, thanks.

[Nibile]

Rodma,
good advice regarding the BD vs Franklin quality, and also the weight. I'll probably be walking with three pads and two bags, so... maybe a little less weight could do! I know that you can't make an omelette without breaking the eggs though.

[Drew]

Go for the cheap Mondo. I reckon your mate is selling it at what he paid for it. My guess, is the testing was probably some shop staff using it for a few weeks on holidays. Then you only need to carry two pads, not three.

[Stubbs]

Mondos are amazing,  the extra thickness does definitely add confidence. Is you car big enough to fit it in? Imagine all the extra calories you'll burn carrying a heavier pad   

[Nibile]

Thanks beasts, all valid points.
Another question.
I am 172 cm tall, will the Mondo hit my legs while walking? It really seems massive and I don't know how high the shoulder straps are.

[Drew]

From memory the shoulder straps are really low, so it will stick above your head a long way. Many low branches on your walk ins?

[Nibile]

Thanks Drew. Not many really, I was only afraid it would be too low!!!

[rodma]

Thanks Drew. Not many really, I was only afraid it would be too low!!!

I am a good bit shorter than you and manage ok

[Nibile]

nice one!!!

[rodma]

I don't even think it makes me look too hobbity, the galaxy note on the other hand 

[Nibile]

yesterday I think I gathered a few info...
it's been painful to walk around with a normal sized pad, an Alpkit one on top of it and a small one. can't even think about carrying even just the Mondo and the usual one...
maybe I have to redefine priorities...
 

of course the 37° of yesterday afternoon at the rocks did not help... one should understand when it's time to quit. but I don't.

[Oldmanmatt]

Lore, I climb alone a lot and I use the Mad Rock "Triple Mad Pad" (and hand carry a smaller Metolius cheapy for covering annoying rocks etc). The Velcro flaps on the mad seem to overcome hinge issues and after nearly two years it's still pretty good.

[rodma]

yesterday I think I gathered a few info...
it's been painful to walk around with a normal sized pad, an Alpkit one on top of it and a small one. can't even think about carrying even just the Mondo and the usual one...

I had been carrying a boss hog whilst having the mondo on my back, but now borrow mrs rodma's cassin domino and sling the strap of it around the mondo so the two form one really unwieldy (but crucially hands-free) set-up.

You do get used to carrying the extra mass and it's definitely worth it.

There is nothing worse for the moral than trudging around in the heat.

[Nibile]

There is nothing worse for the moral than trudging around in the heat.

amen to that. Yesterday my psyche was so low that I wanted to destroy something beautiful, sweet and Helpless, a small rabbit or the likes. When I found traces of wild boars and a bat hidden in a hold, I packed and left, and destroyed a kebab instead.

[rodma]

destroyed a kebab instead.

Now I'm definitely living my life through the tales of your exploits, I'm sooooooooooooooooooooo hungry right now

[tomtom]

I had a look at a Snap quarter pounder in Outside the other week - its not mega thick (9-10cm) but has a kind of double fold up thing so actually packs quite compactly - in more of a box shape than flat shape.... worth a look?

I really like the look of the Ocun mats though..

[Nibile]

a good friend of mine says "Snap Snap and more Snap".

[tomtom]

I've really liked them - though I have to admit the new versions (I have a now re-foamed bun) seem to have thinner feeling covers/bases. Foam/ideas/design all good. Of course these may well be as durable as the old...

[Greg C]

The recent Moon pads are pretty poor when compared with the original incarnation of the Warrior and Saturn in my view - the designs have gone backwards and the foam is far less good than it used to be. I'd get a Snap Bun if I were you - good foam, solid build quality and sensible dimensions. The recent version is also lighter than the original and they've done away with the slippy PVC on the base. I've had one for the last few months and I really rate it.

The problem with asking for advice about pads on forums etc. is that most peoples pad may well not be the same as the current version available in stores, i.e. it may be better or worse. Manufacturers do seem change their specs quite regularly without actually changing the model name. Take the BD Drop Zone for example, a few years ago this was a decent pad now it would make for fairly substandard vegetable packaging in a supermarket. Equally, many of the recent Metolius models are very good when compared to those from a year or two back.

[Nibile]

true dat.

[rodma]

Equally, many of the recent Metolius models are very good when compared to those from a year or two back.

 

Got a bosshog for nowt and was going to sell it, but ended up keeping it since it appears to be bomb-proof, especially compared to something like the old xxl that I used to have, which looked amazing, but guaranteed bottoming out in all but the shortest of falls.

[Nibile]

can't find Metolius for cheap, but Snap is rapidly gaining positions.
Jeesus, why has it to be so complicated? The first time I bought a pad, I went into the shop, bought the cheapest, got a shitty product, that was all.

[Nibile]

in the neverendig quest for the perfect pad, I found an Italian dealer for Organic pads. They have the Simple pad at 245 Euros, which is a lot but they appear to be very good, and bigger (92x114x10) than the Snap (100x100x9). Still, almost 70 Euros more expensive than Snap.
I'm going nuts.

Edit:
just realized the covered surface is basically the same. 70 Euros for a few cm2 is not worth I think.

[Stubbs]

JUST BUY THE MONDO 

[Nibile]

 
thanks Stubbs, I was really close to doing that, unluckily (or luckily) I found out that it won't stay in the car and that anyway I won't be able to carry it with another pad, my bag with 5 pairs of shoes, my other bag with water, supplements, therabands, headlamp, camera, tripod, rags, brushes, big chalkbag, small chalkbag, liquid chalk and whisky flask.
bouldering: the joys of freedom. 

[tomtom]

Sounds like you need a porter Lore!

[Nibile]

 

[cha1n]

I've had a moon warrior since new (bought about 2 years ago) and had a second hand DMM highball for the same amount of time and the DMM has out performed the moon pad, easily. The moon foam is so soft I'm afraid to fall onto it and I usually take the DMM if I'm taking one pad now. I prefer the strap system on the moon pad though.

[jmews]

I had an organic regular pad, and it was very good. It is definitely not a large pad, though. My franklin drop zone feels like it gives a larger landing. If you can get organic, then maybe consider the large pad. They are really durable, and the foam is great.

[Nibile]

Thanks again for all the info! Was very close to the Organic.
In the end I'm getting a Snap Calzone.
It's a bit small, but the foam appears to be among the best ones on the market and it comes at a reasonable price.
After all, I have another two bigger pads, so another large one would really be too much.
Also, with a Snap I'll feel very French, technical, bleausard and cheesy.
Alors du vin rouge pour moi, monsieur, avec du huit b, s'il vous plait.

Thanks again guys, you really helped me. As always.
Long live UKB.

[wallwombat]

I have an Organic Simple pad and a smaller Organic Briefcase pad.

These give me a large landing area and more versatility than having one big pad.

They are easily the best made pads I have owned. The foam is fantastic and stays firm longer than any other pads I have owned (BD, Moon and Red Chil)

[Nibile]

Hey thanks.
An Organic pad was on the list until I found out that it would not fit in the car with my other pads, and that I would not be able to carry them!!!
I've finally bought a Calzone, that I still haven't used...