Just realized my tent footprint is basically a raincoat for the ground

I was reading a thread here about a guy who camped in Olympic National Park for a week straight of rain. He said his tent floor was still bone dry because he used a proper footprint, not just a cheap tarp. I've always just thrown a blue tarp down and called it good. His point was that a fitted footprint stops water from pooling underneath you, not just under the tent. I've been doing it wrong for maybe five years. Has anyone else noticed a real difference with a custom footprint versus a generic ground sheet?

3 comments

3 Comments

miles9461mo ago

Totally get it, I made the same switch a few seasons back. I used a regular tarp for years and would always wake up to a damp spot under my sleeping pad. Got a fitted footprint that's a bit smaller than the tent floor and it was a game changer. It doesn't just block water, it stops the tarp from channeling rain under the tent itself. I mean, the tent floor is still the main shield, but the footprint keeps everything underneath way more dry. I won't go back to a basic tarp now.

holly_sanchez751mo ago

Consider how a fitted footprint also protects the tent floor from wear and tear on rough ground. That thin tent fabric isn't made for direct contact with sharp rocks or pine needles. The footprint takes the abuse, which can make your whole tent last years longer. It's not just about staying dry, it's a cheap way to avoid a costly floor repair down the line.

jadew6328d ago

Wait, isn't it actually better to have the footprint slightly smaller than the tent floor so it doesn't stick out? I've heard that if the footprint is bigger than the tent floor, it can actually collect rainwater and channel it under the tent instead of repelling it. The whole point is to protect the floor, but you don't want it acting like a rain gutter... just something to think about when sizing up.