Flashed has always been about building the best equipment we can to get the most enjoyment out of our craft, climbing. We believe the new 2019 Drifter pad will be your favourite companion in the boulders. This crash pad is packed with love and attention to detail that the casual user and committed lifestyle traveler will appreciate.
Let’s dive into the details:
1680d ballistic nylon
The burliest fabric on a pad yet! We know the abuse these pads take, like the customary toss down to Bloodline in Hueco or across Squamish granite crystals, and you demand the most from your gear. This year we’re working directly with fabric mills to create the toughest yarns and PU undercoating to provide unmatched strength and durability.
Unbreakable hardware
No more plastic…anywhere. All hardware is metal so you don’t have to worry about a broken waistbelt buckle and having to Macgyver a field fix. Have you ever had that metal buckle cut your webbing? No more. This stuff is all professionally made with the sharp metal edges stamped down in a press before getting tumbled to soften them even further. These are the best buckles you’ll ever see and we’re so proud to offer them to you!
Splitter Flexibility
The key to diversity while maintaining performance is flexibility. The ability to flip the carry straps underneath and tighten the landing surface flat adds many applications. This crashpad is so flexible it would make Van Damme proud!
Intuitive Modularity
Whether you’re out on a solo mission or have your eye on a highball objective, sometimes a single crash pad just isn’t enough. The intuitive design of our carry system means you can strap on a 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th pad and carry them all at once! The same straps that provide Splitter Flexibility also securely carry additional pads, nothing else needed.
Standard Luxury
We believe everyone deserves the best so we’ve made all the normal upgrades standard on our pads.
- newly designed and ergonomic padded waistbelt
- beefy shoulder straps with continuous 2in seatbelt webbing for heavy loads
- adjustable sternum strap for those long carries
- top of shoulder stabilizer straps to pull the top of the pad towards your back (especially useful when carrying multiple pads).
Simple and Functional Design
The Drifter was created with innovative and well-tested features. The webbing for buckle hooks often folds flat over time. We’ve offset ours in a V-shape, so regardless of how flat it gets you can always get your hook into it! In addition to this, our 2-inch seatbelt webbing is soft on the hands but “strong like bull”. This makes for awesome handles and strapping capability.
Connected to the Earth
As the Drifter name suggests, this crash pad will be your trusty companion as you roam between your favourite bouldering destinations. To honour the beautiful landscapes that are at the heart of our climbing communities, the Drifter limited edition will feature a painting of different North American bouldering areas. Partial proceeds from these pads will be donated to local access societies and initiatives so that we can continue to enjoy and respect these incredible places!
In 2019, Flashed is releasing the Limited “Chief Edition” with a painting of the Squamish Chief (Siám’ Smánit) by Natasha Louise, a talented artist based out of Pemberton, BC.
We are very proud of this initiative. We know you will not only feel confident in the quality, durability and aesthetics of your purchase, but proud to be a contributing member of the climbing community as the owner of a Drifter pad.
