The new edition of the Asana Hero Highball has a hinge that I don't think is an improvement over the older taco style pad. Some people may prefer the hinge, but not me. They could have made a hybrid angled hinge or added at least some padding to the hinge area to take care of the bottoming out effect.
Other than that Asana has innovative designs and good overall workmanship and is made with quality materials. The padding on the older model wore out faster than most. Asana made an obvious design breakthrough when they made pull tabs on the ends of their straps. The handy pull tabs help you get a grip when the pad is packed full of gear and you need to tighten up the load for hauling (this is only really useful if you use your pad as a pack a lot). I also like how this pad has most of other needed features like secure shoulder straps and flaps to hold in stuff.Asana Hero Highball Pad Review
Cons: Hinged, prematurely soft foam.
Manufacturer: Asana
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Hero Highball Pad Vs. The Hero Highball PRism
Asana has provided us with a few details on the new upgrades for the pad which now goes by the name of the Hero Highball PRism.
- Asana
The Hero Highball PRism isn't so different from the Hero Highball that it replaces, and so we think our review below will still give you a pretty good feel. The price has increased from $195 to $215 list. Below you will see the older version of the Highball on the left vs. the two photos of the Highball PRism on the right.
Likes
I liked the old taco design of this pad. However, the new hinged design will lay flatter, pack into a car or closet easier, and the padding will last longer without the constant folding and creasing of the taco style. I also like the pull tabs on the end of the straps This idea needs to be used across the board; all pads by all companies should have this.
Dislikes
I do not like how the padding gets soft much sooner than on other comparable pads. It is possible to replace the foam and it is nice to have a pad that already feels broken in when you buy it. That said, it could be a bit stiffer.
Best Application
All-around bouldering.
Value
For $215 this is in the middle of the price range for the pads in this review. At $175 the Organic (also hinge style) has better foam and workmanship. It is probably the better deal for most boulderers. For $199 you can have the Black Diamond Drop Zone with the taco style (no hinge).
— Chris Summit
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