The Astro is Troll's first bouldering pad and it's a really good medium-sized model. The foam is the right thickness so it breaks your fall nicely, it carries very well thanks to the waistbelt and padded shoulder straps but, best of all, it has a large strap which you can use to attach it to other pads, making for a very convenient and easy carrying system.

Bouldering pads are one of those things that are very simple in principle, but in practise only one or two things need to be off before the pad is not quite as good as it could be. All you need is a piece of foam that's the right size, density and thickness, some straps to carry it comfortably, and handles and buckles in the right places so that you can securely carry things inside it. Simple? Apparently not, given the number of models that somehow miss the mark.

Thankfully, Troll have got everything right with the Astro. It has just enough of what you need and no more: a good carrying system with a waist belt and nice shoulder straps, solid buckles, and a wrap-around cover which not only stops your kit from falling out of the pad when you're carrying it but also enables you to attach another pad to the Astro to make carrying two pads easier. 

Construction

Handmade by Troll at their factory in Skipton, Yorkshire, it's made of two layers of open cell foam, 25mm on the top and 75mm on the bottom, with a layer of 25mm closed cell foam sandwiched between. The outside is made from super durable UK sourced 1000d ballistic nylon fabric. Troll also offer a replacement foam service so if and when your pad gets a bit soft you can send it back to them and they'll replace the foam, effectively giving you a like-new landing. It's a great idea as it means you don't have to worry about your pad wearing out, plus it's environmentally friendly.

Features

Troll have got everything right with the Astro

Modern bouldering pads are great to land on: they're generally thick and wide enough to break your fall. However, this increase in effectiveness has come with an increase in size and weight. One thing that every boulderer struggles with is carrying these huge bits of foam in to the crag. The worst thing possible is when you have a big pad on your back and then have to carry a smaller one in your hand - it's so uncomfortable. Boulderers have come up with a variety of solutions like ratchet straps or slings to attach pads together so you can carry them all on your back at once. Some of these solutions are more successful than others.

With the Astro pad Troll have added a big cover-flap of material and a long strap. This enables you to attach the Astro pad to your bigger pad, or to attach another Astro or a smaller pad to your Astro. This is great as it works really well and is a purpose-made solution to carrying multiple pads at once, making your walk-in to the crag easier. The Astro pad itself is relatively light, coming in at 5kg, so it gives you a lightweight and solid base for carrying the rest of your pads and kit.

Troll also have the Asteroid pad, their little sit start pad, which fits nicely inside the Astro. I always like having a sit start pad because it gives you that extra bit of coverage, plus it's handy to put your stuff on to keep it out of the dirt.

What it's like to use

Troll have got everything right with the standard features, plus added the extra carrying strap, and made a pad that is lightweight and a good medium size. This means the Astro is a great option both for a standalone medium-sized pad if it's your first pad or you're doing a problem/circuit that doesn't require lots of ground coverage, whilst also being a brilliant addition to your current pad selection. Being a medium-sized pad means, however, that it's not as big as some of the other pads of the market which boulderers have become used to, and so some may find that it doesn't cover enough ground by itself.

Overall

Whether you're looking for a new pad to expand your current selection or you're considering your first bouldering pad, the Troll Astro does just what a pad should, and it does it brilliantly. It's light, has a great carrying system, and can easily attach to other pads when being carried. What's more, if the foam wears out then Troll will replace it for you at their factory in Skipton, making it an environmentally-friendly option too.