Tent footprint as a tarp?

[wenestvedt]

I found a tent "footprint" for sale rather cheap. Has anyone tried one for a tarp for light use?

I was wondering whether anyone has used the footprint for a hexagonal tent -- which includes nicely-mounted connectors at six points -- as their tarp. I wouldn't be camping under it, only using it in the back yard for shade & wind and maybe light rain.

The built-in stake loops are nice and strong, and many of the footprints for six-person tents are 100 (or more!) inches the long way and almost as many across. Here's an example: http://www.rei.com/product/871761/bi...seout#specsTab

For twenty or thirty dollars, this would seem like a great, fast, strong solution. Thank you for any thoughts.

- Will

[oldbiker]

I have seen them used for bivey covers and Sun shades. Don't see any reason they wouldn't work.

[silentorpheus]

HF member Ratdog has a Kelty tent footprint, that we've used on a few hangs recently as a spare tarp around camp, for everything from rain shelter for by the fire, to a wind block. It's probably a little on the heavy side compared to a standard sil hex tarp - but it's definitely acted admirably considering. Shoot him a PM and I'm sure he'll share his thoughts.

[justinvaughan]

I found a tent "footprint" for sale rather cheap. Has anyone tried one for a tarp for light use?

I was wondering whether anyone has used the footprint for a what is a tent footprint-- which includes nicely-mounted connectors at six points -- as their tarp. I wouldn't be camping under it, only using it in the back yard for shade & wind and maybe light rain.

The built-in stake loops are nice and strong, and many of the footprints for six-person tents are 100 (or more!) inches the long way and almost as many across. Here's an example:

For twenty or thirty dollars, this would seem like a great, fast, strong solution. Thank you for any thoughts.

- Will

I want to make a tent footprint. I have a piece of tarp and am wondering how much larger than the bottom of the tent to make it. Now I am also wondering if I make it larger than the rainfly, aren't I just making something that is going to collect water under my tent? I see a lot of people making them out of Tyvek, but that also is waterproof, (correct?) and is the same problem as my tarp material. So what's the answer? do I make it smaller than the bottom of the tent, and if so, how much smaller?

[Countrybois]

I want to make a tent footprint. I have a piece of tarp and am wondering how much larger than the bottom of the tent to make it. Now I am also wondering if I make it larger than the rainfly, aren't I just making something that is going to collect water under my tent? I see a lot of people making them out of Tyvek, but that also is waterproof, (correct?) and is the same problem as my tarp material. So what's the answer? do I make it smaller than the bottom of the tent, and if so, how much smaller?

Yep...you want to make it SMALLER than the tent. You don't want water that drips off the tent running on top of the footprint. A couple inches all around should suffice.


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