What a footprint is
A footprint is a sheet that goes under your tent, between its groundsheet and the ground. It takes the wear from stones, roots, grit and thorns so the tent's own floor does not, adds a layer against damp coming up, and keeps the underside of the tent clean when you pack it away. A groundsheet here can also be a porch mat, a picnic blanket or a mat under a hammock.
Fitted, ultralight, tarp, large or heavy: which footprint
- Lightweight footprints are cut for small tents: a 15D silnylon sheet 210 by 130cm weighs 165g, and another comes in three sizes up to 213 by 213cm in nylon or polyester. See backpacking and trekking tents.
- Ultralight film and Tyvek sheets are the lightest: Polycro sheets 220 by 110cm weigh 67g, and a Tyvek porch mat 90 by 60cm about 35g, to keep packs and boots off wet ground.
- Tarp groundsheets in polyester, from 100 by 150cm to 200 by 210cm, pack into their own sack and can be rigged overhead with ropes. See tarps and tarp shelters.
- Large hexagon and octagon mats in 210D Oxford run from 3.25 by 2.9m to 4.1 by 4.1m, for big tents and awnings, with pegs included. See bell tents.
- Heavy and warm sheets: a waxed cotton canvas sheet 216 by 120cm weighs about 2kg, and an aluminium foil mat reflects warmth and can go under or inside a tent.
A little smaller than the tent floor
This is the thing to get right. A footprint should be the same shape as the tent's floor and a little smaller, or folded under at the edges. Any part that sticks out beyond the tent catches rain and runs it underneath, where it sits and soaks through, so a footprint that is too big makes the tent wetter, not drier. Measure the floor of your tent, not the size on the label, and compare it with each product's size.
Waterproof ratings and weight
Groundsheets are often rated higher than flysheets, because you kneel and lie on them and press water through. The silnylon and Oxford sheets here are rated 5,000mm and the waxed canvas 2,000mm; about 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof. Weight runs from 35g to about 2kg, so choose light for a walk and tough for the car.
Questions people ask about footprints
Do I need a footprint if my tent has a sewn-in groundsheet?
It is not essential, but the makers here sell theirs to protect the tent's own floor from wear and puncture, and a footprint is easier to replace than a groundsheet.
Can a footprint go inside the tent?
The foil mat here can, as a warm layer under your mat. For a carpet in the living area, see tent rugs and carpets.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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