Suggestions for making a tent footprint

[mrappe]

I used to use heavy plastic drop cloth material from Home Depot to make a ground cloth. Is Tyvek or something else better?

Mike

[Greenlight]

Tyvek. You got it.

[Elaikases]

I've tried a number of footprints. My current favorite is polycro. Light. Disposable if something happens. Does not absorb any water (unlike the Tyvek footprint I have). Did I say light? And you can see through it. While you can buy them through tent makers, Home Depot and Amazon.com are better bets.

Did I say just how light they are?

[Slo-go'en]

The plastic will work but probably won't be very durable in the long run. Tyvek is nearly indestructible. And remember, a foot print should not extend beyond the floor of the tent.

[Slo-go'en]

I've tried a number of footprints. My current favorite is polycro. Did I say just how light they are?

Too light in some cases. Try making it stay in place if you got a stiff breeze. Tyvek isn't much better, but at least you can see where it blows away too.

[colorado_rob]

Best footprint is no footprint. You just plain don't need one. Don't carry your fears like so many do.

[DrL]

Skip the footprint. But, if you must, go with Tyvek.

[Wil]

I like Tyvek. But my ground sheet of choice is a painter's drop sheet kinda plastic, the lightest, 3 or 0.3, I can't remember.

I put a dab of tape folded over in each corner and paper-punch a hole. When I'm setting up I find my "flat" spot and tack the sheet down lightly with 4 stakes. I lie on it both ways to figure out which way is slightly uphill. There's always an uphill. And it's always my second try. It also makes it easy to pick out twigs and small stones that I couldn't see before, you feel them through the plastic. Then I set up the tent, pulling out and using the stakes for the corners as I go.

A sheet usually lasts me anywhere from 25-75 nights, depending on what kind of ground.

[Elaikases]

I like Tyvek. But my ground sheet of choice is a painter's drop sheet kinda plastic, the lightest, 3 or 0.3, I can't remember.

I put a dab of tape folded over in each corner and paper-punch a hole. When I'm setting up I find my "flat" spot and tack the sheet down lightly with 4 stakes. I lie on it both ways to figure out which way is slightly uphill. There's always an uphill. And it's always my second try. It also makes it easy to pick out twigs and small stones that I couldn't see before, you feel them through the plastic. Then I set up the tent, pulling out and using the stakes for the corners as I go.

A sheet usually lasts me anywhere from 25-75 nights, depending on what kind of ground.

And they are so cheap that replacing them is painless.

[Venchka]

At my local Ace Hardware stores...
Painters Drop Cloth plastic from 0.5-2.0 mils.
PolyCRYO Window film from 0.75 to 1.5 mils.
I've used both in 1.5 mils thickness. The Polycryo window film is slightly lighter than the drop cloth material and seems stronger.
Why use this stuff? Big Bend and similar desert environments come to mind. Under my Xtherm when not using the floor of my StratoSpire 1 is another situation.
Blanket statements don't always work.
Wayne

[Redrowen]

Best footprint is no footprint. You just plain don't need one. Don't carry your fears like so many do.

There is nothing wrong with someone wanting to carry a footprint, they have multiple uses not based on "fear". This "Don't carry your fears like so many do" mantra is over used, and can be a bit condescending and misleading at times when just tossed out.

[DownEaster]

And they are so cheap that replacing them is painless.
I would tend to disagree on this point. You've got to get to the next town with a hardware store, meanwhile without protection from the twigs and rocks that are trying to puncture your tent floor. And you've then got to buy the painter's drop sheet, cut it with your dinky Swiss Army knife, buy some tape for the corners, and buy or borrow a hole punch. Pain in the neck, yes; painless, no.

[colorado_rob]

There is nothing wrong with someone wanting to carry a footprint, they have multiple uses not based on "fear". This "Don't carry your fears like so many do" mantra is over used, and can be a bit condescending and misleading at times when just tossed out. Well, yeah, that phrase is overused, sorry, but it is also appropriate, witness the recent response that the guy us worried about being without one for even a very short while...

[AllDownhillFromHere]

There is nothing wrong with someone wanting to carry a footprint, they have multiple uses not based on "fear". This "Don't carry your fears like so many do" mantra is over used, and can be a bit condescending and misleading at times when just tossed out.
The things I miss because of the "Ignore" feature.

[ZombieDust66]

There is a bunch of YouTube videos that show you how to make a footprint


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Slo-go'en]

The AT is in general, a wet trail. You often have to set up on damp or wet or even muddy ground. A footprint adds an extra layer of waterproofing between you and the wet ground, which can otherwise seep in through the floor. The footprint keeps the bottom of the tent clean, which in turn keeps the rest of the tent clean when you stuff it into a sack.

The footprint is also useful in shelters where the cleanliness of the floor is suspect or has gaps in the boards which can let air blow up from under you.
It can be used as a picnic blanket at lunch.
Used as a small tarp.
Folded up, used as a sitting/knelling pad.
It provides a dry place for you to unload your pack onto if you need to dig to the bottom.
You can cowboy camp on it.

I carry a Tyvek ground cloth for all the above reasons.

[LazyLightning]

If your worried about tyvek letting water through, the new synthetic roofing material often used instead of tar paper doesn't let any through. I get it at work so haven't looked into buying small quantities. Pretty much the same as tyvek but a tad bit more heavy duty and waterproof - tad bit heavier to but I'll take the compromise.

We've used tyvek as a cooler before with sitting water and didn't notice any leaking (building material tyvek) so I can't imagine that being to much of an issue.

[Crossup]

Agree, I carry anything that can serve several purposes that I will actually use to make life easier. When I hear "don't carry your fear" my first thought is why are you saying that yet you carry sleeping gear, food or for that matter, anything beyond clothing and a water bottle? My fears are not yours so please respect that they are mine and shut up.


The AT is in general, a wet trail. You often have to set up on damp or wet or even muddy ground. A footprint adds an extra layer of waterproofing between you and the wet ground, which can otherwise seep in through the floor. The footprint keeps the bottom of the tent clean, which in turn keeps the rest of the tent clean when you stuff it into a sack.

The footprint is also useful in shelters where the cleanliness of the floor is suspect or has gaps in the boards which can let air blow up from under you.
It can be used as a picnic blanket at lunch.
Used as a small tarp.
Folded up, used as a sitting/knelling pad.
It provides a dry place for you to unload your pack onto if you need to dig to the bottom.
You can cowboy camp on it.

I carry a Tyvek ground cloth for all the above reasons.

[mrappe]

One area where I do a lot of camping is in the Texas Hill Country where there are a lot of small sharp rocks underneath your tent even in the best spots. They will wear a hole in the underside of a tent after a while, so it would not be just for waterproofing. Tyvek sounds good but I curious at to whether it absorbs water.

Mike

[DownEaster]

Tyvek sounds good but I curious at to whether it absorbs water.
Yes, it absorbs water. If you've got a kitchen scale you can do an easy experiment at home. If you don't already have a Tyvek envelope at hand, pick up one from any FedEx or USPS mailing center. Weigh it, submerge it in water for a couple minutes, towel it off, and weigh it again.

[Leo L.]

I use a house wrap material that is similar to, but heavier and more sturdy than Tyvek.
It has one white, and one dark-grey side.
The white side always is my clean side, and the dark-grey provides much better drying in the sun.
True, this house wrap material, just like Tyvek, is not absulutely waterproof and will absorb water. In the same way the water will evaporate as soon as exposed to some sun. A short break of 15 minutes, the dark-side up exposed to the sun, will make it perfectly dry.

While my PU-coated Silnylon poncho never seems to dry up completely, there will always be some hidden folds where drops of water gets stuck.

[Ercoupe]

I use a sol emergency blanket, tough waterproof and dual use.
A footprint is a necessity if you are in cow country

[Rex Clifton]

Buy the footprint that is made for the tent, tape on top of your footprint material (I used Tyvek), outline with a marker, cut out the Tyvek footprint, return the factory footprint.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[kayakpro]

An easy way to get a tough footprint is from a cheap Walmart tarp. It will be heavier than 2 mil plastic and much tougher too. I have used this as a Tyvek substitute. It also worked well under my rain fly when a seam started leaking and as as a blanket on a brutally cold night. Not sure 2 mil plastic provides much protection against punctures

[DownEaster]

Buy the footprint that is made for the tent, tape on top of your footprint material (I used Tyvek), outline with a marker, cut out the Tyvek footprint, return the factory footprint.
I think I can make one with just the picture (and the tent, of course) as a reference.41215
Start with three grommets in strapping tape pull-outs where the tent pole ends are, and the 1443R Tyvek needs to be cut to fit inside the pole area. Anchor those three pull-outs to the Tyvek, and I'm done. I've got the 1443 Tyvek on order, and I'll get a package of Coghlan's grommets next week.

[archie]

I almost didn't try the polycro as it seemed to frail, too light, and just seemed liked a generally bad idea.

I'm am sure glad I gave it a shot, because I love it!. I have over 60 nights on my first piece and it shows no signs of wearing out. Try it.

[kayakpro]

Go to Home Depot and get one of the 6 x 8 - 5 mil medium duty tarps and trim it down. It is basically a waterproofed version of Tyvek and is under $5. I have not tried heat sealing the edges yet. It can be an extra blanket if it gets really cold, a back up under a rain fly if you spring a leak and a good protective ground cover. If you are an ultralight freak, this may not be the lightest choice for thru hiking; but then no foot print is probably best if lowest weight is the priority.

[Cheyou]

Go to Home Depot and get one of the 6 x 8 - 5 mil medium duty tarps and trim it down. It is basically a waterproofed version of Tyvek and is under $5. I have not tried heat sealing the edges yet. It can be an extra blanket if it gets really cold, a back up under a rain fly if you spring a leak and a good protective ground cover. If you are an ultralight freak, this may not be the lightest choice for thru hiking; but then no foot print is probably best if lowest weight is the priority.

Have you actually used a waterproof tarp over your sleep system as a blanket in cold weather? Does not sound like good advice to me. But HYOH .

[Venchka]

Have you actually used a waterproof tarp over your sleep system as a blanket in cold weather? Does not sound like good advice to me. But HYOH .
Peruse WhiteBlaze long enough and you’ll find numerous recommendations to place a plastic trash bag around the foot of your sleeping bag or quilt.
Clever hey!
Wayne

[Ethesis]

Have you actually used a waterproof tarp over your sleep system as a blanket in cold weather? Does not sound like good advice to me. But HYOH .

actually wasn’t too bad when I tried it.

[Carl7]

I tried the window tint polycyro for my ground cloths during my prior two two week section hikes. In both cases, the polycyro window tint tore lengthwise. Once this happens, it tears very quickly from end to end. It is very tough and light material, but this is it's weak point. I personally like the plastic painter tarp cut to size. Don't go to thin on the plastic.

[MtDoraDave]

Peruse WhiteBlaze long enough and you’ll find numerous recommendations to place a plastic trash bag around the foot of your sleeping bag or quilt.
Clever hey!
Wayne

Ice crystals on the outside of the sleeping bag / inside of the trash bag. That's what happens when you are caught in the back country with an inadequate sleeping system and try the trash bag method out of desperation and/or ignorance.
- or, to be clear, that's what happened to me when I tried it.

[Leo L.]

One way to use a waterproof sack of any kind would be to use it INSIDE the sleeping bag.
Whatever waterproof material I've tried to cover my sleepingbag to improve insulation, led straight into a wet sleeping bag. It helped to stay warmer for the moment, but ended up soaking the bag.
Very bad when you are forced to stay out multiple nights under such conditions, without being able to dry out the bag during the day.

[kayakpro]

Yes, but warning.... don't wrap it around you tightly. If you do, you are likely to wake up in a bathtub from the condensation. I lay it loosely over my sleeping bag so that it can breath around the edges and have not had a big problem.....after taking a bath once LOL...

[Harrison Bergeron]

Polycro is much tougher than tyvek in my experience, and a fraction of the weight. It's light enough that there's no point NOT having a footprint. And by the way, the main reason I like a perfectly waterproof footprint like Polycro is that its so much easier to wipe down in the morning than the bottom of your tent. You just flop over half, wipe, flop over half, wipe, and so on until you can pick it up.

But all the guys who said they ripped a hole in Polycro makes me wonder if there's a difference between the stuff from Home Depot and the stuff I get from Gossamer Gear for $9.