Boaters are always looking to expand their “real estate” on the water, and many have turned to floating mats to allow friends and family to recline in the water as well as in the boat. Increasingly, inflatable models are favorites because they can be stowed in duffel bags for easy transport and quickly inflated at the sandbar for sunning platforms or wrestling mats, and those with slick surfaces make a fun water slide.
Two of the most popular brands—Bote and Mission Outdoor—offer a variety of mats, from inflated “doughnuts” with mesh slings and nearly rigid inflatable mats. Foam mats started the trend, and inflated mats expanded it with more-buoyant mats that are sometimes used for service docks.
How We Tested
We wanted to see how difficult, or easy, they were to transport, inflate and enjoy. We discovered that while you can stand on them, moving about is much easier if there is something solid such as a boat gunwale to grip.
Cautions
Mission Outdoor recommends not tethering the mat firmly to a transom but rather leave 10 feet of space from any hard surface to prevent injury from the inevitable roughhousing. That’s a good precaution for all of them.
Common Characteristics
They all deflated naturally, but reversing the electric pump better removed remaining air for more-compact packing. Both brands have optional 12-volt pumps that ease inflation, though we didn’t find that this saved time, just effort. Topping off to appropriate psi for the load after electric inflation requires hand-pumping (hand pumps included) for an additional minute or so.
Bote Inflatable Dock 10 Native Paradise
This large device took more time and effort to inflate than all the others due to its greater volume. Using an electric pump available from Bote ($170) accelerated the process a little, but its main benefit was to reduce sweat equity from using the hand pump. The electric pump gets the device only halfway to its ideal inflation of 4 to 6 psi (depending on the number of people), but it took only a minute or so with the included hand pump to firm it up. Grab handles on all four sides assist in clambering back aboard if a push causes a sudden departure. D-rings are also strategically placed to fasten the dock to the boat or to other mats or even an anchor. Whether it was the 10-by-10-foot dimension, the 8-inch thickness or the traction from the surf mat surface, we found walking on it to be easier. A firm grip on something also enhances secure footing. At more than 70 pounds, its pack size is bulky and heavy.
- MSRP: $1,099
- Best Online Price: $934.15 at boteboard.com
- Inflated Dimension: 10’ x 10’ x 8”; 100 square feet
- Capacity: 1,500 lb.
- Optimal Inflation: 6 to 8 psi
- Packed Dimension: 5’ long x 1’6” diameter, rolled
- Packed Weight: 72 lb.
- Inflation Time, Hand Pump: 7 minutes
- Included: Hand pump, carrying case, patch kit
Mission Outdoor Reef 85 Inflatable Water Mat
The length and width of this mat formed a pretty cool Slip ’N Slide-like -surface, if you remember those summer water toys from past decades. Just make sure the surface is wet so that you slide over it instead of sticking to it. As a wrestling platform, they are unequaled, and the ability to push your opponent safely off the mat is a nice bonus. Grab handles on the ends assist in reboarding or carrying the inflated toy to the water. Mission opted to keep the surface a simple smooth finish, rather than adding a textured or surf mat finish. They did this to keep its pack size compact and easier to move. We found it difficult to walk on the mat—not because it was slippery, but a younger, slimmer enthusiast would probably fare better maintaining balance. Keeping one hand on something that moved less, such as the gunwale or transom platform, offered more-solid footing. We could see its DIY possibilities—as a platform from which to wash or wax a boat, or to change outboard motor oil or gear lube for a boat stored on a lift.
- MSRP: $849
- Best Online Price: $749 at amazon.com
- Inflated Dimension: 6’5” x 1’1” x 4”; 84.5 square feet
- Capacity: 1,750 lb.
- Optimal Inflation: 4 psi
- Packed Dimension: 31” x 9” x 18”
- Packed Weight: 50 lb.
- Inflation Time, Hand Pump: 5 minutes
- Included: High-volume hand pump, wheeled carry duffel, patch kit
Mission Outdoor Reef Lite Splash Floating Pool
This style inflatable mat is my fave for sandbar hangouts and raft-up parties. Why? It’s a cross between a mat, a lounge and a great big kiddie pool. The mesh sling surrounded by a firmly inflated ring makes a place where people can sit, feet inside or out, or stretch out inside, lounging up against the inflatable ring. You can cool off while stretched in the water catching rays, or you can compromise by dipping your toes in while sitting upright on the firm inflatable ring. There are D-rings for securing it to other floats or the boat. When deflated, it packs down into an easy-to-transport backpack that could stow away in most ski lockers. Our inflation time was 30 seconds longer than manufacturer’s specs, but it would have been quicker with a more energetic pumper. We liked its compact transport size and easy-to-carry weight of just 23 pounds.
- MSRP: $699
- Best Online Price: $699 at various retailers
- Inflated Dimension: 8’ x 9’ x 4”
- Capacity: 1,500 lb.
- Optimal Inflation: 4 to 6 psi
- Packed Dimension: 6″ x 15″ x 34″
- Packed Weight: 23 lb.
- Inflation Time, Hand Pump: 2 minutes
- Included: Pump, backpack duffel carrier, repair kit
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Bote Inflatable Hangout Water Hammock 10 Classic
The mack daddy of water hammocks has a thickness of 8 inches, adding firmness and buoyancy to the floating ring. The textured mat on the deck is like a surf mat and adds secure footing, durability, and good looks. In both our mesh-centered float rings, the center sloped into the water, making for cool lounging and setting up a playpen or kiddie pool that small kids will love. For adults, Bote has molded-in Magnepod magnetic drink holders for accessory insulated cups, tumblers, water bottles (from $21.50 each) and a floating, waterproof Bluetooth speaker (from $70). We set the cups on the magnets and lifted, then dropped one edge of the ring from over 1 foot, and the cup remained firmly in place.
- MSRP: $999
- Best Online Price: $999 at boteboard.com
- Inflated Dimension: 10’ diameter x 8” thick
- Capacity: 1,200 lb.
- Optimal Inflation: 4 to 6 psi
- Packed Dimension: 2’8” x 2’5” x 1’1”
- packed Weight: 57 lb.
- Inflation Time, Hand Pump: 5 minutes
- Included: Hand pump, wheeled carry bag, repair kit
