This season, I spent a lot of time bouldering with Black Diamond’s newly designed Circuit crash pad. I thought I would write up a review for anyone wondering whether they should buy one for themselves!
Functional, affordable, and well-built, the Black Diamond Circuit crash pad is a great option for first-time buyers or people looking for a supplementary pad. It’s small size and lack of features, though, likely eliminate it as a choice for more serious crushers.
If you’re on the hunt for a relatively cheap crash pad to start outdoor bouldering, or want a lightweight option to pair with the pads you already own, the BD Circuit might be right up your alley. While it’s no Big Squishy, it does a perfectly good job of protecting your landing with its four inches of foam. The bright colour options add a little bit of flavour, and the low price tag ($150) makes this pad a very attractive starter option.
Think the BD Circuit is right for you? Buy it here!
Size and Specs
Though it’s on the smaller side, the Circuit feels bigger than its measurements, and I would give it about an average score for size.
Measuring in at 3 feet wide and 4 feet long while opened, with four inches of foam cushion, this pad provides a decent landing pad (as long as you’re not trying anything too tall). As you can see in the above picture, I combined the Circuit with another crash pad for most of the bouldering I did. It would have performed fine by itself, but my partner would have needed to reposition it a lot more.
The Circuit has a standard carry system, with two shoulder straps and an un-padded waist belt for carrying to the boulders. Once you’re there, two more grab handles help you move it around shorter distances. The pad has three adjustable nylon straps to hold it closed. These are, in my opinion, much easier to use that the sliding strap option you see on other pads, and the metal buckles are a nice touch in terms of durability.
One thing that really stood out to me about the Circuit is its weight. At only eight pounds, it’s incredibly light for a 4-inch pad, and carrying it is an absolute breeze. I was shocked the first time I picked it up and felt just how light it is when on your shoulders.
This weight is a good thing, because the backpack straps on the Circuit are pretty meh. The waist strap has no padding, and I’ve found that the shoulders are a little close together and tend to pinch. With how light the pad is, though, it’s not a big deal. Overall, this is a pretty normal sized pad, although I would place it on the smaller side of the spectrum.
Features
If this pad has one weakness, it’s a lack of other features. There’s no flap at the bottom, so it’s harder to stuff the Circuit with gear on for the approach. Additionally, Black Diamond opted for a straight hinge folding system as opposed to a diagonal one, which some people say can lead to turned ankles if you land right in the crease of the mat. BD partially solved this problem by using a velcro system that keeps the pad open, even when you do land right on the fold.
Although the Circuit is pretty basic, this lack of features is probably what helps Black Diamond provide this pad for so cheap. I’ve bouldered with friends who brought similar-sized pads from other manufacturers that cost almost twice as much for the Circuit; so, while you don’t get much in the way of extras, you save about $100.
Padding and Performance
This is probably the most important question for any crash pad: how well does it actually cushion you when you fall? In this category, the BD Circuit performed admirably, although it didn’t exactly stand above the competition.
Given how lightweight the pad is, I was pleasantly surprised by the softness of my landing. I’ve taken several falls from 8-10 feet onto the BD Circuit, landing feet-first, and haven’t felt any discomfort.
With that being said, the Circuit is pretty stiff out of the box and will need a few good sessions before the foam softens up. Falling onto your butt is fine, but falling onto your shoulder or back on this pad, even from a very short distance, will likely knock the wind out of you. Additionally, given how thin it is compared to other pads, I wouldn’t want to be falling on the circuit on any highball boulder problems.
The stiffness also makes this pad somewhat hard to position, as it doesn’t really mold to its surroundings very well. Rocks that jut up from the ground can make it hard to position, and it slides around a fair amount on sloped landing zones. I found that softer, heavier pads sometimes did a better job of staying where I wanted them to, although that obviously means more weight that you have to carry.
Another potential issue is the size. Three feet by four feet is on the smaller end for crash-pads, and I did find myself moving the Circuit around a lot to make sure it stayed under my partner when they were climbing. You can use it as a standalone pad, but I felt better bringing the Circuit in conjunction with another pad, just to cover more square footage.
Aside from that, I really have no issues with the performance of the Circuit. It unfolds and packs up quickly, is easy to move around, and provides a relatively soft landing from medium heights.
Durability
I haven’t had the Circuit for long enough to really comment on its durability, but from what I’ve seen, this should be a pad that holds out for a long time. The material is thick and rugged, and the pad just feels well made – the straps, buckles, and zippers all feel solid. Black Diamond is a fairly reputable company, too, so I trust most things that they make.
Overall Value
The BD Circuit gets top marks in the overall value category. While there are some areas that this pad doesn’t perform as well as other options (such as overall size or features), it’s hard to see these as real drawbacks. They’re more concessions that you as the consumer make in order to benefit from the lower price.
As a crash pad, the Circuit functions perfectly adequately. It won’t raise any eyebrows at the crag or blow you away with its performance, but it will do what you want of it at market-low prices, leading to the high scores in the value area. In terms of overall bang for your buck, I would say this pad is one of the absolute highest value crash pads available on the market today.
Conclusion
The BD Circuit crash pad is an affordable, functional pad for people looking to buy their first bouldering pad, or someone who wants a supplementary pad as part of their larger collection. If you’re looking to get into outdoor bouldering, the Circuit crashpad might be perfect for you.
