boulder

When you’re high off the deck trying hard on a boulder, you need to trust your protection on the ground. The best crash pads use high quality foam padding to keep you safe, and durable external materials that can hold up to the rigors of outdoor use. Picking out the right pad for you is also in the details—you want to consider how a pad closes, carries, and holds up over time. These pads are great for every rock climber.

Take an abandoned wagon road near Boulder's Flatirons with Backpacker editors Jon Dorn and Anthony Cerretani in this trail profile.