Redlander
Member
I've got a North Face Evolution 45, which they don't make anymore, and I want a footprint/ground cloth of some sort. What makes the best material?
Suggestions please.
Suggestions please.
Foot print material
- Thread starter Redlander
- Start date
AkHunter45
New member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
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I've always used a small blue tarp under our tents, just make sure the tarp is under the tent completely so rain doesn't get on it and seep between the tarp and tent.
Michael Strahan
webmaster
Tarp tips
Tarp tips
I'm with AKHunter 45 on this one. I use blue tarps too. Make sure you tuck the exposed parts of the tarp under the tent, or it will duct rainfall under your tent. I also roll my tent up in the tarp before I bag it; this way the tarp, rainfly and tent are all ready to go. There's a way to fold / roll the whole setup so it goes in the bag nicely. Some of my tents have lasted many years this way.
You will want to replace the tarp every few seasons, depending on how much you use the tent. Eventually they start to break down and will leak. I like a tarp that keeps my floor dry from seepage under the tent.
An alternative is to use a sheet of thick visqueen instead of the tarp, but I prefer the tarp because it has grommets and is stronger, which means I can use it for other things if I have to in the field.
Finally, when you roll your tent up, you might consider packing the fly separately, if it is not completely dry. This will keep the tent body drier if you are setting up / breaking down for several days in a row, something not uncommon on float hunts.
-Mike
Tarp tips
I'm with AKHunter 45 on this one. I use blue tarps too. Make sure you tuck the exposed parts of the tarp under the tent, or it will duct rainfall under your tent. I also roll my tent up in the tarp before I bag it; this way the tarp, rainfly and tent are all ready to go. There's a way to fold / roll the whole setup so it goes in the bag nicely. Some of my tents have lasted many years this way.
You will want to replace the tarp every few seasons, depending on how much you use the tent. Eventually they start to break down and will leak. I like a tarp that keeps my floor dry from seepage under the tent.
An alternative is to use a sheet of thick visqueen instead of the tarp, but I prefer the tarp because it has grommets and is stronger, which means I can use it for other things if I have to in the field.
Finally, when you roll your tent up, you might consider packing the fly separately, if it is not completely dry. This will keep the tent body drier if you are setting up / breaking down for several days in a row, something not uncommon on float hunts.
-Mike
Redlander
Member
Footprint
Footprint
Thanks for all the suggestions. Now I've go to get myself to the gettin' place and buy 1 or 3 (I need something to cover meat with also) of the "blue" tarps.
Footprint
Thanks for all the suggestions. Now I've go to get myself to the gettin' place and buy 1 or 3 (I need something to cover meat with also) of the "blue" tarps.
If you want a North Face footprint they will make one for you if you call them. I have a TNF Apogee single wall tent that they don't make anymore and was going to do the same but a 6x8 tarp just happens to fit perfectly for it. Just the right size, a little smaller than the tent floor.
AKmud
Moderator
Tyvek
Tyvek
I second the Tyvek! I have been using it for years and it is much lighter and easier to pack than the blue tarp. Plus I don't have any hesitation cutting it to exactly fit the tent (cuts down on the size even more. It is very strong to boot.
Tyvek
I second the Tyvek! I have been using it for years and it is much lighter and easier to pack than the blue tarp. Plus I don't have any hesitation cutting it to exactly fit the tent (cuts down on the size even more. It is very strong to boot.
Daveintheburbs
Active member
careful
careful
I'm a tyvek fan too but remember the stuff is slick as heck.
careful
I'm a tyvek fan too but remember the stuff is slick as heck.
tyvek too...
tyvek too...
Tyvek is a heck of a material... If you have some around I'd go with it... I would'nt go out and buy a 100' roll just for a foot print...
You can wash tyvek in a machine to soften it up.. Make it a little less "plasticky"...
tyvek too...
Tyvek is a heck of a material... If you have some around I'd go with it... I would'nt go out and buy a 100' roll just for a foot print...
You can wash tyvek in a machine to soften it up.. Make it a little less "plasticky"...
