Owner Review by Jennifer Pope

Kimberly-Clark Neat Sheet
Owner Review
August 26, 2005

Biographical Information

Product Information

Product Description

Field Info

Review

Summary

Me using the Neat Sheet to keep my feet off the wet ground while I'm cooking breakfast

Biographical Information
Name	Jennifer Pope
Age	24
Gender	Female
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Weight	140 lb (64 kg)
Email address	Jennifer dot Pope at gmail dot com
Location	Los Angeles, CA
Backpacking Background Newbie. I've been a car-camper as long as I can remember and started backpacking in Northern California when I was 16. I'm just getting back into backpacking after a hiatus during college. I backpack in Sierras as well as other National Forests closer to Los Angeles. I also spend time in the California deserts and the mountains and coast of Northern California. I'm a tent camper leaning towards lightweight; but I am a fan of gadgets and I like being comfortable. I also do a mix of short and long day hikes in and around Los Angeles.

Product Information (back to top)
Manufacturer	Kimberly-Clark, Inc.
Manufacturer URL	www.kimberly-clark.com
Year of Manufacture	2004
Size Used	Regular (also available in a family size which is twice as large)
Listed Weight	just under one pound (.45 kg)
Actual Weight	14.5 oz (400 g)
Size	57 x 77” (1.5 x 2 m)
Color	blue/lighter blue (also available in green/fuchsia and red/blue)
MSRP	none listed

Product Description (back to top)

The Neat Sheet is a multipurpose ground cover. There are countless ways it can be used for camping and backpacking as well as in many other capacities (the manufacturer's website lists many). It's also water and sand repellent. The texture is soft, almost like a bed sheet, but thicker. Both sides are differing shades of blue and either side can be placed on the ground. There are weights in each corner to keep the sheet on the ground when the wind blows. I'm considering removing these to make it lighter for backpacking use (don't worry I have another one for non-backpacking trips). They are also relatively inexpensive, so I don't feel bad about "ruining" it.

Field Information (back to top)

The Neat Sheet has come with me on all my backpacking and camping trips for the past eight months or so. It has seen use on rocky ground in the Sierras as well as wet moist ground in the Angeles National Forest near streams and creeks. It has been in the sand, in the dirt, just about everywhere (no snow yet though). It has seen weather as cool as about 40 F (5 C) and as warm as 85 F (30 C). It has seen elevations from sea level (literally right at the water's edge) up to about 10,000 ft (3050 m).

Review (back to top)

At first glance, the Neat Sheet is not a backpacking item. It’s definitely not a necessary one but I’ve found many uses for it both on the trail in other outdoor capacities. I would say that it’s one of my luxury items, but I do bring it on all my backpacking trips.

Folded Neat Sheet next to a Nalgene for a size comparison Neat Sheet & Nalgene

For starters, it’s very lightweight and compact for a groundcover. It weighs slightly less than a pound (.45 kg) and packs down to approximately 8" x 8" x 3” (20 cm x 20 cm x 8 cm). For me, this is pretty lightweight and compact. It also has a soft texture which I really like, and which separates it from other groundcovers I’ve used. In the field I’ve used it for a variety of tasks, but the main one is as a groundcover in camp. Occasionally I don’t bring an extra pair of camp shoes with me on backpacking trips, but I still like to take my boots off. On these occasions, I spread out my Neat Sheet in front of my tent so I can walk around camp in my socks. On one backpacking trip, I wasn’t feeling well but I still wanted to be outside and enjoy the fresh air. I spread out the Neat Sheet and put my sleeping pad and pillow (yes another luxury item) on the sheet and lay outside. It was nice to be able to be outside, but still be comfortable. I also use the Neat Sheet to keep my rear clean while sitting on the ground. I can fold it up a few times and use it as a pad while sitting on the ground. It’s also nice to wrap around my shoulders on cool nights.

On day hikes it’s also nice to bring along to spread out for a picnic mid-way on the hike. I have used it on the beach and it does indeed repel sand quite easily as well as water. It also works well as a tablecloth, to cover nasty picnic tables.

Once back to my car after a backpacking or camping trip, or even a trip to the beach, I spread the Neat Sheet out in the back of my car to keep all the packs and boots from dirtying my interior.

Small tear near the weight due to putting it in the dryer tear

I have washed the Neat Sheet several times without too many problems. I have washed the sheet in a front loading washer on several occasions; although now I see the website says they don’t recommend that. On one occasion I accidentally put the sheet in the dryer with the rest of the clothes I was washing. The weights in the corners began to “cut” the fabric slightly. They’re really not in danger of falling out yet, but I won’t be drying the Neat Sheet in the dryer again (and they tell you not to do this, it was entirely accidental). In the future, I may actually cut the weights out of the Neat Sheet to make it a little lighter for backpacking. The fabric is made in such a way that it will not fray if it’s cut (according to the website, and I can confirm this based on the dryer incident). I have also washed the Neat Sheet since the dryer incident and the tears have not grown at all.

Summary (back to top)

It may be a luxury item, but I’ve gotten used to bringing it along on backpacking trips. It’s lightweight and compact and it’s a good multipurpose ground cover.

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Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Pope

Reviews > Camp Chairs and Seating > Pads > Kimberly-Clark Neat Sheet > Owner Review by Jennifer Pope

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