Those who frequent the beach know how difficult it is to keep a towel sand-free. One of the most popular ways to enjoy the beach without the annoying sand going home is to use a dedicated beach mat. If you’ve considered picking up a beach mat, continue reading; you’ll learn all about the best beach mats to buy, what features to look for, and the top brands to consider!
The 5 Best Beach Mats
Why Purchase a Beach Mat?
Some people ask why they should spend money on beach mats instead of using bedsheets. While bed sheets are large enough to take care of everything, they are entirely not up to the task. The first problem you’ll face is water absorption. While beach mats can resist water up to a certain degree, it will only take seconds for bedsheets to get wet. Similarly, beach mats are quite thick and made of insulating material. This allows them to offer protection from the hot sand.
Additionally, beach mats are also quite large. This allows you to keep several things on them. Also, if you are with a family, you can easily stretch out and have a good time. These mats usually come with waterproof pockets as well. You can safely keep your mobile phones, wallets, gadgets, and other things you want to save from water.
Common Material Comprising Beach Mats
Beach mats commonly consist of different materials, and all of them differ slightly in properties. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the materials and their features.
- Cotton: Cotton is an incredibly flexible option that is both breathable and machine friendly. After a picnic, stains are pretty standard, and sometimes they are hard to deal with while washing by hand. Being computer friendly, cotton mats allow you to stay carefree in your picnic.
- Fleece: This is the material mostly used in hoodies and blankets. Wool is exceptionally soft and remains that way even after many washes. Fleece retains its integrity after use in both washing machines and dryers, making it easier to wash. It doesn’t get et that quickly and remains usable for many years after purchasing.
- Foam: Foam generally acts as padding for beach mats. It protects from both water and heat to the users. However, beach mats with foam padding are harder to maintain because they are not machine friendly. Similarly, if they are not Dry Cleaned after season, there are high chances of mold growth.
- Parachute Nylon: Nylon is the best material for beach mats. It is both stain and moisture resistant and has a very smooth texture. For portability, nylon has the capability of crushing up, which means that its storage is almost negligible. Parachute nylon is also quite durable and does not tear easily. One drawback of plastic, however, is that the material is not too breathable, which may cause discomfort for some people.
- Microfiber: Microfiber is another versatile material commonly used in beach mats. It is both soft and lightweight. Similarly, the pack-ability of microfiber is comparable to nylon, which makes it an excellent choice for beaches. Microfiber also has high water-absorbing capabilities, and it can dry in a concise time. It is effortless to dye microfibers in different colors, so they are readily available in the market.
- Linen: Linen is commonly used to make summer clothes. It has fine sand and water-repelling properties, which is excellent for use on a beach. However, when it comes to durability, Linen demands a lot of care. Even if it is not folded correctly, it tends to get brittle sometimes, which means you need to replace it quite often.
What to Look for In a Beach Mat
- Fabric: As indicated in the last section, the material plays a vital role in determining the properties of a particular beach mat. Similarly, due to the difference in the prices of the fabrics above, it has a significant effect on the beach mat’s cost.
- Size: The size you need depends on many factors like the number of people you usually go to the beach with, things you take, etc. If a person regularly visits the beach with his whole family, he should opt for a beach mat big enough for everyone.
- Thickness: The thickness of the beach is another critical factor. Many rugs are made up of multiple layers of different materials like foam, fleece, etc. They are incredibly comfortable, as both heat and water do not affect you. However, they take a lot of space and cannot be neatly folded. Similarly, it’s impossible to wash beach mats with foams, and you’ll have to pay for expensive Dry Cleaning after every use. If not dry cleaned, the chances of mold growth increase significantly in areas with a humid climate.
- Location of use: As their name suggests, beach mats are primarily made to prevent sand and water from disturbing the users. Their varying thickness, shape, and size allow them to have different pros and cons. For example, a nylon mat would be perfect for any location, but a cotton mat with a foam base would not be a right choice for a damp climate.
- Maintenance: It’s essential to consider the maintenance requirements and the durability of the mats before purchasing them. A pure cotton or microfiber mat can be easily washed in a machine, but many models require expensive Dry Cleaning. Similarly, it is essential to check the durability of the mat before purchase. It’s not smart to spend money on one thing every other year.
Conclusion
If you are not going to the beach alone, having a beach mat would do you wonders. You can have a great picnic near the sea without any fear of hindrance by sand or water. Even if you are planning to lie down in the sun and get a natural tan, beach mats would be perfect for you.