Hi, does anyone know where I can get hold of a breathable groundsheet to use as footprint, its 3.5 meters by 3.5 meters that I'm looking for.
I have had a Google on tinterweb but most seem to be 2.5 meters wide which I already have
Cheers
Hi Marg6, I did think of this, just wanted something for ease of use and simpler the better, it seems to take me ages to pack up when leaving and anything to make life easier I'm up for.
Will probably have to do this though to make size up, want something I ng breathable as some campsites insist now, doesn't seem to make much difference to state of grass from experience
i wouldnt worry about it being breathable, your a tent! tents have sewn in ground sheets that even if you put a breathable under it wouldnt let the air/light into the grass anyway. their whole purpose of a footprint is to keep the tent floor clean and offer a little protection from stones, the condition of the grass is out of the question
We used to use an ARCO builders tarpaulin - they come in a range of sizes & have eyelets for pegging or tying down. Bright blue though. Kept mud & earthworm casts off the tent’s built in groundsheet. It’s still in use over the woodpile.
I would give up on a breathable groundsheet, as your SIG / ZIG will not be breathable?
We got a good builders tarp from B&Q and never had any problems.
aaet
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
The campsite requirement for breathable groundsheets usually refers to caravan awnings rather than tents with sewn-in groundsheets, as there is absolutely no point in having a breathable groundsheet under an impervious sewn-in groundsheet.
Builders' tarpaulins are waterproof and are not breathable.
I know some sites insist on breathable groundsheets for tents, either they are stupid and don't understand the principles at work here, or it's a legacy from long gone days when tents didn't have sewn in ground sheets (SIGS) or clip on bathtub groundsheets that covered the grass!
A breathable footprint achieves virtually nothing of worth for either you as a user, or the site owner. Your tent will still get it's SIG wet and muddy (ONLY benefit MAY be a bit of padding to protect SIG on rough ground) as water/mud will work through the open weave, and the grass will still yellow because it's deprived of air and sunlight by the tent SIG!
As to a practical footprint, a basic plastic builders tarp is as good as it needs to be (same material as most custom footprints from tent manufacturers), it's completely out of sight, so the colour is totally unimportant. Cut/folded so that it is 4"/100mm smaller on all sides than outline of tent (to stop rain running off tent walls and wicking under the tent, thereby partially defeating object of trying to keep SIG dry for repacking). After market eyelets can be added at corners and maybe midway along longish sides to give pegging points (use mushroom head or wire pegs that go flush with the ground so as to avoid damaging SIG which will sit on top of them). Pegging it down can make it MUCH easier to correctly locate your tent on it. Two smaller tarps can be Gaffer taped together to get the size you need, and give a permanent joint that won't need messing with every time you pitch.
I've got a breathable groundsheet/carpet for my caravan awning, where it's benefits to underlying grass can really work as no impenetrable SIG above it, but it can get absolutely sodden and mud infused, which makes it a horribly messy thing (and quite heavy when water/wet mud laden) to pack away! - I wouldn't consider using one as a footprint where it would bring no benefit!
Yes, I understand all of the above comments regarding not helping grass and keeping bottom of tent clean, I have noticed over the years of camping that having a plastic sheet/ tarp footprint seems to leave a lot of water/ moisture on tent groundsheet especially if there is a bit of a depression under it , that's why I thought that having a breathable one might elevate those and also keep campsites that insist on breathable one.
I'm probably barking up wrong tree to be fair
If you are set on a breathable "footprint", and can only source 2.5m widths, just lay two side by side (Overlapped by just a couple of inches).
No need to keep it smaller than the tent base, as rain will seep down through it, so leave it sticking out ("too wide"!).
This is what I did at New Year (admittedly an a gravel hard standing) and had almost a metre or so sticking out both sides, a foot or so along the rear, and a good couple of metres at the front (Due to the deliberate extra length of breathable groundsheet purchased). The latter was particularly satisfying!
I'm planning the same approach on dry/earthy/grassless pitches in the South of France later in the year.
I sis think of doing this, I have 2 2.5 meter by 5 meter breathable groundsheets, I suppose overlapping them in middle to deduce width wouldn't hurt either and use what's left for under awnings and canopy, my thought on trying to find one the correct size was trying to reduce sizes for transport as well, always seem to take to much kit
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Breathable ground sheet for footprint
via mobile 12/3/2023 at 5:31pm
