Two of our most favorite water mats for summer days are the Maui Mat and the Aqua Lily Pad. They are both durable and make water adventures much more enjoyable. However, to help you figure out which one is truly the best, we wanted to take a good look at both and review them side by side. Are you ready to see what we learned with our Maui Mat vs Aqua Lily Pad review?
Maui Mat Vs Aqua Lily Pas Table Comparison
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Features of the Maui Mat
The Maui Mat Floating Foam Fun Pad that we looked at for this comparison measures 14’x6’x0.12″. It weighs just 24 pounds. It promises to provide enough space for up to 6-7 adults since the maximum weight capacity is between 900- and 1,050 pounds depending on how the weight is spread out.
The mat overall has a durable design and is made in the USA. It is a cross-linked polyethylene foam mat that is two layers thick. It does not hold water. This means you will not have to worry about mold or mildew from improper drying, or not drying at all.
Storage straps are included to make it easy for you to store them when not in use. The straps are equipped with pad protectors that ensure the mat does not get damaged, even if you have it stored for months. When you are ready to play again, you will simply need to roll it out into the water and enjoy it.
The Maui Mat does come with a warranty. It is a one-year limited warranty. The warranty does not protect you from normal wear and tear or abuse of the mat.
Features of the Aqua Lily Pad
The second mat that we looked at was slightly larger. The Aqua Lily Pad Original Floating Water Mat measures in at 18’x6’ and 1 3/8″ thick, which may mean that you can play a little harder on the mat. It can also hold up to 10 adults, or 1,500 pounds if you distribute the weight evenly across the mat’s surface area.
With this mat, you will have a floating pad that is made with polyethylene. It claims to be resistant to UV rays, even if you use it frequently. It is also made with Flex Core Technology, which makes it very easy to use. The Flex Core means that it does not have a rolling memory. Therefore, even after months of storage, it will roll out flat when you are ready to play.
It comes with a tethering system, a heavy-duty spring clip so you can connect it to your boat or the dock with ease, and Velcro straps to hold it when you need to store it.
Aqua Lily Pads also come with a one-year limited warranty. It is designed to cover manufacturing defects and not the damages that may come from normal or abusive use.
How Are They Similar?
Despite the difference in sizes, these two mats are very similar in all other ways. They are both:
- Durable with Polyethylene Foam and Flex Core Technology
- Can Hold Several People
- Covered by One Year Limited Warranty Against Manufacturing Defects
- Water Resistant to Ensure They are Easy to Care For
- Both Available in Other Sizes
They are practically the same mats in every way from appearance and specs, which can make it difficult to choose one that is “best”. This could mean that you have to look at the price. The two mats are both available in the 20-ft size. The Maui Mat is more expensive at around $890 whereas the Aqua Lily Pad will cost approximately $590.
What Do Other Reviews Say About Them?
No matter how well we test a product, or how much fun we have while doing it, no one knows more about how well they are made than the people who have owned them for more than a summer season. Therefore, we looked around to see what other people felt were awesome and not so great about each of these mats.
Maui Mat
Most Positive: from Amazon Customer, “The 20′ orange / blue mat is well worth the investment. It is well constructed, truly holds lots of kids/adults, is light, rolls/unrolls easily and the straps are well constructed to secure the mat for easy transport.”
Most Negative: from Jamie C., “Once out for less than an hour, noticed several small chunks out of the material. Other than that, it is a fun item to have at the lake and is great for large groups.”
Aqua Lily Pad
Most Positive: from Steve, “This is the second one of these that I have purchased. The first one I had for 5 years and used it every weekend. It was still in great condition. I sold it when I sold the house in the Ozarks and now 4 years later, I own a new lake house, so I purchased the same Aqua Lily Pad because I knew it was a good one.”
Most Negative: from Peter Keogh, “Second time using the pad – no walking on it. Split. Only 6 weeks since arrival. Company says it is normal wear and tear. Suggested purchasing patch to repair.”
Final Thoughts: Is One Better Than the Other?
As you can see from other owners, both have pros and potential cons. We do not know what the circumstances were surrounding the damages that were noticed quickly with either mat but feel that it should be mentioned as a possible downside to both brands. Does this mean that you will have issues? Not necessarily.
Both mats have much more positive reviews than negatives. The Maui Mat holds a 4.5-star rating and the Aqua Lily Pad averages 4.6-stars. We are very impressed that the Aqua Lily Pad has been used by at least one owner for several years.
As for our overall opinion, we feel that if you want a water mat to enhance your summer fun, both will be a worthy investment. It simply depends on how many people you want to be on the mat with you.
If you are still unsure of how to choose the best, you can check out our guide on How to Choose the Best Floating Water Mat.
