Ground Sheets/Welcome Mats

**Wanderlost** · 04-11-2017, 09:42

Before now, I've never really cared for a ground sheet. I tried it once and wasn't really a big fan. A hang I went on last weekend changed my mind forever. I'll spare you details, but leaves are really itchy inside long underwear.

It made me realize the benefit of having a leaf-free place to put shoes and step while changing. So now I'm curious. Those of you who do use a ground sheet, what do you use? Tyvek? A heavier sil? Pack fabric? Something else?

I know about tyvek and actually have some scraps of it to use, but I'm curious what other options people have tried and been both successful and unsuccessful with. List em!

**OneClick** · 04-11-2017, 09:45

I like a cut down 2x3' piece of poly tarp. The cheap $2 ones you can get anywhere. I got green so it blends in. I don't like loud colors in the woods, especially a white tyvek sheet. Just my preference though. I think the piece I'm using is going on 4 years now.

**Wanderlost** · 04-11-2017, 09:49

Originally Posted by markr6

I like a cut down 2x3' piece of poly tarp. The cheap $2 ones you can get anywhere. I got green so it blends in. I don't like loud colors in the woods, especially a white tyvek sheet. Just my preference though. I think the piece I'm using is going on 4 years now.

Are you talking the woven poly tarp you can get pretty much anywhere? If so, how did you keep it from falling apart when you cut it down?

**Chriss** · 04-11-2017, 09:53

Kind of depends on where I am and what I am doing. If car camping or hiking from a basecamp, I take a OP (outdoor products) 5x7 tarp. It provides plenty of room to get everything out of my pack. If backpacking, I cut a dog food bag in half (washed really good) because I did not have any tyvek at the time. I have been using the same piece for several years now.

**OneClick** · 04-11-2017, 09:57

Originally Posted by Wanderlust78

Are you talking the woven poly tarp you can get pretty much anywhere? If so, how did you keep it from falling apart when you cut it down?

Yeah the usual bright blue ones, but mine is dark green. Not sure about falling apart...I just cut it with scissors.

**Andy "Bull" Bullock** · 04-11-2017, 09:59

Tyvek or "polychro" (?) tarp.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Karla "with a k"** · 04-11-2017, 10:04

I use a piece of Ty-vek. I put grommets in the corners. It's pretty.

**CoreyR** · 04-11-2017, 10:08

When I could still hike, or from the canoe, I use one of those post office, tyvek envelopes, used, that I cut open and lay flat.
Car camping, 99% of what I do these days, I now use a pair of those snap together foam shop mats. They stay put and work well.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

**Burg54** · 04-11-2017, 10:17

I use a piece of 2'x3' Tyvek. It serves a purpose but like MR6 said, i hate the loud white in the woods. I am thinking about either a piece of poly tarp like he uses or something like this mud mat from SLD. The one thing I do like about the Tyvek is how rigid it is (doesnt need stakes and stays flat on the ground) and fear silnylon would just be a soft mess that had to be staked down which = more stakes.

http://www.simplylightdesigns.com/ca...roducts_id/393