Metolius Recon Crash Pad
The Metolius Recon crash pad provides 5.5 sq. ft. more landing area than most standard-size pads while maintaining a narrow profile when folded for easy carrying to your favorite bouldering spot.
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- 3-panel design with angled hinges allows the Recon pad to fold up compactly for easy transportation to the crag; angled hinges eliminate gutters found on many folding pads
- 3 layers of foam absorb impacts; features 1 in. of closed-cell foam on top, 2.5 in. of open-cell foam in the center and 0.5 in. of closed-cell foam on the bottom
- 900-denier fabric with ballistic nylon on the bottom stands up to regular use outdoors; carpeted logo gives you a place to wipe your shoes clean
- Small exterior stash pocket and a large interior pocket hold shoes, chalk bags and other essentials
- Padded shoulder straps make it easy to carry; also includes dual sets of drag handles
- Closure flap reverses when pad is in use to protect shoulder straps from the ground
- The Metolius Recon crash pad has burly aluminum buckles that are guaranteed for life
Imported.
View all Metolius Bouldering Crash Pads| Best Use | Bouldering |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | (Open) 60 x 42 x 4 / (folded) 42 x 22 x 13 inches |
| Weight | 14 lbs. 5.1 oz. |
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Easy to carry
We got this pad because my son was having a hard time carrying one of our organic pads due to weight (he's 10y/o) we had him try this one on and he liked it so figured we would give it a shot. We went out that weekend and while it is very tall on him it's much narrower than the organic pad and he was able to go almost the full day hiking around to different boulders before I needed to take over. As far as falling on it goes it felt fine. I know that a lot of reviews say it wears out quick so hopefully we get some good use out of it. I will update if anything abnormal goes on with it but as of now we are very happy with it.
Stealth-Mode
I just got this crash pad over the summer, so I can't speak to it's durability just yet. However, I'm a huge fan of the low profile. For a trifold, it's super light-weight and slim. I watch my friends battle pretty much every protruding bit of nature along the trail, but I never have any trouble. I sneak through like a sponge-bob ninja. It's caught many of my falls- no complaints yet. :)
Save your ankles!
The tri-fold option means this baby is BIG when you unfold it, yet is easy to carry. Good compromise of padding thickness and weight. Nice backpack straps and extra-durable velcro all around. Some folks might find the padding to be too firm initially, but it does break in a bit over time. The "key features" it seems to be missing would be handles on the long sides of the pad (when unfolded). The handles are on the short sides, so it's not as easy as it could be to carry it from one prob to the next unfolded. Also, the wrap-around fastener flaps work well but only one of them has a pocket (fits shoes and brushes, but not much else). It'd be nice if they both had pockets so you could cram a bit more gear in there. That said, I've got an 18L REI Flash pack that I put my water bottle, snacks and misc gear in when I climb and it's very convenient to put it under the bottom flap and cinch it down. Run the cinch strap through the daypack's straps and it's a really secure way to carry everything you need. Overall, the pad is a bit spendy, but the quality is great and the larger size is a big plus. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.
Pretty great so far
Bought this a couple weeks ago so I could finally climb outdoors since the gyms are closed. (At my very local crag) so far I’ve used it on two separate trips and my friends and I love it. Personally I don’t take much with me so the size of the pockets are decent to me. I usually take a couple snacks, tape and drink separate from my water bottle that I carry and there’s plenty of room for other stuff honestly. I guess people who complain about the size of the pockets are putting their shoes and chalk bag in the pocket which I don’t recommend. I just lay them on top of the pad and pull the triangle flap over and they stay perfectly secure there. It’s stuff at first but loosens up relatively quickly with use. All the materials feel pretty durable
Great first pad
Out of the box was very stiff, but softened up after a month. Decent sized pad for climbing alone and folds up and carries nicely. I have a civic hatchback and I put the single seat down to put the pad in. It can fit without putting a seat down but it’s super tight. The storage pockets are kind of small but just clip whatever u need to the handles or bring a backpack. The velcro to cover the hinges is a nice touch too. Been using it for 3 months and it’s been holding up well.
Great first pad, but not perfect.
I've used other pads, but this is the first pad I've owned and I think it's great as a first pad. I've taken it out on 4 day-trips so far and it's suited my needs pretty perfectly. You get a lot of pad for the price and it's super versatile. I love folding it into a couch after a long approach and having a nice rest and lunch. Then, on uneven landing zones, I can usually orient the pad so that one of the folds is bent over a protruding rock or stump while the other two folds are flat. Because of its size and because it doesn't have handles on the long sides (which it REALLY should), it's a little hard to quickly move around underneath someone; but also because of its size, you don't often need to move it around. I don't even bother trying to stuff gear into this pad. Usually I have a pad-less friend who can carry a pack full of gear. Otherwise, I actually prefer to wear a backpack on my front because it provides great counter balance and improves my form on longer approaches. If I had access to boulders that didn't require a whole day to visit, I think I could get away with using the pockets on the flaps and stuffing gear inside of it, but right now I just have to lug too much stuff. Because of its width, and because I'm 5'2", it's a little tall while on my back, and it makes it hard to keep my neck straight while I'm hiking up hill. (This could probably be solved by adding two height options for the shoulder straps like Organic does.) However, I think the width is perfect for everything else and I would not want a narrower pad. I bought this pad because it's the exact width of the inside of my car, and so I could use it as a mattress if needed. I haven't needed to yet, but probably will at some point this season. If anything, I think the pad could be a bit longer since my feet dangle off when I lay down on it; and the pad is super narrow when it's on my back, which makes doubling up with a different style pad kind of awkward. Also, the shoulder straps tighten at the bottom of the pad instead of the bottom of the should straps, so you pull up instead of down to tighten. I find it pretty hard to get the straps tight enough with this mechanism, and I don't see any real advantages to it other than maybe having more strap to clip gear to (but then it would probably swing into your legs). One thing that constantly bugs me is that this pad holds onto debris like nothing else. There's uncovered velcro all over the pad so that you can reinforce the hinges. But this, along with the big carpet square, just collects dirt and plants from the lush Washington forests. This means that I'm carrying plants from one place to another unless I grab some hard brushes and a vacuum and do a deep clean, and it made the carpet pretty much useless after one day. The carpet also sheds fibers when I try to clean the debris out of it, and so in all I'd rather just bring a towel than have the permanent carpet. If you're not bouldering in a forest though, this is probably not a concern and the carpet might actually be useful.
Great landing
I've took this boulder 5 or 6 times now and it's great. It has velcro at the fold that allows the pad to be full ridged not floppy. My friend fell from a highball of about 17 feet and was fine afterwards.
Brilliant design. Perfect fit in Subaru Crosstrek.
Love the triple fold style so that it’s easier to transport. The closure system is brilliant in how it can cover the shoulder straps and harness so they don’t contact the ground when you’re bouldering. Also really like the slant hinge with the Velcro flap to insure I don’t bottom out on the hinge or get my ankles stuck in it. Appreciate all the grab handles. Bonus that the dimensions seem custom made for a Subaru Crosstrek. Seriously, it makes me wonder if the designer drives a Crosstrek it fits so well. Only downside is it only comes in one color so probably need to tie colored string to tell it apart at crowded crags. I’ve tried sleeping on it a couple times which isn’t great but that’s probably a good thing since it would be too soft for falls if it was a comfier mattress.
One of the best crash pads on the market!
This crash pad is fantastic. I have multiple friends that have this same model. Very easy to carry. Also, it doubles as a couch!! (One of the main selling points for me, in terms of getting a tri-fold). Would highly recommend.
Awesome pad
This is my favorite pad I've used for sure. For the coverage it provides it's still super light weight - awesome for longer and longer approaches. The velcro flaps basically fix the pad in an open position and make it feel bomber under your falls. Also mine has been going strong for several long bouldering seasons. It's durable!