Damaging your tent is simpler than you may assume.
Any time you pitch a tent by itself on tough terrain, its flooring is getting worn down, little by little.
Basically, you’re taking part in Russian roulette together with your tent’s life.
To delay the lifespan of your tent, it comes down to 2 selections: tent footprint vs tarp.
But which is best? While each have execs and cons, we discover the winner by a slight edge is the tent footprint.
Here are the outcomes:
Tent Footprint – Why We Love It
A tent footprint is a bit of fabric that’s specifically designed by the tent producer to go beneath your tenting tent.
Nowadays, most tents are made from skinny materials in an effort to be compact and light-weight. Their flooring, though waterproof and thicker than the partitions, aren’t too sturdy.
That’s why footprints are designed to guard your tent flooring from pointless harm and put on and tear brought on by the floor you place it on.
They come in several styles and sizes, supposed to match your tent completely.
Tent footprints are made of various supplies, from polyester and nylon to rubber and even Tyvek.
What do these supplies have in widespread?
They’re waterproof!
Aside from further safety in opposition to abrasive surfaces, this is without doubt one of the most essential features of a tent footprint.
Which brings us again to my earlier level – tent footprints are made to match a particular tent’s flooring dimensions. If it was bigger, extending previous the sides of your tent, rain would discover its method beneath, and you might say howdy to a puddle beneath your tent.
On all sides, footprints are usually 1 to 2 inches smaller than the precise tent they’re made for, to keep away from this rain situation. For most tents, you will discover a becoming footprint in the marketplace.
I gained’t lie, they’re not often low-cost.
But, this value is nowhere close to the worth of a brand new tent when you harm your flooring. Personally, I’m extraordinarily choosy when shopping for a brand new tent. That’s why I’d quite spend a little bit extra cash on flooring safety to increase its life, than undergo that meticulous and costly course of once more.
One factor it’s best to know is that tent footprints aren’t precisely featherweight. In reality, you possibly can anticipate them to weigh roughly 25% of your tent’s weight. That’s one thing to remember when going backpacking or thru-hiking.
Pros:
- Reduces the quantity of warmth loss to the bottom
- Allows you to pitch your tent sooner, because of the grommets the place the poles go in
- Fits your tent completely
Cons:
- Not versatile, solely serves as a groundsheet
Using a Camping Tarp as a Tent Footprint
If you thought a tent footprint was your solely possibility, you had been incorrect.
A tarpaulin (or tarp) is essentially the most versatile piece of tenting gear, and might work nice as a groundsheet, too.
It’s waterproof and intensely sturdy – each encompasses a tent footprint must have.
In case of an apocalypse, a tenting tarp could be one of many first issues I’d pack. Nay, I’d most likely put on it as a cape.
I discover a tarp to be the most effective tenting innovations ever made. It’s light-weight however robust sufficient to face up to the weather.
All the weather. Wind, rain, solar, snow…
When correctly used, you can also make a tarp shelter in any and all climate situations with such a easy piece of fabric. But I’ll cease right here earlier than my digression will get out of hand.
When used as a DIY tent footprint, a tarp does the whole lot you want it to do. It protects the tent flooring from harsh terrain, in addition to including an additional layer of waterproofing.
But, there’s a catch. Remember how tent footprints are barely smaller than the tent flooring to forestall water from gathering between the 2 layers? Well, your tarp shouldn’t lengthen previous the tent edges both.
Finding a tarp that’s the appropriate measurement in your tent is quite tough, so some modifications may be so as. You’ll must both reduce it to measurement or fold it.
Plus, relying on the fabric, a tarp may tear on extraordinarily tough terrain. But, hey, I suppose that’s why you place it down within the first place, proper?
Pros:
- Generally cheaper than a footprint
- Can even be used as safety in opposition to all climate parts
- Can function an emergency shelter
Cons:
- Needs some changes to suit correctly below your tent
- Can be fairly cumbersome
Tent Footprint vs Tarp – Which is greatest?
Both tarps and tent footprints can serve the identical goal, no doubt.
But the actual query is – can they do it equally nicely?
And to get essentially the most exact reply, let’s evaluate a few of their most essential options:
Coverage
Like I stated, tent footprints are designed to suit a particular tent. So when you personal two tents of various shapes or sizes, you’re going to wish two footprints as nicely.
Tarps will provide you with the protection you want, and a little bit further. But on this case, you don’t need any further, as a result of water will accumulate when you go away it uncovered.
So you’ll want to regulate your tarp to get the proper match.
Some campers reduce their tarps to get the appropriate protection, a way that I’m not keen on.
Depending on the tarp materials, chopping might trigger the ends to fray. And apart from, you’ll take away the grommets on the edges you chop, and these are fairly helpful for protecting a tarp in place.
Instead, I like to recommend merely folding it to your tent measurement, simply previous to pitching your tent.
Portability
If you’re backpacking, that is most likely an important function of each piece of kit. Especially when you’re an ultralight backpacker.
Your groundsheet must be light-weight and compact when packed, or else it should solely sluggish you down.
Portability relies upon lots on the supplies these items are made from, in addition to their measurement. Generally, tarps are bigger, and you may anticipate them to be barely heavier. Plus, they’re often bulkier when packed.
Material
For essentially the most half, tent footprints, and tarps are made from both nylon or polyester.
Both supplies are water resistant. But they’re additionally moreover handled with a water-resistant coating, to totally shield you from the weather.
Other, not-so-popular selections of fabric embody Tyvek, polycryo, silnylon and Cuben Fiber. They’re all water resistant materials, however their different traits like weight or breathability are the explanation they don’t usually make the reduce.
Both a tarp and a tent footprint will be made from both of these supplies, so your selection of material doesn’t have an effect on your selection of groundsheet.
Terrain
Any tough floor requires some type of tent flooring safety.
Well, if you would like your tent to reside one other tenting day, that’s.
Believe it or not, this additionally consists of sand. While you may get pleasure from strolling barefoot on sand, your tent doesn’t share your enthusiasm.
Both a tent footprint and a tarp will work nicely on completely different surfaces. But, as a lot as I like utilizing a tarp, I need to admit {that a} footprint will do a barely higher job.
After all, they’re made for this very goal.
Weather
The cause I rave a lot about tarps is as a result of they’re nice for all climate situations.
Depending on the forecast, you possibly can determine if it’s extra wanted beneath or above the tent.
Tent footprints, then again, are designed to guard your tent from beneath solely.
But, if it’s actually, actually chilly, a thick footprint is not going to solely preserve you dry, however heat too.
It’s an important insulator, and when you’re winter tenting, I’d decide it over a tarp.
Affordability
Pricewise, tarps are usually very reasonably priced. Polyethylene tarps are just about a steal, however even nylon ones gained’t value you a reasonably penny.
When it involves tent footprints, they’re made from the identical materials as their respective tents. So, in case your tent was costly, you possibly can anticipate the footprint to harm your pockets, too.
Tarp vs. Tent Footprint Compared
FAQs
Is it price getting a tent footprint?
While not an absolute necessity, a tent footprint prolongs the lifetime of your tent, so it’s a great addition to your gear.
However, a tent footprint will be dearer, which is why many campers go for a tarp as an alternative.
Can I exploit any tarp for a tent footprint?
A tarp must be the identical size as the underside of the tent. If it’s shorter, it gained’t be as efficient.
An extended tarp, then again, will trigger water to gather beneath the tent. Luckily, you possibly can keep away from that by becoming your tarp to measurement.
We do that by folding it right down to the proper measurement proper earlier than pitching our tent.
Do you want a tarp below a tent with a footprint?
If you have already got a tent footprint in place, there’s no want so as to add a tarp beneath.
However, it’s not a horrible concept to make use of a tarp as nicely when tenting on a extremely harsh floor, as it should preserve your tent footprint from carrying down.
How can I make an affordable tent footprint?
You can get a tarp or a tyvek sheet (a water-resistant, puncture-proof materials), that you could modify in measurement to suit your tent backside.
Adding grommets to every aspect requires a bit extra work, however it’s simply finished with just a few fundamental instruments.
Should a tent footprint be waterproof?
Yes, a tent footprint, identical to the tent flooring, needs to be waterproof.
And going with the double-proofed backside isn’t a foul concept, as you’re twice as certain you’ll stay dry contained in the tent, whatever the climate.
The Final Verdict
Both a tent footprint and a tarp can do an important job at defending your tent from abrasion in addition to protecting it dry. Ultimately, the selection is situational.
If you’re tenting on tough terrain, a tent footprint is a barely better option.
If you need a extra reasonably priced and versatile possibility, then tarp is what you want.
But, if attainable, get each!
That method, no terrain or climate situation can damage your tenting journey.