/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #111558

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Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 14:51:22 No.111558 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>111815 >>111958 >>111979

What's the benefit of having a "footprint" as opposed to using a tarp?
I'm confused. Also, what are some ideas for setting up your tent differently?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 15:16:32 No.111572 Report

Quoted By: >>111593

I think most footprint specific sheets are just a finer looking material, usually a little lighter and that are cut to dimension. A tarp works just fine but you should trim it to the same size as your tent.
Honestly though, footprints can be found for about the same price as a tarp, I'd just get the foot print.

It'll keep the bottom of your tent clean and preserve it so rocks, twigs, grit don't wear holes in it and are less likely to poke through or cause leaks. You don't want it hanging out beyond on your tent floor much though because water might be caused to pull under your tent if it rains.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 15:23:33 No.111581 Report

Quoted By:

Lighter, quieter, usually less-durable at comparable prices. Will probably do you fine.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 15:49:12 No.111593 Report

Quoted By:

>>111572
Wow I need breakfast. Please forgive my use of homonyms and the crazy sentence structure.
I'm going to go wake up now.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 20:34:10 No.111744 Report

Quoted By: >>111749

I just use a space blanket as a footprint. It doesn't protect from pokey things, but it folds up to the size of a wallet and weighs nothing.
I can't decide whether or not it provides insulation from the ground, though. Thoughts?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 20:41:51 No.111749 Report

Quoted By:

>>111744
I'm just speculating here, but it probably helps reflect heat back to you. This is most likely cancelled out or not noticeable due to the fact that it wouldn't do a thing about thermal conduction. It depends on what you're putting on the floor on the inside of the tent.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 20:42:56 No.111751 Report

Quoted By: >>111753 >>111813

Groundcloths:

>Footprint:
Lightweight, packs down much smaller than anything else.
EXPENSIVE (most are around $40)

>Tarp:
Relatively inexpensive, can be found ANYWHERE (gas stations, walmart, sporting goods stores).
Normally around $5-8

>Tyvek:
Cheap as hell, has excellent water repelling properties, but is noisy until folded and washed for the first time.
Normal price sub-$3. Can be found for free easily

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 20:49:12 No.111753 Report

Quoted By: >>111761

>>111751
>Tyvek
Holy shit, that's a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 20:57:13 No.111761 Report

Quoted By:

>>111753
Go on bushcraft forums and MYOG threads. Tons of helpful tips regarding tyvek used as a groundcloth. Just make sure to properly crease it with care so that it doesn't rip, and to crease the entire piece so that it won't make a ton of noise.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 21:42:19 No.111813 Report

Quoted By: >>111818

>>111751
also:

>polycro
commonly sold as window insulation film
very cheap, extremely light, waterproof, quiet

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 21:49:47 No.111815 Report

Quoted By: >>111822

>>111558
>Not using this in wet weather.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 21:50:24 No.111818 Report

Quoted By:

>>111813
>polycro

Stuff's great, but everything sticks to it which can be a major pain. Good puncture resistance for a thin material, though.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 21:56:59 No.111822 Report

Quoted By: >>111846

>>111815
Here's an improvement.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 22:41:53 No.111846 Report

Quoted By: >>111934

>>111822
Make that ten feet high and you will not drown when it happens.

molot0v !CocKTAILBg

molot0v !CocKTAILBg Fri 10 May 2013 22:46:15 No.111850 Report

Quoted By:

You can cut a tarp to fit your tent, but you'd have to add grommets at the proper locations. My footprint, at least, has grommets on the corners for you to insert the ends of the tent poles so everything stays together.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 10 May 2013 23:01:26 No.111857 Report

Quoted By:

I use a footprint to protect the bottom of my bed when camping on rocky ground.

I could also set up the tent without the inner - just the footprint and fly - when there's no bugs, but never have.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 11 May 2013 01:01:15 No.111934 Report

Quoted By:

>>111846

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 11 May 2013 02:03:43 No.111958 Report

Quoted By: >>111962

>>111558
>having a "footprint" as opposed to using a tarp?
>some ideas for setting up your tent differently?
You asked a confusing question. If you're using a tent, then you don't need a tarp or a footprint. Tents have them both built in.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 11 May 2013 02:12:56 No.111962 Report

Quoted By:

>>111958
NO
It protects the tent floor.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 11 May 2013 02:15:16 No.111963 Report

Quoted By: >>111968

I have a question that might sound stupid to you guys, but I haven't been camping since I was like 12 years old.
How do you stop water from getting between the tent and the tarp / footprint / whatever is underneath the tent? Or are tent bottoms waterproof and it doesn't matter?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 11 May 2013 02:21:20 No.111968 Report

Quoted By:

>>111963
The tent floor should be waterproof. A good tent has thicker floor material (I'm talking mm's though) and it should be a bathtub bottom.
The footprint should not extend out beyond the floor of the tent, at least not far. You really only need the footprint under the parts of the tent that you sit, sleep or otherwise stated where the floor is pressed into the ground. That is where the mud sticks or the abrasion happens.

Mr. Cardholder

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Mr. Cardholder Sat 11 May 2013 02:47:05 No.111979 Report

Quoted By:

>>111558
A lot of tents are made with footprints so that you can attach a rainfly to the footprint. Can't imagine it's a lot of fun with mosquitoes or cold weather.

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