Flashback to 30 years ago: two climbers started making chalk balls with pantyhose and plastic-ties in downtown Calgary. At first, they gave the chalk to friends, then friends of friends, and soon they realized it might be feasible to mix business with pleasure and sell their product.
Flashed was founded in 1995, when the company started out by making chalk balls. At that time, acquiring climbing gear was a challenge, and founder Walson Tai sought to help bridge the gap. Times have changed since then, but Flashed’s commitment to innovation and core values has not wavered.
As climbers ourselves who constantly strive to improve, these values have been woven into our business, allowing us to approach innovation in climbing gear with the same passion we bring to our next bouldering project.
The Beginnings of Flashed
Driven by a desire to make climbing gear more accessible, Walson Tai founded Flashed in the humble setting of a gym closet. Like many small business owners know, the startup phase wasn’t all roses and sunshine. Flashed also had to overcome major challenges over the years, including navigating more than one 80% increase in material prices, due to Hurricane Katrina and most recently the COVID pandemic, which caused the business to shut down briefly.
Through all these hiccups, Flashed has emerged as one of the major bouldering brands in Canada and a top commercial padding installer in all of North America. Innovation has always helped us navigate these challenges.
Early products that propelled us forward include the menthol-drying chalk ball, the Ronin Air Pad—the first air shock pad design, according to our research—and the Grasshopper Pad, which featured an outer pad folded with a harness mid-fold and a big tongue that zipped the whole thing closed like a taco, leaving an internal cavern where a second pad or other gear could be put inside.
These foundational innovations and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities set the stage for Flashed’s evolution into a leading name in the climbing industry.
A Commitment to Innovation
In the ever-evolving world of climbing, continuous improvement in gear is not just beneficial—it’s essential. Innovation plays a pivotal role in enhancing both the safety and performance of climbers. As athletes push the boundaries of what’s possible, they rely on equipment that can keep up with their ambitions. Advanced materials and new designs lead to gear that is lighter, stronger and more durable, allowing climbers to tackle more challenging routes with confidence.
Innovation is at the root of Flashed’s values. It’s what has kept us afloat and keeps us striving today. It’s never been good enough for us to make one version and sit on our hands; we always want to do better. This drive has pushed us to redefine what’s possible in bouldering pads, commercial padding, climbing chalk and more.
We developed and introduced what is regarded as the first laminate carpet vinyl composite bouldering floor and unique reverse-fold boulder pad, known as the Hueco Pad. Currently, our Drifter and Big Squishy pads feature built-in multi-pad carrying systems and bespoke options. Not to mention our seawater chalk, Mg2+, which has been upping the ante as well.
We’ve pushed our chalk technology even further through our Chalk Research Initiative with the University of British Columbia. This initiative is focused on uncovering what makes chalk effective and how we can optimize its properties—not only for better performance but also with a keen eye on environmental sustainability, providing transparency to users on what is really in their chalk.
These innovations not only showcase Flashed’s unwavering commitment to advancing climbing gear and safety but also reinforce our role as industry leaders dedicated to sustainability and transparency.
Staying True to Core Values
Everything we do at Flashed is guided by our core values: inclusion and equality, positivity, respect, and environmental stewardship. These principles influence every aspect of our business, from product design to the events we attend and support.
In our products, we aim to use the least amount of plastic possible—that’s why you won’t find any plastic buckles on our pads; we use all-metal hardware. Even the sourcing of our sustainable seawater chalk goes beyond conventional methods. Unlike the manufacturers that flood plots of land and wait for the water to evaporate—leaving behind destroyed coastal areas—Flashed’s approach involves a much less invasive process. We collect seawater, extract the minerals needed, then return the rest back to the ocean.
The events we support also reflect our values. We aim to uplift and support our community through positive voices and actions by backing events like the Flash Foxy Festival, Woman Up and Rox Fest.
By embodying these core values in everything we do, Flashed not only delivers exceptional products but also fosters a more inclusive, positive and sustainable climbing community.
Evolving With Purpose
Although Flashed’s origins are humble, we’ve come a long way since that closet in 1995. We’ve built a trusted bouldering company and brand, secured placement in major retailers, provided over 15 people with stable and reliable careers, donated to numerous causes, and partnered with initiatives that share our love of climbing and community. We continually evolve and improve our product quality and environmental sustainability.
Our current product line is a testament to the challenges we’ve overcome. Take the Drifter and Big Squishy pads, for example. These pads demonstrate how we continue to evolve a simple piece of gear to meet the demands of climbers pushing their limits. Both have built-in, multi-pad carrying systems, allowing you to bring multiple pads without needing extra flaps or straps. They feature robust carrying harnesses with padded waist belts, shoulder straps, and a stabilizer strap on top to keep your setup solid on your back. There’s also the option to add your own custom printed design.
Our commercial side is equally significant. Our commitment to never becoming complacent in the padding industry has led us to be trusted by hundreds of gyms across North America.
Perhaps it’s because we are climbers ourselves, always seeking the satisfaction of pushing our abilities and striving for the next hard thing, or maybe it’s our commitment to our customers to always provide top-notch, standard-setting gear. Whatever the reason, we will always be aiming to create the next best thing while staying true to our values.
At Flashed, our journey from a gym closet to an industry leader is a story of passion, resilience and unwavering dedication to innovation and our core values. We look forward to continuing this journey with the climbing community, always reaching for new heights together.
This story was paid for by the sponsor and does not necessarily represent the views of the Climbing Business Journal editorial team.
