Bouldering mat

Modern mats are made in a wide range of sizes and styles (and colors) and can be up to in thickness, and up to in surface area (at the larger end). ==Use==

A unique aspect of bouldering is the general lack of any requirement for climbing protection equipment that is associated with most other forms of rock climbing, such as sport climbing or traditional climbing. There is some concern amongst climbers about the excessive use of bouldering mats and in particular the employment of 'stacking' (i.e. layers of mats in a vertical pile), and whether 'stacked' mats are akin aid climbing that could help with a difficult 'first move' on a route, and whether the use of 'stacked' mats reduces the objective danger—and thus the technical grade and challenge—of a given traditional climbing or highball bouldering route. In 2023, Austrian climber wrote in Climbing regarding the use of excess bouldering mats, "Today, we see landing zones resembling construction sites", and adding: "... I wonder if it wouldn't be more honest just to toprope?". ==Origin==

The earliest bouldering mats are associated with the Hueco Tanks bouldering area, and its bouldering pioneer John Sherman. By 2019, Climbing Magazine estimated that there were over 50 manufacturers of bouldering mats/crashpads worldwide. ==See also==