What Is a Water Floating Mat?

With hot weather coming up, we’re all searching for a way to relax and unwind on a hot summer day. One of the most popular trends is to use a water floating mat as a water toy that your entire family can use and enjoy.

Water floating mat

You might not know much about water mats, except that you saw one on the water and now want one for yourself. You might have a ton of questions regarding how they work, their safety, and how you would even store such a thing.

This guide goes over all of that to put your worries aside.

What Is a Water Floating Mat?

A water floating mat is a waterproof foam pad that allows you to play on the surface of the water. To use one, you only need to throw it onto the water, and it’s ready to go.

It’s one of the best investments you can make for your family and friends.

Choosing the Best Water Floating Mat

You must choose the best water floating mat so you can enjoy your time out on the water. There are several types of water mats available on the market today, some of which include inflatable floating mats.

Inflatable floating mats can be a pain for some people. This is because some of them require you to use your mouth or an air pump to fill the mat.

If you’re someone who loves the idea of floating in the water without taking on an inch of water, then having a water mat is essential.

Some mats are made from premium cell foam resistant to tearing and punctures. This means it won’t let you down when you’re out in the open water. Additionally, most floating mats are large enough for multiple people to be on them at the same time.

https://lifejacketadvisor.com/best-floating-water-mats-pads/
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Some other factors that you should consider when buying a floating mat include:

Water Safety

One of the first things you should check on any floating mat is its design and durability. This ensures that you won’t face any troubles when you’re out on the water. Water safety is important.

For example, you might want to check that the material that the mat is made from isn’t prone to rips, tears, or punctures.

You also want to purchase a floating mat with a long-life span; if not, you’ll have to spend even more money to replace the mat because it most likely won’t last for more than one season of use.

Material

A floating mat should always be well-built. Most people will opt for floating mats made from foam because they’re great for lounging. They’re also suitable for lakes, calm water bays, pools and rivers.

No matter what type of material you go with, be it foam or inflatable plastic, make sure that it’s going to outlive a season of playing and lounging.

Solidity

Think about the firmness of the floating mat for several different types of water activities. The solidity of a water mat should allow you to sit, lay down, or float without falling into the water.

If you go with a floating mat that’s made from high-quality materials, you should be able to enjoy all kinds of activities on the mat.

Capacity

This is an important factor to consider if you’re someone who wants to spend time on the water with your family. It’s better to think about finding a mat that can accommodate the maximum number of people you would have on the mat at any given time rather than searching for a mat just for you.

If you want to go to the lake or pool with the entire family, you need to purchase a large mat.

A large mat will allow you to fit several people on it while still giving you enough space to run or walk around. Not to mention, larger mats provide more buoyancy than small floating mats.

However, large mats do have a downside when it comes to storing them.

Maintenance

If you’re someone who doesn’t like having to perform maintenance on things, you should probably go with a mat that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance to keep it in the best shape possible.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can let dirt stay on the mat. Always look at mats knowing that you’re going to have to clean the dirt and grime off before storing it because the longer those things stay on the mat, the faster your mat will deteriorate.

So, always clean your mat with a sponge, water and mild soap.

Inflatable vs Foam

Inflatable mats are more affordable than foam mats, and they’re very lightweight. However, they don’t last as long as foam mats because they’re more prone to rips and punctures.

Foam mats are more expensive than inflatable mats. However, they last longer, are heavier and don’t require inflation to use.

The Best Floating Water Mats

Here are some of our top recommendations for the best floating water mat.

Rubber Dockie Floating Water Mat

  • Size: 108 x 72 x 1.4 inches
  • Loading capacity: 1200 pounds
  • Number of Adults: Up to six adults

Buy on Amazon

Intex Giant Inflatable Floating Mat

  • Size: 114 inches x 84 inches
  • Loading capacity: Up to 660 pounds
  • Number of Adults: 3 adults

Buy on Amazon

Aqua Lily Pad Floats

  • Size: Double(3’x9′), Single (2’x7’1″)
  • Loading capacity: 550 pounds
  • Number of Adults: One to two adults

Buy on Amazon

Bottom Line

A water floating mat is one of the best water toys you can have when you want to spend time out on the water without getting wet. They allow you to enjoy several types of activities on the water’s surface.

When picking out your water floating mat, make sure you take all of the above information into consideration, so you know that you’re finding the best floating water pad for you and the water activities you enjoy.

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