What pad do you use for gearing up?

[lv2dive]

When I remember it, I use a light monkey mat. But I used a smallish blue tarp doubled over, for years, and took it to Mexico for multiple trips to lay in the back of the rental car. Once a tarp starts to smell bad, though, it’s time to move on.

Those mats are great but if you get one, make sure you put something heavy on top of it if you are putting it in the bed of a truck. I’ve lost a couple out of the back of pickups (over hundreds of dives, but still)

Wondering what ground pad do you use for gearing up and probably even more importantly when taking gear off? Getting all the sand/soil and other crap on the gear after a dive is just something that I think can be best prevented.

Currently I use one of the moving blankets.
I've seen other use tarps.
Now I've see stuff from DGEx and similarly DRIS.

Thanks for your time.

 

[0321tony]

I'v used big contractor garbage bags,
tailgate of my truck,
buddy's gear bag (obviously he wasn't looking)
my gear bag (didn't like that, got really sandy)

 

[Chris H]

I have a Light Monkey Changing Mat that works well. I often stand in the bed of my truck to change. Harbor Freight furniture blanket are nearly free, and work OK, but they take a while to dry.

 

[divad]

I use this......it comes with a rug.

!t is a Bioch to roll back up.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

For beach dives when boulders aren't available, I use a bamboo mat.

For all other dives I use this;

 

[divad]

Neat boat.

 

[Compressor]

At times, hilarious responses.

 

[TMHeimer]

Completely new to me. I though by "pad" you meant a tablet with info. like what the steps for gearing up are....
I stand up to put most of my wetsuit on and sit on the back of my van to gear up the rest of the way. What would I do with a pad of some kind?
I gear down the same way and keep salt water off the car floor by covering the entire van floor with a sheet of (movable) plastic. I use a Rubbermaid type bin to carry equipment.

 

[Compressor]

Completely new to me. I though by "pad" you meant a tablet with info. like what the steps for gearing up are....
I stand up to put most of my wetsuit on and sit on the back of my van to gear up the rest of the way. What would I do with a pad of some kind?

Well maybe I was not clear but when you suit up and the bottom is sand, you can transfer some of it into your booties. But more drastic is when your gear is wet and you want to take it off. It gets all filthy and sandy. I use a moving blanket now but as one poster stated, it will take time to dry.

Its not a big deal; just thought to ask people on what they do.

 

[lv2dive]

Having a van, I don’t guess you need a pad.

Down heah in the South, lots of folks drive them pickem up trucks, so it’s easier to throw a purpose-made pad/rug down on the ground to get dressed before we head into the springs or caves.

Completely new to me...What would I do with a pad of some kind?
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