Gearhead: CGear mats keep sand and dirt out of your tent

As even the tidiest broom-wielding camper knows, it’s a never-?ending task to keep sand and dirt out of a tent or recreational vehicle. But CGear - developer of a tough helimat used by the U. S. military to eliminate dust and debris from getting kicked up at helicopter landing zones - has a solution.

The CGear Sand-Free Mat utilizes a patented weave and specialty fabric that allows dirt to pass right through it - and stay there (it can’t work back up through the fabric). Place it outside your tent or RV and you’ll find that dirt disappears instead of piling up, waiting to be tracked inside. The Mat comes with D-rings on the edges and can also be used as a shade mat (90 percent plus ultraviolet protection) or windbreak.

Made from a double-layer weave of resilient polyethylene, the mat is easy to clean - just wash with a hose. Available in three color themes. Comes in four sizes ranging from small (6 feet square) to XL (12 feet square). $60-$99. cgear-sandfree.com

CGear also makes the lighter, personal-sized Sandlite Sand-Free Mat, which folds into a nifty carry bag. Constructed from a softer material than its larger kin, the Sandlite can be used like a beach towel or picnic blanket while providing a “sand-free experience.” Comes in seven colors. $50. cgear-sandfree.com

In Sonoma County, CGear products are carried by REI and Walmart.

Suzie Rodriguez