The BEARZ Outdoor Pocket Blanket is an inexpensive piece of gear with many uses.
I discovered it on Amazon for the convenience of having a relatively clean spot to place gear especially in desert, sandy areas.
Before I go any further, I should note that this Bearz Outdoor Pocket Blanket is NOT a blanket in regard to how we use the term “blanket” in the U.S.
It’s more like a thin (yet, durable) tarp. Regardless, I find it as a useful product and it’s clear after looking at the product that it’s not a “blanket” ha.
It’s hard to blame the company when Amazon rewards you for the more keywords you can stuff into a title…
The product of many uses. Bring it on a hike to sit on for lunch, use it as an outdoor floor mat for your tent, or use it to keep important gear out of the dirt.
With that out of the way, let’s get on with the review.
The BEARZ Outdoor Compact Blanket (Tarp) Review
Living in Salt Lake City at the time, I took and continue to take many trips to the desert (and now the beach).
I didn’t want to place my Jackery Explorer and other gear directly on the sand or soft dirt. I also wanted a place for my laptop bag, cords, and other stuff that doesn’t do great with sand.
This BEARZ Outdoor “blanket” tarp seemed like a cheap and easy option.
One year later, I have found more uses for it than I originally expected, AND it’s still holding up with no rips or tears.
I’ve even been using it as an outdoor mat for my canvas tent.
Since it has corner loops you can stake it down which is my preferred method of securing it.
It also has corner pockets that you can put rocks or sand into when you don’t have enough stakes or the circumstances require it.
If I’m in a sandy or rocky location, it’s nice to place something down so my duffle bags, backpacks, and other gear so it doesn’t get obnoxiously dirty instantly.
The Many Uses of the Bearz Outdoor Pocket Picnic Blanket
Over the course of a year, the the BEARZ pocket “blanket” has served many functions:
“Picnic Mat” – Put stuff on it you don’t want to get too dirty or sit/lay on it when it’s a nice day.
Backpacking/Hiking Sitting Tarp – If you’re backpacking or on a longer hike, it’s nice to bring something to sit on. I’m not a fan lugging around a backpacking camp chair, so this is a decent alternative to keep you and a friend dry and clean while enjoying nature.
Changing Mat – While car camping, I typically do the “stand on my shoes” technique while trying to change pants/socks to avoid getting dirt on my feet while changing. It’s also easier to quick put this out than to try and change in the vehicle.
Quick Shade – I can attach this easily to my screen tent for extra shade or use it off the back of my car with some ropes.
Tent Outdoor Floor Mat – They always cost like 30% of the tent price for some reason, this is a cheap way to keep certain tents protected on the bottom.
Tent Footprint – For some reason tent footprints always cost like 30% of the tent price. The Bearz Outdoor tarp is a cheap way to keep certain tents protected on the bottom. It might not cover the entire area, but it’s actually decent for some backpacking tents.
BEARZ Outdoor Picnic Blanket for Laying and Sitting
I’m mostly traveling in a Subaru Forester which means I’m jamming it pretty full on most trips.
To stay organized, half of my gear ends up on top of it or on the hood of the car.
Each corner of this BEARZ pocket blanket has a triangle pocket where you could put a few rocks in to keep it in place.
Each corner also has a sewn in rope loop which was nice to tie it down on my screen tent to provide more sun protection. I could easily move it from one side of my screen tent to the other as the sun moved during the day.
An Adult-Sized Changing Mat
While I don’t typically lay on my back waiting for a change, this tarp-like material does help. It’s easy to unfold and layout so I can step barefoot without worrying about sharp desert spines always trying to stab you.
My previous method was taking my shoes off and trying to balance on top of them while I change pants to avoid getting sand/snow on my feet/socks before putting them back in said shoes. So this is an improvement.
Light-Weight Blanket Shade
This is lightweight and easy to move around for extra shade. Not sure what the UV rating is, but it’s enough that I didn’t get burnt in Las Vegas with it which is good enough for me. It turns into a sail if it’s windy, so don’t leave it like this when you’re gone!
Tent Footprint
I thought of this as I was writing this article, but I think I will be using it for backpacking trips. I have a 1 and a 2 person tent without footprints and this is 50% the price for what seems like to be the same material.
Sitting Mat for Backpacking and Hiking
Fold it up and have a nice sitting mat in the snow or on a cold rock. Haven’t done this either, but thought of it as I kept writing. I always see Thermorest ones and they seem bulky and are taking up a decent amount of space on your backpack.
Negative Reviews of BEARZ?
I’ve never heard of “BEARZ” as a brand and I’m guessing it’s cheaply made outside of the U.S.
No idea on durability. I believe it’s Polyester, so that will help with some longevity, but I’m mostly concerned about the 4 sewn stake holes on each corner.
Overall, it’s a versatile option for the price.
- Versatile - a product of many uses
- Durable - I've personally used it for over a year, including as an outdoor floor mat while tenting and I've had no tears or rips.
- Packability - you can fit it back in its carrying pouch easier than similar items
- Colors - it comes in a variety of colors. It must be doing well since I did not have that many options when I ordered over a year ago.
- Thin - It wouldn't keep your bum warm on cold ground or prevent sharp rocks from poking you, but that should be a given since it's pocket-sized
- Not a blanket - it should be marketed as a thin, yet, durable mini tarp, but that wouldn't be as popular as a search term haha
