How big should my footprint be?

[Greyson2]

I know this is an easy question, but how much smaller should my footprint be then my tents floor? I am buying a piece of tyvek today, and am wondering what size it should be cut to properly secure no leaky floors?

[jimmyjam]

You should cut it several inches smaller than your tent, otherwise it will catch water and channel it under your tent.

[Ox97GaMe]

Agreed. Mine is about 2 inches smaller on all sides and works very well. This allows any water running off the rainfly to hit the ground rather than the footprint.

[jeffmeh]

Depending upon the tent and whether it has a floor, the answer could be that you do not need one. That said, a couple inches smaller than the tent is a good answer.

[stranger]

In heavy rain water will collect on any groundsheet and get trapped between your floor and your groundsheet, unless you have really good soil or very good campsite selection skills (and time)...which is why I use a netting groundsheet, drains well and protects my 'waterproof' tent floor from abrasion / damage.

Personally I think it makes much more sense to put Tyvek inside rather than outside, but when I have used Tyvek or plastic under my tent it's been about 3-4 inches smaller on all sides.

[illabelle]

your footprint should be EXACTLY the same size as your foot.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4903878742376476&pid=1.7&w=233&h=167&c=7&rs=1

sorry, i just had to do that.

[waterman1148]

your footprint should be EXACTLY the same size as your foot.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4903878742376476&pid=1.7&w=233&h=167&c=7&rs=1

sorry, i just had to do that.

Love it!!!

[Papa Tac]

Bigfoot? Is that you?

[Teacher & Snacktime]

If you hadn't beaten me to it illabelle, I was certainly going to....

[illabelle]

If you hadn't beaten me to it illabelle, I was certainly goint to....

It was entirely too tempting to pass up!

[Wise Old Owl]

your footprint should be EXACTLY the same size as your foot.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4903878742376476&pid=1.7&w=233&h=167&c=7&rs=1

sorry, i just had to do that.


totally beat me too it.. 22703

[JustaTouron]

your footprint should be EXACTLY the same size as your foot.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4903878742376476&pid=1.7&w=233&h=167&c=7&rs=1

sorry, i just had to do that.

I believe isis and jackrabbit would be the definitive experts on that subject.

[kolokolo]

Since you are using Tyvek, and weight is minimal, consider using two 'footprints', one outside the tent about 2" smaller than the tent floor, and one inside the tent about 2" larger than the tent floor. This will keep everything dry, and it will prevent abrasion of the tent floor on the inside.

[Drybones]

your footprint should be EXACTLY the same size as your foot.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4903878742376476&pid=1.7&w=233&h=167&c=7&rs=1

sorry, i just had to do that.

Thanks for the post, saved me the trouble of being foolish, I was going to ask what size shoe the OP wore...sick minds think alike.

[Tipi Walter]

You should cut it several inches smaller than your tent, otherwise it will catch water and channel it under your tent.

True, so see below quote.


In heavy rain water will collect on any groundsheet and get trapped between your floor and your groundsheet, unless you have really good soil or very good campsite selection skills (and time)...which is why I use a netting groundsheet, drains well and protects my 'waterproof' tent floor from abrasion / damage.

Personally I think it makes much more sense to put Tyvek inside rather than outside, but when I have used Tyvek or plastic under my tent it's been about 3-4 inches smaller on all sides.

Never used a netting cloth but totally agree with using my ground cloth inside the tent. Several reasons---

** Prevents pooling ground water from getting between the cloth and the floor as in jimmyjam's quote.
** If you have a poor thin denier tent floor, an inside ground cloth with keep whatever water comes in between the floor and the cloth.
** A suitable thick denier ground cloth will protect your inflatable thermarest pad from thorns and sharp stuff. Gotta keep the inflatable alive at all costs.

I would not use tyvek for a ground cloth for a couple reasons---it's not robust enough to stop thorns and it leaks when sitting atop. Here's the standard ground cloth test---do it yourself in the backyard.
Get a water hose and make a puddle in the grass. Lay out your tent floor or your tyvek or your ground cloth on top of this puddle and sit your butt on the ground on top, in the pool. Wait 5 minutes. If ANY water comes thru the ground cloth (or tent floor) won't work. Sadly, so far the only thing I have found to stay dry is your standard heavyweight Walmart style tarp. Just cut it to size.