Do you use a groundsheet and if so what?

**banjonut** · 02-15-2013, 21:24

I'm surprised I only saw two others who used trash bags. I use a large lawn and leaf bag. I use it because it's just big enough, I can store stuff in it if it rains, turn it into a pack cover, haul all the trash out, seems more multipurpose than other options. And i do replace it quite frequently due to holes or it's full of trash. Maybe I'm missing something... wouldn't be the first time

**swankfly** · 02-15-2013, 21:59

I have 2 pieces of tyvek, the conditions dictate which piece I take. No worries, the small one. If I think there might be a possibility of going to ground I have a larger piece of tyvek. Ran them through the dryer and spray painted them, green, black, brown, gray. Looks horrible, but not as horrible as brilliant white.

swank

**Ed Lobby** · 02-15-2013, 23:19

Trash bag that I can also use to keep gear dry or cut to make a poncho. You could also pick up a shower curtain liner at a dollar store and cut to size. Not as light as Tyvek, but cheap & easy.

**keg** · 02-16-2013, 16:22

I use my emergency reflective blanket/tarp. It's part of my first aid kit/small tarp/reflective layer so it's with me anyways.

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Hiking...cy-blanket.jsp

**gunner76** · 02-17-2013, 12:56

If I car camping then I will take a piece of Tyvek. If backpacking I don't worry about it.

**Owl** · 02-18-2013, 09:43

I carry a 55g 3mil trash bag that doubles as a pack cover in very bad weather, or as a ground cloth in nicer weather. It can be used for any number of other things as well, so it's well worth carrying.

**Rune** · 02-18-2013, 10:45

In the weekend I used the tarp I packed everythin in on my pulk for a ground sheet. It was super to have when I got in, as I had to get my dry kit on before bedding into the hammock. Also nice to have in the morning for packing up stuff. Saved me from having to do everything in wet snow.

So i guess my anser is yes, as long as it's pulk season (well into May) I will have a ground sheet.

**MDSH** · 02-18-2013, 11:43

I've been experimenting with a nice piece of Tyvek that a forum member graciously sent to me. It makes an excellent ground cloth. I slept on half and pulled the other half over me on the ground on a cold and windy night. I was instantly comfortable and thought I'd found a great system, falling right to sleep. But in the morning there was too much condensation. The relative humidity inside a house is much lower, perhaps, that what a human might produce in an enclosed space?

I'll build two ground cloths from this piece, both with 4" tub walls so things won't roll away, one 5x8' for tarp camping on the ground and another smaller one for stepping onto out of the hammock.

.

**highlife** · 02-18-2013, 15:27

I've been using a heavy duty space blanket (the 5'x7' size with the green back), folded in half. I'm thinking about trying a smaller piece of tyvek or something to cut down on size/weight. Thanks for the suggestions.