Already an established brand in North America, Flashed only entered the UK market last year. Initial impressions of their bouldering pads at the Outdoor Trade Show were positive, with an absolutely bombproof design, a robust carrying system, and all the straps and buckles in both the right quantities and the right places. Since their arrival we've put two of their pads - The Big Squishy and the Drifter - through their paces. Here's how we got on…

The Big Squishy (£390) and the Drifter (£260) share a lot of the same features (which we'll come on to shortly), but the difference lies in their size. Which is suitable for you is potentially worthy of an article in its own right, because there are of course pros and cons to having both a big and a small pad. The bigger the pad, the more foam there is to fall on, which is great, but for the fact that they weight a ton. Small pads are obviously a whole lot lighter, and arguably a lot more versatile, but they are smaller - hence have their limitations.

Here's a quick breakdown of the relative dimensions, alongside the depth of foam and their overall weight:

Big Squishy

147 x 117 x 13cm

8.6kg

£390

Drifter

127 x 91 x 11cm

6.0kg

£260

In Use

The first impression you get whilst handling the BIG Squishy and the Drifter is the fact that they feel really bombproof. The 1680D ballistic nylon outer feels absolutely indestructible, as do all its straps and buckles. There isn't a single plastic buckle or velcro strap used throughout either pad, with all the components being made of metal. Even the straps themselves are no ordinary webbing, with the multi-pad system strap being made of the same stuff they make seat belts out of. In terms of their build quality I'd say it's as good as it gets.

However, just because something is well made doesn't necessarily mean it's any good in use. Thankfully all the various features of both these two pads are well thought through. Take the example of the back system. This is actually a proper carrying system, designed with comfort - and not minimalism - in mind. The shoulder straps are padded, with adjustment at both the top and bottom, and a chest strap to further refine the fit. The hip belt is an actual trekking pack-style hip belt, too, and not just a token piece of tape. This clearly increases the carrying comfort - something that's particularly noticeable whilst you're lugging around all 8.6kg of the Big Squishy! The only criticism I'd level at the carrying system is that whilst I love the metal buckles, some of the loops you have to hook them into are sewn quite short, which makes them hard to get in/out. If these were just a little longer, and had a bit more space, it'd make them a whole lot easier to use.

Something else Flashed have clearly considered is where the various straps are positioned. In order to avoid missing any they've put them pretty much everywhere, with three along the sides and one at the bottom. The most crucial of these is the central one, because this is the one that allows you to quickly close the pad with a single strap and carry it elsewhere, if you're moving to another problem nearby. It's amazing how many manufacturers miss out on this seemingly simple feature. On the side there are additional grab handles to make transportation that little bit easier, although obviously it's a whole lot easier with the Drifter than it is with the Big Squishy, which due to its size is obviously a lot less transportable.

However, if there were one feature that sets the Flashed Pads apart it's the multi-pad carrying system. Over the years I've used a ratchet strap to do much the same, but it's far from ideal - not least because it tends to squash and eventually damage the foam. The wide seat belt straps integrated into both the Big Squishy and the Drifter are much more sympathetically designed, a setup that avoids compressing the foam within either the pad itself or the one that's attached to it. As such, it's better for the longevity of both pads; as someone that's strapped plenty of pads to each other with a bog standard ratchet I can assure you - it doesn't do them any good! Even without a pad strapped to the outside, this system is arguably the quickest and easiest way to close the pads. It's really quick, simple and easy and I can't believe it hasn't been done before given how blindingly obvious it is (or at least it is now that it's been done).

Were there to be a downside it's that when you're not carrying any extra pads there is a lot of additional webbing, which can - if it's not tucked away - be a bit of a trip hazard. Given how much I like the system I would not say I've found this a major issue, but if you're only looking to carry a single pad it could get annoying (if you're easily annoyed).

Foam

The Big Squishy and the Drifter differ in terms of their construction, with the former having three layers and the latter having two. This, combined with the way in which the foam is layered, gives them a very different feel.

The Big Squishy is true to its name, and at least for me it is if anything a little too squishy. I think I'd have preferred a layer of firmer foam along the top, which would disperse the impact of a fall and (at least in theory) provide a more stable platform to land on. The issue I've often found with softer layers on top is that whilst they feel nice and luxurious, they're also a lot easier to roll your ankles on, and tend to soften up significantly over time.

The Drifter doesn't have this issue, as it has that 2cm layer of firmer foam on top, and this - coupled with 9cm of softer foam beneath - provides a much better balance (in my opinion, at least).

Summary

I've been really impressed with both the Big Squishy and the Drifter. The build quality is excellent and the features fantastic. Understandably this combination comes at a price, but then these days bouldering pads all seem pretty expensive compared to what they used to be, so I think some re-calibration is in order. Gone are the days when you can buy one for £60. If I were to change anything it would probably be to make the Big Squishy a little less squishy and a little more like the Drifter in terms of its construction, but I do  acknowledge that this is a personal bias and some may like it feeling a little softer.