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Metolius Session II Review

An impressive medium-sized pad at a low cost
Metolius Session II
Photo: Metolius
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Price:  $160 List | $159.95 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 3 resellers
Pros:  Securely holds a fair amount of gear with easy flap closure, handy carpet square for cleaning shoes, durable, affordable
Cons:  The single buckle flap closure can come open when hauling heavy or bulky loads
Manufacturer:   Metolius
By Steven Tata ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 7, 2018
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67
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#8 of 10
  • High Falls - 30% 6
  • Low Falls - 30% 7
  • Durability - 20% 7
  • Packing Gear - 10% 7
  • Features - 10% 7

Our Verdict

The Metolius Session II is a good budget pad with some decent features. Out of the box, it is among the softest pads that we tested, which is nice for low falls but not very confidence-inspiring once you're high off the ground. The Session II has an angled hinge design that, like most hinges, can bottom out if something protrudes into the hinge from underneath but with the angled hinge it is less likely. It's also one of the least expensive pads that we tested. While this pad has one our Best Buy Award in the past, we now think the higher scoring and only slightly more expensive Mad Rock Mad Pad is the better buy.

Compare to Similar Products

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Metolius Session II
This Product
Metolius Session II
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Top Pick Award  
Price $159.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$249 List$199 List$210.00 at REI$299.95 at Amazon
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Pros Securely holds a fair amount of gear with easy flap closure, handy carpet square for cleaning shoes, durable, affordableStraps to attach a second pad, plush suspension, sturdy foam for high fallsVersatility, soft but dense foam with multiple hinges conforms to uneven landing surfaces and cushions short to medium length falls very well. It also hauls a lot of gear well and has handy featuresSuper durable, amazing foam, lightweightFolds open and closed better than any other taco-style pad, innovative zip-up flap closure system securely stores gear, well made, sleek look
Cons The single buckle flap closure can come open when hauling heavy or bulky loadsFoam is hard for low falls, stiff for uneven landingsSpecialized, the soft, squishy, shredded foam and slightly lumpy "baffles" are not the best for some long, high falls - they could possibly roll an ankleLack of features, doesn't pack much gear wellDoes not pack large or bulky loads of gear well, no center lifting handle, Velcro and zipper could wear out prematurely
Bottom Line Great value with good foam and handy featuresA unique strap system, useful features, and thick foam make this model a fantastic all-around padOne of the softest pads we tested, it shines for low falls and carrying equipmentThe best mid-sized crash padA good medium-sized taco pad that comes at a high cost
Rating Categories Metolius Session II Mad Rock Duo Mad Rock R3 Organic Simple Petzl Alto
High Falls (30%)
6
9
6
8
7
Low Falls (30%)
7
6
10
8
7
Durability (20%)
7
8
7
8
8
Packing Gear (10%)
7
9
10
6
7
Features (10%)
7
10
6
6
8
Specs Metolius Session II Mad Rock Duo Mad Rock R3 Organic Simple Petzl Alto
Surface Size (inches) 50" x 37" 56" x 42" 55" x 35" 48" x 36" 46" x 39"
Thickness (inches) 4" 5" 4" 4" 4"
Weight (lbs) 9 lbs 17 lbs 18 lbs 11 lbs 12 lbs
Hinge/Taco Hinge Hinge Hinge(s)/Baffles Hinge Taco
Closing Flap Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year Lifetime limited None, but they do repairs. 3 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


The Session II gets the job done for low-medium falls.
The Session II gets the job done for low-medium falls.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Padding Falls


The Session II's 4-inch sandwich foam design has a 0.5-inch closed-cell ground layer, 3-inch open-cell foam core layer, and a 1-inch closed-cell top layer.

This foam is uniquely layered in a way that cushions well in most scenarios from short back-jarring falls to medium-high falls. No hinged pad is completely failsafe and the hinge of the Session II felt especially thin. We preferred the Mad Rock Mad Pad's thick velcro hinge flap to the Session II's offset hinge, which tended to come undone up on uneven landings. Only taco style hinged pads with a solid piece of foam are fully foolproof over sharp rocky landings. The exception to this is our top pi k the Organic Simple with its partially hinged design. For landings that are lumpy and uneven the single best pad is our Top Pick Award-winning Mad Rock R3 that has multiple baffles that conform to uneven terrain.
The Session II's angled hinge worked well on even landings, but...
The Session II's angled hinge worked well on even landings, but without a velcro flap running down the length of it some parts felt very soft.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

The Mad Rock Mad Pad is in the same price zone and earned the Best Buy award for its super thick 5-inch foam. If you are bouldering mostly on highballs or in steep caves over mostly flat-ish landings then the Mad Pad's additional inch of pad thickness will help to cushion hard falls. The Mad Pad does have the basic hinge that is at risk of failing on sharp rocky landings so if you boulder over jagged rocks frequently then the Session II would be better or consider a non-hinged taco style pad that are the best for rugged landings. Also if you ever want to carry a large or heavy load the Mad Pad does not pack loads as well as the Session II or most taco pads. Simply put, the Session II is more than adequate to pad most falls on most landing zones.

Packing Gear


This pad stores a small to medium size daypack or bag of gear, food, water bottle, etc., all very well with the easy to open/close one buckle flap. In backpack mode, the contoured shoulder straps and adjustable waist belt make it comfortable to haul medium to semi-heavy loads very well. The waist buckle is the standard medium size plastic clip style. The suspension lacks a chest strap, which made the pad feel a bit less stable while hiking on rough terrain but didn't make much of a difference for flat approaches.
The large closure flap works great for filling the Session II with...
The large closure flap works great for filling the Session II with gear.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Features


The Session II securely holds an average amount of gear with the quick and easy to use one strap flap closure system. The thick 4-inch sandwich foam is good all around and the handy carpet square in the center of the pad is good for cleaning or drying off your rock shoes before burns.

The felt square is a nice feature for wiping off shoes before...
The felt square is a nice feature for wiping off shoes before climbing.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Durability


After months of use, the Session II didn't soften up much. The material held up to abrasive rock very well and we'd expect this pad to survive many seasons of consistent use.

The foam of the Session II wasn't impressively thick but the...
The foam of the Session II wasn't impressively thick but the construction felt durable.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Best Applications


The Session II is great as a first pad for a beginner or for an average level boulder and even as part of a collection of pads for an expert. It stores and hauls gear well for long hikes and the size is just big enough to use alone or with a single other similar sized pad to form a fair-sized landing zone.

Value


For anybody on a budget, the Session II provides a great value. It is relatively compact and covers a large enough area to work well as a standalone pad under problems that doesn't traverse much. For the price, the Session II offers a good all-around pad for most bouldering sessions. The Mad Rock Mad Pad hovers in the same price range and comes with much thicker padding, but doesn't have as many features as the Session II.

Conclusion


The medium size of the Session II is just right for a solo lowball circuit or to pad a tall problem in conjunction with a few other pads. Although the Mad Pad is better for its thickness and durability, the Session II still has a place in the hands of boulderers on a budget and for those who are looking to add some extra cushion to their arsenal of pads.

— Steven Tata