What Is a Tent Footprint and Why You Should Use One (2023)

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Are you looking for a way to protect your tent from wear and tear? A tent footprint is the perfect solution! It’s a simple, lightweight piece of material that can be placed underneath your tent when camping.

It not only increases your tent’s longevity by providing extra protection against rocks, sticks, and other debris on the ground but it also forms a barrier to keep moisture away from the bottom of the tent and serves as an insulator in cold weather.

In this article, I’ll discuss what a tent footprint is, why it’s beneficial, and proper setup along with cost and weight considerations plus low-cost alternative solutions.

A tent footprint is a tarp-like groundsheet that is secured with stakes or fasteners underneath a tent to protect it from wear and tear caused by rough ground surfaces such as rocks, gravel, sand, sticks, roots, etc. It also helps to keep water out of the bottom of your tent in wet weather conditions.

A tent footprint also provides insulation from the cold ground to keep warm when camping in winter and helps keep the bottom of your tent clean and dry.

Pitching a tent directly on the ground causes wear, tear, and friction that can create holes or otherwise compromise the waterproof barrier of your tent floor. Spreading out and staking down a tent footprint before pitching your tent mitigates the risks of water penetration and damage to the floor of your tent, and insulates you from the ground when camping in a cold environment.

Tent footprints are usually made of waterproof material such as polyethylene-coated polyester or nylon and come in various sizes to fit different tents.

A footprint is a great way to protect your tent and gear from wear and tear, as well as provide additional insulation. Now let’s explore the advantages of using a tent footprint.

Is a Tent Footprint Really Needed?

When it comes to camping, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made in order to have the best experience possible. One of those decisions is whether or not you should use a tent footprint.

A tent footprint is an additional layer of protection for your tent floor from sharp objects and moisture. It can also help keep the bottom of your tent clean by preventing dirt and mud from getting inside.

But is a tent footprint really necessary?

Tent Floor Durability

A tent floor’s Denier count essentially tells you how tough the floor is.

Denier or Decitex (metric) is a unit of measurement that describes the linear mass density of fibers. An example of the expression for tent floors would be something like 75D polyester.

Different fibers of the same length, like polyester vs cotton, will have different weights and a different tightness of weave can be used in making fabrics.

Fabrics with a high denier count tend to be thicker, sturdier, and more durable.

Tent floors are typically made from polyester or nylon fabrics and coated with polyurethane or silicone for waterproofing.

A tent’s waterproofing metric tells you how waterproof it is. For instance, a 2000mm polyurethane (PU) coating is more waterproof than a 1200mm PU coating.

While these materials are durable enough to withstand wear and tear, they may not always be able to handle sharp objects such as rocks and sticks which could puncture the fabric or damage the waterproofing if stepped on especially those tents with thinner waterproofing and lower Denier counts.

A tent footprint provides an extra layer of protection between your tent floor and the ground surface, helping to prevent any damage caused by sharp objects underneath your tent.

Campsite Terrain

The type of ground surface at your campsite can also determine whether or not you should use a tent footprint.

If you’re camping in rocky, gravely, sandy, damp, or wooded terrain then using a footprint will help protect your tent floor from potential punctures, abrasions, or water penetration due to sharp stones, sticks, pinecones, roots, or sand that can act as sandpaper to remove the waterproofing and weaken the fabric structure of the tent floor.

On the other hand, if you’re camping on soft grassy surfaces with good water drainage then there may be no need for a footprint since there probably won’t be anything hard enough beneath your floor that could cause any damage.

Using a tent footprint has several advantages over not using one at all.

1) A Tent Footprint Protects Your Tent from Wear and Tear

The main advantage of using a tent footprint is that it adds an extra layer of protection from ground surfaces and objects that could cause punctures, tears, and abrasions.

2) A Tent Footprint Functions as Extra Waterproofing

Tent footprints provide extra waterproofing to protect the bottom of your tent from moist ground conditions in low-lying areas and from any rainfall during your stay outdoors. Water penetration can lead to a miserable camping experience and moisture inside your tent can lead to mold growth.

3) A Tent Footprint Reduces Condensation Inside Your Tent

Footprints can also reduce condensation inside the tent by creating a barrier between you and cold air coming up through the ground below. This helps keep things warm and comfortable while sleeping in cooler climates.

4) A Tent Footprint Adds Extra Insulation

Tent footprints are the best under-tent floor insulation available. It creates an added thermal barrier between you and the cold ground, making camping more comfortable in colder weather. The additional insulation will help keep warm air inside your sleeping bag instead of being lost through contact with the cold ground below.

For more tent insulation ideas, check out my comprehensive guide on How to Insulate a Tent for Winter Camping.

5) A Tent Footprint Minimizes Cleaning

A tent footprint helps keep the bottom of your tent clean and dry. Which is a huge benefit for me. I’d rather hose off a dirty footprint after a camping trip than clean the bottom of my tent when I break camp. It’s far less messy to fold the footprint dirty side out and put it in its storage bag.

6) Tent Footprints Simplify Tent Pitching

A properly sized tent footprint is essentially the size of your tent floor. If you are camping in a location that makes pitching your tent challenging, you can first check to see if your footprint fits your intended tent location. This can potentially save you some time and a few difficulties.

7) A Tent Footprint Extends the Life of Your Tent

The many benefits of using a footprint add up to extend the life of your tent and ultimately save you money.

Using a tent footprint is a great way to protect your tent and the ground underneath from wear and tear, making it easier to pack up camp when you’re ready to move on. Let’s look at how best to use one.

How to Use a Tent Footprint: 5 Simple Steps

Using a tent footprint correctly will ensure maximum protection for your tent and gear inside by shielding it from sharp rocks, sticks, and other debris on the ground and preventing moisture penetration from the ground underneath.

Step 1: Pick a flat spot to pitch your tent then check for and remove any sharp objects such as rocks or sticks. These can puncture holes in both footprints and tents alike.

Step 2: When setting up a tent with a footprint, start by laying out the footprint on the ground in its intended location. Make sure that it covers all areas where you plan to set up your tent, including any guy lines or stakes that may be used to secure it in place.

Step 3: When putting down a footprint, it’s important to make sure that it is properly secured beneath your tent by staking out the corners and sides. If not properly secured, windy conditions could cause it to move around which would leave gaps that could allow heat to escape or water or dirt to enter underneath when rain falls or if snow melts near campground sites during winter months.

Step 4: Once everything is laid out properly, begin assembling your tent on top of your footprint according to manufacturer instructions.

Step 5: If your footprint is bigger than your tent floor, fold it up under your tent. Unfortunately, this may eliminate your ability to stake down your footprint to prevent movement and gaps. A poor fit is possible if you don’t buy a manufacturer-specific footprint or you have a poorly designed DIY tent footprint.

Note: A properly fitting footprint will not extend beyond the tent floor. If it does, rainwater or melting snow can pool on the footprint and seep under and inside a damaged tent floor.

A footprint is an essential item for any outdoor enthusiast. When used properly, it can help protect your tent from wear and tear while providing a waterproof layer between the ground and your tent. Next, let’s look at the cost and weight considerations of using a tent footprint.

Cost & Weight Considerations

When it comes to tent footprints, cost and weight are two important considerations.

Tent footprints come in a variety of sizes and materials, so the cost can vary greatly depending on what you choose. Generally speaking, they are lightweight (3oz – 1lb 6.6oz) and relatively inexpensive ($8 – $120 USD) when compared to other camping gear items like tents or sleeping bags.

Most footprints tend to weigh less than 1lb and cost less than $50 USD making them very lightweight and affordable additions to any camping gear list!

For those looking for a more affordable option, there are some low-cost alternatives available like plastic tarps which can be used instead of purchasing a dedicated footprint. Plastic tarps typically weigh less than traditional tent footprints but may not provide the same level of protection from water or debris.

When considering the weight, nylon or polyester fabric footprints tend to be heavier and bulkier than a plastic tarp. Their construction, material, and design features like waterproof coatings and reinforced seams add extra weight, but also increase durability and weather resistance. On the other hand, plastic tarps usually weigh much less. They offer waterproofing capabilities but they don’t have any additional features.

When choosing a footprint, consider the type camping you’ll be doing (i.e. backpacking vs car camping), how often you plan on using your footprint as well as the cost and quality of your tent. This will help determine whether a high-quality product with more features is worth the investment.

Now that you have a better understanding of the cost and weight, let’s look at how to choose a tent footprint.

How to Choose a Tent Footprint

If you don’t have a tent footprint, look for a manufacturer and model-specific footprint that covers the entire underside of the tent including any vestibules. A protected vestibule gives you a clean and dry spot to store gear that doesn’t need the benefit of heat from inside your tent.

Manufacturer-specific footprints typically provide higher quality materials and better coverage than generic ones like these at Amazon or at discount retailers like Walmart or Target.

Generic footprints may come at a lower price but are often made of lower-quality materials compared to those made by reputable manufacturers such as Marmot or Big Agnes.

If budget constraints or weight are deterring you from buying a pre-made tent footprint, there are low-cost, lightweight options for getting similar levels of protection.

When shopping around for affordable DIY tent footprint alternatives, look no further than painter’s plastic drop cloths, Tyvek house wrap, polycryo sheeting, shower curtain liners, and tarps. All of these offer lightweight, minimally durable solutions. Their suitability depends on the type of camping you’ll be doing and the terrain.

To further reduce the weight of any of these options, measure and cut the sheets to the size of your tent floor. Alternatively, you can fold the extra material under your tent. You don’t want it outside your tent floor where it can gather water and compromise your tent floor.

Painter’s Plastic Drop Cloths

Painter’s plastic drop cloths are a cheap alternative to store-bought footprints that often offer little more than one use.

These thin sheets come in various sizes so you can easily find one that will fit under your tent.

They’re also lightweight enough for backpacking trips but still provide adequate protection against water seepage and minor abrasion benefits for protection from rocks or sticks on the ground beneath your shelter.

Tyvek House Wrap

Another cost-effective solution is using Tyvek house wrap as an inexpensive substitute for traditional footprints

Tyvek is best when car camping or kayak camping with friends who don’t mind carrying a little extra weight in their boats or vehicles.

This material has similar properties as painter’s plastic but adds more durability due to its thicker construction which makes it better suited for longer trips where rain may be encountered over several days at campsites near rivers or lakesides prone to ground moisture due to flooding during storms.

Polycryo Sheeting

For those looking for something even lighter than Tyvek house wrap but durable enough for multiple uses throughout the season, consider polycryo sheeting (often misspelled as “polycro”).

This material weighs less than two ounces for a medium 96″ x 40″ sheet and provides excellent waterproof protection.

Shower Curtain Liner

Finally, if you’re just looking for something lightweight, quick, and easy that won’t take up much space in your backpack consider bringing a shower curtain liner.

Some people suggest using an old shower curtain liner. I don’t like using used ones. Mine are usually mildewed and don’t always fold down nicely.

Tarp

Tarps are often heavier than the other options though inexpensive compared to traditional tent footprints. They are highly durable and can also be used as an emergency shelter or a secondary A-frame structure to protect your tent from getting wet or covered with a layer of snow.

FAQs in Relation to What is a Tent Footprint

Conclusion

A footprint helps extend the life of your tent by providing extra protection against abrasion and wear from ground elements such as rocks or sticks. It’s like an insurance policy for your tent!

It also adds insulation on cold nights in addition to reducing condensation inside the tent walls when it rains or snows outside.

While there are cost and weight considerations when purchasing a tent footprint, many campers and backpackers find the relatively small investment well worth it.

Want to save a few bucks? A low-cost DIY tent footprint can provide similar benefits.