Tent footprints are certainly not necessary
, but they can help extend the life of your tent. If you have an ultralight tent with a low denier floor, it might be worth it to shell out the extra dollars for a footprint or to make your own.
What is a backpacking tent footprint?
What is a Tent Footprint? A tent footprint is
a piece of protective fabric or material that you lay under your tent that provides a moisture barrier and protects your tent floor from abrasion and punctures
.
What can I use instead of a tent footprint?
Tent Footprints Are Heavy
The two most popular ultralight groundsheets are made using an industrial plastic called Polycryo (sold by Gossamer Gear) and Tyvek.
Window wrap plastic insulation
makes a great tent footprint substitute.
Do I need a ground sheet for my tent?
While
a ground sheet is not required
, a ground sheet under your tent, whether it is built-in or external, will provide extra comfort, protection, and warmth from the elements while extending the life of your tent.
Should tent footprint be smaller than tent?
What size should a tent footprint be?
Ideally, a tent footprint should be slightly smaller than the base of the tent
. This is so that water doesn’t collect between the footprint and your tent, which would totally defeat the purpose of it!
Can I use a tarp as a tent footprint?
You CAN utilize a tarp as a tent footprint
. Due to the tarps’ durability, we often use them to protect the tent’s exterior from the elements. Therefore, a tarp can be used under the tent to protect the bottom from the elements and ground debris as well.
What do I need to make a tent footprint?
What Is The Best DIY Tent Footprint?
Tyvek and Polycro
are two affordable and lightweight options for making your own footprints. Tyvek is more durable and cheaper, while Polycro is much lighter but more expensive and more fragile than Tyvek. Both options are waterproof.
How thick should a tent footprint be?
How thick should a footprint be? Depending on how abrasive the terrain is, a heavy-duty, thick footprint will work better, but you should consider the extra weight before going for it. The thickness ranges between
0.5 millimeters for the lightweight designs, to 1.8 millimeters for the heavy-duty models
.
How do you make a tent footprint?
Why do you put a tarp under your tent?
A tarp under your tent
protects the underside of the tent from wear and tear, nominally insulates, as well as prevents water from entering by acting as a moisture barrier
.
Are ground cloths necessary?
The ground cloth will help protect and keep the dirt out of your sleeping bag and pad, help organize gear a bit and help protects the backpacker from any dew or ground moisture
. Some shelters such as the Megamid do not have the floor for weight-saving reasons.
How do you use a tent footprint?
How do you waterproof a tent footprint?
Place a ground cloth under your tent
. A tarp underneath the tent can help prevent wear and tear on the waterproof coating. Always set your tent on higher ground than the surrounding areas. This will help the groundwater drain away from the tent and not toward it.
Why do you need a tent footprint?
The main purposes of a footprint are to protect the floor of your tent from abrasive objects (like sticks, roots, and rocks), to keep your tent clean of mud and tree sap, and to help you determine a good spot to pitch your tent.
Is a tent footprint better than tarp?
Simply put,
if you can afford a dedicated tent footprint, one cut to size for your specific tent, it will probably offer you more protection than a tarp
. However, if your recreation funds are a little short, a tarp will always do in a pinch, and can even be used for other functions around the campsite.
Whats the difference between a tarp and a tent footprint?
In a nutshell,
a tarp is lighter and more versatile in its uses while a tent footprint is made to form the foundation of your tent
. To further expound on how they can protect your tent from rain, damage and wear, let’s take a look at their major strengths more keenly below.
What do you put down on tent floors?
Do you need a ground sheet with a Zpacks tent?
Zpacks indicates a ground sheet is
not needed
.
How much does a Tyvek footprint weigh?
Tyvek weighs about
0.22 oz per square foot
(68 g per square meter) while DCF8 Dyneema® Composite Fabric weighs just 0.057 oz per square foot (17.29 g per square meter).
Does Coleman make footprints?
Coleman Footprints
Coleman have a range of footprint groundsheet
designed to purposefully sit underneath the base of your tent to prolong its life.
