Best Lake Mats

Lake mats have gotten complicated with all the brands and conflicting reviews flying around. As someone who has owned lakefront property for six years and tried three different mat setups, I learned everything there is to know about keeping your swim area clean and usable. Today, I will share it all with you.

My first summer at the lake was a rude awakening. I walked into the water expecting a sandy bottom and instead got shin-deep in muck and weeds. My kids refused to swim. The neighbors had this clean stretch of lakebed that looked perfect, and when I asked how, the answer was a lake mat. Ordered one the next week and never looked back.

Types of Lake Mats

There are really three categories, and they solve different problems:

• Sand Mats
• Weed Mats
• Recreational (Floating) Mats

Sand Mats

Sand mats sit on the lakebed and hold sand in place. They are made from heavy geotextile fabric that lets water pass through but keeps sediment from washing away. If your beach area erodes every spring when the water level rises, this is what you need. I installed one along a 30-foot section of shoreline where I was losing about two inches of sand per year. Three years later, the sand is still where I put it.

Weed Mats

Probably should have led with this section, honestly, since most people looking into lake mats are dealing with weeds. These mats block sunlight from reaching the lakebed, which kills existing weeds and prevents new ones from growing. They are typically polypropylene — tough, UV resistant, and they last for years.

I’m apparently one of those people who obsesses over a clean swim area while my neighbor does not care at all. His side of the shoreline is a wall of milfoil. My side, where the weed mat sits, is clear. The difference is dramatic. You do need to pull the mat up once or twice a season to clean off sediment that accumulates on top, but that is maybe thirty minutes of work each time.

Recreational Mats

These are the fun ones — floating foam mats you throw on the water surface for lounging, sunbathing, and general lake shenanigans. They do not control weeds or prevent erosion. They are essentially floating platforms. My kids practically live on ours from June through August. We have an 18-foot LillyPad that fits six people comfortably, and it has survived three summers of rough treatment.

Why Lake Mats Are Worth the Investment

That’s what makes lake mats endearing to us lakefront homeowners — they solve real problems that make the difference between enjoying your waterfront and avoiding it.

• Weed control: No more hours of pulling weeds by hand every weekend. The mat does the work passively.
• Erosion prevention: Sand mats protect your beach investment. Without one, you are basically rebuilding your beach every few years.
• Safety: A firm, weed-free bottom means fewer twisted ankles and no stepping on things you cannot see. My mother-in-law refused to swim at our place until we cleared the weeds.
• Property value: A clean, maintained waterfront looks better and genuinely adds value. Our real estate agent mentioned it when we refinanced.

Picking the Right One

Know Your Lakebed

Walk out there and figure out what you are dealing with. Sandy bottom, muck, rocks, weeds, some combination? My lakebed was mostly muck with patchy weed growth. I needed a weed mat with enough weight to stay down in the soft bottom. A friend with a rocky lakebed needed a heavier-duty mat with better anchoring because the rocks created gaps the wind could catch.

What Problem Are You Solving

If weeds are the issue, get a weed mat. If your sand keeps disappearing, get a sand mat. If you just want something fun to float on, get a recreational mat. Sounds obvious, but I have seen people buy floating mats thinking they would control weeds. They will not.

Check Local Rules First

This matters more than you might expect. Some lakes and municipalities have strict rules about what you can put on the lakebed. My county requires a permit for anything over 200 square feet. Some areas ban certain materials entirely. A neighbor got fined because he installed a PVC-based mat in a lake that only allows polypropylene. Call your local DNR or lake association before buying anything.

Installation Tips from Experience

Prep the Area

Pull out any large rocks, sticks, or existing vegetation before laying the mat. I made the mistake of laying my first weed mat over a cluster of rocks, and it created air pockets underneath where weeds grew anyway. Take the time to clear the area properly.

Anchor It Well

Use the anchoring hardware that comes with the mat, and add extra if your lakebed is soft. I use rebar stakes every four feet along the edges. Without proper anchoring, wind and wave action will roll the mat up like a burrito. Happened to me once during a storm. Spent a Saturday unrolling and re-staking the whole thing.

Maintenance Is Minimal but Necessary

Check the mat every few weeks during the season. Sediment builds up on top and can eventually support weed growth right on the mat itself. A quick brush-off when you are in the water anyway takes care of it. At the end of the season, I pull my weed mat out completely, rinse it, and store it for winter. Some people leave them in year-round, but I think the annual removal extends the life.

Brands I Have Used

• Dalen
• Barefoot Friendly
• LillyPad Floating Water Mat

Dalen

Dalen makes solid weed control mats. The polypropylene material holds up well against UV and does not degrade in the water. I used a Dalen mat for my first two seasons before upgrading to a larger custom-cut piece. No complaints — it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Good entry-level option if you are not sure how much mat you need.

Barefoot Friendly

The name is accurate — these mats have a softer top surface that feels decent underfoot, which matters if you are walking on it in bare feet all summer. It doubles as weed control with a comfortable walking surface. My neighbor uses one and his grandkids run around on it without complaints.

LillyPad Floating Water Mat

This is the recreational mat my family uses, and we love it. It is a closed-cell foam mat that unrolls on the water surface. Durable, buoyant enough for a group of adults, and it rolls up for storage at the end of the season. We have the 18-foot version. The 12-foot would be fine for a couple, but with kids, go bigger than you think you need.