my gym uses about 4" foam covered by 2" foam gymnastic flooring. then 4-5" boulder pads to move around in the boulder area

my gym uses about 4" foam covered by 2" foam gymnastic flooring. then 4-5" boulder pads to move around in the boulder area

One thing to think about... I think that a significant number of gym injuries are caused by someone landing on the edge of the drag pads and turning an ankle or worse.

I prefer a bouldering area with a single thick pad throughout. Then you don't have to worry about positioning a pad in the right place, etc. Of course, this type of padding is pretty expensive.

I think gym rats learning how to position pads effectively is a valuable skill to learn if they are going to go outside also. Landing correctly and safely is not learned when you can take a full layout fall from the top of the boulder onto a huge pad.

I totally agree. Boulderers should take responsibility to learn how to judge an appropriate place to position a pad, and should also learn how to spot their partners, moving the pads when necessary and also to help direct them onto the pad.

That said, if a boulderer falls outside and turns his ankle on the side of a pad he will pay the consequences himself and hopefully chalk it up to experience. However, if a boulderer turns his/her ankle indoors the owner of the facility tends to (rightly or wrongly) incur some consequences. At the least other patrons who may not be aware of the risks of bouldering may be turned off to the activity... this hurts business. At the worst the injured climber (or their insurance company) may attempt to seek some sort of damages. Even if they ultimately are denied, the owner has had some negative repercussions.

I was speaking from the perspective of someone considering what type of flooring to install in a new gym. The gym owner can't rely on every climber falling correctly onto the pad and must consider what will best avoid injuries in their facility to ensure a low accident rate and avoid costly insurance payouts, etc.

Ideally the gym will consider a combination of a good flooring system, careful monitoring of the bouldering area by staff, as well as climber education.

I've seen a couple of gyms that use pea-gravel, what do you guys think of that?

I've seen a couple of gyms that use pea-gravel, what do you guys think of that?
Eman

I don't know how others feel about them, but I don't care for those big pads with 45 degree edges.

Padded gym floor= awesome place for a nap.

If you tried that at my bouldering gym, you'd get the rudest awakening known to man: A small child jumping onto your nuts from ten feet in the air.

What are you doing with your trad rack at the gym

He uses it to try & impress the babes.

I think gym rats learning how to position pads effectively is a valuable skill to learn if they are going to go outside also. Landing correctly and safely is not learned when you can take a full layout fall from the top of the boulder onto a huge pad.

It sucks, big time. There was a gym in north Houston that used to have it. Every time we'd go up there to climb we would end up with a layer of dirt half way up to our knees.

Exactly. Unfortunately, there's nothing like hearing a lady ask, "Is that a c3 in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" to put a serious dent in your ego. Maybe things will pick up once I invest in some wider gear.

I agree with the sentiment, but your expectations for a climbing gym's goals and the reality are wildly divergent. A gym is business, and their ultimate goal is to ensure repeat customers. All else is secondary. With that in mind, preventing injuries through better facility management is more important than preventing injuries through customer education.

A well managed gym has both an environment that helps prevent injuries and educates their users about safety.