Some pictures from today’s double training session; 8am-1030am of power and strength on the system/campus board. 230pm-6 of hard bouldering and power endurance w/ 25min core session. I’ve never felt this wrecked after training before but it is so so worth it!
Asana Hero Pad Review
When it comes to bouldering there is nothing more important than a solid pad. Your bones thank you every time you spit off the top of your project onto a crash pad, as opposed to a rock pile. I’ve spent the better part of 10 years pebble-wrestling, and have very high standards as to how my pad should be. There are basics; price, size, weight, and thickness. Then there are details such as chest/waist strap, type of foam, type of opening, and customization. Its hard to find a pad that meets all of those specifications just right; luckily the Asana Hero Highball met all of mine!
Basics:
- Price: $215
- Size: 48 x 36 x 4 inches
- Weight: 4-6 lbs (I actually don’t know the exact weight, but its definitely on the lighter side)
- Thickness: 4 inches
Details:
- Chest/waist strap: check and check!
- Foam: Dual-density; 1 inch closed cell, 3 inch open cell
- Opening: Hinge-style, double-nylon straps with metal cam-buckle closure, flaps on top and bottom.
- Customization: Color, foam density, shoulder strap height, extra handle, optional name on your pad!
(I know it says Disturbed Pad, but it shows the customizations for all Asana pads)
Pros:
- Weight; the Hero Pad is incredibly light for its size! From hour-long approaches in the Park to 5 minutes at Joe’s Valley, I never once noticed my pad ever being too heavy.
- Packability; I tend to bring a lot of stuff on my day trips, and I can fit it all in my pad with ease. The bottom flap does a good job of holding jackets and bigger stuff in; keys and phones gotta go in your bag though.
- HANDLES; the Hero Pad has a couple beefy nylon handles strategically placed on the top and side of the pad. I’ve found them to be extremely useful (you can also add a third handle for a bit extra).
- Foam; 6 months later and it still has that new-foam firmness. Broken in a little bit for sure, but still going very strong.
- Shoulder strap adjustability; I’m a short girl and many shoulder-to-waist strap ratios are too large for me. Luckily you can change that with the Hero Pad!
Cons:
- The bend in the shoulder straps aren’t the most ergonomically shaped; they get a little uncomfortable after 45 minutes of sweaty hiking.
- Bright colors may attract extra attention from tourists; “Is that a TV on your back?”
- The hinge-style could be considered a pro or a con; many cite ankle-rolling potential that the dead space between the foam presents (I haven’t encountered any problems so far though).
Overall the Hero has been one of the best pads I’ve owned, and I’m not being biased here. $215 could be considered a bit steep, but the extras you get are completely worth it. I highly recommend you keep the Hero Highball in your considerations when shopping for a new pad!
My custom Asana Hero Pad came in today!! YAY! This baby’s gonna be traveling with me to South Africa in July. They topped my order off with some extra White Dirt chalk and a poster of fellow Asana athlete Beau Stuart. Thanks so much for hookin’ me up guys, you’re the best!
Keep an eye out for a Hero Pad review coming soon!
kylerdeutmeyer:
Trevor Markel on Merkin in Endo Valley, RMNP, Colorado
THIS. PROBLEM.
UGH.
Need to go back and send!!
finding-elysium:
Daniel Woods flashing “Entlinge” 8C/V15, and Guntram Jörg laughing because you can’t really do anything else after watching someone flash V15.
bearcamblog:
Jamie Emerson in Wild Basin
A rare photo of the Sheriff. I got an awesome one of him at the Spot, gotta find it!
