A tent and trailer entry mat, 17 in. x 28 in. (43 x 71 cm), 100% olefin yarn with a non-slip natural rubber backing. Green. Machine washable. Resistant to soil, stains, mold and mildew.

One mat at the door is the difference between a clean tent and a gritty one. Everything that ends up in a sleeping bag walked in on somebody's feet, and the only place to stop it is the threshold.

The non-slip rubber backing is why it works on a groundsheet or an awning floor — a mat that slides when you wipe your boots gets kicked aside on day one and never used again.

Mold and mildew resistant, which is the real test. A mat gets packed damp. One that cannot cope comes out of the bag smelling of a cellar.

Machine washable, so the end-of-season clean is a wash cycle rather than a bin.

Coghlan's note that it is the right size as an entry mat for storing shoes, which is the other half of keeping a tent clean.