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scienceguy288
Jul 14, 2014, 2:14 AM
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I suspect it varies by group size and the location, but assuming that it's you and a friend at a typical spot...
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lena_chita
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Jul 14, 2014, 3:04 PM
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All the pads you have, AND can carry at the same time, AND can fit into the car.
If you have a large pad, the above-mentioned rule is probably boiling down to one pad per person. If you have smaller pads, you can probably handle two.
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scienceguy288
Jul 14, 2014, 3:27 PM
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What size pad is considered "large" vs "small?" Can't figure out if I'm just not confident in my spotter or whether I actually don't have enough surface area...
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6pacfershur
Jul 14, 2014, 5:28 PM
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john gill never used a pad
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lena_chita
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Jul 14, 2014, 9:02 PM
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scienceguy288 wrote: What size pad is considered "large" vs "small?" Can't figure out if I'm just not confident in my spotter or whether I actually don't have enough surface area...
Can't say anything about your spotter or your confidence.
Roughly 4ftx5ft is generally is the largest size that most crash pad manufacturers make. (e.g. Organic Big pad, or BD Mondo pad). Mad Rock triple pad is almost 6 foot wide, but is really unwieldy.
If the landing is flat, I'd rather have a large pad. Less chance to land on the seam between pads.
But small pads have their uses, too. Sometimes you just can't place a large pad well, because of the ground configuration. Sometimes it is nice to be able to pad something behind you, or use the small pads to even out the ground before placing the large pad on top.
There is just no getting around the fact that bouldering is dangerous, and you can get lucky -- or unlucky. Probably the highest unintentional fall I had was from 15 ft high on a single Mondo pad, with one spotter. It was a piece of cake.
On the other hand, a friend of mine fell this winter from maybe 8ft high on a cushy gym pad, landed awkwardly with the foot caught in a pad seam, and ended up with a broken ankle on one foot, and a torn meniscus in the other leg.
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sungam
Jul 15, 2014, 3:29 PM
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The Verm is the man and whatever he does is the right way to do it.
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funk
Jul 15, 2014, 8:16 PM
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i was going to begin copping my helmet bouldering this fall.
as far as the op's question. 1, sometimes 2 and a Pusher Spot for my dog.
(This post was edited by funk on Jul 15, 2014, 8:17 PM)
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ironmike
Jul 16, 2014, 12:49 AM
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Go padless. Your technique gets better because you learn how to downclimb and conserve your energy. Old school rules!
Also, Curt is right. Professor Gill used a TR when needed.
Besides, it's a hassle to lug all that gear around.
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chris
Jul 16, 2014, 1:05 AM
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6pacfershur wrote: john gill never used a pad
John Gill isn't dead, still boulders, and I've heard he will use a bouldering pad on occasion - something that didn't exist when he started climbing.
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doogievlg
Jul 17, 2014, 2:23 PM
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One pad worked for me for a long time. If your going straight up it's easy but if you have to traverse a bit things get sketchy. Sometimes I would tie a rope to it and loop it around a tree like a pulley. Then when I came up to a tough spot I would pull the pad underneath me.
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shockabuku
Jul 18, 2014, 1:57 AM
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Tampons are a little easier to carry, and just one.
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6pacfershur
Jul 18, 2014, 6:17 AM
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lena_chita wrote: And John Bachar didn't use ropes. I presume that you follow his example, too?
wrong again lena chita....i follow YOUR example!
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meanandugly
Jul 20, 2014, 3:18 PM
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I just asked my wife this question and her reply was "Depends on what time of the month it is."
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