Project Appleseed

Hey, as I start getting ready for my first Appleseed in April, I'm trying to make sure I'm well prepared ahead of time. 
 
I looked at a few, but I've never used one before and I don't know what features I should be looking for, what to avoid, etc.
I'm trying to get one Made in the USA, and it seems like there are quite a few options, but I just don't know what to look for.

I would greatly appreciated any experienced advice on what things you like, and dislike, about your shooting mat.

I have one of these, and have been dragging it around with me for 23 years. http://www.champchoice.com/store/Main.aspx?p=ItemDetailOptions&item=700D
Sue you can buy the cheaper, but this mat is limp enough to stay flat. and got a bit a weight to help keep the wind from blowing it away.

Disclaimer;
Some special places, like Laramie require 1/4x8x16" piece of steel to keep it in place on a normal day of 25-35 MPH gusts.

Completely shameless plug for the Appleseed branded mat.

https://store.rwvaappleseed.com/product110.html

The purpose of the mat for the event is really to keep you padded/comfortable and cleaner (some of the ranges are just gravel and rocks, some are concrete pads, very few are nice soft dirt/sand/grass).  The leather on the mat does help prevent your sweaty elbow from sliding around a bit, but because it is black leather, if it sits in the sun for a while its gonna be HOT.

The Appleseed mat has all of the basics that you will need like padded areas for elbows and knees, rolls up into itself with a shoulder strap, water resistant (not proof), and grommets if you want to stake it down to prevent it from being picked up by the wind if you shoot in a very windy area.  There are fancy mats with pockets for magazines, or mats that roll up to become a rifle case as well, you don't need or use any of those features for an Appleseed event.  Really personally preference but Appleseed mat is plenty of mat for our events, plus you are supporting the program! 

I have half a dozen Midway mats, and they're fine. Some of them have been abused through a couple dozen Appleseeds, and they're still holding up. For service rifle matches, I use a Creedmoor mat, which is probably your other option for made in USA after the CC that Mark Davis posted.

https://www.creedmoorsports.com/product/CREEDMOOR-ROLL-UP-MAT-GREEN/Mats-and-Kneeling-Rolls

The vinyl bottom was great when I used to shoot in wet grass, and I like the knee rubber. The extra padding is nice on concrete, but I wouldn't get it again. If you roll the mat up, it develops a bit of memory from the heavy vinyl, so the wind can catch it. Here at Rattlesnake Mountain, every firing point has a few 8-10" rocks to hold mats down in the wind, although we call off the match at 30-40 mph. 

I would second the recommendation for the Project Appleseed mat.  These mats are very similar in materials and construction to the NcSTAR VISM mats sold on Amazon and elsewhere but adds the front skirt and stake-out grommets at the corners, and they are no more expensive than the NcSTAR mats.

If you shoot off a concrete pad and want more paddling, or have to lie down on a soaking wet surface, you can get a couple of the "anti-fatique" foam "puzzle mats" sold by Harbor Freight for less than $10 for a set of four 2x2' squares.  To make a foam surface that will match the dimensions of the mat itself, you need three full squares and one and a half squares cut in two right down the center.  So with two of the 4 piece foam sets you can cut two in half and have enough to pad out two separate shooting mats.

Whatever mat you choose, if you anticipate shooting in warm to hot weather, and especially if you must set up in direct sunlight, do not buy a black mat.  It can get hot enough to burn yourself on.

Here are 4 different mats we had on the line attending an Appleseed event today.

First page shows the Project Appleseed mat (left), and the Midway USA mat (right).  As you can see there is distinct differences in the padding where the elbow/knees are.  Midway USA gives you a larger "leather" surface where the elbows would be, but that leather surface also tends to chew up your elbow pretty good due to the surface texture.  Personally, I'd prefer the Appleseed mat from that standpoint.

2nd page shows the closeup differences between the Appleseed (left) and MidwayUSA(right) mats, the midway mat has 2 pockets and a strap area where you can butt up/lock up your bipod legs into for additional support.  Since we don't shoot with bipods or put anything in those pockets in our events, that feature doesn't mean anything to me.  Some people like to store small screwdrivers, notebooks, etc in there.

3rd page shows 2 other mats that are possible as well, I think the one on the left on the 3rd page is a slightly cheaper version of a MidwayUSA mat.  As you can see, different padding areas.  Hope this helps!

Wow, this is super helpful! 
Thanks for taking the time to put that together, it'll really help my decision out.
 
I'm leaning towards the Appleseed one, since it supports the program and it's not too much out of pocket, so if I decide I don't like it and want something different, it's not a huge loss. 
 
I'm also thinking about making my own using some scrap materials I have laying around the garage, but I haven't done any major sewing in years.

I did my first 4 Appleseed Clinics on a yoga mat.  It worked fine.  I have 2 Appleseed mats and a rarely-used midway mat now.  They are better, but yoga mats are perfectly acceptable.

Be wary of any mat with a black surface. It heats up in the summer sun. My old Midway has that and I end up bringing light colored towels. The mat at the Appleseed store are nice, I need to order one.

Mike

Side note: It's helpful to bring a small tarp to go under your mat. You can get a 5'x7' tarp from Harbor Freight for a couple of dollars. This will help keep you & your mat clean & dry if the ground is wet or muddy.

I pike the "under equipment mats" for exercise equipment.  They are bigger and thinner than a sleeping pad. I have had some for several seasons now.  They lay flatter than a sleeping pad so they don't blow away as easily.  Last ones I saw were at Sam's Club under $30.

The Appleseed mats are nice also.

There is always the Midway shooting mat.

I have several of the Midway mats and they have been great. The best thing is if you can wait for one of their frequent sales.

Re: Mark Davis and his steel plates - YES, YES, YES! I have used his plates and they are, by far, the best solution, to a windy range - better than rocks, ammo boxes or stakes. And although almost a requirement in Wyoming, they would be welcome in almost every state I've shot in so far (all western states). If you can find one of these, and you shoot out west, throw one in your kit. Now I just have to find a steel supplier and get someone to cut out a few for me

Here is an interesting tidbit for the Midway mat. Go with the large and you will have a lip of material sewn in the can be used to help front load a bipod. 

Quote from: Captain on March 30, 2020, 11:07:03 AM
I have several of the Midway mats and they have been great. The best thing is if you can wait for one of their frequent sales.

Re: Mark Davis and his steel plates - YES, YES, YES! I have used his plates and they are, by far, the best solution, to a windy range - better than rocks, ammo boxes or stakes. And although almost a requirement in Wyoming, they would be welcome in almost every state I've shot in so far (all western states). If you can find one of these, and you shoot out west, throw one in your kit. Now I just have to find a steel supplier and get someone to cut out a few for me

I scrounge them from the recycle dumpster of a local steel fabricator.

Here is what I made today with some.

Getting some good practice with the air rifle, shooting off the porch.

Getting some good practice with the air rifle also , shooting off the porch also.
04/05/20, 5:45PM, 49deg, no wind
Benjamin Marauder-FT .22 Cal (New rifle for me)
55ft off porch to back fence (.25" squares)
UTG Bugbuster @ 9X
RWS 14.5 gr (Fieldline SuperDome)
partial benched on railing
Mike

Appleseed mat all the way.  The Appleseed store also has other great stuff to order.