Footprint question

[Double Wide]

Currently I use an REI Quarterdome T2 tent, which, despite the weight, I absolutely love. However, the footprint weighs 8 oz even. I'd like to protect the bottom of the tent, but since I'm carrying a few extra ounces with my shelter already, I need to shave a few ounces wherever else I can get away with it.

Here's my question. If I swap out the footprint for the same size piece of Tyvek, how much weight am I going to be saving? The footprint measures 78 x 46 inches.

Also, having never bought the stuff before, where do you get it? And do you have to buy a full roll or do the retailers cut it down for you?

Thx

[Old Hiker]

http://www.amazon.com/E-I-DuPont-Tyvek-Kitemaking-Material/dp/B001TO4QVA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340588598&sr=8-1&keywords=tyvek

http://www.lightheartgear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=&products_id=1&zenid=c522d08adccdcfa7fae1dfd9ac189f18

http://www.bearpawwd.com/fabrics_misc/fabrics_misc.html

[Shovel]

Not sure how much weight you'll save, but Tyvek weighs little to nothing. You shouldn't have to buy a whole roll ............ I got mine from a builder who was building a house and he just " gave " me a scap piece.

Mike

[Old Hiker]

http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/cuben_groundsheet.shtml

[leaftye]

A tyvek groundsheet will weigh 5 ounces.

Ask yourself what you're protecting the bottom of your tent against. If you're really just trying to keep it cleaner and drier, then a indoor window film ground sheet is what you want.

[leaftye]

An indoor window film (aka, GG polycryo) ground sheet will weigh close to 1.5 ounces.

[Tenderheart]

I'm not sure that you even need a groundcloth for your tent. But if you like, you could use a painter's drop cloth cut to size. This stuff is a little hard to spread out but is virtually weightless. As you know, the piece should be cut to come within four inches of the tent on all sides.

[q-tip]

http://gossamergear.com/shelters/shelter-accessories.html

These work surprisingly well.

[10-K]

You don't need one at all.

Weight: 0.0

[Tenderheart]

You don't need one at all.

Weight: 0.0

Good answer!

[Spokes]

An indoor window film (aka, GG polycryo) ground sheet will weigh close to 1.5 ounces.

All the window film I've ever seen is sorta like thin mylar and really "crinkley" (loud). Tyvek is so soft and pliable once washed.

BTW, I used a space blanket for a ground sheet in a pinch a couple years ago. Never again! I was almost deaf by the next morning.

[Mags]

Here's some info that may help:
http://www.pmags.com/ground-cloths-a-quick-overview

[jakedatc]

I'll probably stick with my Tyvek sheet for my Contrail.. I got some 2mm drop sheet today and the savings is only .8oz/23g maybe i'll go to that when the tyvek wears out.

[leaftye]

All the window film I've ever seen is sorta like thin mylar and really "crinkley" (loud). Tyvek is so soft and pliable once washed.

BTW, I used a space blanket for a ground sheet in a pinch a couple years ago. Never again! I was almost deaf by the next morning.

The thinness is what I really like about it. Where with tyvek I have to roll/fold it up, and it takes a not insignificant amount of space, the window film can be lightly stuffed to the size of a plum.

It's fairly durable. My only failure was late this winter when the corner loops ripped out when the wind changed directions while I was away from camp for a few minutes. I don't know how strong the wind was, but it blew the rest of my gear into a nearby gully. I retrieved it and tied new loops onto the corners. That ground sheet was used for over a month this year and might go much longer, but it's so cheap that I'll replace it anyway.

The corner loops also helps with the crinkles, and also keeps it in place. It's so light that it won't stay in place like tyvek will. So I use the loops when I cowboy camp and have spare stakes.

[jesse]

...Ask yourself what you're protecting the bottom of your tent against. If you're really just trying to keep it cleaner and drier, then a indoor window film ground sheet is what you want.

Even if you get holes in the bottom. so what. It's still usable.

[Berserker]

An indoor window film (aka, GG polycryo) ground sheet will weigh close to 1.5 ounces.
+1 on this recommendation. I use the window film from Lowes or Home Depot. It's good stuff, light and very durable. One thing of note is that my piece of film is about 2.7 oz, and it's close in size (a bit larger) than the dimensions the OP stated.

[Bucho]

http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/cuben_groundsheet.shtml
:S If my groundsheet cost $120 I'd want a groundsheet for my groundsheet.

[TechnoD]

You don't need one at all.

Weight: 0.0

You're right! In fact why even take a tent? A Hennesey hammock, net and straps are all you need! :)

[bear bag hanger]

Not sure you really need a ground cloth, but something to consider is using a poncho or something you already carry for some other reason.

[Mundele]

If you're car or front country camping where the tent pad is covered in gravel then you probably do need a groundcloth, but if you're in the backcountry a groundcloth isn't worth the weight. Just don't setup your tent on sharp sticks roots or rocks, and/or throw a handful of duff onto anything sharp. You're not gonna want to sleep on sharp stuff anyway, groundcloth or not.

--Matt