Tent Footprint

[CHRISTINE2015]

Can someone please give some advice about the merit/necessity of using a tent footprint? And if they're so essential, why are they not included with the tent? (And while we're on that subject, could packs not just come with a rain cover.... really?)

[daddytwosticks]

Not needed, but I use one. Just regular old painter's drop cloth, maybe the 2 or 3 mil thickness. :)

[atmilkman]

Money is probably one reason neither come with footprint or cover. As far as merits go, I have a footprint for my tent that I don't always use just depends on where and when I'm going. The main reason I got it was that it allows me to do the fly and footprint only set-up eliminating the tent body thus saving weight. Spring and fall mainly. In the winter it has kept my tent floor from freezing to the ground. You asked a good question and you'll get a lot of pros and cons that may help you decide if either are for you.

[Damn Yankee]

Not a necessity but, if your buying a high priced tent I would use one as I also do. I don't know why they aren't included other than another option to make more money. Same with the paw prints and rain covers for packs. I do have two packs that actually came with covers and wasn't an expensive pack either from High Sierra.

[BuckeyeBill]

Necessary No. Essential No. It acts as an extra protective barrier between the round and your tent floor. Helps keep your tent floor clean on the bottom so you are not packing dirt in your pack. Most people carry the footprint in an outer pack pocket and use it to sit on at breaks. They aren't included, as many people don't use them and it saves the manufacturer money. They also can pick up an extra $10.00-$20.00 when you buy one.

[HeartFire]

As a tent manufacturer, of silnylon lightweight tents, I do recommend them for my tents. I've seen tents come back after a thru hike when a footprint wasn't used. There are a LOT of micro abrasions and wear spots that are very thin on the floor of the tent.

I sell tyvek footprints, but tyvek can be heavy, and bulky. Polycro or plastic sheeting works well too. it packs up smaller and weighs less than tyvek. The 'big' manufactures usually have an even heavier footprint that is a pu coated nylon.

As to why they don't come with the tent - not every one wants one, just like stakes - they can be a very personal choice,

[Lone Wolf]

Can I please get some advice on the merits/necessity of using a tent footprint, and if they're so essential, why aren't they included with the dang tent?!

i never use one. not necessary. and i've spent hundreds of nights in a tent if that means anything

[rocketsocks]

Necessary No. Essential No. It acts as an extra protective barrier between the round and your tent floor. Helps keep your tent floor clean on the bottom so you are not packing dirt in your pack. Most people carry the footprint in an outer pack pocket and use it to sit on at breaks. They aren't included, as many people don't use them and it saves the manufacturer money. They also can pick up an extra $10.00-$20.00 when you buy one.
Some of the foot prints are in the 30-40 dollar range...crazy!

[The Ace]

The answer to your question is: The large retail tent sellers have to compete on price, and therefore market their products with price points. A footprint is an add-on option (with a high margin) that a retailer can entice you to purchase after you have made up your mind on a particular tent. Just don’t let a salesman sell you insoles for your footprint.

[The Ace]

As a tent manufacturer, of silnylon lightweight tents, I do recommend them for my tents. I've seen tents come back after a thru hike when a footprint wasn't used. There are a LOT of micro abrasions and wear spots that are very thin on the floor of the tent.

I sell tyvek footprints, but tyvek can be heavy, and bulky. Polycro or plastic sheeting works well too. it packs up smaller and weighs less than tyvek. The 'big' manufactures usually have an even heavier footprint that is a pu coated nylon.

As to why they don't come with the tent - not every one wants one, just like stakes - they can be a very personal choice,
So, in your observations which is more susceptible to damage, not just cosmetics, an unprotected silnylon floor or unprotected cuben fiber floor?


Once upon a time, you recommended 3 mil plastic sheeting – available from the paint department at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. -- cut to fit under the LightHeart Solo.

[HooKooDooKu]

Realize you've reopened a debate we had here on WB a few months ago.

But in the end, some people love them for the various positive reasons already listed above, and some people just consider them extra weight.
About the only positive I don't see listed above is that many footprints are designed to let you use just the footprint, rainfly, and poles. That option makes for a lighter pack should you plan to do a bunch of shelter camping, but want something of a backup to get out of the rain. (You save the weight of the tent body)

In the end, you have to decide if the kind of camping YOU normally do would make a footprint worth the weight.

For example, if you camp infrequently and usually camp in grassy fields, a ground cloth is more likely to be a waste.
If you camp frequently that sometimes includes hard surfaces (gravel, rocks, bare spots), a ground cloth will prolong the life of the tent floor.

You can always start by making your own ground cloth from the 3mil plastic Ace pointed out, or any number of other relatively cheap fabrics (sheets of tyvek, cheap tarp from walmart, etc). After a few camping trips, you can decide if your cheap custom ground cloth is worth it, if you want to forgo a ground cloth, or you want to spend the money to upgrade. No need to start with a manufacturer's ground cloth until you know YOU want to use one.

BTW, one of the nice things about a custom ground cloth is that you can include a spot under the rain fly outside the door to keep yourself out of the mud/dirt/etc just outside your tent (but protected from rain by rain fly).

[rocketsocks]

edited: poor analogy in poor in taste...


shakey snake huh :D...oooookay

[HeartFire]

So, in your observations which is more susceptible to damage, not just cosmetics, an unprotected silnylon floor or unprotected cuben fiber floor?


Once upon a time, you recommended 3 mil plastic sheeting – available from the paint department at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. -- cut to fit under the LightHeart Solo.

I still recommend the 3ml plastic as an alternative to tyvek. I'ts cheaper, lighter and packs up smaller, but it's not as durable. As for the difference between cuben and sil - it can depend on the weight of the cuben, and useage

[Ricky&Jack]

packs don't come with rain covers?

all 4 of my packs came with them.

[Ktaadn]

I don't use a footprint with my tent in order to save weight. I am careful as to where I set it up.

As for the pack cover, you are asking the wrong question. What you should be asking is, "Why isn't my pack waterproof?"

Mine is, so I don't carry a cover for it.

[fiddlehead]

Do you wear a raincoat when you use an umbrella?
Some do but it's a bit overkill aye?
Same with footprints.
Jeez: I don't even have a floor in my tent.

As for packcovers coming with tents when they are bought: Not a bad idea but 90% of packs sold are not going to be used in the rain.
They are for the weekender who checks the weather report before deciding to go.
Of course, many overseas backpackers use them to prevent theft.

[rusty bumper]

Five months on the trail...no footprint...no problems

[Venchka]

Five months on the trail...no footprint...no problems

Brand and model of tent please?
Thanks.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[rusty bumper]

Tarptent Moment. Spent well over 100 nights in it on my hike.

[T-Rx]

I use a footprint for my Copper Spur UL3 when my wife and I backpack and it will go with us on our thru hike. I personally think it is a small weight penalty to provide the additional protection for a very expensive tent. But HYOH, everyone has their own ideas of what they need and don't need. I also use a tyvek footprint for my Tarptent Rainshadow. As for pack covers coming with a pack. I certainly am not an expert but no pack I have ever purchased (2 Granite Gear and 2 ULAs) came with a pack cover. The cover had to be purchased separately. Just my experience. HYOH!

[colorado_rob]

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-ground-cloth-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)

[garlic08]

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.

[Venchka]

Tarptent Moment. Spent well over 100 nights in it on my hike.

Thank you.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[JumpMaster Blaster]

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.

[Franco]

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.

[mark schofield]

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.

[Toolshed]

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. :)

[fernbeetle]

I do the same. Works great.

[Another Kevin]

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.

[sympathetic joy]

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:

27919

[Namtrag]

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!

[RED-DOG]

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.