Black Diamond Mondo Pad Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Great foam, large surface area, lots of grab loops
Cons: No sternum strap, outdated hinge closure
Manufacturer: Black Diamond
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Black Diamond Mondo Pad | |||||
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| Awards |  | |  | | |
| Price | $399.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $340 List | $249 List | $199.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $220.00 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Great foam, large surface area, lots of grab loops | Huge surface area, narrow carrying profile, excellent features | Straps to attach a second pad, plush suspension, sturdy foam for high falls | Versatility, soft, great for uneven surfaces, carries a ton of gear | Super durable, amazing foam, lightweight |
| Cons | No sternum strap, outdated hinge closure | Can't pack as much as a taco-style pad | Foam is hard for low falls, stiff for uneven landings | Not ideal for long, high falls, heavy | Lack of features, doesn't pack much gear well |
| Bottom Line | A big pad for big boulder problems | This tri-fold pad gives us plenty of protection, is very durable, and is easy to carry | A unique strap system, useful features, and thick foam make this model a fantastic all-around pad | One of the softest pads we tested, it shines for low falls and carrying equipment | The best mid-sized crash pad |
| Rating Categories | Black Diamond Mondo Pad | Metolius Magnum | Mad Rock Duo | Mad Rock R3 | Organic Simple |
| High Falls (30%) | |||||
| Low Falls (30%) | |||||
| Durability (20%) | |||||
| Packing Gear (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Black Diamond... | Metolius Magnum | Mad Rock Duo | Mad Rock R3 | Organic Simple |
| Surface Size (inches) | 65" x 44" | 70" x 47" | 56" x 42" | 55" x 35" | 48" x 36" |
| Thickness (inches) | 5" | 4" | 5" | 4" | 4" |
| Weight (lbs) | 22 lbs | 18.7 lbs | 17 lbs | 18 lbs | 11 lbs |
| Hinge/Taco | Hinge | Hinge | Hinge | Hinge(s)/Baffles | Hinge |
| Closing Flap | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year | Lifetime limited | None, but they do repairs. |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Padding Falls
Falling while bouldering is guaranteed, and having the Black Diamond Mondo beneath you will put your mind at ease. The massive surface area and 5" of foam is perfect for those times when the crux is high and you want to focus on the climbing and not your landing. The updated Mondo's foam feels much firmer than the previous iteration. We suspect this is due to an increase in closed cell foam on the top layer. This firmer landing removes that soft sinking feeling when taking big falls, which could result in a tweaked ankle. Another update for the Mondo is the square corners. The new square corners remove dead spots in landings zones where there would be no padding with a round corner. If you are looking for a crash pad to pad big falls from big boulders, then the Mondo is an excellent option.
Durability
The Mondo is built with durability in mind. The fabric used is durable 1000D nylon on all of the sides. All of the buckles are made of metal except for the large 2" waist belt buckle. New for the 2019 Mondo is a rubberized back panel, non-existant on previous versions of this pad. This new material is designed to aid in preventing the pad from sliding on angled landings. We also found the new material to be durable against sharp rocks.
Packing Gear
The Mondo does not have any added features to assist in packing gear. That being said, due to the Mondo's large size a day pack can easily fit inside the pad when folded. Many of our testers feel that the one pad and one pack set up is the perfect way to go for a day of bouldering by yourself or while joining a group.
The Mondo's backpack suspension system is very bare-bones. The padding on the shoulder straps is thin yet comfortable as long as you are wearing a shirt. The waistbelt is just 2" webbing, but it did take some of the weight off our shoulders. We wish there were a sternum strap, especially with such a large pad, but it isn't a deal-breaker.
Features
The BD Mondo is designed with elegant simplicity. There are four handles at the corners for shifting or dragging the pad. Testers found these handles useful when setting up a landing of moving between problems on the same boulder. The Mondo also features two shoulder straps that double as drag loops. We used the shoulder straps to drag the pad along the ground to make sure the climber was centered over the pad.
There are a few features we feel that the Mondo is lacking. One of the first features our testers all searched for and didn't find was a handle to lift the pad by when it was folded. This feature is on most of the other pads in our test. While the Mondo does have two large shoulder straps that accomplish the same task of moving the pad short distances, a small handle would have been nice.
Value
The Mondo is one of the most expensive pads in our test bunch. The Mondo's updated features, as well as the superior feeling foam, make the increased cost justifiable for those seeking an oversized pad for big problems.
Conclusion
For climbers seeking a massive pad that will allow you to stay composed high off the deck, the Black Diamond Mondo Pad may be right for you. With its large surface area, firm 5" foam, and updated features, it's a great pad for all-around use. If you don't mind the 20-pound weight or the sizeable price tag, that is.
— Henry Feder