[kingholmesy]

Impending fatherhood has prompted to me to look at buying a launch pad type bouldering mat for the Mrs and the little un to  sit on when I drag them out to the crag with me.  I already tend to lug two standard size mats with me, but one is currently being used primarily for the Mrs to sit on.  So that I can claim this back I am thinking of adding one of the following to my sherpa-like load:

Alpkit Waffa, £40 - 100cm x 65cm x 5cm

or

Evolv Wingman, £45 - 105cm x 70 x 3cm


Given that it's going to be a sitting/picnicing/changing mat first and a bouldering mat second, I'm tempted to go for the larger surface area of the Wingman over the thickness of the Waffa.

Anyone got any thoughts on either mat?  I should I just accept that this summer is going to be a write-off climbing wise?

[JM]

Never used either but this may be of interest

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,21678.0.html

[kingholmesy]

Cheers.  Unfortunately the Wingmans have sold out, otherwise I would have snapped one up at that price.

[Jim]

I'd stick with giving her a full size mat, otherwise you might not be allowed out to the crag quite as much

[andyd]

Put your credit card away.
Buy what you need when you know what you need. People spend shed loads on baby stuff that they think they'll need, then don't use it.
The first few weeks will be two to three hour chunks of feed-change-sleep. You won't be nipping off to the crag as a family that much I don't suppose. My friends had a cricket bag for their first born. Snug as a bug.

[Drew]

Here is a cheaper but smaller alternative.

[tomtom]

Here is a cheaper but smaller alternative.

+1 I like mine...

[lagerstarfish]

I used my old S7 mat for the same purpose

the important thing for me was that it was the same size as the floor of my pop-up sun tent - this kept the tent up without need for pegs and keep its shape while children rolled against the sides

the sun tent was a great place for babies (and knackered parents) to sleep and then when they were bigger they played in it - it lasted 11 years till it's pop-up frame had finally had enough

it wasn't the smallest size - it was the next one up (Junior?)

similar to this, except mine was a Nivea branded one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pop-Junior-Cabana-Beach-Tent/dp/B000SO6UKC

I used a mosquito net over it to cope with summer insects


also, what Andyd said about not buying baby equipment in advance

[Luke Owens]

I bought a picnic blanket (Circa £10) when our little one was born last October. Missus was happy with this, combined with a few blankets it's easier to carry, cheaper and comfy for the little one. You can always change him/her on your existing bouldering pad.

You won't be nipping off to the crag as a family that much I don't suppose. My friends had a cricket bag for their first born. Snug as a bug.

I think we/me go out more since the little one was born. He was at the Cromlech Boulders in his 2nd week on the planet.

I think new parents go insane because they stay indoors too much...!