WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 21 to 32 of 32

Thread: Tent Footprint

  1. #21
    Registered User colorado_rob's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-20-2012
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Age
    67
    Posts
    4,540
    Images
    3

    Default

    Never in hundreds of trail nights, actually 1000+ trail nights, have I ever used one and never had tent-floor problems. Extra weight and cost for practically zero benefit. I suppose if I always camped in sharp-rocky areas I might partake in a polycro piece of plastic, lighter and cheap, like this:

    http://gossamergear.com/polycryo-gro...th-medium.html

    (I use this for my zpacks hexamid UL tent floor, above the bug screen, 2.5 ounces for the floor, amazingly tough but UL plastic)

  2. #22
    Garlic
    Join Date
    10-15-2008
    Location
    Golden CO
    Age
    66
    Posts
    5,615
    Images
    2

    Default

    If you look in the FAQ section of the Tarptent website (a very popular brand on the long trails), you'll see this:

    "It depends on the conditions you expect to encounter and your style of camping. The sewn-in flooring is remarkably tough and does not usually require a separate groundsheet. We just never see floors come back for repair (emphasis provided). Tyvek groundsheets are very tough and great for sleeping out or taking a break but generally heavier than you need just for floor protection. For use on very rocky ground and desert conditions where puncture wounds are possible, a light--2 mil plastic is fine--floor protector will do the job."

    I have used my Tarptent in some very rough, rocky, spiny areas on the Arizona Trail, and in the desert portions of the CDT and PCT and have never had any abrasion or punctures. 7000 trail miles and 5000 bicycle miles and my floor is flawless. When it rains, a groundsheet is just one more wet thing to deal with.

    I'm going to try to stop thinking about the condom analogy.
    "Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning

  3. #23
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-20-2013
    Location
    Roaring Gap, NC
    Age
    78
    Posts
    8,529

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rusty bumper View Post
    Tarptent Moment. Spent well over 100 nights in it on my hike.
    Thank you.

    Wayne


    Sent from somewhere around here.
    Eddie Valiant: "That lame-brain freeway idea could only be cooked up by a toon."
    https://wayne-ayearwithbigfootandbubba.blogspot.com
    FlickrMyBookTwitSpaceFace



  4. #24
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-23-2014
    Location
    Fayetteville, NC
    Posts
    599
    Journal Entries
    4
    Images
    7

    Default

    Does a footprint have its merits? Yes. Necessary? Maybe not depending on how often & where you're pitching. None of my lower-end tents came w/ footprints, but they had a much heavier, durable floor. I see the manufacturers not including them for 3 reasons- cost to make, , they can charge you more ofr their custom footprint, and not everyone would want to use one.

    I have camped at a few sites where I know I could have gone without using one, and some places where I was definitely glad I had one. My decision to bring one usually correlates to how expensive the tent is and how thin the floor is.

  5. #25
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-23-2006
    Location
    Melbourne,Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,851

    Default

    When customers or forum members ask me directly about using one or not I always reply the same way :
    "if you can walk barefooted over the tent site you don't need one , otherwise you do".

    mind you there could be exceptions to that, after all it is about risk assessment.
    BTW, you have less chances of puncturing the floor if it is loose.

  6. #26
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-24-2007
    Location
    madison, ct
    Age
    80
    Posts
    311

    Default

    I have a tyveck footprint for my Contrail. But I also use it when I sleep in shelters to minimize puncture damage from splinters or nails to my sleeping pad.

  7. #27
    Registered User Toolshed's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-13-2003
    Location
    Along the AT
    Posts
    3,419
    Images
    52

    Default

    One has to think about the personality of the user. Same as with people who buy a car. Some want floor mats on floormats others don't even care about it at all. I am a floormat on floormat kinda guy. I always use an piece of plastic under my tent. I understand that the bottom of the tent may wear out, but If the rest of the tent looks new, I want the floor to look new as well.
    .....Someday, like many others who joined WB in the early years, I may dry up and dissapear....

  8. #28
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-12-2011
    Location
    Laurelville, Ohio
    Posts
    14

    Default

    I do the same. Works great.

  9. #29
    Clueless Weekender
    Join Date
    04-10-2011
    Location
    Niskayuna, New York
    Age
    68
    Posts
    3,879
    Journal Entries
    10

    Default

    If it isn't bug season, and still isn't too windy, I may dispense with the tent proper and carry just rainfly and footprint instead. That's one reason I have a footprint. As someone else mentioned, it also comes in handy so that in the unlikely event I sleep in a shelter, I've got something between the sleeping pad and the splinters and mouse poo. And once in a while, I think I might wind up having to pitch on some of the nasty rock here. It's sandstone/conglomerate, with occasional inclusions of chert or jasper, which are quite abrasive. The stuff is like sandpaper. Great for holding your grip when scrambling, but hard on a tent floor.

    So, I don't always bring a footprint, but I'm generally glad I own one.
    I always know where I am. I'm right here.

  10. #30

    Default

    The rainfly + footprint option is kind of nice. Not just lightweight camping, but for the beach or the park on a sunny day. I used this when I had my REI Half Dome 2 in a setup similar to this:

    979029702_orig.jpg
    --

    Hike Safe.

  11. #31
    Registered User
    Join Date
    10-30-2012
    Location
    Virginia Beach
    Age
    62
    Posts
    883
    Images
    8

    Default

    I use one for protection and also so I don't have a wet muddy-bottomed tent if it rains or dews heavily. I figure an extra 4 oz is worth it in my case. I also carry an Alite chair on every trip so as you can tell, I am not a ULer!

  12. #32

    Default

    I use a piece of Tyvek which is only like 3 bucks, if you want your tent to last use a ground sheet, if you don't care about your tent don't use one it's that simple.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
++ New Posts ++

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •