Metolius Stomp Review

Likes
If you like hinged pads, this one is simple and solid. This pad is thin and folds perfectly flat which makes it the most compact pad we tested. It fits in small cars and spaces better than any pad we tested. Even though Metolius says it is 4-inches thick, our measurements showed closer to 3.5". That means you are less likely to roll your angle if your foot lands on the edge. The angled hinge helps protect you on uneven surfaces (but does not protect nearly as well as a "hybrid hinge" or "taco" style pad) like the Metolius Boss Hogg. This is one of the lightest 48" x 36" pads. Some people will appreciate this on big hikes but admittedly weight is not a big consideration when buying a pad. We used to have two of the older models of this pad. We could take just one out for small boulders or strap two together with the Metolius Launch Pad or your own improvised strap system. This was a very versatile systems and a good alternative for people who can't afford both a big pad and a small pad.

Dislikes
Because the pad is so thin, it is not ideal for tall problems. Also, what makes this pad so cheap is the fact it does not have fancy features. For example, there is no automotive carpet on top like the Boss Hog has. This means the pad is not as comfy to hang out on and not as easy to brush dirt off your feet. There is no closure flap, which means if you throw your shoes in the middle of the pad there is a good chance they will fall out of the bottom unless you are vigilant about evenly distributing the compression evenly on all the items. The other solution is to put all your extra stuff in a backpack or a bouldering bag like the Metolius Bouldering Bag. The backing of the pad is standard; there is no beefy ballistic cloth as on the Metolius Boss Hogg or rubber coating on the back as with the Black Diamond Drop Zone.

The shoulder straps are held in place with Velcro so that you can remove them. However, I never found a need to remove the shoulder straps and found the setup more of a liability. The velcro introduces a durability problem; in almost every pad our testers have owned the velcro eventually wears out. At that point if you grab just one shoulder strap the pad will slide around. You then need to either replace the Velcro or very carefully put the pad on and live with the suspension sliding around.

Best Application
This is a great entry level pad if you are starting to boulder and don't want to fully commit to a more expensive and fully featured pad. Because of the angled hinge this pad is best for flat surfaces, not uneven rock surfaces. Also, because it is so light and compact, its an ideal pad to toss in the car for quick after work boulder sessions.

Personal Stories (optional)
Because this pad folds perfectly flat, it is very easy to both fit in the car and lash together with another pad and carry all at once. This is in contrast to "taco" for "hybrid" style pads that bow out a little and do not pack as compactly or lash together as well. This will be a minor advantage for most people who only own one pad or would rather just bring one giant pad. But for me, it was versatile and convenient to have two pads that carried well together. For a bouldering season at Lake Tahoe I had two of these pads and a Metolius Launch Pad. Sometimes I would take one Stomp if there was a big approach or I was doing short problems. And sometimes I would lash two Stomps together with the Launch for highball projects (the Launch added protection where the two pads joined each other). Considering that the Stomp only costs $142 (plus some 1" webbing to lash them together), you can buy two for the same price and get the same amount of foam and coverage as with one Metolius Colossus. If you spend another $80 on the Launch you will have a versatile setup for the same cost as most giant pads. The photo above shows how I carried my two pads. That said, for the same price as two Stomps, you can get two Mad Rock Mad Pad which have a lot more foam making them ideal for high balls. Also, the Mad Pad has a convenient velcro tab for connecting two pads and and eliminating the chance your foot lands between the two pads.

Value
This is my second favorite pad priced under $150 because of its good quality foam that was stiff but not too stiff.

Other Versions
Metolius Boss Hogg