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#275919 - 07/24/15 12:37 AM Matador Pocket Blanket ?
chaosmagnet Offline
Sheriff
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/03/09
Posts: 3821
Loc: USA
I recently ran across what purports to be a water repellant picnic blanket sized 55x44" for $25. I didn't buy it. My kits have Heatsheets 2-person blankets, which are 60x96", water proof, and presumably a lot warmer. The Matador looks like it folds down smaller and is designed to be refolded back to its small form, where I view the Heatsheets as being a reasonably robust single-use item.

Anyone familiar with the Matador, or preferably both?

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#275920 - 07/24/15 05:17 AM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
Alex Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/01/07
Posts: 1034
Loc: -
Great find! Not sure about the Pocket Blanket vs Heatsheet (though, I'm using an ultralight nylon hammock/tarp in a pouch for many years - very sturdy thing, however - not good as a blanket for warmth for sure), but their Surface thing looks extremely interesting.

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#275922 - 07/24/15 12:06 PM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
Blacktop Offline
Member

Registered: 06/29/05
Posts: 134
Loc: Cypress, TX
That's a neat product. There's a similar product called the Softarp that's a little bit larger at 5'x7', and can be found for around 8 bucks, though it lacks the integral pocket and probably doesn't store as compactly. There used to be the Neatsheet, but I don't think it is available anymore.
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#275932 - 07/24/15 04:47 PM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
clearwater Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1181
Loc: Channeled Scablands
The pouch it is stored in looks to be point bonded synthetic. Is the rest of the blanket the same material?

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#275939 - 07/24/15 10:33 PM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: clearwater]
chaosmagnet Offline
Sheriff
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/03/09
Posts: 3821
Loc: USA
Originally Posted By: clearwater
The pouch it is stored in looks to be point bonded synthetic. Is the rest of the blanket the same material?


Dunno. Haven't seen one in person.

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#275944 - 07/25/15 07:10 AM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
It gets great reviews at Amazon. I'll have to try one.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman

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#275945 - 07/25/15 12:43 PM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
chaosmagnet Offline
Sheriff
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/03/09
Posts: 3821
Loc: USA
Alright, I won an Amazon gift card at work, I'll order one and report back to the group.

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#275951 - 07/26/15 06:26 AM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
I did hit youtube to see some videos and it appears to be more of a tarp or ground cloth than a proper blanket. It doesn't look like it would be usable for warmth. Just from a couple of quick videos I think it's maybe not waterproof, either. You might want to check out the videos before you order. If you're just looking for a ground cloth or something a tarp would be cheaper, and if you want it for warmth it might not do the job.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman

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#275956 - 07/27/15 06:05 PM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
chaosmagnet Offline
Sheriff
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/03/09
Posts: 3821
Loc: USA
Phaedrus' post above came too late for my order, which arrived today. It probably would have been smart for me to check YouTube before making the purchase.

This truly is designed to be a picnic blanket or ground cloth rather than a blanket for warmth. It's very thin and lightweight, but settled neatly on the carpet for a brief simulated picnic with my daughter Destructo. It folds up neatly and easily into its built-in pocket, at least when clean and dry. The sewn-in folding guidelines help quite a bit with that.

Based on my ten minutes of tinkering at home and no outdoor experimentation whatsoever, I would not recommend this as a replacement for a Heatsheets blanket or a silnylon tarp. As a very small and light picnic blanket, it seems like it would be competent if a bit pricy.

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#275959 - 07/28/15 02:53 AM Re: Matador Pocket Blanket ? [Re: chaosmagnet]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
Since you already have it at least it should be useful. There are lots of times when a ground cloth would be handy, especially while hiking.
_________________________
“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman

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