Tent ground cloth

**Kirby** · 01-21-2008, 17:40

OK, her we go again.

I need to find a good, lightweight, yet reasonably priced, ground cloth for my tent. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Kirby

**ChinMusic** · 01-21-2008, 17:41

Tyvek...

**Freeleo** · 01-21-2008, 17:53

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/s...1&cat=Shelters

$8.50 or $12.00

**Kirby** · 01-21-2008, 17:57

Originally Posted by Freeleo

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/s...1&cat=Shelters

$8.50 or $12.00

That was a link for a tent, or am I missing something?

Kirby

**Kirby** · 01-21-2008, 17:57

Never mind.

Kirby

**Stir Fry** · 01-21-2008, 18:13

Stop at a construction site and you can get whet you need if you ask.

**AT1996** · 01-21-2008, 18:43

Some outfitters carry tyvek and sell it by the foot (I think the one in Hot Springs?) I don't normally use a ground cloth because of the extra weight, but after struggling to get a ride in Helena when we were on the CDT last year, I decided we needed a piece of tyvek on which we could write "Hiker to Trail and Hiker to town." Gutsy

**Appalachian Tater** · 01-21-2008, 19:22

You don't need a ground cloth, it's just extra weight.

**RITBlake** · 01-21-2008, 19:25

Use natures ground cloth, leaves

**A-Train** · 01-21-2008, 19:50

Another vote for NO ground cloth. I had Tyvek two different hikes and ended up sending it home/getting rid of it.

**Blissful** · 01-21-2008, 19:56

Originally Posted by traftonm

Stop at a construction site and you can get whet you need if you ask.

Yep. Or check the dumpster. Usually plenty of discarded "ground cloth". And it weighs nothing.

**Pedaling Fool** · 01-21-2008, 20:08

With any good rain the water will get in between your footprint and tent floor, regardless of the cut size or even if you get the designed one from the manufacturer. If you want or need to you can always "treat" the floor with a repellant.
If you're worried about tears, just be careful, I haven't torn my "cheap" Kelty yet and if I do I got all that duct tape. Those trail-side repairs are what gives your equipment that added special appeal. Besides, you'll eventually get sick of that tent and want to replace it, so don't waste the money on a footprint or the hassel of folding/unfolding every day and all the wiping off of it....
I'm starting to feel like JAK...

**tha** · 01-21-2008, 22:05

Double-ply tyvek.

Before you sew it, put it thru the washer a couple of times.

I use 4-ply when car camping.

**warraghiyagey** · 01-21-2008, 22:08

Originally Posted by Appalachian Tater

You don't need a ground cloth, it's just extra weight.

Originally Posted by A-Train

Another vote for NO ground cloth. I had Tyvek two different hikes and ended up sending it home/getting rid of it.

Ditto. Ditto.

**Kirby** · 01-21-2008, 22:09

What does one do when it rains with no ground cloth, going on the assumption you can not get to a town, nor have access to a shelter?

Kirby

**warraghiyagey** · 01-21-2008, 22:10

Originally Posted by Kirby

What does one do when it rains with no ground cloth, going on the assumption you can not get to a town, nor have access to a shelter?

Kirby

Sleep. Get up. Pack up. Hike.

**Kirby** · 01-21-2008, 22:13

Originally Posted by warraghiyagey

Sleep. Get up. Pack up. Hike.

Does that mean set up your tent on the on the soaking wet ground during the rain and deal with it for the night?

Kirby

**ChinMusic** · 01-21-2008, 22:14

Originally Posted by Kirby

What does one do when it rains with no ground cloth, going on the assumption you can not get to a town, nor have access to a shelter?

Kirby

I can only speak for my Lunar Solo. If I use no ground cloth I get little or no moisture on the floor of the tent during severe rains. If I did get some my sleeping pad would keep me above it and a simple bandanna or camp towel would take care of it, similar to any condensation.

During rainstorms is it typical for me to find the ground almost completely dry under my tent when I break in the morning. If you use a bit of care in site location, IMO, a wet floor is really not an issue.

Maybe I've been lucky.

**warraghiyagey** · 01-21-2008, 22:18

Originally Posted by Kirby

Does that mean set up your tent on the on the soaking wet ground during the rain and deal with it for the night?

Kirby

I have been fortunate enough to not have to set up during a driving rain storm - timing incoming rain helps, some luck, good tree cover, you get a feel for it.
And once in the tent for the night a haven't had any floor leakage even on the rainiest of nights. A ground cloth is a superfluous peice of equipment and I think you might also find that so after carrying it for a few days.
Have a great hike Kirb. It's coming up fast huh?

**Kirby** · 01-21-2008, 22:25

Originally Posted by warraghiyagey

I have been fortunate enough to not have to set up during a driving rain storm - timing incoming rain helps, some luck, good tree cover, you get a feel for it.
And once in the tent for the night a haven't had any floor leakage even on the rainiest of nights. A ground cloth is a superfluous peice of equipment and I think you might also find that so after carrying it for a few days.
Have a great hike Kirb. It's coming up fast huh?

Yes it is, by the end of the week I will have less than A month till I leave to meet my group, and to really get things rolling.

I might take the wait and see approach, and buy one if I need it at Neel's Gap, not sure if that's wise though. I have a Six Moons Design (Lunar?) solo tent, it has not had to face a strong storm yet, I was in a shelter during my one rain storm in the wilderness.

Kirby

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