genuinely asking because i keep going back and forth. ive been flying for about 8 months now and i mostly launch from the ground, usually grass or gravel or whatever surface is around. someone at my local flying club told me a landing pad is basically essential and i should always be using one but honestly it feels like one more thing to carry. the drone hasnt had any issues so far.

i know the argument about dust and debris getting kicked up into the motors and i get it in theory but is it actually causing real world damage over time or is this more of a just in case thing? the ultralight pads ive seen fold down small so maybe its not a big deal to just have one, i dunno. what do you all actually do in the field

Honestly? I was skeptical for a long time and flew without one for most of my first year. Then I landed on a beach in conditions that were windier than expected and got sand in one of my motors pretty badly. Nothing catastrophic but it definitely shortened the lifespan of that motor and I could hear it for a while after. A landing pad wouldnt have totally solved that situation but it would have helped.

The foldable ones like the Hoodman or even some of the cheaper knockoffs on amazon are genuinely light enough that theres not much reason not to bring one. I keep mine folded up in a side pocket of my bag now and barely notice its there. Wet grass is the other thing ? taking off from wet grass can fling moisture into places you dont want it. So yeah I converted eventually.

I use one pretty much every time but im also a bit obsessive about maintenance so take that for what its worth. the real place ive found it useful is sandy or dusty environments, grass is probably fine most of the time. also helps to have a consistent bright surface to land on when youre doing a return to home in low light, easier to spot and judge the approach. thats kind of a secondary benefit but ive apreciated it a few times.