Picnics, Beach days, or at the campground, we are all vastly unprepared at most times for the things that we will rest our ass on when we find ourselves at these various venues. I’ve never personally given much thought to the standard “beach blanket”. It always seemed like a last minute item that garnered very little priority when you’re on your way out the door to play Frisbee and smash beers. But once you’re there, you really wish that more thought was given to this seemingly trivial matter.
The fine outdoorsman at Prometheus Design Werx set out to design the best technical blanket possible. Double-sided- PDW lined one side of this 54”x 84” size blanket with parachute ripstop nylon that they impregnated with silicone, making it not only impervious to the fine sand of southern California, but also an incredible wind and moisture stopper. The other side is a fantastic 14 oz Melton wool that is sourced from a US supplier that’s been in business since 1922. The wool is incredibly soft to the touch and uses 15% nylon fibers in the weave to add extra durability.
PDW has always taken inspiration from old world textiles and tools, so it was no surprise that this T.P.B. (Technical Picnic Blanket) was inspired by the classic ‘Cowboy bedroll’ that used to find itself on the back of a horse in days long passed. Taking proven designs and adding modern, technical materials is what makes PDW one of my favorite companies out there. It constantly reminds me of the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. But we undoubtedly have better fabrics and materials in this day and age, so these updates are welcomed.
In addition to the premium materials, PDW added 6 anchor points around the blanket, allowing the user to stake it down in high winds so it doesn’t fly off. Even with the large footprint, the T.P.B. packs up into a 6.5”x 11” stuff sack weighing just over 2 lbs. With the minimal weight, the blanket can join you on your journeys whether you’re backpacking in the Sierras or overlanding in MOAB. Some may scoff at the $189 USD price tag, but I assure you that Melton wool does not come cheap. I’ve used this blanket at more beaches than I can count, and never can I imagine using anything else anymore. No longer is a beach blanket a trivial matter and my hat goes off to PDW for once again impressing me.
