Buying guide for Best sand-resistant beach blankets
In your quest for the perfect beach trip, you’ve loaded up on only the best in beach toys, coolers, and umbrellas. Why would you short yourself by selecting just any old beach blanket?
Beach blankets have evolved considerably in recent years, and one newer option to consider is a sand-resistant beach blanket. These are designed so that sand either brushes off easily or filters down through mesh layers to the ground. The sand stays at the beach instead of coming home with you!
Sand-resistant beach blankets aren’t just great for beach trips. They can also be used for a variety of outdoor activities such as camping, music festivals, and picnics. The type of materials, size, price, and accessories you choose will depend on where and how you want to use your sand-resistant beach blanket.
Key considerations
Materials and design
Sand-resistant beach blankets are available in one of two different types: those that can be easily brushed off to remove sand and those with a mesh design that allows sand to filter through them.
Sand-resistant beach blankets can be made from polypropylene, nylon parachute fabric, or polyester PVC. Whichever fabric you choose should be durable and easy to clean. It should resist ripping and include UV protection to avoid damage from the sun. The edges should also be designed to resist fraying.
Comfort
Comfort is one area where these blankets can vary considerably. Some are softer, so they are easier to sit or lay upon for extended periods of time. Others are more coarse or rough, and can quickly become uncomfortable if you don’t have a towel or other material between you and the blanket.
Also consider how the beach blanket handles heat. Some blankets are able to dissipate or reflect heat, while others can become quite hot in the sun, often to the point of discomfort.
Size
The larger your sand-resistant beach blanket is, the more people — and their stuff — it can hold. As blankets increase in size, however, they can also increase in weight. While these blankets are largely designed to be lightweight and fold into a compact shape for carrying, this can still vary quite a bit from blanket to blanket. This is particularly true for mesh beach blankets, which often incorporate several layers of fabric.
You should consider how compact and lightweight a sand-resistant beach blanket will be when folded up, particularly if you will be carrying it over some distance. Also check to verify which sizes a sand-resistant beach blanket is available in, as some offer multiple sizes.
"Sand pockets are a handy way to anchor your beach blanket without needing to worry about pounding in stakes — or forgetting to bring them."
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Features
Ease of cleaning
Some sand-resistant beach blankets are machine washable, but many are just too large to fit into a washing machine. Most will need to be wiped or sprayed down by hand and then hung up to dry. You should also consider how blankets will react to food spills. Will you just be able to wipe it off, or will you run the risk of food becoming ground into the blanket?
Fast drying
Is the beach blanket water repellent? If it does become wet, how quickly will it dry? A quick-drying blanket can be much more comfortable to sit on during a long stretch at the beach. Many sand-resistant beach blankets also incorporate a waterproof backing layer, so moisture from wet sand won’t seep up and dampen all your stuff. Beach blankets that are also mildew and mold resistant offer additional protection if the blanket is stored away when slightly damp.
Ground attachments
Most sand-resistant beach blankets provide some method of securing the blanket to the beach so it doesn’t shift around or blow away. This is usually accomplished in one of two ways: stakes or pockets.
Stakes: Blankets that use stakes will have some kind of anchor loops through which you can pound the stakes to secure the blanket to the ground. Metal anchor rings are much more durable than fabric straps. Also, not all blanket sets include stakes so you may need to provide your own.
Pockets: Some blankets use built-in pockets as anchoring devices. You weigh down the blanket by filling the pockets with rocks or sand. Stakes can get lost, but there’s never a shortage of sand or rocks at the beach.
Some blankets incorporate both methods of anchoring. Others offer no way to anchor your blanket, forcing you to pile rocks or other heavy objects on blanket corners to secure it.
Tote handles or carry bags
Some sand-resistant beach blankets have built-in handle straps. Once you fold the blanket up and fasten it closed, you then have an easy way to transport it. More common is an included carry bag. A carry bag has the added benefit of helping keep sand from taking over your car. Some beach blankets proved neither option. Taking the carry bag concept to a higher level, some sand-resistant beach blankets include a waterproof case. This can be a boon to your beach setup by providing a place to keep your phone, keys, money, and other items together and dry.
Sand-resistant beach blanket prices
Sand-resistant beach blankets start out under $15 but can cost up to $100 or more. Most can be found in the $15 to $30 range. Size is a big factor in the price differences among blankets, with larger blankets costing much more than beach blankets designed for one or two people. Pricier beach blankets will usually offer a better build and increased durability, too. Mesh blankets that allow sand to filter through them away from users also tend to be more expensive.
Expert Tip
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Tips
If a beach blanket is too scratchy to comfortably sit upon for long periods of time, just place a beach towel between you and the blanket for added comfort.
Be sure to shake your beach blanket out thoroughly before folding it up to remove any sand trapped in the blanket’s mesh. This will keep sand from accumulating in your bag or car.
Try to place a sand-resistant beach blanket on flat ground. If your section of beach has uneven terrain, sand has an easier time worming up through the blanket.
Sand-resistant blankets also make a perfect doormat in front of a tent to keep sand from collecting inside.
If your beach blanket has built-in handles, note their position carefully when you are unfolding the blanket. In order to use the handles as intended, you will need to fold the blanket in the exact reverse order of how you unfolded it.
Other products we considered
With the wealth of sand-resistant beach blankets available, we wanted to include a few others of note.
We like the best-selling Wekapo Sand Free Beach Blanket. It’s an oversized 10 x 9-foot blanket that is capable of holding up to seven adults. It can be anchored with stakes or sand pockets.
The Roebury Sand Proof Beach Blanket ships in a variety of colors and offers a smooth, triple-layer design. It’s 55 x 70 inches and machine washable.
We also like the Mumu Sugar Sand Free Beach Blanket, which offers quick drying and heat resistance in a size that goes from 82 x 79 inches to something that folds up and fits in a bag that is barely bigger than your hand.
FAQ
Q. Will mesh-based sand-resistant beach blankets work with all types of sand?
A. In general, yes, but these types of beach blankets work best with finer sand. Coarser sand can have more difficulty working its way through the mesh.
Q. Should I use stakes to secure my beach blanket?
A. The use of stakes to keep your sand-resistant beach blanket in place is entirely up to you, but there are a few points to consider regarding them. First, even if your blanket is designed to be used with stakes, you might not receive stakes with it. Some beach blankets ship with stakes; others don’t. But you may not even need stakes. Some sand-resistant beach blankets are heavy enough to stay put on their own in light wind. Pile your beach gear on the blanket to weigh it down, and you may not need anything more to secure the blanket. Stakes can also work their way out of the sand and become a tripping hazard. If your beach blanket has built-in sand pockets to help secure the blanket, you might be better off using these.
Q. Does it matter which side of the beach blanket is up?
A. Not particularly. Even with mesh beach blankets — where sand can work its way down — the up or down position of the blanket isn’t important. Generally, there is no right “up” side with these. Gravity keeps the sand moving through the mesh in only one direction, so it doesn’t matter which side you sit on.
