Rob Greenwood justifies his recent trip to Font with a thorough look at SNAP's latest pad, the curiously named 'Guts'.

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The original SNAP Wrap was something of a revolution in bouldering mat design, insofar as it moved away from the traditional construction used throughout the industry at the time, which involves - as it still does today - sandwiching a single soft layer between two high density layers of foam. Instead, it featured their unique 'air cell' technology, which through a series of sewn cubes, each filled with foam, releases air at a variable rate depending on the size of the fall you're taking. For 2019 the range has been changed, with the Wrap being essentially re-named the Wham, and the (curiously named) Guts, which we're reviewing here, being introduced as a hinged counterpart.

Given that it's been three years since we put the original through its paces it's probably worth recapping, and elaborating, on the air cell technology within, as that is - fundamentally - one of the major draws of the Guts (I still can't believe they called it that…). Within the Guts' innards are the following forms of shock absorption:

12cm high density impact absorbing polyurethane foam - this is the 'air cell' component, which is found inside the sewn cubes that are velcroed together inside the pad. If you fall gently, or sit on them, then the air is released slowly, hence it can - upon first acquaintance, feel like quite a soft pad; however, when falling from height this immediately changes, as less air can escape due to the increased speed of travel - hence it feels much firmer (not too firm, I hasten to add).

20mm high density impact reducing EVA foam - this layer sits over the top of the other layer (i.e. the cubes) and helps to spread the load more evenly across the whole pad. The fact this sits on the top means that there is indeed a correct and incorrect way to use the pad, as flipping it the wrong way up would result in a much MUCH softer landing (that isn't really recommended).

The pros of the above are that the Guts (and the Wham alike) give a uniquely adapted landing depending on exactly how you fall. This is particularly desirable whilst highballing, as the other thing that the pad takes out (aside from the force) is the bounce that you get with conventional three layer foam pads. If you land on the Guts, then the chances are that's where you're going to stay. This can't be said with many other pads, where you'll often bounce and roll - especially when falling from height.

If there's a pad you're looking to take highballing there may be a plethora of large pads out there to choose from, but nothing with performance quite like this.

Were there to be a drawback it is that this technology isn't the most minimalist, in fact it's pretty bulky, and it is so on two grounds with the Guts. Firstly, the air cells require a lot of depth, hence it's quite chunky from the word go, but this is amplified further because of its dimensions - 150x100x15cm is pretty sizeable even in the present day where pads seem to be getting larger. In fact, one thing I would highly recommend - if you're interested in the Guts or the Wham - is to make sure it fits in your car before considering a purchase. I own a Berlingo, a car I'd always considered to be one of the best on the market for swallowing up large bouldering mats, but the Guts is too wide to lay flat in the boot.

The second drawback is that it is - perhaps unsurprisingly - not an overly light pad, coming in at 8.5kg, which isn't ideal on long walk-ins or when carting it around a circuit. That said, I found myself reaching for this pad time and time again because of the fact it could be relied upon, irrespective of the height of the problem.

Taco vs. Hinge

Now it's worth highlighting that the Guts and the Wham have virtually identical features, so here's a brief overview of my take on the benefits of taco vs. hinge - that way I can leave you to decide which best suits your needs

Taco

Pros: consistent performance across the entire pad, with no hinge/deadspot to fall into, and great for packing packing stuff inside
Cons: they're bloody huge and should really be stored unfolded

Hinge

Pros: far easier to transport and store, and generally less of a faff
Cons: Dead spot in the middle can present a problem; plus there's no additional space to pack things inside

I must admit to being torn between the two, as the pros/cons - at least in my eyes - are pretty even. However, the Guts scores highly in addressing one of the major drawbacks of the hinge design, which is the matter of the dead spot. By stitching in several heavy duty velcro tabs down each side of the hinge SNAP have managed to create an impressively rigid pad, so much so that you really do notice it whilst folding it up, but - and this is the most important bit - you don't notice that awkward dead spot in the middle, or that annoying moment where you land in the middle of the pad and the whole thing folds up around you. It's a simple solution and one that works very well.

Fabric/Materials

In all our reviews here on UKCa products' environmental credentials are being called into question more and more - and rightly so. With the Guts, and throughout the rest of the SNAP range, the outer is constructed using 100% recycled polyester, which is given a further boost given the PVC free TPU coating. From a UK perspective, where we tend to be operating in a warm/wet environment with lots of mud, this really is a winning combination, and is part of the pad's appeal. The pad itself is bordering on 'wipe clean', and doesn't soak up the moisture like an uncoated fabric would; furthermore, it adds to the overall durability of the pad, with a very tough feel that is yet to show any signs of weakness.

Features

The Guts features a removable waist belt and shoulder straps, for when the going gets particularly muddy, and you'd rather keep the straps clean (even if the rest of the pad is filthy, at least it can be wiped down quite easily courtesy of the finish). Once the shoulder strap's velcro is undone there's a small sleeve along the base of the pad, inside which they can be tucked so that they're out the way and not going to be landed on. There's also a small mat on which to wipe your feet, which is always useful if you want to keep your climbing shoes clean.

The closure to the pad (and for the shoulder straps) is virtually all velcro, which I must admit to having mixed feelings about. During six months of use they are, unsurprisingly, fine, but my concern would be that this is where the one weakness might be within a pad that would otherwise last a long, long time. Velcro has a habit of perishing, especially when it gets filled with grass, dirt, and mud. Another minor gripe was that the metal loops the straps run through are quite tightly machined, hence they're initially quite awkward to fit through; however, I think this is equally a problem with just how stiff the straps are to begin with, and after a bit of use they loosened up and became much easier to fit through and use.

Price

When it comes to price, the Guts isn't a cheap pad, at £360. However it is at the premium end of the market - and it's large - so the cost itself isn't completely outrageous (although I'm sure some will disagree). When you take into account the inclusion of SNAP's air cell technology, and how it performs on highballs, I'd say that to a particular crowd this would very much be the pad to go for. For them it would be a justified cost due to its unique performance, but there's no doubt that it's an investment.

It's also worth mentioning that the Guts' taco counterpart, the Wham, is available at the same price.

Summary

The Guts is a big, burly, and dependable pad. It's not necessarily the lightest, but weight isn't its primary focus - it's the comfort and variation of the 'catch' it gives you whilst falling. When it comes to highballing, the Guts really comes into its own, with few pads being able to rival its performance. When it comes to construction it's built to last, with a coating that is ideal for the UK due to its water resistant and wipe clean nature. Weight-wise it is - perhaps unsurprisingly - pretty heavy, but what do you expect from a large bouldering mat?! So whilst the price may be high, considering all the features I'd argue that it is fair.