famousperson
Pittsburgh, PA
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My "footprint" was made specifically for my backpacking tent, and is the exact same size as the tent floor. Some water does get in between the tent and the footprint but that has never been a problem. Why would it be?
Also, I find laying something beyond the door to act like a door mat is a very good idea, to keep dirt (and mud) out of the tent.
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fueling around
NW MN
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Joined: 04/24/2007
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Perhaps time to revisit the dual purpose of a ground tarp?
1. Prevent tent floor damage from the natural grit of the ground at your camp site.
2. Prevent moisture wick from the ground into your tent.
A cheap blue tarp from your local store works great. Fold the extra lengths under the tent wall plus a couple inches so the rain water stays outside.
If you use a cot, cut some 3x3 carpet scraps to place under each leg.
If you want a door mat get a separate mat so there is a drain break. Unless you have a good vestibule, any exposed part of the tent tarp will funnel water into the tent.
John
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TraciK
Louisiana
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Joined: 06/21/2004
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Thanks everyone. We just got a tarp from Wal-mart. We will have to fold one side in some.
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mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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TraciK wrote:I read where you need a little bit of a smaller pad than your tent floor. I cant find a tarp that size. Tent is 10x10 so need a 9x9. What do ya'll use? Just a tarp and fold it to fit?
Never smaller, always larger. For our Space 10 we use a 12square tarp - blue poly or canvas. I prefer the canvas b/c it doesn't sweat.
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vwGTImkv
Canada
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mtlogger wrote:TraciK wrote:I read where you need a little bit of a smaller pad than your tent floor. I cant find a tarp that size. Tent is 10x10 so need a 9x9. What do ya'll use? Just a tarp and fold it to fit?
Never smaller, always larger. For our Space 10 we use a 12square tarp - blue poly or canvas. I prefer the canvas b/c it doesn't sweat.
Do you fold them in after? If you let it hang out, water will pool underneath your tent floor when it rains.
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mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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Fold it up and in. Actually where we do most of our camping, it's fairly dry.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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DD and DS both leave the excess tarp out as a door mat. But where we camp it likely will not rain again until after Halloween.
When expecting rain the tarp should not be visible beyond the end of the tent walls.
Wayne in San Jose
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chi6488
florida
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Measure your tent or know the dimensions. Then measure out your tarp and mark with permanent markers where to fold the crease down. Next time you will not have to do again.
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kernewek
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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When I tent camped I would always use a sheet bigger than the tent and let the excess fold up the tent wall, then any water that gets under the wall of the tent will run under the tarp and not over it
Kernewek
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TraciK
Louisiana
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chi6488 wrote:Measure your tent or know the dimensions. Then measure out your tarp and mark with permanent markers where to fold the crease down. Next time you will not have to do again.
That is a great idea! THanks for sharing!
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