Gear Review: Camp Cassin Domino Crash Pad
Value Rating: 8
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 8
Location of Test: Bishop, CA
Duration of Test: 4 days
Product Name: Domino Crash Pad
Product Brand: Camp Cassin
Best Use: Bouldering
Size:
One size, it's big, but not huge.
5.5 inches high, made up of 5 layers of foam
1000 denier nylon shell, reinforced corners and wear points with hypalon
Can be turned into a sofa
The Full Review:
I took the Cassin Domino out on a bouldering trip to one of the best bouldering areas in the world: Bishop, CA. Climbed and crashed on the pad numerous times over the week, and never had any doubts of getting hurt landing on this pad. This pad is thick and might feel a tad firm at first, but after falling repeatedly on the same boulder problem, it really strikes a great balance between soft and firm, with emphasis on the firmer side. I think this is awesome because the pad won't soften up a lot over time and will still give you that soft catch all sport climbers dream of. The only downside of this firmness is that it might not be able to squeeze into the nooks and crannies that some weird landings might provide.
Setting the pad on sharp volcanic rock, or the ever-famous Bishop granite, or just plain sand, the pad did not show any signs of wear (or tear). The material held up wonderfully and sand would fall off with a few taps.
The carrying system was comfortable despite it being a heavy pad. The only downside was the lack of a hip belt which would have helped for technical approaches when you have a bunch of gear stashed inside of it.
The compression straps worked great, albeit long, they are also used when you want to convert the thing into a sofa.
The Good:
- Durable
- Thick
- Turns into a sofa
The Bad:
- Heavy
- Does not carry the best
- Small items might fall out when stuffed inside
The Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a main pad that will save you a trip to the hospital every time, this is the pad for you. You place it under the move you're going to fall off of the most, and you keep it there. You look for the white dots and you aim to land on them. This pad will last you years, and combined with the other Domino pads, would create the best landing platform a helicopter could ever want.