Hi guys,

I would like to have your recommendations for a non cradle/crib unhooking mat that is quick drying and has no/low absorption of water.

I currently have the Thinking Anglers flat mat (sealed beanies and sealed foam). The second mat I currently have is the Carplife Combi mat (which has a sealed memory foam mattress). Both mats are comparable in terms of quality, while the Carplife mat has a bit thicker fabric. Both mats pass water through the seams and then dry very slowly because of the thick fabrics.

This is something that bothers me more and more, also because I often have to carry my gear to the swim so every kilo I can save is welcome.

I know Fox have a welded crib, but I prefer a flat mat. Korda do a nice unhooking mat (hybrid mat), but I don't know how it dries/takes on water in real life.

Thanks in advance!

In reply to Post #1
ESP Quickdraw Unhooking Mat

In reply to Post #1
Korda Compac Flat mat is ideal, very light for the size, quick drying. No frills, folds into waterproof carry bag that you can easily clip onto a rucksack if carrying your gear.

In reply to Post #1
Nash Scope Ops Auto Inflate mat has welded seams so no water ingress. Anything that is stitched will take on water.

LINKY POO™ https://www.nashtackle.co.uk/collections/mats/products/scope-ops-auto-inflate-unhooking-mat

In reply to Post #4
The aqua combi mat is pretty good and resistant to water absorption.

Any reason why you can’t get a cheap bit of tarp to cover the mat to stop the water soaking in ?

In reply to Post #1
ive just got the carplife elite one,,its mint,drys quick, have a lookat them

The Korda Hybrid mat is enormous…

Thanks all for your input, I will have a look.

About the Carplife Combi mat; I currently have that and while very thick fabric, it absorbs almost 700 grams of water after it has been wet (i weighed before and after).

When the water is inside the mat, because the fabric is so thick, it dries really slow.

In reply to Post #9
can you remove the inner padding at all?

perhaps remove it and encase in a plastic barrier, that way only the outer fabric will get wet, not the inner

In reply to Post #10
Yes, that padding is already sealed in, so water can't get in the mattress, but it can enter the sack and the fabric itself.

Put unhooking mat in a bin back job sorted

Esp quickdraw for sure

In reply to Post #9
is this the new one thats just been released?

In reply to Post #14
Yes, sir.

In reply to Post #1
Fox do a welded mat that you can use flat or with sides.

In reply to Post #1
For many years I stored my stuff in the house and a none absorbing quick drying mat was very much needed. I came to the conclusion a over sheet of some sort, silicone or aquatex or something else was the best idea, come back from a session just hang it on the washing line, a lot easier than a whole mat.. My old Nash beanie mat just wouldn't repel and I'm fearful of my newer Thinking Anglers even with it's sealed poly bag.
I was thinking of asking Army Andy to make me said sheet.

Someone did previously mention those waterproof welded bags divers use, I did look into it but they seemed expensive.

The fox easy mat has a non absorbant base that you could use on its own, and with the small frame it makes a really good mat with sides.

I've had a few mats over the years that don't absorb water. They tend to have a more like plastic coating, which is good for holding water out but not good for placing fish on. One of the worst, as with most of these types, was a Shimano tribal, which i can only describe as like putting a fish on a bar of soap, i had one slide straight off and down the bank. They must be on a completely flat surface, even the smallest incline, if they kick they will slide off.

I have a few mats and like the sling types. I have the scope ops but same as, picked the mat up to put the fish back in the water not long after i bought it and it slid out the back!

You need to be very careful with this plastic coated type of mat in my experiences.

The scope ops in my experiences needs to be fully zipped if you are thinking about returning fish on it. Be very careful because whilst they suit the anglers, quick drying, fish handling ability is poor.

Thanks for all of your input guys, really helpful comments!

Thinking about this, I am surprised no tackle company has not brought out a waterproof cover for unhooking mats etc, just another way of getting us to fork out a bit of extra "Carp Tax" for their products. It would be ideal for those days, your all prepared for landing a fish, but you don't catch, but its also raining and you end up with a wet unhooking mat, unless your like me and keep it in the bivvy till its needed instead of pegged out all ready to use

A good Shower curtain in green, cut down to size might do?

In fact, just looked on Ebay and you can get them in "Real Tree" pattern. Just what I could have done with about 20 years ago when I had a leaking seam on the top of my overwrap and I used to use one of our lasses shower curtains, with all big yellow pineapples on it laid on the bivvy roof and underneath the overwrap. Basically, it kept the bivvy itself dry, so something else to to have to pack up wet and dry when I got home

In reply to Post #1
The TA unhooking mat comes with a cover, I just leave that on and have never really had much problem drying the mat out. Have you tried that?

In reply to Post #22
The offering from Heritage Limited Edition is very similar.

In reply to Post #22
That's exactly what I started doing 👍

Ps, just make sure it overhangs the velcro properly otherwise water can still get inside the mat, been there.

In reply to Post #22
Yes, i only used it that way, to be honest. Just like the CarpLife mat.