Curious about one thing: when you hike, are you ok carrying stakes/pegs, or do you want *zero* setup? And how windy is “light wind” where you fly?

- If you want cheapest + reliable, I’d do a foldable pad and add 3–4 flat rocks on the edge (free, works)
- If you want no-fuss, a slightly heavier pad with a weighted rim is worth the extra $$

Mini 3 is so light that anchoring matters more than “rigidity,” honestly.

Nice, didn't know that

Ok so i feel u, been there… for a Mini 3 I’d go foldable fabric *with stakes* over a rigid pad. The rigid ones are nice but hiking with that gets old fast, and the Mini 3 doesn’t need a runway lol.

- Get a 55–60cm pad like STARTRC Drone Landing Pad 60cm Double-Sided Foldable — big enough to keep gravel/dust outta the gimbal, still packs small.
- Use the stakes (or clip a small carabiner to a corner + rock) because otherwise it WILL flap in light wind.

I’ve used mine on dirt paths and it’s honestly a fantastic value vs the heavier boards, plus it cleans easy. good luck!

Ok so +1 to what folks said about foldable pads w/ stakes/weights. I used to think “eh, any surface is fine” and then I watched my Mini kick up grit on a dry trail… not catastrophic, but i didnt love that feeling.

What I learned (safety-first kinda stuff):
- Dust/pebbles = gimbal/props risk on spool-up, so keeping that little “clean zone” matters
- The Mini is so light that wind is the real enemy, not pad stiffness
- Stakes are great, but honestly even 2 rocks on the edge works when you’re hiking
- I also do a quick hover at like chest height for 3–5 seconds before moving off… lets you confirm it’s stable

Rigid pads are nice, but carrying them got old fast. cheers

For your situation, I’d suggest a foldable fabric pad **with stakes/weights**, tbh. The Mini 3 is light, so dust/gravel is the bigger enemy than “needing” a rigid surface.

What I’d look for:
- ~55–65cm size (big enough to keep the props off dirt, still backpackable)
- Bright color + reflective edge (helps landing accuracy)
- **Stakes AND corner grommets** so you can peg it down… unfortunately I’ve had a pad flip on me in a light gust and it was not fun
- Slightly stiffer “spring steel” style vs super thin nylon (the cheap ones wrinkle and the drone can wobble)

Brand-wise, I’ve had decent luck with PGYTECH or Sunnylife pads. If you’re on gravel a lot, tossing a couple flat rocks on the corners works great too. What kind of wind do you usually get on hikes?