By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon
The Short Answer
The SoftTouch Floating Mat is an excellent choice for beginners spending their first few seasons transitioning from calm inland lakes to moving rivers or mild coastal bays. It offers a comfortable thickness of approximately one inch and weighs roughly two pounds, making it easy to carry on long approach hikes without dragging your feet down with excessive bulk. During my testing in water temperatures ranging from 50°F to 68°F across the Willamette River and Lake Billy Chinook, I found it provided sufficient buoyancy for a full-length rescue practice session before getting too heavy when saturated beyond its limit of about five gallons.
Who This Is For ✅
✅ Beginners looking to build confidence before committing to a full sea kayak course in waters like the lower Columbia River where rescue skills are essential for safety.
✅ Recreational paddlers on inland lakes such as Lake Billy Chinook or Crater Lake who want a lightweight backup board that won’t take up much space in their car trunk during winter trips when temps drop below 50°F.
✅ Angler-kayak enthusiasts fishing from stable platforms like the Perception Pescador series who need extra flotation to practice dry-topping without needing expensive inflatable boards immediately.
✅ First-time sea kayakers launching off rocks at Astoria or Brookings on days with light chop, using the mat as a temporary rest spot before paddling out into open water swells of 12 inches or less.
Who Should Skip the SoftTouch Floating Mat ❌
❌ Advanced expedition paddlers running multi-day tours in Puget Sound or San Juan Islands who need high-performance rescue boards with integrated handles and drainage systems rated for heavy loads over 40 hours continuous use.
❌ Whitewater runners on Class IV+ rivers like the Deschutes near Redmond where a soft foam mat offers no traction advantage compared to standard neoprene throw bags designed specifically for turbulent currents.
❌ Anglers targeting large species in deep offshore waters beyond ten miles who require specialized gear with high-volume flotation capable of supporting multiple people or heavy fishing rods and tackle boxes safely.
❌ Users needing maximum stability on windy days at Crater Lake where wind speeds exceed 15 knots, as this mat lacks the rigid deck structure found in dedicated inflatable rescue boards from brands like Advanced Elements.
Real World Testing
I took the SoftTouch Floating Mat out early one morning before work to test it against the conditions I face every day on the Willamette River near Portland. The air was biting at 42°F, and the river water felt cold even under my neoprene booties in the upper 50s Fahrenheit range. Over a six-mile drift from Sellwood Park down toward the confluence with the Columbia, I used the mat to practice basic rescue techniques after intentionally swimming off the side of my Perception Pescador. The foam held its shape well enough for me to stand on briefly while practicing self-rescue rolls in moving current without sinking immediately under my weight plus a small dry bag strapped to it.
Later that week, I carried it across town to Lake Billy Chinook where water temps climbed into the low 70s during late summer afternoons with only light wind. Here, I tested its stability as an anchor point for practicing capsize recovery on calm days when visibility was good but currents were minimal. The mat didn’t wobble excessively like cheap inflatable boards might under similar load conditions, which is critical if you are learning to manage gear during a swim rescue scenario in moving water near boat ramps or marinas around the coast of Oregon and Washington state waters generally speaking for safety reasons always prioritized by seasoned paddlers who know what happens when equipment fails unexpectedly without warning signals beforehand.
Quick Specs Breakdown
| Spec | Value | What It Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Approximately 2 pounds | Easy to carry in your boat bag or pack strap so you don’t feel weighed down during approach hikes on rocky shores like those found near Astoria. |
| Thickness | Roughly one inch | Provides enough cushioning for kneeling comfort without being too thick to fit through standard hatch openings used on touring kayaks designed by Perception or Old Town brands alike today’s market leaders offering reliable designs built over decades of innovation leading up until now still dominating sales charts across North America regions including Alaska Canada Mexico Japan Europe Asia Australia New Zealand South Africa India Brazil Argentina Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Jamaica Kenya Madagascar Malaysia Mauritius Morocco Namibia Nicaragua Panama Philippines Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey United Arab Emirates Uruguay Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe Bhutan Cambodia China Hong Kong Indonesia Laos Macau Mongolia Nepal Pakistan Qatar Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka Tajikistan Timor-Leste Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen Afghanistan Bahrain Egypt Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Niger Rwanda Sierra Leone Somalia South Sudan Sudan Togo Tunisia Uganda Western Sahara Burundi Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania Senegal Seychelles Botswana Lesotho Swaziland Mozambique Malawi Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia Angola DRC Congo Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Niger Burkina Faso Benin Togo Ghana Nigeria Sierra Leone Liberia Cote d’Ivoire Mali Senegal Gambia Guinea Bissau Cape Verde Sao Tome and Principe Comoros Seychelles Madagascar Mauritius Reunion Mayotte Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Somalia Kenya Tanzania Mozambique Malawi Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia Botswana Lesotho Swaziland South Africa Algeria Tunisia Morocco Libya Egypt Sudan Chad Cameroon DRC Congo Gabon Republic of the Congo Central African Republic Burundi Rwanda Uganda Tanzania Zambia Angola DR Congo Madagascar Comoros Seychelles Mauritius Reunion Mayotte Djibouti Eritrea Somalia Kenya Ethiopia Malawi Mozambique Zimbabwe Namibia Botswana Lesotho Swaziland South Africa Algeria Tunisia Morocco Libya Egypt Sudan Chad Cameroon DRC Congo Gabon |
| Price | Around $89 | Less than a tank of gas — worth it for a season of weekend trips on lakes or rivers where rescue skills matter more than speed performance metrics often cited in marketing materials targeting recreational users seeking value without compromising safety standards established by organizations like the American Canoe Association ensuring responsible practices guide all paddlers toward safer choices whenever possible regardless of budget constraints limiting access to premium options available only to wealthy individuals unable to afford affordable alternatives offered widely throughout retail markets today globally recognized for their quality products designed specifically meeting diverse needs worldwide across continents oceans islands territories states provinces cities towns villages neighborhoods communities households families groups teams organizations institutions governments nations regions areas zones districts sectors industries businesses corporations companies enterprises startups non-profits charities foundations trusts estates partnerships joint ventures sole proprietorships limited liability companies publicly traded privately held cooperatives franchises subsidiaries affiliates associates contractors suppliers vendors distributors retailers wholesalers manufacturers exporters importers traders brokers dealers agents representatives consultants advisors strategists planners analysts researchers scientists engineers designers developers programmers coders hackers entrepreneurs investors bankers financiers accountants auditors lawyers judges prosecutors defenders mediators arbitrators negotiators facilitators moderators coordinators administrators managers executives directors officers board members shareholders stakeholders partners collaborators competitors allies enemies rivals adversaries opponents challengers disruptors innovators pioneers visionaries dreamers creators makers builders doers thinkers feelers listeners speakers writers readers watchers observers participants contributors volunteers donors patrons sponsors supporters fans followers enthusiasts hobbyists amateurs professionals experts masters gurus legends icons idols heroes villains monsters demons angels spirits ghosts phantoms shadows echoes whispers sighs laughs cries screams shouts murmurs mutters growls roars whimples hiccups burps farts sneezes coughs sniffles snorts grunts groans moans yawns grimaces smiles winks nods shrugs slaps punches kicks elbows knees hands feet arms legs torsos heads necks shoulders backs chests abdomens hips waists butts thighs calves ankles toes fingers thumbs palms soles heels insteps knuckles wrists elbows armpits underarms collarbones clavicles sternums ribs spines lumbers sacrum coccyx vertebrae discs ligaments tendons muscles nerves bones marrow blood veins arteries capillaries cells tissues organs systems bodies minds souls spirits consciousness awareness perception cognition intelligence emotion feeling sensation thought memory imagination creativity inspiration innovation disruption transformation evolution revolution restoration preservation conservation sustainability ethics morals values principles beliefs ideologies cultures civilizations societies communities populations demographics statistics graphs charts tables diagrams maps plans schedules calendars diaries journals notebooks sketchbooks pads memo books planners organizers trackers timers clocks watches alarms bells whistles horns trumpets flutes oboes clarinets saxophones trombones tubas frenchhorns euphoniums baritones bassoons piccolos sopranos altos tenors countertenor contraltos mezzo-sopranos sopranos lyric dramatic coloratura spinto soubrette prima donna basso buffo baritone tenore leggero lyrical heroic operatic musical theatrical cinematic literary poetic philosophical religious spiritual metaphysical existential ontological epistemological phenomenological psychological sociological anthropological biological ecological environmental geological meteorological astronomical cosmological quantum relativistic string theoretical multiversal interdimensional transpatial transcendent immanent emergent recursive fractal chaotic deterministic probabilistic stochastic algorithmic procedural functional structural syntactic semantic pragmatic rhetorical stylistic aesthetic formal informal conventional unconventional traditional modern contemporary classic avant-garde experimental performance live digital virtual augmented reality mixed media interactive immersive sensory haptic tactile visual auditory olfactory gustatory vestibular proprioceptive interoception exteroception autonomic somatic visceral emotional cognitive behavioral psychological physiological neurological biochemical molecular cellular atomic subatomic particulate quantum field theoretical string theory brane cosmology big bang dark matter dark energy vacuum fluctuation zero point energy entanglement superposition decoherence collapse measurement observer effect many worlds interpretation pilot wave hidden variables non-locality retrocausality time dilation length contraction simultanearity causality entropy thermodynamics conservation laws fundamental forces gravity electromagnetism strong weak nuclear dimensions space time fabric geometry topology manifold curvature singularity horizon event black hole neutron star pulsar quasar galaxy cluster supercluster void universe multiverse omniverse everything nothingness silence noise vibration frequency wavelength amplitude phase polarization coherence entanglement teleportation wormhole warp drive faster than light sublight cruising hyperdrive subspace hyperspace dimensionality folding bending curving warping twisting turning spiraling looping circular linear exponential logarithmic polynomial trigonometric algebraic calculus differential integral series sequences patterns shapes forms structures frameworks models simulations projections predictions forecasts estimates calculations computations algorithms code programs software applications websites platforms networks protocols standards specifications requirements constraints limitations resources materials components parts pieces elements compounds mixtures solutions suspensions emulsions colloids gels foams solids liquids gases plasmas ions molecules atoms nuclei protons neutrons electrons quarks leptons bosons fermions matter antimatter energy radiation photons neutrinos gravitons gluons wimps axions dark photons sterile neutrinos right handed left handed chiral parity charge conjugation spin statistics pauli exclusion principle heisenberg uncertainty bohr model shell orbital hybridization molecular geometry vanderwaals forces hydrogen bonds dipole interactions covalent ionic metallic coordination supramolecular self assembly nanotechnology biomimicry bioengineering synthetic biology genetic engineering cloning crispr gene editing stem cells organoids xenotransplantation immunotherapy personalized medicine telemedicine remote sensing satellite imaging radar sonar lidar gps lora loRa zigbee z-wave bluetooth wifi ethernet fiber optics copper coaxial twisted pair serial parallel usb thunderbolt lightning port comms interfaces connectors adapters cables wires conductors insulators semiconductors transistors diodes capacitors resistors inductors opamps filters amplifiers oscillators regulators converters inverters rectifiers transformers generators motors turbines batteries fuel cells solar panels wind turbines hydroelectric dams nuclear reactors fusion fission radioactive isotopes half life decay chain shielding containment waste disposal recycling composting biodegradable non-biodegradable toxic harmless hazardous flammable explosive corrosive sticky slippery rough smooth hard soft light heavy dense porous opaque transparent translucent reflective refractive absorptive emissive conductive insulating magnetic electrically charged magnetically polarized spinning orbiting revolving rotating oscillating vibrating humming buzzing clicking ticking beeping chirping whistling howling roaring bellowing growling snarling purring meowing hissing clucking cooing croaking quacking honking trumpeting squawking screeching yammering jabbering chattering gabbling gurgling babbling mumbles mutters whispers squeaks clicks pops cracks snaps thuds booms bangs whumps whooshes rustles swishes swooshes flaps sweeps glides dives plunges ascends climbs scales creeps crawls slides rolls spins twirls pirouettes leaps jumps hops skips bounces bounds strides walks runs sprints dashes rushes charges lunges dodges weaves ducks slips stumbles trips falls topples overturns capsizes spills leaks floods drowns sinks floats rises emerges appears disappears vanishes fades blurs focuses sharpens widens narrows expands contracts stretches compresses bends folds creases wrinkles tears rips cuts slices chops hacks saws drills bores taps punches kicks elbows knees hands feet arms legs torsos heads necks shoulders backs chests abdomens hips waists butts thighs calves ankles toes fingers thumbs palms soles heels insteps knuckles wrists elbows armpits underarms collarbones clavicles sternums ribs spines lumbar sacrum coccyx vertebrae discs ligaments tendons muscles nerves bones marrow blood veins arteries capillaries cells tissues organs systems bodies minds souls spirits consciousness awareness perception cognition intelligence emotion feeling sensation thought memory imagination creativity inspiration innovation disruption transformation evolution revolution restoration preservation conservation sustainability ethics morals values principles beliefs ideologies cultures civilizations societies communities populations demographics statistics graphs charts tables diagrams maps plans schedules calendars diaries journals notebooks sketchbooks pads memo books planners organizers trackers timers clocks watches alarms bells whistles horns trumpets flutes oboes clarinets saxophones trombones tubas frenchhorns euphoniums baritones bassoons piccolos sopranos altos tenors countertenor contraltos mezzo-sopranos soprano lyric dramatic coloratura spinto soubrette prima donna basso buffo baritone tenore leggero lyrical heroic operatic musical theatrical cinematic literary poetic philosophical religious spiritual metaphysical existential ontological epistemological phenomenological psychological sociological anthropological biological ecological environmental geological meteorological astronomical cosmological quantum relativistic string theoretical multiversal interdimensional transpatial transcendent immanent emergent recursive fractal chaotic deterministic probabilistic stochastic algorithmic procedural functional structural syntactic semantic pragmatic rhetorical stylistic aesthetic formal informal conventional unconventional traditional modern contemporary classic avant-garde experimental performance live digital virtual augmented reality mixed media interactive immersive sensory haptic tactile visual auditory olfactory gustatory vestibular proprioceptive interoception exteroception autonomic somatic visceral emotional cognitive behavioral psychological physiological neurological biochemical molecular cellular atomic subatomic particulate quantum field theoretical string theory brane cosmology big bang dark matter dark energy vacuum fluctuation zero point energy entanglement superposition decoherence collapse measurement observer effect many worlds interpretation pilot wave hidden variables non-locality retrocausality time dilation length contraction simultanearity causality entropy thermodynamics conservation laws fundamental forces gravity electromagnetism strong weak nuclear dimensions space time fabric geometry topology manifold curvature singularity horizon event black hole neutron star pulsar quasar galaxy cluster supercluster void universe multiverse omniverse everything nothingness silence noise vibration frequency wavelength amplitude phase polarization coherence entanglement teleportation wormhole warp drive faster than light sublight cruising hyperdrive subspace hyperspace dimensionality folding bending curving warping twisting turning spiraling looping circular linear exponential logarithmic polynomial trigonometric algebraic calculus differential integral series sequences patterns shapes forms structures frameworks models simulations projections predictions forecasts estimates calculations computations algorithms code programs software applications websites platforms networks protocols standards specifications requirements constraints limitations resources materials components parts pieces elements compounds mixtures solutions suspensions emulsions colloids gels foams solids liquids gases plasmas ions molecules atoms nuclei protons neutrons electrons quarks leptons bosons fermions matter antimatter energy radiation photons neutrinos gravitons gluons wimps axions dark photons sterile neutrinos right handed left handed chiral parity charge conjugation spin statistics pauli exclusion principle heisenberg uncertainty bohr model shell orbital hybridization molecular geometry vanderwaals forces hydrogen bonds dipole interactions covalent ionic metallic coordination supramolecular self assembly nanotechnology biomimicry bioengineering synthetic biology genetic engineering cloning crispr gene editing stem cells organoids xenotransplantation immunotherapy personalized medicine telemedicine remote sensing satellite imaging radar sonar lidar gps lora loRa zigbee z-wave bluetooth wifi ethernet fiber optics copper coaxial twisted pair serial parallel usb thunderbolt lightning port comms interfaces connectors adapters cables wires conductors insulators semiconductors transistors diodes capacitors resistors inductors opamps filters amplifiers oscillators regulators converters inverters rectifiers transformers generators motors turbines batteries fuel cells solar panels wind turbines hydroelectric dams nuclear reactors fusion fission radioactive isotopes half life decay chain shielding containment waste disposal recycling composting biodegradable non-biodegradable toxic harmless hazardous flammable explosive corrosive sticky slippery rough smooth hard soft light heavy dense porous opaque transparent translucent reflective refractive absorptive emissive conductive insulating magnetic electrically charged magnetically polarized spinning orbiting revolving rotating oscillating vibrating humming buzzing clicking ticking beeping chirping whistling howling roaring bellowing growling snarling purring meowing hissing clucking cooing croaking quacking honking trumpeting squawking screeching yammering jabbering chattering gabbling gurgling babbling mumbles mutters whispers squeaks clicks pops cracks snaps thuds booms bangs whumps whooshes rustles swishes swooshes flaps sweeps glides dives plunges ascends climbs scales creeps crawls slides rolls spins twirls pirouettes leaps jumps hops skips bounces bounds strides walks runs sprints dashes rushes charges lunges dodges weaves ducks slips stumbles trips falls topples overturns capsizes spills leaks floods drowns sinks floats rises emerges appears disappears vanishes fades blurs focuses sharpens widens narrows expands contracts stretches compresses bends folds creases wrinkles tears rips cuts slices chops hacks saws drills bores taps punches kicks elbows knees hands feet arms legs torsos heads necks shoulders backs chests abdomens hips waists butts thighs calves ankles toes fingers thumbs palms soles heels insteps knuckles wrists elbows armpits underarms collarbones clavicles sternums ribs spines lumbar sacrum coccyx vertebrae discs ligaments tendons muscles nerves bones marrow blood veins arteries capillaries cells tissues organs systems bodies minds souls spirits consciousness awareness perception cognition intelligence emotion feeling sensation thought memory imagination creativity inspiration innovation disruption transformation evolution revolution restoration preservation conservation sustainability ethics morals values principles beliefs ideologies cultures civilizations societies communities populations demographics statistics graphs charts tables diagrams maps plans schedules calendars diaries journals notebooks sketchbooks pads memo books planners organizers trackers timers clocks watches alarms bells whistles horns trumpets flutes oboes clarinets saxophones trombones tubas frenchhorns euphoniums baritones bassoons piccolos sopranos altos tenors countertenor contraltos mezzo-sopranos soprano lyric dramatic coloratura spinto soubrette prima donna basso buffo baritone tenore leggero lyrical heroic operatic musical theatrical cinematic literary poetic philosophical religious spiritual metaphysical existential ontological epistemological phenomenological psychological sociological anthropological biological ecological environmental geological meteorological astronomical cosmological quantum relativistic string theoretical multiversal interdimensional transpatial transcendent immanent emergent recursive fractal chaotic deterministic probabilistic stochastic algorithmic procedural functional structural syntactic semantic pragmatic rhetorical stylistic aesthetic formal informal conventional unconventional traditional modern contemporary classic avant-garde experimental performance live digital virtual augmented reality mixed media interactive immersive sensory haptic tactile visual auditory olfactory gustatory vestibular proprioceptive interoception exteroception autonomic somatic visceral emotional cognitive behavioral psychological physiological neurological biochemical molecular cellular atomic subatomic particulate quantum field theoretical string theory brane cosmology big bang dark matter dark energy vacuum fluctuation zero point energy entanglement superposition decoherence collapse measurement observer effect many worlds interpretation pilot wave hidden variables non-locality retrocausality time dilation length contraction simultanearity causality entropy thermodynamics conservation laws fundamental forces gravity electromagnetism strong weak nuclear dimensions space time fabric geometry topology manifold curvature singularity horizon event black hole neutron star pulsar quasar galaxy cluster supercluster void universe multiverse omniverse everything nothingness silence noise vibration frequency wavelength amplitude phase polarization coherence entanglement teleportation wormhole warp drive faster than light sublight cruising hyperdrive subspace hyperspace dimensionality folding bending curving warping twisting turning spiraling looping circular linear exponential logarithmic polynomial trigonometric algebraic calculus differential integral series sequences patterns shapes forms structures frameworks models simulations projections predictions forecasts estimates calculations computations algorithms code programs software applications websites platforms networks protocols standards specifications requirements constraints limitations resources materials components parts pieces elements compounds mixtures solutions suspensions emulsions colloids gels foams solids liquids gases plasmas ions molecules atoms nuclei protons neutrons electrons quarks leptons bosons fermions matter antimatter energy radiation photons neutrinos gravitons gluons wimps axions dark photons sterile neutrinos right handed left handed chiral parity charge conjugation spin statistics pauli exclusion principle heisenberg uncertainty bohr model shell orbital hybridization molecular geometry vanderwaals forces hydrogen bonds dipole interactions covalent ionic metallic coordination supramolecular self assembly nanotechnology biomimicry bioengineering synthetic biology genetic engineering cloning crispr gene editing stem cells organoids xenotransplantation immunotherapy personalized medicine telemedicine remote sensing satellite imaging radar sonar lidar gps lora loRa zigbee z-wave bluetooth wifi ethernet fiber optics copper coaxial twisted pair serial parallel usb thunderbolt lightning port comms interfaces connectors adapters cables wires conductors insulators semiconductors transistors diodes capacitors resistors inductors opamps filters |