Last Updated on July 9, 2023
This post is an open thread and contains affiliate links.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated for 2023.
My family recently enjoyed a camping trip along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, where daily walks from our campsite to the nearby beach were a thing. Having grown up near Lake Michigan, I’m familiar with the fine-grained sand that gets everywhere. Camping near the beach was another matter all together. The sand got into all of our gear: our tent, our shoes, our picnic bags, our sleeping bags.
While we own a couple of good pop-up shelters and a folding blanket for the beach, we also could have used a sand-free beach mat. Sand-proof mats generally work in one of two ways: either they are made of a material that allows sand to simply be easily brushed or shaken off the blanket, or they feature two layers of mesh fabric that allow sand to slip right through so it doesn’t collect on top of the mat.
Aldi introduced a sand-free outdoor mat this summer alongside other beach items. The Aldi mat works using a dual-layer design so sand on top slips through, while sand underneath is not able to come up.
What We Know:
The 2022 model.
The Crane Sand-Free Outdoor Mat (Product Code: 816034) cost $8.99 in 2023. That’s a lot less than the $14.99 it cost in 2022. It’s also less than a lot of other sand-free or sand-proof mats on the market.
This Crane mat is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Each store gets one shipment, and once they sell out, that’s it unless Aldi decides to bring them back. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that aren’t in stock at your local store.
Here’s more information on the 2023 mat, according to Aldi:
- Available in Blue or Orange
- Dimensions: 6.5′ x 4.9′
- Lightweight material dries quickly and resists water absorption
- Dual-layer weave allows sand and dirt to fall through the mesh and prevents debris from coming back up
- Includes 4 D rings, 4 ground stakes, and carry bag
What We Don’t Know:
We haven’t yet tried the sand-free outdoor mat, so we don’t know how well it works or how durable it is. We write open threads so readers can share about their experiences with products.
Do you own the Crane Sand-Free Outdoor Mat? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
