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Camping Mats. Which one is right for you?
Article by Rob Smith - Caravans PlusRead Time: 4 mins
Contents
- 1) Synthetic Mesh
- 2) CGear Matting
- 3) Camec Matting
- 4) PVC Foam Matting
- 5) Weight Comparison
- 6) Price Comparison
Looking for the best annex flooring or a camping mat to keep the dirt and sand out of your caravan or tent? When it comes to outdoor matting there are few different types, here we will break down the different styles and their features so you can choose the best camping mat for you.
Synthetic Mesh
Synthetic Meshing Mats are made from layers of weaving (like shade-cloth) which makes them very durable and allows vast amounts of sand and dirt to fall readily through. They do however generally need to be pegged down to prevent bunching when in use.
Synthetic Mesh Mats use breathable fabric to ensure the grass below is not killed as well as being rot-proof and UV stable.
We stock two brands of synthetic mesh mats - CGear and Camec.
CGear Matting
CGear Multimats are the top of the line when it comes to camping mats. Their patented multi-layer weave technology allows dirt, sand and dust to fall through the mat without allowing anything to come back up.
These mats are extremely durable and are made with reinforced edges and stainless steel D-rings and wont tear or fray - even if cut.
While these mats are more expensive than some other options we believe the quality, durability and features make them well worth the price tag.
Customer Reviews:
5 Stars - You can't beat CGear for quality, the couple of extra dollars are easily justified - Paul from NSW 5 Stars - These mats are a little dearer than some of the others but they look and feel like a better product. Time will tell but so far we are very happy. Self cleaning for sand and dirt. Things like leaves can be easily swept off. - Mackenzie from VIC
Camec Matting
Camec also offer synthetic mesh matting with a more economical price tag.
The range was redesigned in 2017 with a number of key improvements. These mats previously had a very loose weave which allowed a lot of dirt, sticks, etc to come up through the matting. The mats now have a much tighter weave (still slightly looser than the CGear) and are now a more neutral grey colour (previously bright green). They also have reinforced edges and eyelets for pegging.
These improvements have made the Camec Mats a good entry-level matting option that won't break the bank.
PVC Foam
PVC foam or rubber matting is a denser coverage mat that lies flat on the ground with no need to peg. The greater coverage gives a softer feel underfoot than the meshing mats but is not as effective when it comes to dirt falling through, but can be easily swept. The softer feel makes it marginally less durable on very hard surfaces. They are available in three different colours: Green, Blue, and Grey.
Weight Comparison
Another factor to consider when choosing a mat is the weight. Weights may vary slightly between different brands but generally the Synthetic Mesh style will be lighter than the dense Foam / Rubber matting. Weights for our 4 metre mats are shown below:
Price Comparison
Below are our 4 metre mats for a price comparison.
11 Comments
John
My way is even more cheap and nasty because I just use a sheet of shade cloth that is available from any hardware store for around $20 and the one I have at present is about 3 years old.
Martin
John, what density shade cloth are you using? And are you finding a single or double layer shade cloth to be more effective?
Wayne Shore
The weight factor should be included, most caravans are either close to their limit or over, so weight is very important. Thanks
Barry
CGear are great mats, but not infalable, I must have the earlier version without the stainless corners as mine have rusted. We encountered a problem with our mat that I took up with CGear, we found the mat had what appeared to be cuts or slashes just outside the door of our van and we had no idea why. We found out later that when we had our awning up and our van door open that the sun reflected off the corner of the tinted perspex of the door and acted like a magnifying glass and melted a neat line throught the mat, we have a few of these because it took a while to figure out the issue. To their credit CGear offered a replacement at half price but when we thought it through we decided to keep the one we had. The lesson is if you are camped in a windy area and do not want to risk your awning be aware that an open door could give you this problem especially from around midday on.
Graham
With weight currently a very topical subject, you could have included the weight of each item. Some are quite heavy & that may be a key factor in the purchase decision.
Peter
Nice article it which one is burr resistant? That is, won't pick up Bindi eyes or burst so you have to pick them out before putting the matt away.
David
Another consideration is size when folded? Are Enduro mats also available for comparison ?
Anthony
We have had a clear mat for 4 years. It works great but when camped on the beach for 3 weeks the wind would blow the sand onto the mat. We just swept it off daily but when we went to pack up because it was two layers a lot of sand had become trapped in the middle. It took nearly 20 minutes to shake the sand out of the mat and made it heavy to shake. In the end we got about 80% of the sand out but the bigger grains stayed behind and we packed it into it's mesh bag, put in the front boot in our van and slowly but surely over time and corrigations the sand broke down and ended up in the bottom of our boot. So if sand camping I suggest you buy a single layer foam/rubber mat for ease of sand removal or somehow put a zip or Velcro seam in to remove the sand.
Rob
Wewere pleasantly surprised to find the CGear ones are bindi resistant. Camped at back of 3 ways a month ago and its full of bindi. Packing up not one stuck to the CGear flooring. Heaps stuck to our thongs!
Roy
Are there any mats that are recommended for being nonslip?
Ern
C gear double layer matting very dissatisfied and disappointed. We found ours way too slippery. Both elderly, but not feeble, constantly slipping. We had to put e.v. matt's over top. Were just using cheap kings one now. Put useless $280.00 cgear up as double shade cloth in garden patio.