If you’re looking for the perfect beach blanket, you’re in the right place. We’ve spent hours comparing dozens of waterproof blankets and selected our favorite beach mats available today on the market.
A good beach mat should be water-resistant, comfortable, easy to transport, and designed to be sand-free. Here are our favorite picks, with pros & cons and everything you need to know about them.
Best Beach Blankets | Our Top Picks
1. Scuddles Extra Large Outdoor Blanket
Key Features
Attractive, portable, comfortable, and water-resistant, the Scuddles extra-large blanket is ideal one of our favorite picnic blankets on the market.
Available in various stripe design patterns, this model is fashionable and practical at the same.
The top fabric is made of fleece and is soft and comfy. Unlike other nylon blankets that are thin and uncomfortable, this one comes with a middle foam layer of cushioning that adds superior comfort when sitting on the hard ground.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about spilling water, juice, crumbs or food on it. The material is water-resistant and very easy to wipe it clean.
The bottom material is made of water-resistant PEVA backing, which is durable, sturdy and machine-washable. It allows you to easily lay the blanket on wet grass/wet ground and keeping you completely dry.
What we also like about this model is its compact design. The blanket is easy to roll up and folds into a convenient portable pouch (with the size of a shoebox). This makes it super easy to transport and it has an integrated carrying handle. p
2. WildHorn Outfitters Sand Escape Beach Blanket
Key Features
The WildHorn Outfitters Sand Escape beach blanket is super large, lightweight, durable and designed to give you a sand-free experience.
It’s oversized offering 63 square feet of space, which is more than enough to fit your entire family or group of friends.
Easy to compress, it packs down into a super small size and folds itself into a compact 5’’ x 8’’ carry bag for easy transportation. This makes it ultra-portable, easy to carry, travel- and picnic-ready.
Made from 100% parachute nylon, a sturdy yet lightweight material, the WildHorn blanket is very durable made to last you years. Plus, it’s also tear-resistant.
A nice thing about this blanket is that the sand won’t stick to your blanket due to the nylon material. When you’re done with your picnic, just shake the blanket off and all the sand will fall off.
A great feature is the corner pockets, built to weigh the blanket down. The built-in sand anchors that are meant to be filled with sand, making sure your blanket will stay in place on a windy day.
Cons: because the nylon is so thin, if the sand is super hot you’ll feel the heat through the blanket. Not suitable for wet ground.
3. WELLAX Sandfree Beach Blanket
Key Features
The WELLAX beach blanket doesn’t get hot in the sun, is lightweight and spacious enough to fit 7 adults and most importantly, sand does not stick to it.
The sand-free design allows you to simply brush off all the annoying sand without any effort, this is what makes it the best beach blanket for sand.
It’s made from rip-stop nylon material, a durable fabric that’s not only sand-proof but also water and heat repellent.
This beach mat is also one of the largest models from our list. Measuring 9’ x 10’, it fits a large family with kids or a group of 7 friends.
Despite being 40% larger than other blankets, the WELLAX is surprisingly small when it’s fully collapsed and fits into a compact and small carrying sack.
The brand offers a gift to customers who purchase their blanket: a waterproof case for your personal belongings. The case fits your phone, keys, wallet and keeps your items safe and dry.
It comes with 4 corner pockets, built to be filled with sand to hold the blanket in place in windy conditions.
4. Camco Handy Mat with Strap
Key Features
This reasonably priced beach mat is lightweight, durable, weather-proof and large enough for a small family of 4.
Ideal for any outdoor adventures, it’s easy to transport to your picnic destination. It comes with built-in handles and it compresses into a compact “handbag”.
The mat is made from a durable woven fabric polypropylene, mildew resistant and made to last. On the sides, it has a quite sturdy nylon edging material stitched on.
Some people who bought this found the top fabric rigid and not so comfortable. If you want to add extra comfort and cushioning, we recommend you to bring your own towel.
It’s easy to clean and wipe off with soap and water.
Cons: moisture from the ground can penetrate the blanket. Not great in windy weather.
5. VonShef Picnic Blanket
Key Features
This stylish outdoor blanket is ideal for picnics at the beach, in the park or in your own backyard. It’s super soft, fashionable and practical.
It rolls up beautifully and you can secure it tightly with the leatherette carrier straps. It comes with a nice handle that allows you to easily take it anywhere with you. The Vonshef waterproof picnic blanket comes in 4 color patterns and is spacious enough for a couple or a small family.
Vonshef is one of our favorite brands when it comes to outdoor gear. They produce high-quality items, combining both style and functionality.
We were pleasantly surprised to see that it comes with waterproof PEVA backing which allows you to sit on wet ground while keeping you dry and comfortable.
The upper material is soft and super comfortable, ideal for a cozy afternoon. You can use it anywhere, by lakes or rivers, at the beach, on a log, in your own backyard. The sand shakes off easily and overall the blanket is easy to clean.
Cons: not machine washable.
