Footprint, yes or no?

[cmon4day]

My rain poncho serves double duty. I use it as a ground cloth for either my sleeping bag when I sleep under the stars or for my tent. I like items that have multi uses.

[freestone]

I believe in using the manufacturer's footprint. Early on I discovered that I was not very good at cutting out the perfect footprint. I always had an edge that was off and sticking out...an invitation to collect moisture and roll into the tent. In the interest of saving weight, I had to chose between the footprint and the innertent. My current setup is to remove the inner tent and pitch it with just the fly and the footprint. This way I still have 4 season protection and more wiggle room.

http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/012a0 ... 5a0b40c6af" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Radnord]

I have to agree with oldranger and markskor, they keep the bottom of you tent clean and dry, and protect against punctures. The one I have is very light and I feel that it is worth whatever it does weigh for the benefits.

[balzaccom]

I'm with Markskor

2 ml plastic, just so that the tent doesn't get too wet on the bottom. And it's somehow easier to hit the trail with a damp and muddy piece plastic hanging out the back of my pack, rather than the whole tent.

[giantbrookie]

I've never used a footprint, but I can also say that my very first tent (very old school 70's) eventually developed some very bad floor leaks (well beyond seam issues) that I noticed in a dramatic way (artesian spring in bottom of tent) during a heavy rainstorm in 1985, the last time I used it. No other tent I've had since has had floor leak problems other than some very minor seam stuff (quickly sealed) and I've concluded that other parts of my tent will start to fall apart before my floor starts leaking, so I continue to not use a footprint.

[SSSdave]

Many think their tent floors are ok but that may because they really have never had the tent on a location where it would show a leak. Quality new and barely used tents are certain to be waterproof. But I'd bet almost all your older tents that have been setup up many times would show leaks with this simple test.

Set up the tent on a flat surface outdoors like atop a smooth concrete sidewalk. Get your garden hose and fill the tent tub with an inch depth of water. After a modest delay tip the tent over so the water spills out to the side, then check the tent bottom. Its really sobering how easily tiny microholes form. You are not likely to find out until one gets caught in a serious downpours like occurs some summers when the Mexican monsoon visits.

I always use a piece of those cheap light HomeDepot blue tarps custom cut to a size smaller than my tent footprint. After a few trips I cut a new one and toss the old one.