I bought a tent from REI and forgot the footprint dumb me lol well i went to order one and the tent I bought was dicontinued and of course they have no more footprints for it I have been told that Tyvek works well?? Isn’t that stuff very loud?and does it work?Thanks
Tambourine
I’ve created three ,using shock cord to connect, with good result. Have not noticed noise. Also doubles as a seat pad at rest stops.
pipesmoke
I love my Tyvek “footprint”. I stopped by a construction site and asked if I could buy some and the nice fellow said to take what I wanted…free. I think you can buy different weights/quantities online, but Home Depot only sells it by the roll.
If you think it’s noisy, you can “wash” it to make it soft, but I don’t think that’s necessary. If you get the kind without printing, just be sure to label which is the side that goes down. I keep a little square in my daypack to sit on, too. :tongue
Lady Di
Instead of buying a footprint for my tent…I went to Walmart and bought a lite-weight tarp for about 4 bucks and cut out the size for my tent…alot cheapier and just as good…I’ve had my for 3yrs. now and still good…
Chairman
Tambourine, I used tyvek as a footprint for my tent on my last years thru and it work great. Make sure it’s cut a little smaller than the base of your tent so that water doesn’t get in between the tyvek and the tent. Because of the noise, I was told to wash it. After awhile, it become almost like cloth. It’s extremely light weight and very durable. Plus it’s cheap. I wouldn’t use anything else.
Grinds
I think what Lady Di means by sides is try to keep one side as the one that always contacts the earth or the shelter floor and sleep on the other side. Just to keep that “up” side clean. At least I think that’s what she means.
Bluebearee
Keeping one side clean is certainly a good idea, but Tyvek is breathable. So you want the side with the printing to go next to the ground. If you look at the houses being built, you will see the printing on the outside. Any time you are cutting a footprint, no matter what material, always be sure to cut it smaller than the tent so water won’t wick under it if it rains. :tongue
Lady Di
I would love your advice on this: can I cut a piece of tyvek twice the size of my foot print (I have an Eureka Solitare) and fold it over when I use it as a footprint, and open it up and use as a tarptent when I stop for lunch or whatnot when it is raining? I could add grommits to stake it down, or is this just a silly idea?
mudbug
i’m not sure but i think there are different “grades” of tyvek…i think the type they use for construction may be a little different from the type they use to make kites and banners and such…paw-ee and i ordered ours last year from “QUEST” outfitters (item #1070)…we got about 2 1/2 yards (60 inch) and it costs us $13.12 inc. shipping and tax…it’s white, soft, warm, washable,and quiet (but not waterproof) …it does have a “right” and “wrong” side (‘slick’ side down…we marked ours)…i’ve noticed other hikers carrying the other printed type of tyvek which did appear to me to be more ‘paper-like’ and a little noisy… our tyvek was part of a total “sleep system” (under a tarp) which also included our windshield shades!..yes!..that’s right!..you know those automobile windshield thing-ys you unfold over your dash to keep your car cool?..the mylar reflective type helped to keep us warm and dry (if the ground was very wet, we’d put these down first and then the tyvek…otherwise vice-versa)…then of course our mt. washington foam pad (gossamer gear) went on top of the tyvek/windshield combo…all VERY lightweight! (the tyvek, sized for the two of us weighs only 5 oz.)…as far as something to protect you while you have a snack in the rain?..“brollies” are SWEET! (umbrellas!)…i will never hike without mine (thank’s jeff!)…it’s like havin’ your own cozy little shelter all along the trail…tried the go-lite this year…it’s my favorite piece of equipment!
maw-ee
If you want light weight tyvek get the 60 #14.It’s not noisy
like the stuff they use on houses.It’s available at “Hang em high Fabrics.”
Old&in the way
Here’s my way of thinking:
I like a layer between my sleeping pad and the ground. One layer is good enough. With a tent, it’s the floor. With a tarp, it’s a ground cloth.
If I get some pinholes in the floor of my tent (all of the tents I’ve used for very long have them,) I simply don’t care.
One of the common causes for people getting soaked when out camping is having a piece of groundsheet sticking out from the fly of their shelter, guaranteeing they’ll be sleeping in a pool of water if it rains.
The best weight savings is a 100% weight savings. I set up where water won’t pool. I never carry a ground cloth and I never get wet because of it. If I don’t need it, why carry it?
My 1,000 Mile Hike and Paddle Across Alaska
Colter
I agree 100% with Colter.
If your tent has a floor, a ground cloth is a waste of money and weight. I’ve never gotten water in my tent or tarp tent that an extra ground cloth would have prevented. Most things sharp enough to puncture the tent will also puncture the ground cloth. Using a ground cloth is akin to using 2 ground cloths under a tarp. Wait until your tent floor fails before you get one. (and it won’t).
The only exception I make is when I car camp in campgrounds littered with broken glass.
Time and time again i’ve seen water run off of tents onto the ground cloth pooling under tents. This is how people get wet. Remember that you’re also sleeping on a pad. Most of us do anyhow.
If you want a place to sit use the pad.
Daybreak
a footprint is designed to extend the life of your tent and help stop moisture coming up through the ground. its about wear and tea.
if you dont care about keeping your tent beyond a certain time period, it does not matter. if you have scads of cash to be buying tents every two years, a footprint doesnt matter.
PoonTang
I don’t have scads of cash. Never used a tent footprint. Never replaced a floor yet.
One tent I’ve used a whole lot since 1988. Another tent (you probably won’t believe it, but it’s true) my family has been using since 1952 for an average of about a week a year. 1952! Does it have pinholes in the floor? Sure! Who cares? It’s always important to not pitch your shelter where water will pool. If it won’t pool there, pinholes don’t matter. And if your tent is sitting in a pool of water you will probably end up wet footprint or not.
If anyone wants to use a footprint, I’m certainly not stopping you. I wash my pickup on occasion just to keep it looking nice. But I know for a fact that footprints are not necessary either economically or to keep dry.
My 1,000 Mile Hike and Paddle Across Alaska http://www.bucktrack.com/Alaska_Brooks_Range_Traverse.html
Colter