Lightweight, compact, durable, inflatable, innovative
The pursuit of conquering a rock face, a sheer vertical slice of nature's defiance, often starts with a grueling trek. You're burdened by gear, water, chalk, and of course, that cumbersome piece of engineered foam—the crash pad. Anyone who's ever huffed and puffed up a steep incline with a foam behemoth strapped to their back knows the agony. It’s a sort of penance we pay for the moments of sheer exhilaration that await us on the boulder. Enter Sick Sequence's Ultra Portable Crash Pad, a product that feels like something of a revelation in a world where inconvenience is often worn as a badge of honor.
This isn't your grandad’s crash pad. It packs up to 20 times smaller than the traditional foam guardians we've come to reluctantly accept. Imagine rolling up to your next climb without the sensation that you're moonlighting as a pack mule. The Sick Sequence Crash Pad achieves this feat through a mix of innovation and material science. The pad is made from textured TPU, a material you’ve already encountered in protective gear, shoe soles, and even medical equipment. Matched with a woven nylon internal structure, the pad offers a landing that is rigid, robust, yet flexible.
One of the things that stand out, beyond the sci-fi materials and the Kickstarter enthusiasm, is the ease of setup. This thing inflates in less than a minute. You don’t need to be a mechanical engineer to appreciate that kind of efficiency, but it doesn’t hurt that the company’s founder, Warner Krause, is exactly that—a boulderer turned engineer. He's iterated this design five times to get it right. That kind of obsession speaks to the soul of climbing: the endless pursuit of a problem solved, an obstacle overcome.
But let’s get real. All revolutions come with caveats. This pad is a featherweight at 3.5 pounds, which sounds amazing until you realize that traditional pads often rely on their own heft to stay put. A misplaced foot or a nudge could send this pad sliding. And while the TPU is durable and cushiony, it doesn't offer the same kind of malleable comfort foam does. It won't naturally hug the jagged rocks and crevices you might be negotiating. Instead, your body weight does the job. It’s a shift in strategy, another variable in the already complex equation of bouldering.
If you're the sort to romanticize the burden of traditional gear, the Sick Sequence Crash Pad may feel like heresy. But if you've ever dreamt of making that remote climb in Upper Chaos Canyon or Wind River Range without requiring a Sherpa, this pad might just be your game-changer. For $191, it's not just a pad you're investing in; it's a philosophy. It's an acknowledgment that while the climb is sacred, getting there doesn't have to be a pilgrimage.
Sure, new tech invites skepticism, but it also enables new types of experiences. Sometimes, to reach new heights, you've got to be willing to shed some weight. Literally.
Pros:
- Ultra-Portable: The Sick Sequence Crash Pad packs up 20 times smaller than conventional foam pads, making it highly convenient for travel and long approaches to climbing sites.
- Lightweight: Weighing just 3.5 pounds, it drastically reduces the physical strain traditionally associated with transporting crash pads.
- Quick Inflation: The pad can be inflated in less than a minute, making setup swift and efficient.
- Robust Material: Made from textured TPU and woven nylon, the pad offers a combination of durability, cushioning, and flexibility.
- Engineered Design: Founded by a boulderer and engineer, the product has gone through multiple iterations to achieve a balanced design that caters to real-world climbing conditions.
- Versatile: Its lightweight and compact design could enable climbers to easily carry multiple pads, making it suitable for different terrains and heights.
Cons:
- Stability Concerns: Its lightweight nature means that it could easily be moved by a misplaced foot or a nudge, requiring extra caution during use.
- Different Feel: The material does not mimic the feel of traditional foam, requiring a climber to adjust to a new landing experience, including a more “bouncy” absorption of shock.
- Adaptation Required: Unlike foam pads, this pad doesn't naturally conform to the shape of jagged rocks or uneven surfaces. Climbers will need to adapt their strategies for placing the pad effectively.
- Price: Retailing at $191, the cost might be a factor for climbers who are used to the more economical foam pads.
- Learning Curve: Due to its new technology and differences in handling, there's a learning curve involved for those switching from traditional foam pads.
- Dependence on Inflation: Since it's an inflatable product, there’s always the risk of punctures or leaks, which would make the pad unusable until repaired.
From $191
