Fastpack Tent Footprints

“I guess I should have posted this a few days ago before I order one but…I have tarped for years and love it a lot. There are some conditions when a full blown tent is not needed but a tarp isn’t the best choice. Last weekend we were camped near a lake and it was hovering at about 30 degrees. It was wet and foggy. The kind of wet that sticks to everything and a tarp is but little help. A tent would have been nice but a full tent wasn’t needed. I kept saying, Man, I wish I had a fast pack footprint. So I bought one. It’ll basically give me full coverage for 2 pounds 9 oz. Does anyone use them and how do you like them?”

“I have one for my clip-flashlight but I've never used it...”

“That's the one I bought. It would have been nice if it was a bit lighter than 11oz.”

“I have one and use it almost exclusively in the cooler months. Works for me!

I have the SD Lightyear though...”

“It’ll basically give me full coverage for 2 pounds 9 oz.
Nigal
10:34:43 AM
2/11/05

can't you get a tent that weighs less”

“...No really....why do you "Buy" a footprint when a roll of plastic and a pair of scissors is so much cheaper? heck, even tyvek is better IMHO...just askin...

Since I carry large black plastic bags (TWO) when backpacking for packing out the trash, emergency use, waterproofing, yada yada, If'n i feel the need bor a groundcloth I just cut the bottom off the bag and slit it down the edge and I get a huge flat sheet of plastic..no prob...”

“Because the fastpack footprints are specifically designed to set up with out the tent body, you'd have to do a lot of work to make your own...”

“ST, some tents,flys and foot prints allow you to just use the fly and the footprint as a shelter. They attach together just like you were using all 3 parts.

MDShiker used his on the last Sipsey trip.”

““...No really....why do you "Buy" a footprint when a roll of plastic and a pair of scissors is so much cheaper? heck, even tyvek is better IMHO...just askin..."

It's a special ground cloth with straps and gromets on it so you can set up the rain fly and the poles without the tent body. I had thought I could just make two straps with gromets and run them across from one pole to the other pole but just broke down and bought this one. I normally use tyvek but it's not water proof and has been soaking through so I'm going back to the standard 4 mil plastic.”

“Gotcha...”

“I got my footprint today and it looks pretty cool. It does look like the same material as the tent floor. Do you guys use a ground cloth with it? I'm thinking I'll need something under it.”

“Isn't it supposed to be used as a ground cloth with the tent?

Anyway, you could always make one out of some 4 mil plastic, which is what I did for my LightYear.”

“Yes but I'm only using it for the fastpack option so I can leave the tent body at home. I won't use an 11oz. ground cloth for the tent. I had a piece of tyvek I was using with the tent but it's been getting some moisture coming through. I'm going back to the 4 mil like the old days.”

“I'd just use tyvek for that. It'll stop most of the moisture and will help protect from punctures. When I tarptent it, I just use tyvek. The bottom of my thermarest usually has a bit of moisture show up, but you can't actually feel it.”

“http://goodling_outdoor.tripod.com/id29.html

This guy will sell you Tyvek cut to your specs. Service was 2 thumbs up and a gold star.”

“Just use a plastic lawn leaf bag cut down the two sides. Very light and when it wears out, toss and replace.”

“I could send you some Tyvek suits, cheap. You could sleep in one and they're light as hell!”

“That's a UL rainsuit offer if I ever heard one. Beware the gram weenies!”

“Tango used one of those white tyvek suits during Ocala II.
Everyone called her BunnyGirl and the suit wet thru in several places when the rain kept up.

Of course I didn't call her BunnyGirl, I called her Pillbury DoughGirl. ;-)”

“LOL! I don't think they breath well, however.”

“You\'d have to be a pretty big dork to wear a Tyvek suite...

”