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  1. #1
    Senior Member slbear's Avatar
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    Tyvek ground sheet size?

    I've been using a bamboo mat under my hammock so I can put my gear on it and have something beside dirt to step onto. I was going to replace it with a tyvek sheet, probably from Arrowhead. I've seen several threads talk about going to ground, and don't want to repeat that debate, but how big of a sheet should I get? He's currently selling 3' wide, which seems fine, but how long?

    There is always a chance you will have to go to ground if the hammock rips (it's happened to me with a Grand Trunk Ultralight), or if I'm camping with the scouts and they are stopping in the chaparral for the night. I will probably bring the tent and blow up pad if there's a good chance for that, but being the optimist I am, I may go just hammock as long as there's trees along the route.

    It's so light, but I don't want to over do it.

    Thanks,
    Slbear

  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    If you are thinking of sleeping on it I'd go with 9' so you have a clean place to put your pack above your head. I'm 6', and that would keep my pack, head and feet out of the dirt with a little margin to spare around each.

    3' isn't wide enough for much other than you. If you don't need to sleep on it you could fold it in half and it will fit nicely under your hammock.

    Home Depot sells a roll that is 9' or 10' wide. I was hoping to find a local contractor willing to spare/sell some of that. 3' wide seems too narrow to me for a good ground sheet.
    Last edited by DanglingModifier; 10-10-2014 at 01:16.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Chris K's Avatar
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    Used to use Tyvek. It was OK. Much prefer the PolyCro sheets from Gossamer.

    http://gossamergear.com/shelters/pol...th-medium.html

  4. #4
    Senior Member slbear's Avatar
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    Thanks DM and Chris for the quick responses,

    8-9' seems like a good range, and the 36-40" between the GG Polycro and AHE Tyvek is negligable. As you know, I'm hoping to not sleep on it.

    Have you noticed much of a difference with condensation on your tarp or quilts with versus without a ground sheet? DanglingModifier knows it's so dry out here in SD, I can't imagine it's worth unfolding more than a small section to stand on or keep your shoes/pack on, but on the chance I do get to camp in some rain one day (or maybe dewy undergrowth, is it worth it to lay out the larger ground cloth?

    Thanks again for the help,
    Bob

  5. #5
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    I like my 5x7' polycryo ground sheet under my hammock when it's raining because I can sit on the ground, spread out gear, and cook-all under my 10x10' tarp.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
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    There's a fine line between wide enough and too wide. If it's too wide you risk rain dripping from the tarp dripping on your ground cover and soaking what you have laying on it. Even wind blown rain that gets to the edge of your ground cover can get your stuff wet depending on which direction is down hill. On the flip side, it should be large enough for you to lay on if you go to ground. Tarp width and how steep you pitch it can affect how wide your ground cover should be, so my advice is to set up your tarp how you like to pitch it, grab a tape measure, and get to it!

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