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There's truly nothing better than an afternoon picnic or a quick meal enjoyed at the peak of a hike.
During longer hikes, backpacking trips, or just picnics in general, packing all of the necessary equipment can be a little tedious. While you could use a tablecloth or sheet as a picnic blanket to sit and enjoy your meal on, these usually aren't super waterproof and don't stand up well to rough ground. You want something that's packable, water-resistant, and ultralight so it's easy to carry anywhere. Enter: the Matador Pocket Blanket. This is the ultimate camping blanket or outdoor blanket for all sorts of occasions.
With the holidays right around the corner, this travel blanket from Matador is a perfect gift for anyone who loves spending time outdoors and wants a clean place to sit and relax while camping, hiking, or backpacking. It makes for a great picnic mat, keeping you and all your items dry.
Matador Pocket Blanket
Rachel Pasche
The Matador Pocket Blanket folds up into an ultra-compact storage pouch that's about the same size as a soap bar, making it perfect for pretty much any occasion. Even after taking it out to use, the easy-pack pattern made repacking it pretty simple (although I will say, it took me a few tries at first to get it right and pack it back up correctly). Weighing about 3 ounces, you can easily throw this into a backpack without noticing.
When unfolded, this compact pocket blanket stretches to 44 x 28 inches, providing enough space for about two adults to sit on comfortably. The Matador website says the normal Pocket Blanket is designed for two to four adults, but realistically you'll be able to seat about two. The Pocket Blanket Mini would seat about one, maybe two adults if both are smaller people. All the more reason to make sure everyone has one!
Rachel Pasche
You can stake down the corners with the tethered ground stakes for windy days or use the sand pockets for soft ground. These integrated corner stakes make it easy to set up anywhere without worrying that it'll blow away. I can't believe I went this long without one, especially considering that I sit down to eat a snack on practically every hike I ever go on. This is one of my new go-to travel accessories, and I recommend adding it to your wishlist for the upcoming holidays.
Some of the specs that make the Matador Pocket Blanket 2.0 so wonderful include the fact that it's made of hyperlyte nylon that's puncture-resistant and water repellent. It's quick-drying and would be perfect to place under a sleeping bag if you were concerned about any dampness.
It comes in three colors: Original red, alpine green, and black. You can buy it on Amazon or the Matador website. Both Amazon and Matador have a 30-day return policy, so you can get your money back if you aren't satisfied, though I think you'll be pretty happy. There are TONS of glowing customer reviews! One reviewer said, "It's so tiny, and gets so big. It ended up being one of the best purchases of 2021. So useful." Others have said they want to get one for every bag they have, so they always have one with them on their adventures.
Even if you aren't the outdoorsy type, this blanket is perfect for all types of scenarios. One Amazon reviewer said, "I thought this pocket blanket was great! I took it on a trip to Disneyworld and whenever the kids couldn't find a spot to sit, I would unfold this blanket for them! Love it!"
Another customer review said, "tiny, easily stuffable, love the metal stakes, a great car blanket or surface."
The water- and puncture-resistant material make it an awesome product to keep in the car for keeping your seats or trunk clean after a hike, I used it in my car to keep my dogs' dirty paws off my seats, and it worked like a charm.
Rachel Pasche
Compared to other similar products, one thing you can't beat about this product is the durability and packability it offers. It's seriously so tiny that you can pack it in your purse, your bike bag, hiking backpack or keep it in your car's glove box. Additionally, it won't rip or puncture, it's super waterproof, and it's insanely lightweight. I can't recommend this blanket enough!
NEXT: CLUTCH FIELD LINER K3 JACKET: A REVIEW OF THE ECO-CONSCIOUS INSULATED LAYERING OPTION
