"Door mat" for tent entrance

[Glenn MacGrady]

I find it useful to have some sort of rectangular "door mat" or "rug" outside one or both of my tent entrances to help prevent trekking in dirt, mud, sand, etc., especially when base camping. It's also a place for me to kneel when I get out of a tent without having to kneel on wet or dewy ground.

I've been lately using a rectangle of an Ensolite sleeping pad, which is nice because it has some cushion and is easy to hose clean, but it's literally getting torn up from old age.

Mike McCrea once gave me an inexpensive piece of fake grass mat, which he liked for some reason, but I misplaced it and never used it. It did fold or roll up very compactly.

Any experiences, thoughts or recommendations?

 

[snapper]

I've seen many folks doing what you've mentioned but have never done anything like that myself. Usually I just untie my boots/shoes, or slip off my sandals, before entering my tent. I then slap the soles together to remove the loose grit on the bottom and bring my footwear inside. If I'm really concerned with what's on my footwear, I'll tuck them under the vestibule of my tent and leave them outside. Of course, all of this is only with a shelter that has a floor. If I'm under a tarp of some kind, all bets are off!

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[scoutergriz]

I'm like Snapper-my boots stay in my vestibule with my pfd and other potentially wet or dirty gear, if it's really wet or sloppy out I'll throw down my sleeping bag drybag and pile stuff on it- it's easily wiped down before repacking.
The only time I put down a mat is in winter to stop tracking wet snow everywhere and to give me a dry place to stand. I simply use the waxed canvas square that I wrap around my stove for travel, it's about 4x4' and goes sooty side down

 

[tketcham]

I use a rectangle cut out of an old dry bag. Separates me and my stuff from the ground and is easy to clean off. It's not padded, though, if that's what you're looking for.

Of course, there's always the commercial product option but after searching online I've yet to find one I like.

 

[Tryin']

I use a piece of Tyvek with grommets or a tiny Klymit tarp that I got as a promotional item from an outdoors store. Works great for tent vestibules, or more commonly for me, under a hammock.

 

[Alan Gage]

The fake grass seems like it would be ideal, especially in sandy areas, if it rolls up small enough. All those little crumbs would fall down into the "grass" where they could be shook out before rolling it up again.

Alan

 

[Packrat]

I use a Kelty Bootlick mat that folds up, padded and came with small stakes to hold it in place. Looked it up and it's no longer available.

 

[Will Derness]

I use Tyvek made for kite making, lighter weight than the construction Tyvek. Very, very light, compact when folded up. I’ll also use this for tent foot print.

 

[recped]

Much of the time I am using a floorless shelter so inside/outside, it's all the same!

 

[Tryin']

Much of the time I am using a floorless shelter so inside/outside, it's all the same!

I still use my tyvek in my lean 3: it goes under my sleeping pad.

 

[Seeker]

I tarp or hammock; haven't tented in ages. I always carry an old piece of army green CCF sleeping pad, about 9x15, as a sit pad, kneeling pad, fire blower, placemat, helinox chair insulator, day-pack stiffener, rain-cover when bent over the top of my pack, and carpet/doormat. It's almost indestructible.

In a hammock setup, it goes where my feet go when I sit in the hammock. My shoes hold each side down to keep it in place, and I can lay my rolled up pants and shirt on it when I get in bed. A sheathed hatchet laid against it is within handy reach as well. In former years, before I got a suitably-fitting underquilt, I also used to put it under my feet or back if they got cold spots during the night (feet especially since they sorta stick out weird.)

In a tarp setup, I'm usually using a plowpoint, and tuck my sleeping gear up against one side. The sit pad then goes sort of in the middle, sort of like the hammock, so that when I sit on the 'bed', it would go under my feet. In this setup, my shoes go up under the head of the air mattress, creating the start of a pillow (topped with a blowup pillow to finish it off). But the sit pad then becomes where I put my rolled up clothes, hat, glasses, flashlight, and anything else that would go in a hammock ridgeline pocket, again within handy reach.

I can see where it would be useful as a tent doormat as well, though I think for that purpose it would probably be more useful in a roughly 16x24 size. I'd be tempted to cut it in half (two 12x16s) and then tape them back together on one side, fold them back against each other, and then tape the other side, creating a hinge, so you could stick it in your pack more easily.

Great multipurpose piece of gear.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

The fake grass seems like it would be ideal, especially in sandy areas, if it rolls up small enough. All those little crumbs would fall down into the "grass" where they could be shook out before rolling it up again.

Alan

I think that's why Mike liked it. He camps a lot in sandy areas such as Assateague Island. I'm going to search for that grass mat, as the NJ Pine Barrens, where I'll be next week, is very sandy.

 

[MJones]

I have one of Coghlan's inside/outside mats, which works really well, placed right next to the door to the tent, under the fly.

Inside/Outside Tent Mat

Keep your tent or trailer clean and tidy with Coghlan's Tent Mat! Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, this mat is perfect for placing outside your tent or trailer to prevent dirt and sand from tracking inside. With a non-slip natural rubber backing and made of 100% olefin yarn, this mat is...

coghlans.com

 

[sailsman63]

If the artificial turf doesn't work out, and you just want some closed-cell foam that is low-risk and hoseable, walmart has this camping mattress for $15:

Ozark Trail Closed Cell Foam Blue Camp Sleeping Pad - Walmart.com

Buy Ozark Trail Closed Cell Foam Blue Camp Sleeping Pad at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Enough material there for two or three, as well as some kneeling padding in the canoe.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

We got one of these and we like it a lot. It's not super heavy but it is a little bulky. I love it for base camping.

https://www.rei.com/product/204492/cgear-multimats-sand-free-picnic-mat

 

[Neophyte]

I think that's why Mike liked it. He camps a lot in sandy areas such as Assateague Island. I'm going to search for that grass mat, as the NJ Pine Barrens, where I'll be next week, is very sandy.

I've been to the Pine Barrens for the historic village and a short hike, but I've never paddled there. It is certainly sandy and (over the summer) annoyingly buggy. It's not that far from me, it's definitely on the list. Enjoy.

 

[Odyssey]

We've seldom taken door mats for our tents on paddling trips, but they've become a glamping fixture with car camping.
We did try (and appreciate) rolled woven straw beach mats on a couple trips. One in each tent vestibule. However they were prone to wet wear and tear. Despite this they held up reasonably well. Nowadays we have plasticky types for car camping. Not sure one will earn a ride in our canoe this summer. I do like the ccf pad idea. Might have to try that.

 

[Pseudonym]

I always bring one of these Curve PVC Wetsuit Changing Mats on every trip:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADJQNK4?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I originally got one for its intended purpose (changing out of wetsuits) and quickly realized how useful it would be in camp.

It won't help wipe off the bottom of your shoes like a grass mat but it makes up for that with a myriad of other benefits. It works great for changing, or dumping out a pack. Once you synch the drawstring, it works like a bucket because it is 100% waterproof. When used as a doormat, you can leave your boots on it overnight and protect them from the dew or rain by folding the mat halfway, back over the top like a lid. I sit in my camp chair and use it to change my shoes, sort gear, etc. I like it so much I own three: one in my sailing kit, one in my canoe pack and a spare in my truck.

 

[BurkeJ]

I also have the Kelty mat for car camping, it’s convenient.
Has anyone tried the CGear sand free mat? Looks interesting…