There are other options out there. Most manufacturers recommend putting the shiny side with the logo up. if you have a high-end tent expect to pay high-end prices for the footprint. Some manufacturers will take the most common measurements and create their own footprints which are usually cheaper. This means that you can effectively double the waterproofness of your tent floor with a footprint. If you have to sew two pieces together, make sure you seam seal afterward to make the seam waterproof. For example: Extra weight-No matter what type of footprint you choose, it adds a bit of weight to your pack. The material is light but most manufactured footprints include straps, grommets, and a stuff sack which adds some weight. With some tents having the correct footprint will provide extra pitching options. If you didn’t use a footprint and ended up with a hole in your tent floor, there is still hope that it can be saved. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. What are tent footprints? Do you use a tent footprint? After spending hundreds of dollars on a new tent, you want it to last as long as possible. Tent footprints can greatly extend the functional life of your tent. We've listed some of the reasons why you might want to get the footprint for your tent and some reasons why you might not. One way to increase the lifespan of your tent is to use a footprint. Here is a guide to how to use them, how to set them up and how to make your own DIY footprint out of tyvek polycro or painters tarp for ultralight backpacking. A manufactured footprint will cost $100-$200. This was the norm and is perfectly acceptable. Check out all the tents that can be pitched with just their footprint here. There are a few good reasons to leave your footprint at home and do without. This material is designed for use as a house wrap but is incredibly popular in the backpacking community. The answer of the question is absolutely yes. One of the biggest drawbacks of taking a footprint with you on your trip is the extra weight. Hydrostatic head is basically a measure of the pressure that a fabric can withstand before letting water through, for a tent floor then it is important to be high as you can create pressure points when using your tent from areas such as your knees if you are kneeling, your elbows, hands and even your bum. Footprints are: Budget-friendly: Footprint is a very budget friendly camping material. If you didn’t use a footprint and ended up with a hole in your tent floor, there is still hope that it can be saved. Tents already have a waterproof floor, on lightweight tents this is usually has a Hydrostatic Head rating of around 3-5000mm and is built into the inner tent. Avoiding Wild Animals, Insects, and Injury, Bear Safety Tips: How to Avoid Bears While Hiking and Camping, Quilt Vs Sleeping Bag: My Pros and Cons List. Ranging from £10 and upwards, the low cost of this accessory makes it absolutely essential to buy with your tent or for a tent your currently own. Family Camping without a Tent Carpet. If you let your tent floor wear out you may as well be using a tarp shelter or bivy sack. This is the result of complex ultralight designs and modern high tech fabrics. Considering a backpacking tent can cost $300 or more, a $40-50 or less footprint might just be worth it. Tent footprints are certainly not necessary, but they can help extend the life of your tent. When is a tent footprint worth it? If your tent pitch is wet when you're setting up camp, having a footprint will massively help to keep the inside dry. This prevents moisture from coming up through your tent’s contact with the ground. Is purchasing the additional footprint for $70 worth it? If you're making a custom footprint out of tyvek or something like that, I recommend two inches less than the size of the tent. This gives allows the tent to overlap the footprint by an … When it comes to cheap tents with poor design you want to have that layer between the ground and your tent bottom. © 2020 Ultralight Outdoor Gear. You can use a sewing machine or sew by hand. Why only keep your protected from one part of the elements, when you can ensure your tent is fully protected. Honestly it really doesn’t matter which side of the Tent Footprint Goes Up. You can therefore double up on the toughness of your tent floor with a footprint. You could make your own for $5-$10. This stuff is strong, easy to use, inexpensive, and water-resistant. When you're setting up camp you should be looking at your pitch and checking for sharp stones, sticks and other debris that firstly might cause you to have an uncomfortable night's sleep and in the worst case could also damage your tent floor. This is my favorite footprint option. You can also try cool your tent without electricity in 2021 . This adds a bit of work. How to use a tent footprint. This usually only applies to free-standing tents. You will probably have to pay a premium, but it’s so worth it. Knowledge Base - Are Tent Footprints Worth It? You can pick up a poly tarp at any hardware store, cut it to size, and have a functional footprint. Your tent can also break down over time due to your movement in and out of the tent that cause it to rub against the ground. Supposedly the shiny side is coated with waterproofing, but I don’t buy that (it’s probably just so people can see the logo). While this won’t necessarily cause extra wear and tear on our tent, it can damage other items you’ve brought along. It holds a ton of benefits that you can take advantage of, making it worth the investment or extra time setting it up. The footprint goes under the tent and is intended to protect the tent floor from damage due to abrasion and thereby extend the useful life of the tent. Tent footprints and tarps are essentially similar when you look at them, but they are designed for different purposes. This is a real help on longer trips through wetter regions like the UK, Northern Europe & North America. Available in Make and Model Specific Sizes. We carry a few brands that have this option integrated in their designs. MSR advertise the fact that their footprints can be used instead of the inner tent to cerate a minimal, lightweight set-up. They usually market the material under the name Polycryo. I recommend you attempt to patch the hole with Gear Aid Tenacious Tape. I use this Duck Extra Large Patio Door Shrink Film from Amazon. A tent footprint acts as a protective barrier under your tent, so it absorbs the damage and preserves your tent floor. If you know you will be camping on rocky or stony ground we would suggest getting a footprint for your lightweight tent. Final Thoughts. Lightweight tents these days can feel like they've been made out of paper. Most manufacturers use standard sizing so their entire lineup can use the same ground … A tent footprint can also work in tandem with the rainfly flap to prevent excess water from getting inside your tent when it rains. PU coated nylon footprints typically weight around 1.9 ounces/ square yard. Many times when you are out camping or backpacking, you might find that your tent does become soaking wet or muddy at the bottom and this can be avoided with a tent footprint to keep the bottom protected. This site uses cookies to provide and improve your shopping experience. When you pack up your tent you pack the inner tent with your flysheet, if it was a muddy pitch this could get seriously messy. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. For example, when you use a footprint, you don’t want it to be larger than your tent floor and reach out past the tent rainfly, because rain will … A footprint is generally a good idea if you expect to camp on rough, rocky terrain with significant potential for sharp points and rough edges. Yes, tent footprint is definitely worth every penny you spend because it helps you to protect the tent surface from getting damaged due to rough surface. A tent footprint makes it easier to position the tent. We have decided to look a little deeper at the tarp and the tent footprint and show you exactly what the main benefits are of using each and how they can also be used in conjunction with one another on your camping trip. It's constructed using the same sewing, waterproofing and other techniques that go into creating your tent so it will come out in line with the price of the tent, i.e. Using a tent footprint or groundsheet is very easy: simply lay the footprint out on your chosen camping spot, pitch your tent on top of it, then tuck the excess material under the tent floor to prevent any rainwater or condensation pooling on this “fringe” of the footprint. A tent footprint is a piece of plastic that goes on the ground and protects your tent from being damaged. Tent footprint prevents the tent from getting dirty especially in murky surroundings. You can grab some tent footprints on Amazon for cheap here. Share your experience and tips in the comments below! Your tent footprint will come with its own waterproof stuffsack keeping any dirt seperate in your pack. Having an extra layer of fabric between you and the bottom of your tent is great for keeping your tent clean. I recommend you attempt to patch the hole with, Is Camping Safe? A tent footprint isn’t necessary for every trip. To save some money, you can buy Tyvek by the yard on eBay off of a 9-foot roll and easily make your own. The dilemma is whether 25% more weight is worth the benefits that we have already outlined. The fabric is thin to make them lighter and easier to carry but this also has the unintended consequence of making them more prone to becoming damaged. Minimalist polycyro footprint weighs around 1-2 ounces (28 … This sounds a lot but makes a bit more sense if you think that your tent floor would account for approximately a quarter of the weight of your tent and with a footprint you are doubling up on that. A Dyneema footprint will weigh 2-4 ounces (about 55-115 grams) for a one-person tent. A footprint will prolong the life of your tent floor, adding a valuable extra layer of protection. Dyneema is an ultra-strong, ultralight material made from polyethylene. In most cases tent footprints are definitely worth it. For example: Tent footprints are made with a variety of materials. I’ll also explain how to make your own tent footprint on the cheap. Here are some advantages a tent footprint has to offer: You are assured a piece of dry ground. Purchasing a tent footprint comes with many added benefits, including a much sturdier built design as well as grommets for attaching the footprint to your tent. Your whole footprint will weigh just 1-2 ounces (about 28-56 grams) for a one-person tent. This post will also teach you more details about tent footprints, as well as which ones are the best on the market. Others believe they help with insulation. Luckily, you can make your own tent footprint for just a few dollars if you’re on a budget. If you again think that is a tent footprint worth it? The drawbacks are that you have to carry it and if it's the wrong size or if you use it incorrectly (you basically have to be an idiot to screw it up, but people still manage) then it will funnel moisture under the tent … Ultralight Outdoor Gear Limited Registered office Unit 2 Tees Valley Court, Glenarm Road, Wynyard Business Park, Wynyard, TS22 5FE, United Kingdom. If you want to make a polycyro footprint for a large tent, you can simply tape two pieces together with something like duct tape or gorilla tape. Footprints are usually made of a durable waterproof material like silicon coated polyester or nylon fabric, Tyvek, or polycryo (polycro). Sometimes looking at the price of a footprint can take your breath away, but you have to remember these things are made from the same high-tech fabrics that the rest of your tent is made from. Is it worth buying a tent footprint? You will not lose time trying to set up a tent and finding the site is uneven or too small. While just a rainfly and footprint won't keep bugs out, it will protect you from rain and wind, and will be much lighter without all of the tent fabric. I am using a Big Agnes Fly Creek tent. A tent footprint is simply a piece of material that you place between the ground and the floor of your tent. It weighs 5oz, alternatively I was hoping to just buy a knock of tyvek type material from a hardware store and cut it slightly smaller than my tent. The fabric is also incredibly durable and is tear and water resistant. Footprint or not, we always make sure to meticulously clear twigs, rocks, and pinecones from our campsites before pitching a tent … You can sew all of the above-listed materials except for polycyro. Known as a ground cloth and groundsheet, they are waterproof sheets placed in between the floor of your tent and the forest floor. Copyright 2020 - Where The Road Forks. 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