(OK I posted this on UKC too, but I gather some of you guys aren't fans
and it's definitely a bouldering question, so I posted it here as well).
These are offered as a feature on some of the Flashed bouldering mats.
Are these?
1) The fat bits at the side of your spotters belly, useful for when you miss the mat and land in them?
or as I suspect
2) Handles so your 4 spotters can lift the mat providing a "firemans blanket" for you to jump into...?
What are they made of? I mean the forces involved when you jump onto the mat would surely just tear the stitching leaving your spotters holding 4 handles.
Obviously your spotters can only hold so much impact and would "give"... which I assume is the point, but if I were to jump onto a rucksac while people held the straps I'd break it prettty sharpish.
Has anyone seen a mat/used a mat like this?
How highball was the problem?
Did it work to save the climbers legs/life?
Does this mean routes of 12m+ can/will now be classed as boulder problems?