Camco 42871 Open Air Reversible RV Mat 6x9 Blue

The Camco 42871 is a 6-foot by 9-foot Open Air outdoor mat in a blue stripe, and it's the kind of gear that earns its keep the first weekend out. Roll it out under your RV awning and you've got a clean, comfortable spot to stand, set up chairs, and kick off sandy or muddy shoes before they track dirt into the coach. It's woven from lightweight polypropylene, so it shrugs off the wet grass, spilled drinks, and general campsite grime that would ruin an indoor rug.

Here's what we like most about it. The weave is open, which is the whole point of the Open Air name. Water passes straight through instead of pooling on top, and air moves through too, so the ground underneath doesn't turn into a swamp after an afternoon of rain. That also means it dries fast. Shake it out, hang it over a railing for twenty minutes, and it's ready to fold back up.

The fabric is reversible. Flip it over and you get a second look, which is handy for two reasons. One, you can change up the pattern facing up when you move sites. Two, if one side starts to fade after a long season parked in the sun, you rotate to the fresher side and even out the wear. Speaking of sun, the polypropylene is UV-resistant to slow down fading, and it's mold and mildew resistant, so packing it away slightly damp after a rainy trip won't leave you with a musty mat next time you unroll it.

Cleaning couldn't be simpler. Hose it down right on the ground, hit any stubborn spots with a little mild soap and a soft brush, then let it air dry before you fold it. No machine, no special cleaners, no fuss. That's exactly what you want in gear that spends its life outdoors getting stepped on.

A few honest notes on how it mounts. This mat has corner tie-down loops but no grommets. So you won't be running stakes through holes along the edges. Instead you thread your own tent stakes, plastic pegs, or short bungees through the four corner loops and pin it to the ground. On a calm site the mat's own weight keeps it flat, but if you camp anywhere the wind kicks up, stake those corners down. A patio mat that catches a gust and folds over onto your chairs is nobody's idea of fun. It also doesn't come with a storage bag, so grab a cheap mesh sack or just fold it into your storage bay. It packs down small and light when it's dry.

Who's this for? RV owners who want a proper awning mat without spending a fortune, sure. But it's just as at home on a patio, a deck, by the pool, or staked out at a tailgate. First-time trailer owners love how much cleaner it keeps the inside of the coach, and full-timers appreciate that it's easy to hose off and reuse for years. At 6 by 9 feet it covers the footprint of a couple of camp chairs and a small table, which is the sweet spot for most single-awning setups. If you run a big wall-to-wall patio, you might want a second mat to butt up against this one.

What it isn't is a plush indoor rug, and it's not going to feel like carpet underfoot. It's a hard-wearing outdoor mat built to take abuse and clean up easy. That's the job, and the 42871 does it well. The blue stripe keeps things bright without showing every speck of dirt, and the reversible build means you're really getting two looks in one.