The taco-style pad folded, so the closed-cell foam layer rode against the back, which delivered the support required for an efficient carry. Velcro secured the hip belt and sternum strap, while metal ladder locks adjusted the shoulder straps at the very bottom of the Alto. Right away, I noticed the flat and broad profile of the shoulder straps and hip belt, as well as the overall lack of hardware. A 1.75-inch-wide webbing acted as a shoulder strap for the unfolded pad, and it also functioned to form a couch out of the Alto. The waterproof Cordura ballistic nylon covering screamed rugged, as did the large #10 YKK zipper for the flap closure. The outer materials felt extremely stout during unboxing. Petzl claims that its combination of foam proved the most effective in laboratory tests, and keeping the dual-density closed-cell layer on the outside of the fold enhances longevity. In the Alto, however, all the foam is continuous, so there are no breaks or hinges. Those pads use a sandwich, placing closed-cell foam on both sides of an open-cell foam center. Its combination of a 3-inch layer of open-cell PE and a one-inch dual-density layer of closed-cell PE differs from all my other pads in my extensive collection. From granite alpine boulders in Colorado to the desert crimp ladders at Hueco Tanks, the Alto crash pad now holds a trusted position in my tribe’s pad collection.īouldering pads are all about the foam, and Petzl chose wisely. Of course, this combo comes with a steeper price and a couple of key maintenance considerations.īut after 4 months of testing, the Petzl Alto crash pad earned acceptance by my crusty bouldering group. In short: Despite Petzl’s unproven reputation in the bouldering category, the brand’s climbing-specific resources and fresh approach give rise to a crash pad that offers both reliable performance and innovative creature comforts.
The brand wasn’t active in bouldering, and it stood out with its unorthodox zipped closure system. When Petzl released the Alto crash pad in 2014, the core boulderers in my circle met it with disdain, calling it the “prima donna” of crash pads.
Petzl crashes into the bouldering category with the Alto, a pad that combines proven materials with a novel - maybe ingenious - design.
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