A first glance at the Kinetik Newton
Crash Pad ($210, kinetikclimbing.com) garnered a serious “WTF?” from
this tester: What are these flaps?
What’s with all the Velcro? But once
I took the pad out bouldering, the
true beauty inherent in its unusual
design was revealed. The Newton’s
flaps wrap around the folded pad’s
openings, providing a safe cocoon
for your shoes, chalk pot, water, and
anything else you’d shove inside—no
more dropping essentials on the hike.
At the crag, once the pad is unfolded,
the flaps stick together with Velcro
to eliminate the hinge and cover the
backpack straps, so there’s
nothing to catch on rocks and
roots when you drag it around.
Brilliant! I must commend the
vinyl on the underside as well:
This pad was very durable
throughout testing in Moab,
Hueco Tanks, and Boulder. As
a petite female, customizing
the size of the carry system is
crucial, and this one is available
in three torso lengths: 15”, 17”,
and 19”. The foam isn’t as hard
or thick as on some pads, but it
still provided soft landings from
reasonable (not highball) heights. And
the post-sesh clincher: the soft fabric
was perfect for naps. —Jenn Fields
Enlarge
