High Sierra Topix

I was just wondering how many people here use a footprint or some type of ground cover under their tent?
I have always used one, but am beginning to look for more ways to cut weight and am thinking about doing away with the footprint.
My Concerns are not just about the tent floor, but also my Xtherm mattress getting punctured. I currently use a Tyvek footprint under my Tarptent and feel that it does offer me some extra protection. Am I being too cautious with my use of a footprint?

If you set up on granite, no, it's not too cautious. Thorns and other sharp bits can also poke through a floor. You could look at polycryo (the film you put on windows) as an alternative to tyvek, it's tough and lighter, just harder to handle.

I have a tarptent as well and do not use a footprint. It is not freestanding, so chances are you are camping on some sort of grass or dirt. Also the bottoms of the tarptents have been quite durable in my experience.

It depends on how much you use the tent. I had one that wore out... everything degrades eventually.

My tents aren't freestanding and I camp on granite. All tents are non freestanding -- you still need to stake them out or weigh them down, regardless. Anyone who says otherwise has never chased a tent half a mile in the alpine trying to get a guy's sleeping gear and tent back...

$500 worth of equipment, a bit of Tyvek seems like a small price to pay in weight. I have an REI Trail Dome 3 from the early 1980's. It's still in great shape because I've always had a ground cover under it. I used a blue painter's drop cloth for years, but just ordered Tyvek a couple of days ago.

Anyone who says otherwise has never chased a tent half a mile in the alpine trying to get a guy's sleeping gear and tent back...

Haha, kite flying in the wilderness.

Been using one ever since I damaged the floor of my tent a bit on a trip a year ago where I was forced to setup in less than ideal conditions.

I love to cowboy camp - even at 12k - plus I hate putting up shelter, so I always take a piece of tyvek for obvious reasons. Of course, I also take along my floorless DIY tarp 'just in case', so the tyvek works with it as well.

Last year, I finally broke down and bought a BA CS HV UL 2 during an REI blow out sale (plus I had some gift coupons). I also decided to pick up the $70 footprint for the same reason I purchased the tent in the first place: rain and/or other inclement weather.

That is, with the specialized footprint, I can ** put the fly up first **. Consider what this means; for typical Sierra afternoon showers that come and go, it's not such a big deal. But if you find yourself in monsoon conditions, or are someplace else like the Cascades, then the ability to put the fly up first becomes key. It's really a nice system, because you can get yourself out of the weather on a dry piece of fabric with cover overhead. Then, when you feel like it at your leisure ie no rush, you can then assemble the main tent ** under the fly ** without getting anything wet inside.

When you think about it, this is a killer concept. If you're going to bother taking along a tent in the first place, why not take the extra step and get the tool that enables the tent to really perform in conditions it was designed for?

Hi Dennis,

Welcome to HST!

Tyvek for years, never had a problem.
http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... vek#p24360

Have a couple of times (snow camping), but not for 10 years. I like to cowboy camp as well and did so most of the '90s. Nice blue tarp under us; sleeps 4
I tend to look for a safe place to set the tent, not on grass and not in a hole that will become filled with water if it rains. The thermarest doubles as a flotation device i guess, at least that's my story..