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!
How much smaller should a tent footprint be?
How big should the tent footprint be? It’s ideal to buy one that’s
around 2 inches smaller than the bottom part of the tent
. This way, if it rains when you’re out camping, you don’t need to worry about water going underneath the shelter, damping all the ground beneath you.
What is the footprint for a tent?
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
.
Does a tent footprint go under the tent?
The trick is to make sure the footprint is cut so it’s a little smaller than the tent floor. In other words,
you don’t want any of the footprint stuck out from under the tent
. If it is, then any rain that falls will be trapped on the footprint and will roll under the tent.
Can I use a tarp instead of a footprint?
But can you 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 size tarp should I get for under my tent?
To cover your tent, you don’t need to go extra big as you already have a tent, and you need an extra layer of shelter. For this,
find a slightly bigger tarp size than your tent
. So if you have a 10×10 ft tent footprint, a tarp size of 16 x 16 ft or 16 x 20 ft will work perfectly.
How do you fit a tent footprint?
Which side of tent footprint goes up?
Footprints typically have a shiny (coated) side and dull (uncoated) side. You should place the
dull side on the ground (shiny side facing up)
in order to minimize abrasion on the coating. A tent uses waterproof fabric in 2 places: the floor and rainfly.
Should you put a ground sheet under a tent?
Even if you have a tent with an inbuilt groundsheet
you should put another groundsheet under your tent
. This will protect the bottom of your tent from damage, keep it clean and add an extra layer of insulation from the cold.
Should you put a tarp under a tent?
Putting some sort of ground cover or tarp under your tent is essential for the durability of your tent and to keep it warm and dry
.
How durable is Polycro?
While not the toughest ground cloth out there, Polycro is
respectably tough
— especially for the price and weight. According to MLD it is also more waterproof than Silnylon and Tyvek. Unlike Tyvek, it is not particularly crinkly or noisy.
Is a tent footprint waterproof?
A tent footprint is simply a piece of material that you place between the ground and the floor of your tent.
Footprints are usually made of a durable waterproof material
like silicon coated polyester or nylon fabric, Tyvek, or polycryo (polycro).
Does tarp go inside or outside of tent?
Place it
inside your tent
so it forms a protective barrier between you and the tent floor. In case the latter leaks allowing water to enter, the interior ground cloth is going to keep you dry. A key to it being effective inside your tent, the ground cloth should be slightly bigger than your tent floor.
How big should a tarp be for camping?
Camping experts recommend a
9×9 square
tarp which can be used to create a variety of shelters for one person. An 8×10 tarp would provide ample coverage for a single hammock.
How do you calculate tarp size?
Our grommets are generally centered one inch from the edge of the tarp so to get the tarp width you would measure the distance from the left edge of your left fastener to the left edge of your opposing right fastener (this equals the center to center distance) and then add two inches to calculate the tarp width.
How do I choose a tarp size?
You just need something
at least as wide as your shoulders, and a little taller than you
. So, if you’re 6 feet tall, then a tarp 7 feet or longer will work. As for width, the average adult male has a shoulder width of under 2 feet, so something 3 feet wide or larger for any person should fit well.
How much is a tent floor?
Flooring: Tent flooring can run anywhere between
$1-$2.50 a sq. foot
., so estimate between $300-$2,000+ depending on the type (plastic, wood, etc.) Side walls: These are charged by linear square foot, which can range from $1-4. You can expect to pay around $400+ for a 40’X60′ tent.
Does Tyvek make a good 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
.
What is a footprint groundsheet?
A footprint (or groundsheet) is
a lightweight sheet roughly the shape of your tent floor’s outline that lays beneath your tent forming a barrier or extra layer between your tent floor and the ground
.
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.
