Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Taco Pad (Or Should You?)
Everyone has a take on hinge vs taco pads. Most ignore what actually happens to foam on real rock. This guide cuts through the opinions and shows how each design truly behaves when it hits the ground outside.
Why Hinges Exist
A hinge lets a pad fold flat without putting permanent stress into the foam. Tacos are always under tension when closed. Hinged pads aren’t.
That means:
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Less foam deformation over time
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Safe closed storage between sessions
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Flatter carry profile against your back
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More predictable behaviour across the pad surface (excluding the hinge)
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Often better adaptability on awkward ground
Where they excel:
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Flat landings
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Blocky edges or corners
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Limited home or van storage
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Folds for sit starts when needed
The Hinge Trade-offs
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The hinge can often be a weaker landing area that is less impact absorbent to land on.
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Additional corners can snag and create wear at the highest wear point of a pad
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Cheap hinges may feel unstable over time
Hybrid Hinges
Reinforced or layered hinges reduce hinge weakness, creating a much more consistent landing surface - but they do not eliminate it.
The Taco Promise
One continuous sheet. Zero visible gap.
Works well when:
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Landings are flat and even
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You don't need the added folding adaptability
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You have the storage space to store your pads all open
You get a consistent landing surface if storage is right.
The Taco Catch
Foam remembers being bent.
Tacos can often stay curved. When they are curved for a long period of time, and stored in this state, they often soften faster, especially around the middle fold.
If you choose a taco, always store it flat.
Learn how in How to Store Pads Without Killing the Foam.
Foam: The Real Safety Feature
The construction doesn’t protect you if the foam fails.
What matters:
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Firm upper layer for load distribution
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Shock-absorbing base layer for impact
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Foam that stays stable over repeat hits
A pad should protect for more than a single session or season.
Choose Based on Real Terrain
Pick a hinge pad if:
✅ Outdoor terrain is rarely flat
✅ You want control shaping the landing
✅ Long-term durability matters
Pick a taco pad if:
✅ You prioritise a more consistent landing surface
✅ You climb low, flat classics
✅ You can store pads fully open
✅ You can accept foam deforming faster
Our Approach at Slaphappy
We design for real landings, not ideal ones.
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Hinged bouldering pad design for added adaptability
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Hybrid hinge with closed-cell foam - providing a more consistent landing surface
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Foams chosen for long-term outdoor performance
No gimmicks. Just predictable protection when the ground isn’t.
Final Note
If your pads can’t handle the landing, fix that first.
Shop Slaphappy Bouldering Pads
Whilst risk management, experience, and good practice can improve safety, bouldering pads do not guarantee safety.
Read our Safety and Liability Disclaimer for more information.
