You could, but I wouldn't recommend it! a "proper" tent carpet has a waterproof back and very short pile, so they're very easy to clean and dry. They also fold up a lot smaller than normal carpet.
We have used picnic rugs before now, which were OK, but not as good as a purpose made tent carpet.
We use a couple of Outwell tent carpets in our Cabanon ZiG tent, one in the bedroom pod, and the other in the living area.
Even if your make of tent does not have specific tent carpets available, you should be able to match an Outwell or other brand tent carpet to the size you require.
Proper tent carpets pack away real neat, and are made for the job, I would not consider using a regular carpet, although in the past I have used decorators foil backed cotton dust sheets, as tent carpets, although they do the job, they are rather thin, and soon deteriorate.
I took a large ikea rug from my sons bedroom, it was a green rag type one, but it got ruined in the tent and I had to throw it out once we got home.
I don't see why you can't use a bit of tent carpet, other than that it's bulky to pack. I know a guy local to me who edges offcuts of carpet and sells them through a local supermarket but also direct from his showroom. A 4ft by 5ft one cost a fiver, and I suppose I'd be happy enough to take it flat in the boot of the car, underneath everything else!
As everyone else has stated pack size etc may be an issue, you also need to consider what the carpet is backed with. some have a rough hard hessian type backing and this will be in direct contact with your SIG and could damage it over time.
also if regular carpet gets wet/dirty what are you going to do to dry it whilst away? With a tent carpet you sponge it down and hang it up. I bought generic ones for my tent as they were half the price of the model specific and they do just fine.
Or just use a couple of picnic rugs, if you don't want to buy a proper tent carpet. You can put them just on the part of the floor you will be walking on, chairs boxes etc round the edge of the tent hold them in place, and they work just fine. It would work out a lot cheaper probably and if you like the warmth and comfort they give underfoot, you could then invest in a better fitting carpet.
if you havent got the cash to spend on a tent carpet, then a regular carpet would do. I currently am totally skint so am not buying the tent carpet for mine, but i do have several carpet offcuts that are going to make their way into the car for our trip. Just have to practise pack to work out the best places to put them!
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As the others have said, you could do. Before we got the proper carpet for the corado we just had picnic blankets down, more for the fact that DD was a baby and needed something warmish to sit/lie on when she was playing.
I think we'll do the same with my new Cabanon tent until I get it up to get dimensions to see if a specific tent carpet will fit it, although now it will be more for comfort rather than an necessity.
The tent carpets that fit perfect for the brand of tent you have can be expensive. There is a range of universal carpets. Easy Camp, Coleman, etc. do them. We've just picked up a 1.8 x 2m Easy Camp universal carpet for our front awning. Ironically, it's the same pattern as our Outwell fitted tent carpet for our Oakey, so it's a bonus. Oh, and at less than £20, was a bargain, in comparison to the custom ones.
------------- The guitar of the noisy teenager on the next pitch makes excellent kindling.
May 2013 - Saxdale, North Yorkshire
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Aug 2013 - De Molenhof, Netherlands
Sep 2013 - weekend somewhere
Oct 2013 - Bonfire/halloween camp
Dec 2013 - New Year camp (if I'm brave enough)
This year I bought a Gelert carpet from Amazon for £20, it's so big it covers both the living area and most of the bedroom pod of my Gobi4. It is rather an odd shape but with a little folding corners under etc I've made it fit. A fraction of the price. Look around there are deals to be had.
Last year I taped two picnic rugs together and they worked just as good.
Can't wait for good weather to try it out.
------------- Camping = doing things I don't do at home.
Cycling, cycling and er cycling
Early last year i bought a high gear (go outdoors brand) carpet they were selling them off, and i use it for all our tents its huge and like someone said with a bit of tweaking folding under in parts its absolutely fine and was a fraction on the cost of the brand names.
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Topic: Tent Carpet
